Page 63 of Riftborne
I nearly spit out a sip of ale.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“I just know General Ashford came up with that one.” She laughed and rolled her eyes.
“What about the other boy?”
“Draven Porter? He’s quite the mystery actually… None of us really know much about him. He’s pretty shy,” she replied.
“He doesn’t seem like the type to join the Guard,” I said, shaking my head.
“Tell me about it. But he must be pretty powerful to catch the attention of the General.”
The group was even more interesting than I initially thought. I had never been around so many Aossí with such powerful focuses. A part of me felt small for not having mastered mine yet. Going off Raine’s descriptions, none of the other recruits struggled with control over their abilities.
She leaned into her hand and glanced over at me as I shifted in my seat. Her stare was perhaps more intimidating than Laryk’s.
“You look so interesting,” she stated, locking her eyes with mine. A familiar flush ran across my cheeks as embarrassment flooded my mind. I looked down.
“I don’t mean that as an insult. I’ve never seen anyone that looks like you. Unique. Stunning.” She took a long sip of her ale before smiling.
“Erm–thanks,” I mumbled, averting my eyes.
“Don’t get the wrong idea.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re gorgeous, clearly. But not exactly my type.” She sighed before turning her head to the left and pointing.
“That’smy type.” I followed her gaze down the bar and saw a woman with cropped, chocolate hair smiling wide, sitting with a group of fellow Guard members. By the deep green emblem on their white shirts, they were Base recruits.
“So go talk to her.” I nudged her arm.
“I just might, after a few more of these.” She turned back to her drink and laughed. “But I want to know more about you. I could tell the whole group was curious. A Riftborne joining the Guard doesn’t exactly happen every day, you know. My best friend from back home–he’s a Riftborne too.”
Something soft stirred in my gut, mixing with the ale.
“Well.. I never planned on stepping foot anywhere near the Compound, honestly.” I sighed. “But General Ashford found me, started training me… And now I’m here.”
“You’ve been training with the General individually?” A curious glint flickered across her eyes.
“Unfortunately.”
She threw her head back and laughed, nearly knocking over her ale. I nervously sipped mine while awaiting her clarification.
“So refreshing to meet someone who finds him as unbearable as me,” she finally said, shaking her head. A giant smile crept onto her face. “Mercer can twist it however he wants, but I have a feeling we’re not the first set of trophies that Ashford has recruited for the Guard. I mean, his entire faction is full of powerhouses.”
“Raine, I know we just met today, but would you mind keeping my training with the General just between us?” I asked, scrunching my forehead. “I just don’t want to give any of them more of a reason to distrust me or…” I trailed off.
Raine grabbed my elbow. “Fia, whatever you tell me stays between us. I know how savage this place can be. I’m not going to add any extra stress to what I imagine you already feel every time you walk through those gates,” she reassured me with a smile.
“Thank you… really, I appreciate it,” I mumbled, running my fingers through my unkempt hair. I trusted Raine, oddly enough. Something about her was innately genuine. Direct, but genuine.
“Us girls have to stick together.” She winked.
I nodded, and a few moments of silence slipped by. My mind ached to ask the question, and the ale was already laying its traps. So I gave in to my curiosity.
“Was Narissa one of his recruits?” I gulped.
“As far as I know, everyone in his faction was handpicked by him,” Raine said, eyeing me.
“Do you know what her focus is?”
