Page 69 of Loyalty

He grinned. “Also true. But I must acknowledge that the other schools are filled with capable warriors. It would be foolish to underestimate them, even with my Blade confidence.”

“Part of strength is understanding your opponents’ assets.”

Kort rocked back on his heels and flashed me a wicked grin. “I still think we can win.”

Before I could tell him that his confidence gave me confidence, there was a murmur in the crowd as everyone shifted to look to the top of the staircase. Admiral Zoran had materialized with his serious adjunct by his side. My heart tripped with anticipation, even though I knew we would not be starting the battle yet.

“Welcome to the battle of the schools,” Admiral Zoran boomed, his voice deep and resonant as it filled the spacious hall. “Each year, the four schools, who are newly infused with fresh cadets from the trials, engage in a competition. This is not a test like the maze. There are no deadly challenges. There is not independent glory. It is a test of how well your school can work together to achieve the goals.”

He took a breath and let his gaze roam across the eager, upturned faces. “This year, since the maze was fraught with treachery, we have decided to make the battle one of endurance, instead of speed or danger. You will not finish this battle in one day.” His gaze landed on me for a beat. “And any handicaps will quickly disappear.”

A low rumble of curiosity passed through the cadets.

“My advice is to work with your school and not for yourself. It will take everyone to succeed.”

Then he stepped aside and four Drexian instructors stepped up, one from each of the schools. They each held a black envelope high in the air.

The Irons instructor, a Drexian with a grizzled beard and shrewd, blue eyes, cleared his throat. “Your task is inside these envelopes. Each school has the same task and the same goal. I suggest you take a moment to understand the challenge before you rush to complete it.”

The Wings instructor was one I did not know, but like the Iron, the lines on his face told me he had seniority. “You will be given your envelope in your school. One cadet must serve as the leader for your school and will take possession of the information held within.”

More murmuring. I eyed the Blades instructor, a broad-shouldered, but weathered Drexian I had seen observing our class in the sparring ring. He lowered his arm and stepped back while the other Drexians started to part the crowd and walk down the stairs.

Cadets began to peel off and stride toward the archways that held their insignia carved in the stone overhead. I remained standing with Kort by my side, his body almost vibrating with excitement.

“We do not have to wait long,” I reminded him. “And it sounds like this is a challenge that does not benefit from speed.”

“How can anything not benefit from speed?” Kort frowned, but quickly shook off his dark mood. “But the Master did say that handicaps would not be a factor. He must have meant us.”

“You were right. We have as much of a chance as any of the schools.”

Kort folded his arms as we watched the hall empty and cadets stream under the archways leading to their schools. I allowed myself the briefest glance at Jess as she and Morgan hurried toward Strategy. The fact that she would be surrounded by loyal friends gave me some comfort. I caught myself smiling and quickly snapped my head away from her—and right to Dom.

He stood under the Blades arch with his back pressed to the wall and his feet crossed in front of him. He was also smiling, and I knew he’d been watching me. He’d caught me glancing at Jess, and he looked so pleased that I could almost believe that his soul wasn’t twisted and mangled by revenge.

But I knew better. I’d watched him kill a Drexian. I’d seen the glint of hate in his eyes as he’d told me that he was going to take what I loved. Fear iced my veins as I suspected that he’d discovered it. He’d discovered the one thing I cared about above all else.

I curled my hands into fists. Dom might be determined to hurt me and anyone he thought I cared for, but I would kill him before he could get close to Jess. I would break him into pieces before I let him touch her again.

Chapter

Fifty-Two

Jess

Iwas glad to be away from the crowded main hall and back in the familiar corridor of the School of Strategy, with dim light from the wall sconces flickering across the curved, obsidian ceiling. Upper-class Assassins surrounded the instructor holding the black envelope, with one tall, imposing Drexian cadet taking possession of it and giving the teacher a salute by thumping one fist across his chest.

“Once I have read the challenge, we will divise a strategy,” he announced.

“As if the Assassins would approach a task any other way,” Morgan whispered, so that only I could hear her.

Even though this wasn’t the trials and there wasn’t as much on the line, my palms were clammy, and my heart thumped unevenly. That might have been from the Drexian who’d approached me in the hall and adjusted my blade, but I didn’t want to think my head could be turned so easily and so soon after…

I shook off thoughts of Torq. I didn’t owe him any waiting period. He’d dumped me. I could go out and bang the first guy I saw, not that I would. It had taken me over twenty-two years to find one guy I was willing to sleep with, although I sincerely hoped it wouldn’t take that long to find a second.

I refocused my attention on the upper-class Assassin as he opened the envelope and pulled out a stiff white card. His brow wrinkled as he read it, and we all held our breath waiting to hear what it said.

He finally blew out a breath. “We don’t have to go into the Restless Sea this time.”

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