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)
“You can have it back,” Raptor replies. He flicks through the book and a flash of lurid red catches my eye. The Taurian rips out the offending page and then hands the book back to Hemmen. Kipp snatches the page from Raptor.
We all turn to Arrod.
“I didn’t see anything,” Arrod says, sliding his book down to Raptor. “Nothing at all. Is it true, though?”
I say nothing. I am a thief, aren’t I? I stole a ring for Aspeth last year. Our Five got demoted to repeaters for breaking into the caverns. I can’t even protest the statement.
Raptor just opens the book, rips out the graffiti, and then holds it out to Kipp to take. “Do you think it’s true?”
Arrod studies my face. Then he shakes his head. “No. She’s the one always nagging us about the rules. Wouldn’t make sense for her to steal.”
I want to kiss him in that moment. “Thank you,” I say softly. “For believing in me.”
“I believe in you, too,” Raptor reminds me, tossing Arrod’s book back down on the table with a thump. The Taurian opens his own book and tears out the marked page, tossing it aside. Kipp grabs it, too, then rips a page out of his book as well.
“Don’t be jealous,” I joke.
Raptor shoots me a wild-eyed stare, jaw clenched, and I wonder at his mood again. Master Jay starts heading back to our table, and Raptor opens his book again, deliberately avoiding the chapter where he tore the page out. “We’ll talk about this on the weekend.”
Master Jay returns. “It’s the weather,” he announces. “The archivists say there are a great many beetles coming inside searching for moldy paper. They’re aware of the situation. There’s no need to be afraid.”
I’m not afraid—not of beetles anyhow. But I nod and open my book again, the words a blur in front of my face.
Who’s coming after me and why?
Twenty-Nine
Gwenna
Starting on Firstday, we’ll be heading into the tunnels for our first time,” Master Jay says later that day as he hoists his weekend pack on his shoulders. “Rest the next two days, study your glyphs, and then be ready. We’ll start out in the training tunnels at the top of the Everbelow and work our way downward as we progress in our studies.”
“Yes, Master,” we all reply, as expected. Well, except for Raptor. He never refers to Jay as “Master,” just addresses him directly. I think it stings his pride that he must answer to one of his peers. It makes me wonder again what was so terrible about his actions that they demoted him. Taurians are some of the hardest workers the guild has, to the point that their success makes the humans jealous.
Then again, maybe that’s the problem.
I head into the kitchen after Master Jay leaves, preparing myself a plate of food. There’s a thick barley soup full of vegetables, but I leave that for Raptor, as I know he doesn’t eat meat and cow’s milk cheese like the rest of us. There’s a heavy bag on a hook hanging by the door. It must be Marta’s. Judging from the rectangles pressing against the side of her pack, it’s full of books. She must love to read as much as Hemmen does if she makes the effort to carry around such heavy tomes, what with a bad back and all.
Marta smiles shyly at me as she wipes some of the plates clean. “I made extra food for all of you.”
“You’re so thoughtful. Thank you.” I beam at her and fill my plate with slices of bread, cold meats, and a few wedges of cheese. “You take good care of us.”
“Just doing my job.” She smiles again, her cheerful expression fading as the other students enter the kitchen. She ducks her head and picks up her heavy pack, scurrying out. Poor Marta.
Raptor immediately heads to the big pot of soup, lifting the lid and sniffing. His tail flicks and he sighs in pure bliss. Then he turns to look at us. “Who wants a bowl?”
“The rest of us are going to eat the meat and cheese,” I say loudly, gesturing at the food spread on the table for us by Marta. “You need your strength. Eat as much of it as you like.”
“But I like soup,” Hemmen says.
“And you can eat all of it when it’s chicken soup,” Arrod says, stepping in. He loops an arm around Hemmen’s neck and rubs his knuckles on the other man’s hair. “Let the big guy eat whatever that mess is.”
“Barley. And vegetables.” Raptor takes out a bowl and hesitates, ladle in hand. He glances at us. “You’re sure?”
Kipp hops on the table and grabs a handful of nuts, showing what he’s going to eat. I glance at Hemmen and hold the plate I’ve prepared out to him.