Alena’s first glance revealed all she needed to know. The assailant was as old as her, which meant he, too, was on university track. Between that fact and the quality of his clothing, Alena could imagine his story well enough.
As Ren struggled hopelessly to escape, Alena noticed the crest sewn onto the taller boy’s clothing. She made out what looked like a tree, but couldn’t catch the rest.
A named family, then.
She didn’t recognize the crest, which meant the family wasn’t from around here.
So he was from a wealthy and influential family, and he picked on smaller students his first day of class.
Alena didn’t think they’d be friends.
But she couldn’t help but notice the full coin purse bulging in his front pants pocket.
She stepped into the circle, drawing the new student’s attention.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Who are you?” she echoed.
The new student tossed Ren to the side. Ren, never one to let an opportunity for escape pass, scrambled out of the circle. No one stopped him. A far more interesting spectacle was developing. Alena felt their attention focus on her. The crowd smelled blood, and no small number probably hoped it was hers.
“I’m Niles.” The new student puffed out his chest, displaying his crest for all to see. He clearly expected everyone to recognize it.
Alena shrugged, then turned away. Niles had let Ren go. There was no reason to linger.
She heard his step, felt the pressure of the air change as he lunged toward her, his hand outstretched to stop her. She’d half-expected the move, half-hoped for it.
Alena shifted her stance slightly. Niles missed her arm and stumbled beside her, their bodies colliding awkwardly. Her hand sneaked into his pocket at the moment of impact, then back into hers. Right in front of everyone, and no one noticed.
Niles stumbled as he tripped against her, his face turning crimson. Once he found his balance, he turned on her. “I asked you a question!”
Alena looked up at him, looking bored.
Niles had some martial training. Enough that he believed he was unmatched in an academy fight. She imagined any students who could challenge him lost intentionally. Few interfered willingly with named families.
The air pressure changed again. Alena noted it and turned aside as Niles threw a straight jab at her torso.
She didn’t bother to hit him. She carried no weapon, and at best, her punches would annoy him. Far better to let him defeat himself.
He passed her, off balance, and she again made for the edge of the circle.
Niles rushed her, finally desperate enough to make a real mistake. He was expecting her to twist away, his arms extended wide to tackle her.
Alena ducked underneath his hands, extending one of her feet across his shins. Niles fell.
He caught himself well, his training asserting itself.
Alena worried she might have a real fight on her hands. Niles looked angry enough to murder, and she’d just demonstrated the extent of her martial abilities. She was saved by the ringing of the academy bell.
The assembled students released a collective groan, but the circle broke apart and drifted toward the academy. Niles, his audience and his available time vanishing, waved her away as though she was nothing. No one believed he meant it, but no one argued against a named family, either.
Niles joined the others, muttering and laughing with his new friends. She had little doubt they were speaking about her, but she didn’t mind. Only a fool sought the approval of academy students.
Alena waited until they were well on their way, then followed them through the academy gate.
She let her fingers brush against the coin purse now resting in her own pockets. She guessed there were at least twenty pieces in there.
She grinned, happy for the first time since she’d been woken up. Today was shaping up to be a good day.
3
Brandt stared into the perfect darkness where the passage had once been.
It was impossible that the passage could be closed. That level of affinity didn’t exist. How was the cost paid? No one could move that much stone.
Impossible. The thought echoed in his mind.
And yet here they were, sealed inside a mountain.
This darkness had a weight that settled on his shoulders and pressed against his chest. The dark seemed alive as his eyes and mind searched for anything to latch onto. He imagined that they weren’t alone, that the perfect dark had spawned creatures of nightmare.
Ana’s tentative movement beside him brought him back to reality. He hadn’t even checked to see if she was hurt. “Brandt?”
“Yes?”
“I hope the gates reject your soul.”
“I know.”
He couldn’t let despair rule his thoughts. He’d gotten them into this, but he was certain he could get them out. Sure, the situation looked grim, but they’d been in tight spots before.
Maybe not this tight, though.
The rest of their squad knew their approximate location, but Brandt didn’t hold out any hope for a rescue. Even if the squad climbed the cliff and found the first cave, they might not find the sealed passage.
Gates below, even if they found the passage and somehow guessed what had occurred, it wouldn’t matter. Kyler had their strongest stone affinity, and he didn’t come close to having the power to reopen that passage. No one did.
His thoughts always circled back to the impossibility of their situation. He struggled to accept their predicament, because it couldn’t be real.
He shook his head. He needed to think. Impossible or not, here they were. If he wanted to breathe fresh air again, he needed to apply himself. He’d never met a challenge he couldn’t overcome.
Brandt reached for his supplies. They needed light.
“What are you doing?” Ana asked.
“Lighting a torch.”
“Is that wise? If this cave is sealed, you’ll be using up our air.”
He hadn’t thought of that. His hands stopped before they could spark the flint he carried. “I think it’s necessary. No rescue is coming, and we need to see to have any chance of escape.”
He waited. He could
