Part 17 (1/2)

Not another word, Dulcea interrupted, her voice trembling.

Valerie saw the tears standing in Dulceas eyes, and guilt hit her like a punch in the stomach. Dulcea really cared about them, and they had scared her. Despite all that, she hadnt so much as threatened to send them away. Valerie knew she had been ungrateful, repaying Dulceas kindness by sneaking away without talking to her first. Im going to make this up to you, she murmured to Dulcea before heading up the stairs to her room.

That night, it took Valerie a long time to fall asleep. By the light of Cyruss flower, she read her prophecy over and over until she knew it by heart, but she still couldnt glean any clues from it. When she shut her eyes, the golden letters floated behind her eyelids. But as much as Henrys fate preoccupied her, the last image that she saw before she entered the world of dreams was a pair of yellow eyes.

Chapter 27.

The next day, after getting grudging permission from Dulcea, Valerie walked to the Guild of the Knights of Light while Cyrus and Kanti went to the Guardians to alert them to the fact that Zunya was projecting to Earth. After much discussion, they realized that they couldnt tell anyone that Zunya might be after Valerie without revealing that she was from Earth.

For protection, Valerie carried her sword, Pathos, with her everywhere she went. She noticed people looking at her strangely as she carried the naked weapon around the streets of Silva. When she arrived at the Knights Guild, it was bustling as usual, full of Conjurors of all ages practicing their skills and taking lessons.

She wandered around and soon found Gideon teaching what looked like a karate cla.s.s full of Knight apprentices a few years younger than she was. He nodded to acknowledge that she had arrived, and motioned her to join in. He said little, demonstrating graceful martial arts forms that the cla.s.s mimicked.

She fell into a rhythm, and her body moved naturally through the forms. She experimented with allowing her power to supplement her strength, and then stopping the flow of magic so that she was relying only on her own body and mind.

All too soon, Gideon bowed to the cla.s.s. Excellent. You are all progressing well. Practice what you have learned each day, and I will see you next week, he said in a soft, low voice that hummed with power.

As the cla.s.s departed, Valerie approached him. Thank you for letting me join your cla.s.s today.

You have a talent for this, he replied.

Because of my power, you mean.

Not only your power. You have the spirit of a great warrior, one who uses physical strength as a last resort to solve problems. She flushed, deeply flattered yet embarra.s.sed by his compliment. But you did not come here today to take this cla.s.s. What would you like to ask me?

First, I wanted to tell you that yesterday I saw Zunya. I heard that hes a wanted criminal, and I thought the Knights should know that hes in Arden.

Gideons face darkened. This explains much. We have suspected that someone has been spying, watching the Knights every move. It may be that Zunya has been observing us undetected. I will tell Kellen what you have seen. Then, seeing the expression on Valeries face, he said, Is there something else?

Three days ago, my friends and I were attacked in the forest by Zunyas gang. We were outnumbered, but as I fought them, my power rushed through me, and I thought I could take them all on and win”easily. But then, the leader brought out a power-eater. It didnt even touch me, but when he turned it toward me, all of my magic abandoned vanished. It was scary. I was defenseless, and I realized how vulnerable I am without my power, not only to Zunya and his gang, but to anyone or anything that could take my power.

You are wise to realize this so young.

I wondered if you could teach me to fight both with and without my power. I want to know that I can defend myself, even if my power fails me. I wouldnt take up too much of your time. Would you give me permission to partic.i.p.ate in the cla.s.ses you teach”even if I decide that I dont want to become a Knight?

Yes. And my cla.s.ses are open not only to you, but to anyone who wishes to learn combat for self-defense.

Thank you. I think my friends might come, too.

I will tell you this, because I can sense that your spirit is old, though your flesh is young: a battle is brewing. The Fractus attack us more frequently, and they even dare to attack us in the heart of Arden, not only on the borders. There will come a time when we will need everyone who is able to defend our land. It would be my honor to train you and your friends as warriors.

She was excited that she would have the chance to train with a teacher as skilled as Gideon, because the thought of Sanguina and Zunya having such powerful allies was chilling.

She was determined to make the most of every day to build her fighting skills, so she lingered at the Guild until dinner so that she could attend Gideons afternoon cla.s.s on swordplay. The cla.s.s was made up of craftsmen who were older and more experienced than the apprentices in the cla.s.s that she had attended in the morning. Gideon patiently taught her the basics of how to use her sword while the rest of the cla.s.s sparred.

Someday, youll have to tell me how you inherited the Edge of Pathos, he said. Its last owner was a master of the craft. She was a fine warrior and an exceptional person. Hearing the obvious emotion in his voice, she looked up at him in surprise, but before she could ask him about the swords history, he moved on to correct the way that another student held the hilt of his sword in his hand.

By the end of the cla.s.s, Valeries s.h.i.+rt was soaked with sweat and her arm and leg muscles were knotted and tight. Gideon had given her a temporary sheath for Pathos, so that she wouldnt accidentally hurt anyone when she carried it around. Having the elegant sword strapped to her side made her feel like a warrior, and dreams of rescuing Henry in a duel with Sanguina flashed through her mind. In her imagination, she fearlessly, effortlessly defeated her arch enemy, but she knew that the reality of fighting Sanguina would be much more difficult.

As Valerie headed back to the dorm, she remembered to pick some pink flowers from the edge of the forest for Dulcea. It wasnt much, but she wanted her to know that she hadnt forgotten what she had done. It was easy to apologize to someone, but it was much harder to truly earn forgiveness. Valerie didnt want to be like the people who had disappointed her in the past, so she vowed to show Dulcea that she meant it when she said she was sorry.

Dulcea accepted her gift graciously, but after a quick dinner, she sternly reminded her three little fugitives that they had to clean the bathrooms before bed. Starting at the top, the three began the arduous process of disinfecting showers, toilets, and sinks.

I knew Dulcea wasnt one to cross, but I never imagined shed make us do this, Cyrus said disgustedly as he pulled a hairball out of a shower drain.

I gotta admit, I never knew how spoiled I was until now, Kanti said, scrubbing a toilet. I never thought Id see the day when I got this close to a strangers skid marks.

Valerie was tempted to laugh. This was definitely not the nastiest bathroom she had ever cleaned. That honor went to the time she lived with four boys in a foster home that was so filthy that she waited to go to school to use the toilet. When her foster mother finally made her help clean the bathroom, she had almost gagged. Compared to that, these bathrooms were hardly dirty at all. On Valeries first day on the Globe, Kanti had explained to her that the bathrooms were completely sterilized by magic every three days, so at least she knew that not a lot of dirt and germs had acc.u.mulated yet.

Guys, you dont get it. Dulceas not only mad at us, shes hurt. We really scared her. And with good reason”look what happened to us. We werent gone for more than a few hours before Shade attacked, Valerie said.

I know. I thought about that. And I feel really bad, Cyrus said, repentant.

Me, too. And this is definitely a punishment Ill never forget, Kanti added.

I think thats the point, Valerie replied. But lets take our minds off the grime. I had an idea I wanted to ask you guys about.

Whats up? Kanti asked.

I hate the thought of waiting around while Azra looks for answers. So I was thinking that I could make Thai one of those protective charms so that no one from the Globe could find him except for me. At least Id be doing something, not sitting around waiting for Azra to find a solution. And I dont want Sanguina hunting Thai down like she hunted Henry, Valerie said, her fingers clenching into a fist at the thought of her brother still being tortured by Sanguina, while she, his own sister, couldnt do a thing to stop it.

Sure, we can do that. There are some caves on the southern edge of the forest that have the crystals that are needed to make the charm. We can collect some tomorrow, Cyrus said.

Ive got a cla.s.s tomorrow morning that I cant skip, Kanti said, obviously disappointed to be missing out on the adventure. You guys should wait till Im done”strength in numbers, after all.

How will we ever survive without you to protect us? Cyrus said sarcastically.

Kanti was about to snap back at him, but Valerie interjected, I dont want to delay this, even by half a day. If I wait too long, he could be lost to me, like Henry.

Kantis expression softened. I understand. Anyway, at least I can help after you find the crystal. I know someone back home who can help craft the charm for it, she offered.

Thanks, Kanti. Its frustrating, after a lifetime of wis.h.i.+ng for a family, to find out I have a brother, but I can't help him, or even talk to him. I cant wait until we find out where Sanguina is hiding so I can crush her and get the charm she made to block Henry from being found.

Now we have to convince Dulcea to let us go, Cyrus said gloomily.

Ill talk to her. Maybe its time I shared my secret”I think after everything I put her through, she has a right to know.

That night, after Valerie finished scrubbing the last bathroom, she went to Dulceas room and quietly knocked on the door. When Dulcea called her in, Valerie entered and breathed in the sweet smell that always clung to the room, a welcome scent after working in bathrooms for the past three hours.

Dulcea was busy in her kitchen, carefully painting a layer of chocolate onto plump, juicy cherries. When she saw that it was Valerie entering, she looked up at her with eyes that were no longer full of anger, but without the unquestioning trust that had been there when they first met.

Good timing. The chocolate on these cherries needs to set, Dulcea said, licking some off of her index finger. Whats up?