She ran through her usual morning routine, taking comfort in the normalcy of a morning with her family. Whenever she lost focus, her mind returned to the scenes from the night before. So she threw herself into everything, from brushing her hair to dressing.
But her focus failed often. At breakfast, her mind wandered, and her food remained untouched. Mom caught her staring off in the distance. “Alena, is everything all right?”
She nodded, hating the lie. She should tell her parents. They deserved the truth. Perhaps they would have some guidance for her.
But the truth endangered her and them. Lying to them kept them safe.
The two siblings finished preparing for the day and stepped into the streets on their way to academy.
It didn’t take long to hear about the events of last night. The news was on every tongue. Everyone in town had an idea, a theory, or a rumor to spread. By the time they had walked five blocks, Alena had learned that the wolfblades had fought the city guard. That Zane had been a thief pursued by the emperor. That the wolfblades had torn a building from its foundation. The only fact everyone could agree on was the truth: three wolfblades, four city guards, and Zane Arrowood had died violently.
Alena watched Jace. His first reaction was disbelief. The wolfblades couldn’t be killed, not by anything happening in Landow. She guided him forward before he could raise a scene in a square where a particularly bold young man was claiming the wolfblades hadn’t been that strong to begin with.
For once, she understood how her brother felt. The wolfblades had saved her life. They deserved nothing but respect.
Brother and sister walked in silence. With every step, Jace’s disbelief turned into acceptance. But acceptance grew into something darker. When they came in sight of the academy, Jace turned to Alena.
“He deserves to die.”
The vehement statement, uttered after so long a period of silence, made her jump. “Who?”
“Whoever killed the wolfblades.”
“I agree.”
“People like him, they don’t deserve to live.” Jace grabbed onto Alena’s hand. “I’m going to make sure of it. I’ll make sure that people who hurt others get what they deserve.”
Alena’s heart broke a little at that. Her brother was still so kind, because she heard the hurt underneath his threats. Would he be the same as he grew into a man? She was tempted to poke fun at him, but when she saw the seriousness on his face, she withheld her comments. Let the world crush his dreams. She, for one, would support him. “That’s noble of you,” she said. “I hope you still feel that way as you get older.”
“I will,” he vowed. “The wolfblades shouldn’t have died.”
Was it only yesterday that she had felt something similar? That she lived in a world where “should” mattered? Zane Arrowood, the city guard, and the wolfblades should be alive. Bayt should be alive. And she should have known to stay well enough alone.
As they approached the academy’s gate, Alena’s legs grew heavy.
This was her fault.
She was the one who had put the pieces in motion.
If she had never stolen the diamond, none of this would have happened.
She watched Jace walk in front of her, the picture of young justice. If the bandit did seek her out, Jace would put himself between her and the criminal, just like Ryder had.
She should run. Running kept her family safe. It guaranteed that Jace could grow up to become the warrior he dreamed of. She imagined turning right there, running away from Jace and Landow until everyone she loved was safe.
Then they turned the corner and the familiar walls of the academy reassured her. She was scared. She had let her emotions start to dictate her behaviors.
The bandit wouldn’t come after her. He had no reason to. So long as she kept her head down, she had no reason to worry. She needed to stay calm.
A small crowd had gathered inside the academy gates. With a sinking feeling, Alena guessed the cause.
She was right.
Niles stood there, surrounded by friends and those who wanted to be his friend. His eyes were rimmed with red, but he stood tall.
She studied him, drawing her conclusions quickly.
He knew his father was dead. But he had come to academy anyway. He wasn’t the same boy he had been yesterday. He was the head of the Arrowood family now. The sudden responsibility stiffened his back. She stopped to listen. One younger girl was asking him what he would do next.
He looked out over the crowd, meeting many of them by eye. Alena cast her eyes down, unable to meet his gaze.
“My family was given a task by the emperor himself. I plan to follow the orders of my liege. My father was investigating illegal activity in Landow. I will do the same.”
Had Niles said those words a week ago, Alena would have classified them as an empty boast. Now she heard the determination in his voice. Last week he had been a spoiled child. This morning he was a young man with a purpose. Could the transformation last?
The crowd also noticed the determination, in their own way. They leaned in, drawn toward the power of his belief.
“Won’t that be dangerous?” one girl asked.
Niles nodded. “My father was a far stronger martial artist than me. But I will train to meet the challenge. I have the notes from his investigation, so I can pick up where he left off.”
The others kept drawing closer, wanting to know more about what had happened. Alena snuck away, ashamed to even be near Niles.
And his words worried her. He presented a new challenge. If what he said about the notes was true, it wouldn’t be long before he was following the same thread of investigation his father had,
