Page 22 of Deucalion Academy: Pawn Of The Gods (The Dominions)

“Everything happened really fast,” I admitted. “This was packed for me. I never got the information.”

“Flying totally blind, then,” Nitsa said. “Don’t worry. Just stick with us and you’ll be fine.”

I thanked her while casting a glance back at Alexander. He knew I was flying blind, but happily walked off with his soon-to-be fiancée and left me clueless. I wasn’t looking for his good side, and he damn sure wasn’t showing it.

“Can I ask you guys something? Why do they say this place is inescapable? That’s a scary, prison-type word.”

Theron chuckled. “It’s not a prison. We can leave for the summer. It’s just that some of the training and tests can get... intense. Years ago, there was a rash of midnight runs.”

“Midnight runs?”

“Yep. A student says good night to his friends, heads up to bed, then the next morning his sheets are empty and the window is ajar. Taking off in the middle of the night.”

“Got it.” I sighed. “So to stop it, they did what?”

They all shrugged. “Just some spells and enchantments,” Nitsa said. “They take them down two days a year. At the start of the training year and at the end.”

Spells and enchantments. I got up close and personal with a spell to keep us caged at the border. But even that spell had a way through it in case the Olympians ever lost all hope and had to evacuate. Maybe these spells have a loophole too.

Gotta find out what those spells are first,another voice said.Better not to spring one that sets alarms off through the academy. Alexander would love to put me in chains again.

“Hey, guys, look,” Nitsa hissed. “The doors are opening.”

Two soaring white stone doors echoed through the valley, scraping across the marble. Three people stepped out. They were too high up and far away for me to make out what they looked like or if they were men or women. Were we supposed to go up there to them? Were they coming—?

“Ladies and gentlemen.” The greeting boomed over the crowd, knocking me and a dozen other people off their feet. “Welcome to Deucalion Academy.”

I clapped a hand over my ringing ears, gaping at the assembled culprits. How on earth was he doing that?

“I am your headmaster, Drakos. It is my pleasure to see so many fine young men and women taking their place in the service of Olympia. Some of you will not make it. I dare say, most of you won’t.”

I started. What did he just say?

“But those that do, will go on to carry the legacy of the gods and the hopes of the people on their shoulders. There is no finer sacrifice. No greater duty. And no higher honor.

“Good luck to you, novices.”

With that, one of the figures—Headmaster Drakos—turned and went inside.

“Did he really just come out here to tell us most of us are going to die, but congratulations to the rest?”

“I’ve heard a lot about Headmaster Drakos,” Theron said. “That he’s warm and encouraging was never mentioned.”

“Well said, Headmaster.” Again I covered my ears. “Let me extend my own welcome to you all. I am your combat instructor, Commander Vasili. You may address me as commander or sir.

“Over the year, I will get to know you, your strengths, and your weaknesses. By the end of these four years, I will only know strengths. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” the crowd chorused.

“For many, it’s been long days and nights of travel. I believe a rested fighter is a focused one. Let us get through the day’s requirements, so you can retire to your chambers. Classes begin bright and early at sunrise tomorrow morning. Late arrivals will be punished.”

That was the second time someone used that word and didn’t follow it with clarification. What did punishment look like in Deucalion Academy? A place where the headmaster spoke of the low survival rate without irony or concern.

“Leave your bags where they are and follow the path leading around the left side of the building. Your placement starts now.”

We did as we were told—stacked our things in a pile under the trees, then followed the shuffling crowd around the building.

The gates didn’t come in this close to the academy. They extended into the forest, claiming a piece of it for the grounds. I started looking for how far the gates went in, and then I was just looking.

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