Page 138 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

“I hid it by wrapping it around my leg.” He smirks.

“Sneaky.” I grin at him. “And the sword?”

“I found it.” He eyes my dagger. “And it seems that was not the only weapon lying around. Did I miss something in class while we were talking about Picking?”

I shake my head. “I can’t remember hearing anything about that either.” In combination with the way Livia was looking for something, accompanied by a rider, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Chapter

Forty

ARA

I washmy face in the stream Calix mentioned, relishing the cool water on my burning skin, and we fill up his waterskin. Yesterday was a slow start, but today is better so far, especially since we haven’t encountered any surprises.

Maybe I have been a little hasty there,I think, when I hear voices ahead of us, and I give Calix a sign to stay back.Ever since I saw Livia with that rider, my inner voice has been telling me to be careful.

Calix might be good at this outdoor stuff, but he’s awful at creeping around. He grimaces but complies.

The ground under my feet slopes upward into a small hill, and the voices come from behind it. I stick close to the trees. It’s already getting dark, making it easier not to be seen.

I get down on my hands and knees, wincing when a stick burrows into my knee. I’m sore from two nights on hard stonefloors, but I do my best to ignore it, crawling forward until I see what, or better, who is beneath me.

It is none other than Livia and the four runners she always hangs out with. I’m glad for my precautions now.

They sit around a magical fire, the violet and blue flames throwing eerie shadows on their faces and bodies.

Of course, Livia found a way around the magic ban.

“He won’t walk out of here alive,” Livia declares, and the others chuckle. I’m stunned. Not that I put it past her to kill another runner, but unlike Assessment, when behavior like that seems to be ignored, leadership does not condone something like that during Picking. Too much went into training us to have us then die uselessly due to murderous contestants.

I slowly crawl backward.

“He seems to have crossed quite a few people the wrong way,” Livia continues.

“I can’t believe they even offered to pay you for this,” another voice said. “When will we meet them?”

“Once I have found him.”

Oh great, Livia kills or intimidates for money now? Talk about making your passion your trade.But despite my grim humor, my gut twists. I have a bad, bad feeling about this.

I get back up when I am far enough away and hurry off in the direction I left Calix. A hand grabs me. I whirl around, my dagger aiming where the other person’s body has to be, but I meet steel instead.

“I’m happy to see you too,” Mariel’s voice hisses. I relax.

“Dammit, Mariel, I nearly killed you.”

“Not even close.” She giggles.

“Then she’s in good company, I’d say,” Calix grumbles.

“She tried to kill you, too?” Mariel asks, humor in her voice.

I huff. “You can’t sneak up on someone out here and not expect to get a knife for your trouble. Gods, you two, am I the only one paranoid about someone wanting to kill me?”

“Yes,” Calix answers, while Mariel says, “No.”

“Let’s get out of here. Livia and her minions are over there planning someone’s demise. So I’d say we should walk a while before making camp.”

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