Page 98 of The Tree of Spirits
He said it in such a deadpan way that I had to laugh. Then he chivalrously offered me a handkerchief so I wouldn’t look like a ‘chocolate monster’.
“Wow, I feel much better. I have so much more energy,” I said as I deposited the used wrappers into the public trash bin. “Maybe a little too much energy actually.” My hands were rattling when I offered the handkerchief back to him.
He waved my hand away. “Keep it. I’m sure you’ll need it again. You have a tendency to throw yourself into messy situations.”
“Says the Knight who turns every minor crisis into a major Quest,” I shot back, smirking. But I tucked the handkerchief into my backpack anyway.
Because he was right. I’d probably need it before this was all over.
I stole a furtive look at him.
“What is it?” he asked me.
“I was just wondering if you’d consider me greedy if I asked for another?” I smiled.
“How can you still be hungry after all those pancakes?Andtwo whole energy bars?”
“Those pancakes were hours ago!”
“Oh. Right.” He fidgeted a bit with his hands. “Sometimes, I forget that people need food.”
“Youneed food too, Kato.”
“Later. I can’t eat with a helmet on.”
“Well, more for me. My appetite has returned with a vengeance,” I said as he tossed me another energy bar. I was tempted to gobble it down, but I tucked it into my backpack instead, for later. “I’ve had trouble eating the last few days. Guilt is a big appetite-wrecker.”
“This is about the four Apprentices the Templars kidnapped from the conference center, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” I heaved a big sigh. “I didn’t save them.”
He set his hand on my shoulder. “I talked to the mentors and frankly, Seven, you’re being quite ridiculous.”
I shrugged him off, frowning. “No, I’m not. I should have gone back for them.”
“Into the building? Which was full of magic gas that would have knocked you unconscious in a few seconds?”
“Maybe it wouldn’t have!”
Buried beneath his helmet, his sigh rumbled like a monster trapped in a trashcan. “You have done some very impressivethings, Seven, but you are not invincible. If you’d gone back into that building, chances are you would have become kidnap victim number five.”
“I just feel like…well, like I should have at leasttried. Instead, I chickened out.” My gaze dropped to my feet. “Because I’m a coward.”
“You are not a coward.” This time, Kato set both hands on my shoulders, and his grip was too firm to shake off. He waited for me to look at him before continuing, “When everyone else panicked, you performed admirably under very difficult conditions. Just like you did when the Cursed Ones attacked the Garden. And when you faced a fire tiger and the Cursed Ones in Shadow Fall. And when you helped us fight the Techno Knight at the Oval. You were brave and clever and all the things a Knight should be. Like youalwaysare. You aren’t a coward, Seven. Maybe sometimes you get scared, but that’s totally ok. We all get scared.”
“Even you?”
“Of course.” He dipped his head lower, closer to me. “But just don’t tell Conner, ok?”
A burst of laughter exploded out of my mouth. “Thanks, Kato.” I reached up to my shoulders, setting my hands over his. “For the energy bars. For clearing my name with the General. And, most especially, for the pep talk.”
“It was my pleasure.” He stepped back, sweeping into an elegant bow.
“Well, isn’t he charming?”
I whipped around to find Mistress Meeta standing there. Her ornate tent, which I could have sworn hadn’t been there a moment ago, was set up right behind her.
“So, dearie.” Mistress Meeta smacked her glossy red lips. “I told you that you’d be back.” She clapped her hands, and theblack-and-white spellbook appeared in them. “This is what you came for, no?”
