CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The sound of a spine snapping was a surefire way to put you off your breakfast. From my seat on a food hall bench, I swallowed hard as I looked down at the dead candidate sprawled on the floor several feet away.
I’d never been anything close to friendly with him—not merely because he’d been snarky with me on several occasions, but because he viewed women as an inferior gender. Not my kind of person. But watching him die had nonetheless made my stomach roll.
Only ten minutes ago he’d been laughing so boisterously I’d glanced his way without thought.
Soon after that, I’d heard him cry out. I’d looked to see him jump to his feet so abruptly his pewter had clattered to the floor.
He’d had everyone’s attention as he’d clasped his head tight, a sound of such pain escaping through his gritted teeth.
It had been clear that his power was ready to surface.
Some of his friends had tried crowding him as he’d tripped backwards over his bench. But he hadn’t seemed to register their presence. As if whatever pain that racked his body had left him no room for thought.
He’d somehow gotten to his knees on the floor, still grasping his skull, his knuckles white. He’d stayed like that for long moments, rocking back and forth. What had come afterwards had happened so fast it was dizzying …
His eyes had bulged. His mouth had gone slack. An agonized scream had torn out of him. Then his back had sharply arched like a bow and … snap.
Atticus now stood off to the side, a grim expression on his face that was totally at contrast to the cocky one he’d sported earlier.
He’d sauntered into the food hall an hour ago, smugly announcing to his friends—nice and loud for everyone to hear—that he’d come into his power during the night.
Seeing his friend die had clearly taken the shine off it all.
Now, as the end of Xalbia drew near, only forty-one of us remained.
Feeling somewhat grim, I twisted back to face Khalida. “I never liked the guy, but I wouldn’t wish that death on anyone.”
She grimaced. “They say it feels like there’s a burning hot pressure building in your head while knives are stabbing and slashing open your brain. I had a feeling that he would struggle to survive coming into his power. He was more edgy and restless than any other candidate.”
I’d never admit it aloud, but I had worried that I might not live through it either. Or even that I might instead be driven insane by it. A weight had slid from my shoulders once my system officially bonded with the ichor.
“It’s strange that not all godkin can handle it,” Soule remarked beside me. “I don’t see why it would destroy some—whether physically or mentally—but not others.”
Across from him, Nakoa drained her tankard. “Me neither. The Sovereigns have never explained.”
Khalida suddenly straightened in her seat, an odd glint in her eye. She cut her gaze to the male sitting on my other side. “Jelani, you should hug Anara,” she advised. Strongly.
His brow pinched. “What?”
“Or just drape your arm over her shoulders. Or gently pack her back. Something.” Khalida waved her hand, urging him to do as told.
I silently groaned. The woman was clearly still intent on using him to rouse jealousy in Talon. For her to all but order the Delphiae to touch me, Talon had to be close by.
Jelani hadn’t cottoned onto what she was doing, hence why he right then looked from me to her wearing a lost expression. “Why?”
Khalida’s mouth tightened. “Have some compassion. One of her fellow candidates just died. She needs comfort.”
His frown deepened. “She’s not upset about it.”
I sighed at her. “What will it take to make you stop?”
“For me to get my own way in this,” she shamelessly stated.
Nakoa’s brows drew together. “What am I missing?”
“I’m just trying to help Anara get a bedtime playmate,” Khalida fudged. “Quite a few males here give her the eye. If they think they have competition, they’ll act sooner rather than later once she’s officially part of the Order.”
Nakoa let out a thoughtful hum. “I don’t think you need to use Jelani to spur them into making a move. Not with the way others look at her.”
I flicked up my brow. “What, leery? Dubious? Uneasy?” Several such looks had been sent my way since I arrived at Deimos.
Khalida pulled a face. “Okay, some people give you weird looks,” she conceded. “But that’s only because you’re the first human Sayer and they don’t know what that means.”
A Sayer who had carried dormant power until now. Which the Sovereigns would soon learn. I would likely get called before them sometime this morning, if not later on. I wasn’t looking forward to that.
“It won’t stop officiates from welcoming you into the Order, if that worries you,” Soule went on.
“It does,” I said.
Khalida let out a pfft sound. “No, it doesn’t. You’re just trying to divert everyone’s attention from the original topic of conversation.”
And it had been working right up until she opened her big mouth. “It wasn’t boring you? Because I was bored.”
Khalida’s lips thinned. “Jelani, hug her already.”
The male Delphiae shook his head, his lips twitching. “I’d rather stay out of it.”
Wise man.
She huffed. “Soule, you do it.”
Nakoa’s eyes blazed into his. “Don’t even dare.”
Soule’s mouth quirked. “But you and I aren’t exclusive, right?”
Pointing her fork at him, Nakoa said, “Anara is off-limits.”
“Like pretty much every other woman here?” he asked, his voice dry.
“Not every woman.”
“So who wouldn’t you care if I took to my bed?”
Nakoa clamped her lips shut.
Khalida let out a tired sigh. “Face it, Nakoa, you two are exclusive.”
A loud whistle rang out that called for everyone’s attention. As a hush instantly fell, I tracked the sound to the hall’s doorway, where Talon and Ajax stood.
“Candidates, get your asses outside,” ordered Ajax as the two males then walked out.
I stood, lifting my hand at my group in a brief wave. “I’ll see you later.” My brows met as Quillen rose, clearly ready to follow. “You’re coming?”
He nodded. “So is Jelani,” he said just as the other male also got to his feet. “Several officiates have been instructed to participate in today’s Xalbia-exercises.”
Striding toward the front door, I inwardly winced as I walked over the spot where one officiate had met his end—the aisle between the tables was too narrow to avoid it.
I sighed. My day had started off good, since I had much to smile about: It was day thirty-nine of Xalbia, my dormant power had finally surfaced, and I would soon be part of the Black Tapestry.
I’d also woken to find a Laelap pup sleeping on my chest, cute as a button—always a mood-lifter.
I hoped my day wasn’t about to get worse, but with Xalbia, you just never knew.
I cast a sideways glance at Quillen. “Tell me honestly. How much will I hate the upcoming activities?”
He pursed his lips. “That depends.”
“On what?”
“On just how ready and fit to join the Order you are.”
◆◆◆
Walking along a carpet of colorful wildflowers, high grass, fallen leaves, and pinecones several hours later, I wished that the ever-present fog would disappear if only for a few moments so I could properly appreciate the scenery.
I might be able to see more than most, but not enough that I could drink in the true beauty of my surroundings. I could see vague tall shapes through the haze; knew they would be the leafy trees I’d seen when we passed through this meadow on various treks through Reaper’s Pines.
It smelled a damn lot better here than in the marshland that we’d traipsed through earlier. No scents of salty water, rotten eggs, or decaying plants in this spot. Only warm soil, floral foliage, and overripe berries.
While I liked looking at the meadows within the Pines, I wasn’t ever in a hurry to walk through them. I’d prefer a simple path any day. Paths didn’t have long, lush grass that concealed snakes, mice, and wasps nests.
“We’re not going to win,” mumbled Sable behind me.
I didn’t look at the Lykaon over my shoulder as I said, “Whatever officiates are on our tail will of course catch up to us. This exercise isn’t about winning or losing.
Not really. They’re testing us on our knowledge of the terrain, and they’re hunting us at the same time to put us under pressure and knock our confidence.
” It was rather typical of Xalbia activities.
At the garrison this morning, the forty-one remaining candidates had been split into small groups—I’d been placed in one with Lear, Sable, and Reeve.
Each group had been led to one of the most mountainous area of Reaper’s Pines.
We’d then been let loose, having been made aware that we’d be hunted by officiates.
Not a grand scenario, but we’d completed such ‘exercises’ twice before, so it wouldn’t have been a big deal. Except … it was different this time. We didn’t have to merely walk to the city. We had to make our way from one very specific location to another on our way to the city.
There was nothing simple about traversing the Pines. It was exceptionally easy to get lost here, particularly when the fog hazed your view. Also, we had no map or compass or other such equipment, which forced us to rely on our memories and sense of direction.
So far, our little group was handling it well enough. Sable was nervous, but I suspected that could largely be blamed on the restlessness she wouldn’t shake off until her power finally surfaced. Particularly since it made her feel vulnerable.
Stepping over a log, I said, “Be careful here, they’re a few gopher holes in this part of the meadow.” The last time we were here, Finian had twisted his ankle after accidentally dipping his foot in one.
“I don’t know how you’re keeping us on track, Anara,” commented Reeve. “I can barely see anything.”