Page 53 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

Despite Kalix’s sour expression at Ruen’s words, I’m more than happy to do that. I quickly lift Kalix’s arm back off of my shoulders once more, bow, and escape into the corridor. My feet eat up the distance between the north tower and the Terra dining hall. What little the Darkhavens had managed to gift me in terms of information would need to be expanded and there was one person I knew well enough for the task.

Unfortunately, when I make it to the Terra dining hall, I find it strangely void of people. There are a few newer Terra scattered about, all of whom have paused their meals to look around in confusion. The one person I was hoping to find—Niall—isn’t there. Why had Ruen told me to go off and continue my schedule as normal when it’s clear from the lack of Terra available that a normal schedule on a day when battles are to commence isn’t usual at all?

With a defeated breath, I grab an apple from one of the carts and head back to the north tower. There’s no point in going to search for Niall when it’s clear he won’t be where I expect and I’d rather avoid running into Rahela or any of the other Mortal Gods that could make my life here within the Academy even more atrocious than it already is.

I’ve already done far too much wrong as it is in drawing attention to myself. Perhaps it’s my poor luck, but I’ve found that being in charge of the Darkhaven brothers—though an adequate barrier between myself and most of the other Terra—only leads to disruptions and trouble with the students. On my days off, now, as few and infrequent as they are, I avoid the majority of the student body while maintaining an appropriate level of reconnaissance.

In fact, now, as I bite into the flesh of my apple and chew thoughtfully, I peer up at the spires arching across the Academy’s rooftops. It’s been so long since I’ve exercised. Terra are usually too busy to do anything more than work, eat, and sleep only to wake up and do it all again the next day. It’s a wonder they haven’t reared up and demanded better treatment. Then again, I suppose that’s the true power of the Gods—to make those beneath them believe in their benevolence even as they stand on their backs to hoist themselves up.

A scowl overtakes my face at that reminder.

Finishing my apple, I dump the core into one of the garden beds lining the walkway and kick dirt over it before turning and heading in the opposite direction of my initial goal. Instead of heading back to the north tower, I think it might be better to check out the battle arena and find out just what to expect.

I find the arena, and to my surprise, the missing Terra. They are all hard at work, sweeping the stands, hanging banners over the edges of the arena walls with depictions of various Gods, and raking the dirt to level the ground. Several elder Terra shout to the younger ones and I dip back, sliding into the shadows of the tunnel entrance I decided to use versus the doors on the other side. I spot Dauphine towards the head of the stands where she directs several Terra to set up a black tent to block the sun’s rays.

There’s so much noise and work going on that it’s easy to duck my head and blend in with a passing group of Terra, all hurrying towards a staircase leading towards the upper stands with their hands full of cushions. I follow them in silence until they reach the top of the staircase and then quickly slide away from their line and into the shadows once more—taking care to keep my back to the walls as I observe the goings on.

A buzzing of anxiousness and urgency permeates every Terra that passes me, heads bent and eyes focused, as they go about their tasks. After several minutes of searching the arena, I finally spot what I’ve been looking for. Relief hits me as the top of Niall’s fuzzy brunette head comes close enough to nearly pass where I stand against the wall.

Snagging his arm, I quickly slap a palm over his mouth, halting the shout that tries to emerge from him before it can even begin. His eyes widen when he looks back and sees that I’m the culprit who’s interrupted his duties.

“Kiera!” He brightens. “Oh, it’s good to see you. Are you here for the preparations?”

“Uh … sort of.” I glance around once, ensuring that no one has noticed the two of us before I drag him after me, down the nearby stairwell and back into the darkened tunnel entrance. “Actually, I came for something else,” I admit once we’re alone.

Niall blinks his innocent eyes up at me as his brow furrows in confusion. Guilt pangs in my chest at having dragged him into my plans. Sure, it’s just information seeking, but if he gets into trouble because of me, then it’ll only work against me in the long run. Seeking out attention is not good, but from the way everyone—from the Darkhavens to the Terra—is acting, then these battles are a rather important part of the Academy and it’s strange enough that Regis hadn’t informed me.

“Are you feeling sick?” Niall asks. “Is that why you’ve just arrived?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m not sick,” I tell him. “I’m confused—what’s going on?”

This time, when Niall blinks at me it’s out of surprise. “You weren’t informed about the battles?” he asks. “Maeryn told me to expect them. I’d assumed your Masters had told you.”

“No, they didn’t,” I say. But of course, it shouldn’t come as any surprise. If it’s something they’re responsible for telling me, they don’t. Just like they hadn’t given me their class supplies until after I’d been caned in front of their class.

“Oh dear.” Niall lifts one hand to his mouth and bites down on his thumbnail as he looks to the ground before lifting his gaze back to me. He drops his hand once more and sighs. “Apparently, the Mortal God students in advanced classes are required to participate in one-on-one battles once a semester,” he explains. “All students and Terra are required to attend unless they’ve been given special permission.”

“Is it such a big deal?” I ask. “And why did no one inform the new Terra?”

“Well, there was a meeting with Dauphine and Hael after the first day of classes … erm, I remember you weren’t there,” Niall says hesitantly. Of course I hadn’t been. The first day of classes had ended as abruptly for me as it’d begun and I’d slinked back to my room in the north tower after being caned by that pompous bitchy Goddess. If the head Terra had called a meeting, then there’s no way I’d been informed. “It wasn’t a big meeting, but just the newest Terra were called. We were informed about the battles and a few other things concerning the exams of the students and then we were dismissed. Perhaps, they forgot to inform you since you weren’t found in the infirmary.”

A curse lingers on the tip of my tongue. This lack of information couldn’t be a coincidence, could it? Maybe it’s because they know I’m an assassin masquerading as a worshipful Terra, but it feels very suspicious. Had I decided not to go to the Darkhavens and then seek out Niall, where would I be now? Would I even have known enough to come to the arena?

“What happens to Terra who don't show up to watch the battles?” I ask, curious.

Niall’s eyes widen and his lips part with a sharp inhalation. “Oh no, please don’t try anything, Kiera,” he says, mistaking my question for one of intent. “I heard that even Mortal Gods are heavily punished if they have no reason for not being here. I can’t bear to think of what they’ll do to a Terra.”

I hold up a hand as his words come out in a rush and he reaches for me. “I wasn’t asking because I don’t plan on coming,” I assure him. “It was just curiosity.” And now, more than a suspicion. I clap Niall on the shoulder and force a pleasant smile. “Don’t worry about it. Of course I’ll be there.”

He holds his hands between us, cupping one over the other in an almost prayer-like gesture. “You swear it?” he presses.

"Yes,” I say readily with a nod. “I swear. Now, I’ve taken enough of your time.” I turn him towards the end of the tunnel and gently nudge him forward. “Go on with your duties and I’ll attend to mine.”

Niall takes a couple of steps under my urging but pauses and looks back. His lips are pinched and his gaze visibly mistrusting. I smile wider and wave to reassure him. Though he doesn’t say anything, Niall continues to peer back every few feet until he’s completely out of sight and only then do I drop the pretense.

Turning away from the direction Niall had gone, I lean back against the tunnel wall and cross my arms over my chest. If Dauphine and Hael were in charge of informing all newbie Terra of the battles, it is entirely possible they’d merely overlooked my absence due to the injury I’d sustained on that first day. However, it’s also possible that I’d been left out on purpose to ensure I’d be punished further. The only thing missing from these assumptions is motivation. Why would they do that? Why me?

Whatever the case, I’ll have to be even more wary of the people in this Academy—more than just the Mortal God and Gods themselves, but now even mortals pose a threat. All around me, I sense nothing but enemies. When will it ever stop?

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