Page 174 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
“What did you do?” Calix asks.
I look up at him. He shouldn’t need me to ask the words. “One got away.” He nods to me but can’t help glancing at Ever. “So, what does all of this mean?” I turn to everyone in the room and take a breath. “Who would attack, or at least threaten to attack Kirrasia, and have the means to infiltrate The Court cells to reach a prisoner?”
“Who knew she was there?” Crimson asks.
“Everyone at the trial knew, even if they weren’t with us when the Guards took her.” Micah looks at me. “The trainees. The heads of Order and Custodians.” Micah extrapolates. “Too many people to narrow it down.”
“You think this was about me?” Ever asks Crimson, her voice timid.
“I don’t like the idea that anyone got through our defences. We were put into action for nothing. Almost like we were moved away from where we were needed.”
“A distraction,” I say, repeating what I told my father. But if that was the case, itwasabout Ever and getting to her rather than anything else. A test, maybe?
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would anyone come after me? Ten, you?—”
“You’re a fucking Fifth, Ever. Have you forgotten what happened at the trial—what you did?” Crimson snarls.
“Hey, back off, Crim.” I stand and take a step towards her.
“Easy, Ten. We’re here to help. You know that.” Calix gets between us. “Yesterday was a big day for all of us, okay. We’re still reeling.”
“What does your father say?” I ask Crimson, giving her one last chance. She shouldn’t be here if she’s still hostile towards Ever. And after siding with Ascella and ignoring me in the trial, she needs to prove where her loyalties are.
“Apart from what he relayed from your father, nothing to help. He knows something doesn’t add up. He was heading back to meet with Orion when he dismissed us last night.”
“The other trainees?” Ever asks. “Are they okay?”
“They’re fine.” Crimson’s voice cracks through the room as if she’s angry at Ever for even asking the question. “No thanks to you.”
I narrow my gaze on Crimson, warning her.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Ever. Don’t listen to her.”
“Ascella is in the medical wing because of me.”
“We have bigger problems right now, Little Siren.”
Addressing everyone, I ask, “What about training?”
“Suspended. Apparently, the trial is void. So, it’s just the remaining three trials,” Micah says.
“Just like that? Warrior trial over?” I don’t buy it. Regardless of what else happened yesterday, my father would never just give up his trial. He prides himself on his trial being the toughest.
“What’s wrong?”Ever just asks me.
“I don’t know. I think Micah is lying, or he’s being fed the wrong information. And if that’s the case, by whom?”
“Let’s get some food,” Calix offers up, jumping off the desk.
“Count me out,” Crimson answers, and I don’t argue.
“Come on, Crimson. Don’t be like that,” Calix encourages.
“Forget it. I’m sorry, Ten, but I can’t pretend like everything is alright.”
“Fine by me.”
“Easy, Ten. She’s your friend. And Calix’s sister.”
