Page 53 of Black Wing and Shadows
“She fucking deserves it,” Asmoth yelled.
“You fucking deserve to die,” Zane snapped.
“Let’s fucking go, you idiot,” Jeremy growled.
The whole situation was a fucking mess. There was blood all over the floor—both mine and his. And for what, something my dad did. I had no clue why or when my dad apparently killed his sister. I didn’t think my dad would do it without just cause, but I also didn’t feel like I knew my dad anymore, either. Zane looked at me, his eyes filled with rage. They no longer had the pure, pale blue eyes that had once looked at me. Instead, their eyes had darkened to a deep indigo, a rich, intense shade.
“Let’s go to the Healers and get you patched up,” he said.
“I am fine, or I will be. I’ll be stitched and continue on.”
“I should have killed him the moment I entered the stairwell.”
“So violent…” I said, giving him a little smile.
“I can be, and I won’t be as willing to offer second chances anymore.”
We went to the Healers, and they brought me in to tend to my wound. Two others were there, getting stitched up, but I thought they were upper-class students. I didn’t pay much attention because, honestly, my side was throbbing, and my shirt was soaked in blood. Zane stood right next to me, watching everything the Healer did.
“I’ll be fine, you can go to your next lecture,”I said mind to mind.
“No, I will not until you are stitched, and they say you are good.”
“You don’t have to stare at them like they are plotting against me.”He looked at me, our eyes locked, and for a brief second, I swore they flashed back to his light blue and then back to the indigo color.
“I don’t think you realize the enemies your father has.”
My eyes widened at him, eyebrows lifting. What did that even mean? Every time we were at a fort, it seemed like everyone liked my dad. He said it as if there were a lot. Of course, being the general, I figured there would be some.
“Yeah, I didn’t think you did, and that shocked face you have confirmed it. I came into this place harboring intense hatred for him. You know the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I made a lot of friends here. Of course, now I have you, which complicates some of those friendships. I made it clearthat you were off-limits, or they wouldn't live to see the next day. That doesn't mean they like you or that others like Asmoth don’t exist.”
“I guess I didn’t realize my dad was a villain in everyone’s story.”I dropped my head.
CHAPTER 20
♥?
The first week flew by. The lectures were mainly informational, and I already knew most of the material. I kept daggers on every limb and my torso wherever I went. I felt like I watched my back more than before. I had been trying not to dwell on what my father was truly doing or what my mom’s letters contained. Honestly, I was just trying to survive. Week two began, which also meant we added sparring and obstacle training to our schedules.
We assembled into the current event class with Melamora, Pascal, and Fogg. Anyone that had the first meal block, often sat in here waiting for the rest of the cadets to arrive. Some cadets roamed the halls. For our wing, we had thirty minutes in between, but others only had ten minutes.
“Alright. Let’s settle in.” Professor Pascal said, his voice carrying through the stadium.
“Now that we have been in courses for a week, we will start discussing strategies during this class as well,” Professor Fogg stated.
“Raise your hand if you are aware of the attacks from Rudemont along Veskonia’s coast?” Melamora asked.
Over half of the room raised their hands. I looked around, taking everyone in. The realization of how shielded my father kept me. Maybe I should have paid more attention to his meetings and hushed conversations.
“How are they attacking?” Asked one of the Historians who sat in the upper leadership rows.
“That’s a good question. They are sailing in from the east and sending hundreds of arrows through the skies onto land. Most of those arrows hadan unknown substance, which injured and killed various troops,” Fogg said.
The entire room went silent.
“How are they getting through sky patrol?” an Infantry cadet asked.
“Good question. However, we don’t have that information. Keep the questions coming,” Pascal said.
