Page 36 of The City of Zirdai
“Me?”
“Yes. I need to learn everything I can about my magic.”
“Is that all you need me for?”
“Oh, for sand’s sake, Jayden. No. You’re vital to this organization for your connections with the vagrants, your knowledge of the hidden areas of Zirdai, your magical powers. Do I need to continue?”
“Well…”
She huffed. “I’m not stroking your ego anymore. Let’s stop wasting time arguing and get to work. All right?”
“A truce?”
“I’d like nothing better.”
“All right.” He shook her hand.
She practiced working with the sand. Lots and lots of practice before full darkness. After third meal, she returned to her room. Soon after, Jayden brought her a bucket of sand.
“This is for—”
“Practice,” she finished.
He grinned evilly. “Yup.” At least Jayden had given her a distraction. She doubted she’d get much sleep.
And she was right. Shyla used up her energy to work with the sand. After that, she tried to rest. But despite the fatigue flowing through her body, every time she closed her eyes, Rendor’s angry image rose. The pain in his voice echoed.
She glanced at the sand clock. Again. Angle three-twenty. Again, she swore the grains flowed up instead of down. Staring at the curved glass of the clock, Shyla pushed her will at it.
Stop.
The grains paused. Ha! She’d stopped time. Now the clock matched her mood. Too bad no one was there for her to tell. A pang of loneliness bounced in her chest. Her thoughts immediately went to Rendor. Argh. She couldn’t wait any longer. Grabbing her sun cloak, she strode from her room and headed down to the dorms on level ten. Only a few had been cleared and Jayden shared one of them with Ximen, Mojag, and two others. Druk lanterns hung in the hallway, casting enough light into the rooms.
Not wishing to wake the others, she crept into the small space and whispered his name. Jayden woke with a jerk. He sat up and brandished a knife.
Whoa. Shyla held her hands up, leaning back.
He relaxed. “Don’t do that.”
“Wake you up?”
A grunt. “Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why—”
“I want to practice hiding in the sand.”
“Now?” Incredulity laced his voice. “It’s still dark and cold.”
“I want to hide near the city’s entrances. Is there a way to see through the sand? That would be a great way to spy on who’s coming out without having to influence everyone.”
“You’re worried about Rendor’s team.”
At least he didn’t just say Rendor. Progress. “Yes, but…I thought it might be a good idea to see if anyone follows them from the city.”
Jayden considered. His blanket had slipped down to his waist, revealing his bare chest and defined abdominal muscles. Rendor also slept without a shirt despite it being ten degrees. She shivered. What was wrong with these guys? Did they enjoy showing off their muscles to sleep deprived and lonely sun-kisseds?
