Page 77 of Lost and Stolen Gods
The gauntlet was less than two weeks away, and I was going to ensure I passed it with flying colors, with or without Araz’s help.
Part Four
As Alice said, “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Yep, thanks, Lewis Carroll. That quote about sums things up.
Chapter 27
AND THE NEW STATUS QUO IS…
“Leela, wake up.” Blue bopped me on the nose, then tickled me with his whiskers. “Pashim says breakfast is almost ready.”
“I think I’m broken.” I cracked open one eye. “Do I look broken?”
“You look like ya need to get up, you lazy moo.”
“Lazy? I was training till midnight.”
“Is that what you were doin’?” Blue sniffed. “Last I saw, you were star gazin’ with Ravi.”
“We do that when we take breaks, and what were you doing out of the nest so late anyway?”
“Nosy thing, aintcha?”
“Says the spying rodent.” I rolled onto my back, and he hopped onto my chest to stand, hands on hips, his favorite pose when he was about to deliver a smackdown or words of wisdom.
“You been burning the candle, chick. Both endsand the like. You need to sleep more, and you need ta be in bed on time.”
“What I need is to pass the gauntlet, which is in two days’ time. I can’t let up now. I almost ran the whole thing yesterday.”
“Yeah, you’re fantastic, but if ya don’t rest, you’ll bugger up your chances on the real thing.”
Maybe he was right. Maybe I needed to give my body a break between now and the run. Weapons training had intensified the past week, and now that I was using a mace, it took extra concentration to hold back when I swung it.
“Fine, I’ll ease off, okay?” I rolled out of bed, and Blue leapt clear, landing by Araz’s bed.
He sniffed the air. “Where is tall, dark, and crotch-heavy this morning, anyway?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” I pulled on clothes and stifled a yawn. “He’ll turn up at training. Always does.” I ducked into the bathroom and shut the door before he could follow me in and watch me pee.
“I’ve seen it all before, you know,” he called from outside the door.
I flushed, brushed my teeth and hair, then joined him in the main room to find him in a face-off with Araz.
“I told you to keep your rat out of my room,” Araz ground out.
“Who you callin’ a rat, you generously hung male specimen?” Blue shot back.
Araz’s jaw ticked. “Make it stop doing that.”
“She don’t control me, sweet pecs,” Blue replied.
Araz looked like he wanted to smash something. “Get out. Both of you.”
“Gladly.” Blue flounced to the door, tail swishing. “Come on, Leela, let’s leave heavenly abs to his morning musings.”
We ducked outside, and I made it halfway down the corridor before bursting into laughter. “You’re terrible. One of these days, hewillsquish you.”
“Nah, he loves me really.”
