Page 116 of The Gods Veiling
The closer he moves toward me, I make sure to keep my gaze focused across from me on the guys. I seek their strength and reassurance simply because they’re the only people I know aside from Mellcom and Jeremiah.
Well, and the whole soul thing.
Call it wishful thinking, maybe naïve hope, I don’t really care, but I tell myself repeatedly they’re not going to let the God of Strength crush me like a bug to prove some ridiculous point.
A chest of armor steals my sight of Riven’s mismatched, mischievous eyes, and I tilt my head back to get a good look at Gladian.
Damn, he looks even meaner up close. And fucking gigantic.
From the distance he stood from us, I thought his hair was shaved on the sides, with some length on the top. It’s actually a full bun of brown hair and there’re small braids in his beard. There’s a scar that runs down the side of his face, through his beard, and down his neck until it disappears into his armor.
I can’t imagine how in the hell someone got the upper hand on him enough to leave that mark.
He grunts as he takes me in, then moves along.
I take that as a very bad sign since he didn’t make a fucking peep to any of the other ladies who are close enough I could’ve heard it if he did. I can’t tell if his interest is solely on me because of my Valtrue, like they warned, or if his Valtrue has given him an earful about me.
“Females…if this is your first time in the Court or if Defender isn’t your dominant Designation, take a step forward.”
Begrudgingly, I do as he commanded. As do both the females on either side of me. I don’t know how many others step forward or how many are left standing behind us. My eyes are locked on Creed’s and they ask him a million questions.
He, Amick, and Kyzen stand tensely. Although Riven’s much more relaxed in his stance, his fingers are tapping against his thighs.
“Men to the Holding.”
Creed balls his fists, then relaxes them once again. His stiff nod at me does nothing but make my anxiety rise. They stay locked in my sight as they march through a large arch in the stone wall, then the entire group of them lines it so they can see us.
What is the Holding? And why do they have to go there?
“You’ll be measured today ambush style. Those who stepped forward, you’ll stay in the center. Your choice of weapons can be found in this right corner. Choose wisely. Dominant Defenders, head to the chamber and prepare yourselves. You have five minutes. Go.”
I finally break my stare from the guys and focus on the pounding of feet moving to my left. I count out twelve females as they run in a perfect line toward another stone archway.
“Oh gods, not again,” the girl to my left murmurs as she turns on her heels and starts running to the right.
The girl who was on my other side gives me a gentle push as she starts running in that direction as well.
Out of the eight of us, I’m confident I’m the only one who has no clue what’s going on. They each are frantically picking up wooden swords, testing their weights, then exchanging them for something else or keeping them.
“Why does he do this? This is so unfair. I’m not going to be able to walk right for a week again.” The same girl who was standing beside me in line trembles.
“Calm down, Jay. It’s going to be worse if you get yourself upset.”
“Can someone explain what’s going on?”
The high pitch in my tone has all seven of them looking at me with shock and fear skittering across their faces.
“I knew it was your first time in the Court when you didn’t start moving.” The girl who gave me a little shove sighs.
“I’m so glad that’s what gave it away, but again, care to elaborate for me?”
Luckily, she smirks at my sarcastic remark, but the small smile comes and goes just as fast. She picks up a sword, twirls it a couple times, then passes it to me.
“Gladian has his ways of measuring where everyone is in terms of their training and fighting abilities. Usually, after a Veiling and the start of a new schedule rotation, he concocts some form of test that’s insanely difficult. This one, ambush style, he’s separated out the female Defenders to pit them against us. The ones who don’t hold a dominant Defender Designation. They’re going to attack at random from all different directions. It’s his way of seeing how far everyone has come.”
“Okay, I understand that. So how often do you all train if this isn’t your dominant Designation?” I ask.
Her eyes take on a slight mist. “Two times a week.”
