Chapter 6 #2
‘But how are these supply points supposed to work, if Stella doesn’t operate them?’ I might not know much about missions on the field, but I’ve been in the Engineers’ Quarter, and I have a basic understanding of how our system is set up. ‘Let me dismantle your theory.’
That might be a brave statement, but I’m not running into a trap headfirst. I relieve Mace of his ART and enlarge the map, focusing on our position.
I turn on the grid to analyse the strength of the sensors’ signals, and find a point, not too far from us, where the signal seems to be more powerful.
I use the ART like a compass – which does require a bit of work – until I reach a pile of rocks a few dozen feet from our position behind the bushes.
Mace follows me without a word.
I set my hand to the rocks and send a flare of my magic, and surprise, surprise, the connection point echoes my magic back.
‘Stella,’ I say in a whisper. ‘Can you dial in an ART for me?’
Stella’s upper body projects on top of the rocks. ‘Of course, Ellie.’
Mace takes in a sharp breath behind me. ‘This shouldn’t be possible.’
I shove aside the reasons why the Apprentices might have been fed false information. Maybe they’re only allowed to know once they graduate as full Warriors?
Who cares? ‘Could you dial in Allen’s ART?’ I ask.
‘ART unreachable. Communication disabled,’ she says.
Mace scoffs, as if he’s just scored a point against me.
I ask about Xandra and Julian, and Stella gives me the same answer.
‘Told you it wouldn’t work,’ Mace mutters.
‘Can’t you just gracefully accept my win? We can tap into Stella from the Disputed Lands. It does work.’
‘That’s questionable,’ he says. ‘Since we haven’t managed to reach anyone.’
‘You said Allen has an ART that isn’t connected to the system. Could you give Stella the number, so she can dial it in?’ I turn around and Mace is watching me with wide eyes that scream No, no, no.
Two points for Ellie, I think. A facial expression other than frowning – again.
‘Don’t worry, Mace,’ Stella says. ‘I’m aware of Allen’s illegal little ART and his beans. I just chose not to report this to Central Command. In my assessment, it didn’t pose a threat to The Citadel’s security.’
How did Mace even think that what Allen was doing would go unnoticed?
Stella observes everything. There are surveillance sensors everywhere.
Just because not every single small thing is reported to Central Command, it doesn’t mean that Stella doesn’t take note of it.
It is what it is. ‘Access number?’ I say, nudging him again.
Mace recites it and after three chimes, a voice comes through the speakers. The ones that are probably inbuilt in the rocks. ‘Yes?’ The voice is low and metallic.
‘Allen, it’s me, Mace.’
‘Phew. I didn’t know who was ringing.’
‘You probably shouldn’t have answered, if you were smart,’ Mace replies.
Allen guffaws. ‘Where are you guys?’
‘Just confirm your position,’ Mace says, and Allen recites a string of coordinates. I hand him back his ART and he taps something on it. ‘Brilliant. Stay where you are. We’re coming.’
‘Is Ellie with you, then?’ Allen asks, but Mace asks Stella to end the conversation.
‘Let’s go,’ he says.
Mace is hurrying ahead and has already found another reason for grumbling. I catch ‘completely unnecessary’ and ‘I was right.’
It slowly dawns on me that, no matter what I do, I will never be good enough for Mr Perfection.
Despite having years of experience of not being good enough, coming from Mace, it hurts a bit.
We pass through a group of close-knit trees and arrive in a clearing.
Xandra is sitting on a fallen log, impatiently rocking her foot up and down.
She’s still wearing her stunning silver high-platform shoes, not dissimilar from mine.
They’re a bit scratched, but she doesn’t look much the worse for wear.
Unlike me. I feel like a feral animal that has been wandering through the jungle for weeks.
My toes are aching; my thighs are burning; I could possibly eat half a horse, and I have to brace myself to confront the rest of the team. And find a way to stay on it.
Allen and Julian spring up to meet Mace, and they slap each other on the back. I follow a short distance behind, giving everyone an awkward wave, which no one but Xandra seems to notice.
She chooses not to return it, instead looking Mace up and down. ‘That took you long enough,’ she says.
‘Don’t tell me,’ he replies gruffly.
‘We were the first out of The Citadel,’ says Julian, smacking Mace on the shoulder. ‘How did you rank?’
‘Fourth,’ Mace says.
‘We’ll have to do better than that,’ Xandra says. ‘Team Silver will be breathing down our necks.’
‘And you think I don’t know that?’ Mace replies.
Highly competitive. Just as I assumed – they aren’t Top Team because they lack ambition or determination. These people are all about scores and ranking well.
Allen looks up at me, his eyebrows knitting. You good?
I shrug. Well enough. Considering the circumstances.
‘So, it’s final, huh?’ says Julian, looking at me up and down. ‘She’s on our team.’