Page 19 of The Mentor
“In some areas, you’ll be better than the girls,” I said. “They are beginners when it comes to fighting and survival in nature. But in other areas they’ll be better than you.”
A low snort came from Solomon. “Better at what? Napping?”
“What’s your name?” Magni asked gruffly.
“Solo.” The boy had the nerve to look Magni straight in the eye and raise his chin. “After King Solomon, the greatest man who ever lived.”
I hid a smug smile, knowing that Solomon’s answer would provoke Magni, who didn’t like to be challenged by anyone.
“Well,Solo,” Magni said dryly. “That doesn’t impress me since I’m named after the Norse god of strength, who was superior to any mortal.” Magni raised an eyebrow. “Unless you’re called upon, shut the fuck up!”
The youngster was wise enough not to talk back.
“You have five minutes to find your bunk bed and meet us outside the school,” I told the boys in my most authoritarian voice. “It’s time to go and meet the Momsies.”
CHAPTER7
First Meeting
Kya
Archer and I had discussed how to make the first introduction, and agreed on letting the children meet on neutral ground and walk back to the school together.
When Archer texted me that they were ready, Boulder, Pearl, Christina, and I led the Motlander children back toward the school knowing that we would meet Archer, Marco, Magni, and the Nboys halfway there.
“I wish Khan could have been here to witness it,” said Pearl and gave me an excited smile.
I nodded, but was happy the board had voted for him to stay away. It was overwhelming enough for the Nboys to meet females for the first time. If they were to meet their ruler on the same day too, it would have been too much.
Raven walked up front, chatting happily with Christina and Shelly. She had been like a fish in water ever since we arrived in the Northlands. Being too young to have heard scary rumors about the Nmen, she didn’t know they were supposed to be dangerous barbarians, so she’d met Boulder and the other men with absolute trust. It was touching to see the way the men, and in particular Boulder, had welcomed her. Most adults would have found Raven clingy with her constant need for adult attention, but Boulder welcomed it and gave her what she had missed out on for years with her mother.
Two nights ago, I’d come back to Christina’s and Boulder’s house to find Raven cuddled up like a baby in Boulder’s arms, fast asleep.
“She had a nightmare,” he had explained with a soft smile before carrying her to bed.
“I hear them,” Raven excitedly called back to me after five minutes of walking.
My heart beat like a war drum. This was it. The moment we’d been waiting for.
“Wait, Raven,” Christina called out but the girl had already started running ahead and four of the other children followed her lead.
When we caught up to them, Raven, Willow, Sky, and Nieall stood opposite the group of Nmen and Nboys, who had stopped.
“I found them,” Raven called to me proudly and I gave her a smile.
Mila and Paysey, who had already become best friends, were holding hands and staying behind Pearl and me. I noticed the smallest boy in the group of Nboys looked shy too while the older boys took in every member of our party. I’d never met a child in the Northlands before but I shouldn’t have been surprised that the boys were big for their age. From their profiles, I knew they ranged in age from eleven to fourteen, and my eyes homed in on Solomon, the oldest and tallest of the boys. He had a sleeveless t-shirt on, and it shouldn’t be possible for a child, but he was already toned with muscles and reached Archer’s chin in height.
“Boys,” Archer said and stepped into the middle. “Allow me to introduce you to Kya, who will do the introductions.”
“Thank you,” I said and walked toward him.
“I’m very excited about being your new teacher and I promise we’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
None of the boys were smiling but they listened attentively. “This is Pearl, who founded the school together with your ruler, Lord Khan.” Pearl waved at them. “And Christina.” Christina greeted them happily too.
“Both Pearl and Christina will be helping out from time to time, but my daily assistant will be Shelly.”
Shelly Summers took a small step forward. She was fifteen and the daughter of Sheana Rene, an esteemed member of the Council who had volunteered to let her youngest daughter, Rochelle, participate with the condition that Shelly would be there to look out for her little sister. I had been deeply grateful because many of the Motlander children had some sort of trauma behind them. They were mostly children without parents, except Rochelle, who was a healthy happy kid.
