Page 96 of Riftborne
“Don’t worry. I heard all about it already.” Draven sighed and laid his arms over his head.
It seemed the revelation about my focus had run rampant through the Compound.
I winced. That was the last thing I wanted.
I wasn’t sure if it had made it to any of the higher-ups yet. I’d thought a lot over the weekend, coming to the conclusion that our superiors might find my focus more of a threat than an advantage.
To be fair, it’s not like I knew that would happen. I thought I’d just scare Baelor a bit. I groaned. The entire thing had been a mistake. I should have walked away.
“Riftborne!” Mercer shouted from behind us. I guess he was finally using my last name to address me.How nice.
I steadied my shaking legs as I stood, brushing the grass and dirt from my training leathers.
“Here. Now.” Mercer motioned for me to approach.
I walked across the field in his direction, and he turned, leading me in toward the Compound.
I couldn’t help the ball of nerves that now weighed heavy in my gut.
As we neared the base of the hill, I glanced up, and the air froze in my lungs.
Laryk stood at the Western Gate.
He was back.
My heart did somersaults in my chest as I urged my legsforward. Of course, his first duty upon returning would be dealing his own personal punishment on me. My stomach twisted, and I pushed down an unwelcome sliver of excitement.
There was none of his usual pompous amusement on his face, just stone-like indifference as I closed the gap between us.
“You’ll meet me at the gym in an hour. Until then, go make yourself seen near the Compound,” he said flatly and turned to walk away.
“What do you mean, make myself seen?” I asked, but he only continued walking.
I stole a glance at Mercer who was glaring at me. “Fia, go make sure that people see you at the Compound. Practice is too secluded today. Just stand outside and make sure you’re noticed. Ashford will explain the rest at the gym. Now go.”
I shot him a confused glance, but followed the instructions, making my way towards the front gate.
I mingled for a bit, keeping to myself and trying to avoid the anxiety that hung in my limbs. What was going on? Why was everyone being so secretive? I couldn’t help but think that Laryk had returned due to what happened at the clearing. What I had done to Baelor.
Was he furious? Did he want to kill me? Esprithe, I felt like an idiot for attacking Baelor now. His father was a powerful retired General. Had he ordered my death?
I wandered through the guards socializing near the front gate, making sure a few eyes were on me. I couldn’t help but notice the lack of white uniforms. When I’d first become a recruit, it was so crowded on the street that one could barely walk. Now, only a handful of guards lingered at the entrance.
“Have you seen my son?” A woman asked, and I spun left to look at her. “He’s been deployed for weeks, and I haven’t heard a word. He usually writes to me every day,” she said, tears staining her cheeks.
She wasn’t talking to me, but to a guard a few paces away.
“Who is your son?” A short, brunette from the Faction Scales asked, turning his attention to the woman.
She held out a crumpled piece of parchment with a painted portrait. “This is what he looks like. He was a member of Scales.” I could see the hope in her eyes, even at my distance.
“I'm sorry, Ma’am, I wouldn’t know,” the guard responded, and the woman nodded, moving onto another group on the other side of the gate.
Guilt churned inside me as I watched her beg for answers, knowing that he had probably lost his life in the West. Even if someone wanted to tell her, they couldn’t.
The sun beamed down on me, slowly beginning to set behind the towers of the Compound.
I didn’t leave until I knew several people had seen me. Fear returned to my bones as I made my way towards the Central district, taking nervous steps. The gym was only a block away. I couldn’t be sure whether an hour had passed or not, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to know what was going on.
