Chapter 18 Preparing for Battle (1/2)
Seeing the Acadees, Arran froze in fear He had dreaded this ht he was finally safe, it had arrived
”We need to warn Grand Fei said, her voice hushed but filled with urgency
”Follow me,” Amar said ”I know a faster way to thefor an answer, he started walking toward one of the side streets, with the other two following closely behind hi so in sight of the Acadees would draw their attention And that, he kneould bring disaster
They turned a corner and, as if by unspoken agreement, all three of them immediately set off at a run Aates of the monastery in less than a third of the time it would have taken otherwise
When they arrived, covered in sweat and panting frouard looked at them suspiciously ”Initiates? What are you—”
”No time,” A Now”
”Granduard shook his head ”I don't knohere he is You'd need to check with—”
”The training hall!” Jiang Fei said ”Adept Kadir will know!”
They started running again, ignoring the guard's protests
When they arrived at the training hall some moments later, they took only a roup of initiates As they approached him he noticed them, and im of this? The three of you are supposed to—”
”The Academy is here!” Arran blurted out
Ied ”Follow !”
Before he finished the sentence he had already started to run, and the three initiates hurried behind hiazes of the other initiates in the training hall
Just
Bang!
With a wave of Adept Kadir's hand, the door of thehe ran straight into the hall At any other time such a display of poould have impressed Arran, but now, all he could feel was panic
Bang!
The door of Windsong's chamber exploded, and Adept Kadir stormed inside, Arran and the other two initiates only seconds behind hian to speak
”Acade!” Adept Kadir called out
Instantly, Master Zhao rose ”We need to prepare for battle!”
Arran's mouth nearly fell open in surprise Battle? They wouldn't flee?
”Windsong,” Master Zhao continued ”You and I head to the gate right now With soet the initiates to safety”
Windsong silently rose, a complicated expression on his face Then, his body tensed as if he was straining in effort, and he waved his hand
Suddenly, Arran felt as if chains of air wrapped around hier move He looked at the others and discovered that they too see,” Adept Kadir called out, eyes wide ”What are you doing?”
”Thereplied, his voice grave ”We will give them the apprentice”
”You betrayed us?” Master Zhao asked Arran could see that he was frozen in place as well, but his expression was calm and his voice icy
”I had no choice, old friend,” Windsong said ”I could have hidden your apprentice for a time, but eventually, the Academy would have found out When that happened… They would have come not just for him, but also for me, and my students”
”The Academy killed your master, your wife, your brothers,” Master Zhao said ”For years, you fought them by my side Yet now, you choose to bend the knee?”
Windsong's face fell ”I was young at the tier, after they…” He paused briefly, then continued ”But the truth is that ht that cala your lot in with theer ”You think if you help them, they'll spare your sorry life?!”