Page 19 of Skalterra By Nightmare
“Of course! Wanted to follow in his cousin’s footsteps. Riley got in on early admission, but he was always an overachiever. Captain of just about every sports team. Valedictorian. Homecoming King. Did you ever meet him on your visits here?”
I shook my head and stared at Liam with a newfound respect where he spoke with his uncle. I still didn’t like him— it was easier this way— but it did make him a little more relatable. I’d thought everything must come so easy to him, but it sounded like that was his cousin, Riley.
Liam’s brow furrowed, and Teddy frowned. It looked like something had upset them both, but then my hand started to burn.
It was just a tickle at first, hardly noticeable. Then it grew stronger until it seared across my palm.
“Ouch!” I startled, grabbing my hand at the wrist as if that might help stem the pain. I turned my palm over to reveal the scars Galahad had left there were angry and red.
“What’s wrong?” Gams asked with sudden concern.
“Nothing," I lied, standing up.
“Wren Warrender, I hope you’re ready,” Galahad’s voice echoed in my head.
You aren’t real, I tried to tell it back.
“I’m just—” I glanced around at the room of smiling faces. “I’m tired. This was nice. Tell Siobhan thank you.”
My chair clattered to the floor behind me.
“Wren!” Gams made to move after me, but Teddy was there to stop her.
“Ethel, a word, please. It’s about Riley.”
She glanced between me and Teddy, and I took the chance to bolt.
“Wren Warrender, I demand you answer me.” Galahad’s voice chased me out the tavern door.
“Give me two minutes!” I said between gritted teeth as I hit the sidewalk outside running. “I have to feed my grandma’s cat!”
Maybe he was just a fiction after all, because he remained silent in my head until I’d made it back to the apartment over the shop and filled Jonquil’s bowl next to my dresser.
“Wren Warrender—”
“I told you!” I snapped, standing in my bedroom. “It’s just Wren!”
And my bedroom fell away.
5. Intro to Medieval Weaponry
The thick trees that had stood bright and resolute in my dreams earlier that day now cast dark shadows that criss-crossed through the gold of a setting sun. I blinked, trying to orient myself as the stinging in my palm died.
“Welcome back, Just-Wren.” Ferrin clapped me on the back as he passed by and handed a bulging pack off to a blank-faced Nightmare.
“You’re not going to kill yourself again, are you?” Orla appeared next to me, juggling green light between her long fingers.
“Stop playing with the Skal,” Ferrin chided. He clipped a set of glowing bottles to his belt. “You’re wasting it.”
Orla flashed an apologetic grin, and the green fire in her hands danced into darkness.
“Sorry, Uncle.”
“Where is he?” I demanded, searching the clearing for the old man in the duster.
“Who?” Orla asked, but Ferrin gave a bruised grin.
“The—the…” I gestured wildly at my chin, trying to pantomime a beard. “You know!”
