Page 91 of To No End

“What is that word you keep calling me?” I questioned, showing more intrigue than I cared to admit. I had tried to find the translation in the library but my search revealed nothing.

He responded to me without so much as a glance over his shoulder, his answer echoing across the stone walls and ceiling.

“Maybe I’ll tell you someday. Maybe I won’t. It’s more fun this way.”

Over the next handful of weeks, we all trained harder than ever before. Each of us put in the work with Saryn, Theory, and one another. The snide remarks had come to an end, and I had to admit I was a bit relieved that Trace and I had come clean about our history. The stares and whispers were finally gone.

I’d be lying if I said the thoughts of that Vesper girl with Varro hadn’t occupied my mind more times than I cared to admit. It was an unwanted distraction, but I was too nervous to ask him about it since I’d then have to confess to spying.

Saryn finally showed hints of being impressed with us. Gia was sustaining her shifts for longer and longer periods of time. Cairis and Nori could have been a sideshow with their elemental manipulation. Trace finally got the ale he requested. As I sipped my cup at dinner, it was bitter with memories of the tavern.

Our formations and combat drills in the flight valley were much improved. It had become second nature, weaving between one another, playing to one another’s strengths, shielding each other’s weaknesses.

As of late, I’d gone easy on myself when it came to the Vespers. Far less torture meant my sleep cycle had returned to normal and I no longer needed nightly visits from Nori.

I always knew when Trace was with a Vesper. The shrieks and bellows of unrelenting pain echoed down the hallways, impossible to ignore. But it was never the sound of Trace screaming.

Growing up with a father like his, and as a black cloak, I’m sure it was all second nature and I prayed I’d never see the horrors of what he was truly capable of. But if he was going to be on someone’s side, I was grateful it was ours. I’d never want to be on the other end of his blade when his hazel eyes went to that haunted, unfeeling place.

It was strange that the Order wanted us to completely forget who we were, but the lives we had left behind were our strongest motivations to become the darkest, most terrifying versions of ourselves. I know that’s why I struggled the most—because before Basdie, I had struggled the least. It’s why I had to train harder and longer because I had to dig deeper than they did to find that spark. The spark that would give me the energy, the anger, to carry forward when the exhaustion began to set in.

Stretching in the sparring room, I glanced down at my hands, inspecting the changes my efforts had wrought. They were bruised, calloused, and raw. Different from the soft, smoothhands that used to grip the reins of my horse as I explored my family’s land on spring days. Autumn was nearing its end, and I worried about how much snow we might see in the Elorns.

Trace warned us all that we must be prepared for setbacks in the flight field when the elements were against us. The thought of frost glistening across my wings as we plunged through the icy valley, wind cutting at our cheeks, seemed alluring, but I knew I’d regret the fantasy I’d built up in my head. Still, there would always be the warmth of the healing pools.

But once we left Basdie, resources such as this would not be guaranteed.

CHAPTER

28

Saryn and Theory gathered us in the common area, each of us standing anxiously around the long table where it lined the largest bookshelf.

“It’s time to test your skills beyond the hollow of Basdie.” Theory eyed each of us intently.

My stomach tightened into anxious knots at the prospect of getting to leave this place for any amount of time.

“You’re being given your first mission, which means you need to plan and prepare as a team,” Saryn clarified.

“You’re going with us, right?” Cairis questioned, and I knew the answer before either instructor spoke.

“No, you’re going alone. It’s time to put all this training to good use.”

I could see Nori fidgeting, picking at her nails, something she always did when her nerves were getting the best of her. If she wasn’t so damn good at healing herself, her fingertips would be a regular bloody mess.

Trace spoke up, looking confident and intrigued, “What’s the mission?”

Always all business with him.

“You’re going to be attending a party, a ball, in honor of a celestial event.”

Cairis chimed in obnoxiously before Theory could finish her thought, “A party? Ha, what kind of challenge is that?”

“Silence!” Theory looked like she was a second away from backhanding him. From that point on, the rest of us waited patiently in silence, listening carefully to each detail.

“The party is just the means to get you all onto the premises without being detected. A very wealthy family will be hosting, but their son, who resides on the estate, has been dealing in illegal goods under their noses. Your mission is to retrieve a particular box of items that he should not possess. The retrieval of said items is essential to your future missions. It goes without saying that failure is not an option.”

I inhaled deeply, letting the weight of her words settle in.

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