Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
But I’m to have no privacy at all? Bathing and sleeping around a bunch of strange men? I don’t mean to be a bother, but I’m also uncertain about bunking with several strange males. I glance over at Master Jay, and he’s watching me with a hard stare. This is a test, I realize. The men get no special treatment, and if I demand it, I’ll be a problem.
“Well, I hope you like being around a stinky wench, because my bathing will be nonexistent while you lot are around. So no, I have no problem with the sleeping quarters,” I say. “And I hope no one snores.”
The blond man—our fifth, who goes by the name of Arrod—chuckles at my comment. He gives me a cocky grin. “Nothing could make you unpleasant as far as I’m concerned.”
“No one asked you,” Raptor says in a gruff, annoyed tone. “We’re here to pass the tests, not sniff one another’s mucking armpits.”
I give Arrod a flirty little wink, because I know how to handle men like him. They’re not serious about a woman, just testing the waters to see if they can get anywhere. Fending him off with a bit of casual teasing keeps me from making an enemy. But Raptor scowls deeper at my response, which is baffling. Maybe he doesn’t want any hookups while we’re fledglings. I understand it—and I’m of the same mind—but there’s no need to be stodgy.
“Set down your packs and we’ll eat dinner. Tomorrow is enrollment day, and after everyone has been officially recognized as my fledglings, your training will begin.” Master Jay turns on his heel and walks out of the room, and it’s clear he wants us to follow him.
I eye the line of beds, trying to decide the best spot to claim as mine. Which bunk offers the most privacy? Which bunk is farthest away from the street, just in case a random man dies on our doorstep? Raptor picks up a bag from the corner of the room and puts it on the bed closest to the double doors, and then Kipp hops over to the bed directly in the middle of the five. That leaves one bed between them, and Kipp’s expression makes it obvious that I’m to take that one.
Sandwiched between them means I’ll be as safe as possible, considering that Raptor is already fussing at Arrod for flirting with me. It’s very thoughtful of them, and I set my pack at the end of my narrow bed, claiming it. I flash them both grateful looks for thinking of me.
“Come on,” Raptor says, gesturing at the doors through which Master Jay just exited. “Let’s go get our lecture. I’m sure it’s going to be the first of many. Jay loves to hear the sound of his own voice.”
He’s not wrong. I’m seated between Kipp and Raptor again as we have a simple dinner in the kitchen of the dormitory house. There’s bread and cheese, fruit and nuts, and some roasted partridge meat that Hemmen immediately monopolizes for himself. As we eat, Master Jay drones on about his expectations for our group as we live in the nest and fledge under his command. We are to keep ourselves clean and tidy at all times. No guests for visiting. No overnight guests for certain. No thieving. No fornicating. We are to eat regular meals to keep up our strength, but not too much food so that we gain weight and are unable to compete physically with other teams. No fights in the dormitory. We are all to be amicable with one another and not complain.
I listen for a while, but as he continues to drone on with his expectations, I pay less attention. There’s a nestmaid working behind us—a woman assigned to the house for upkeep by the guild itself—and I know her. Marta is a young woman who has a bad back due to a mule kick when she was younger, and as a result, she gets tired easily. It makes me antsy to see the mess that the others are making as we sit in the kitchen. Arrod picks at his food and spills his water. Kipp nibbles on fruit and nuts, but it’s Raptor with the best manners. He’s meticulous as he eats platefuls of fruit.
Even so, the kitchen is quickly getting disordered, and I have to sit on my hands to not help as Marta works silently behind us, cleaning dishes. If I help her out, I’m establishing myself as a maid and not as a student. I can’t help. It pains me to sit back and do nothing, but I’m stuck.
The food is devoured and everyone eventually gets up from the messy table. “I will see you all in uniform in the morning,” Master Jay says. “No deviations from the standard. Be ready at dawn.”