Page 90 of The Tree of Spirits
“Awesome!” Conner pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against. “You’ve finally come to your senses and realized how desperately you need my impressive skills.”
Kato hit him with a granite stare. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“But you should. You should go as far as you must to do what’s right.”
“That’s the kind of attitude that’s constantly getting you into trouble, Conner.”
“Yeah, I know.” Conner’s easy smile was gone. His face was eerily serious.
And so was Kato’s. Volumes of unspoken words hung heavy in the air, swirling around them.
I shifted my gaze between the boys. “You weren’t kidding when you told me you two have a complicated relationship,” I commented to Conner.
Conner chuckled. “I like her,” he said to Kato, and his bright, sapphire-blue eyes lit up. “She’s much cuter than your last girlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Are you sure? Because, Kato, you should hear the stories the Knights are telling about you two.”
“What kind of stories?”
“All kinds. My favorite’s the one where you save Red from a fierce, fire-breathing dragon, then kiss her in front of an exploding volcano.” He frowned. “Actually, come to think of it, I think Jareth just stole that story from a comic book. Or maybe it’s a metaphor, and the General’s the dragon you save Red from. But then what does the volcano represent? The end of the world, but you just don’t care because you have each other?” He snickered.
“You’re not making any sense.”
Conner ignored him. “Then there’s the story where you slay the Techno Knight and then give his armor to Red as a battle trophy or a sign of affection or some such sappiness.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“What’s ridiculous is the story about you and Red shutting off the General’s hot water, so he’s forced to take cold showers. First of all, you’re way too boring to prank the General; the Knights who make up this stuff must be thinking of me. And secondly, well, I already tried that prank last year, only to discover that it does absolutelynothingbecause the General only takes cold showers anyway! Apparently, it builds character, which,uh, why would I care about that? I’m already swimming in an overabundance of character.”
“You certainly are a character,” Kato muttered.
“And, come to think of it, I don’t think I’m remembering that rumor right at all,” Conner continued. “Of course, how could I, hearing it thirdhand and all? It’s really hard to get the good Castle gossip when you’re a wanted fugitive, you know. By the time a story makes it all the way to me, it’s been so twisted and turned that?—”
“Conner,” Kato cut him off.
“Yes?”
“Do you know who is spreading all this gossip about me and Seven?”
“Oh,thatI do know. Because it’s basically everyone,” Conner said gleefully. “The whole Castle is talking about you guys. It’s so adorable.” He flashed me a smirk.
I buried my face in my hands.
Kato frowned.
“What are you thinking?” Conner asked him.
“I’m thinking I need to have a very serious discussion with the other Knight Commanders. If their Knights have time to gossip, they’re not training hard enough.”
“More words of wisdom from the Code of Conduct.” Conner slapped him on the back. “Now that’s the Kato we all know and love!” He stole a glance at me. “Nice to know you’re not trying to change your boyfriend, Red.”
“We’re not dating!” both Kato and I shouted in exasperation.
Conner nodded brightly. “Right. You just keep telling yourselves that.”
“Is he always this crazy?” I asked Kato.
