Page 60 of Tender Thorns
“A stupid rock I found when I was a kid,” she answers dismissively. “Where’s my dagger?”
“I’m sure you got me,” I concede, if only so she will let it go.
“Nuh-uh, don’t you baby me. Check my dagger,” she insists.
“It’s probably gone.”
“Gone where?”
“I’m sure it would have been destroyed when I scorched the ring to kill the snakes.”
“You didn’t tell me that part!”
“That part wasn’t important.”
“It is if youconvenientlydestroyed the evidence of me stabbing you.”
“I’ll let you stab me now if you’ll forget about the knife,” I offer.
“I’m not going to just stab you!” she shouts, then grabs her head while squeezing her eyes shut.
“I’ll see if Kage will go look for it, but you need to rest.” My tone is harsher than I intended, but it’s evident she’s hurting, and arguing with me isn’t making it better.
“Fine,” she grumbles and turns away from me. This is going to be a long few days. I don’t plan on letting her out of my sight until I know all the toxins are out of her system and she’s healed. If I had my way, I’d probably never let her out of this damn room again. Seeing her lifeless in my arms once was more than enough.
BRIAR
The institute is abuzz, and for once, it doesn’t have anything to do with me or someone winding up dead. At least I hope it doesn’t.
“What’s going on?” I whisper to Kage, whose shoulder brushes against mine as we walk toward combat. If there’s one good thing that came from the snake incident, it’s Kage’s willingness to be closer to me. Sure, he’s covered in fabric from his neck down, including gloves over his hands to make sure there’s no accidental touches, but it’s a start. Now if I could just get him and Ziv to trust that his ability won’t affect me any more than any of the others I’ve been tested against, then we’d really be getting somewhere.
“I don’t know.” He glances down at me. “They seem…excited about something.”
The food I just ate twists in my gut. In my experience, when people get this worked up about something, shit tends to go sideways.
The first indication I was right comes far too soon. Kage tugs open the door to the arena, and the silence is overwhelming. No one is sparring or training, no one is even moving as they stare up at the judges’ tables. Syrinx is front and center, her height and willowy figure standing out, even among the other instructors lined up beside her.
“This can’t be good,” I mutter as a few other novices enter the ring with us, taking up positions in the sand.
I scan the crowd, looking for my fallen, but I don’t see Ziv anywhere—not with the instructors and not on the field. The sick feeling in my stomach intensifies. “Where’s Ziv?” I question out loud, even though I know Kage won’t have the answer. He’s been with me all morning.
“As I’m sure you have all heard, Ivy is set to receive quite an honor.” The smirk on the headmistress’ lips reminds me of a hungry wolf. I suppress the urge to look away when I realize why her smile seems so off. She has way too many teeth, and all the ones on the sides seem to be pointed, like little daggers.
I still have no idea what honor she’s talking about, but anything that makes her this happy can’t be good.
“I expect you all to show our guest your best.” I scan the line of instructors again, but all the faces are familiar, so I’m guessing whoever she’s talking about isn’t here yet. “Let’s get to work.” Syrinx dismisses the crowd, and the excited murmurs pick up again as the novices begin to break apart for training.
I’m tempted to ask someone who is coming, but the need to find Ziv is more important. “I’m going to check the other room.”I hook my thumb over my shoulder to point at the door to the smaller ring.
Kage nods and begins the trek through the sand with me.
“It seems like everyone knows who’s coming but us,” I observe.
“I know. It almost feels intentional,” he agrees.
“Do visitors come here often?”
“Not in the two years I’ve been here.”
