I looked at the top of my scuffed boot in resignation, kicking at a stubborn pebble that refused to come loose from its home in the ground.

“Joss, I can’t make any promises to the future, especially if I don’t know if they are ones I can keep, but I can promise you friendship.” I looked at him warily as he turned his blonde head to me with his crooked grin.

“That’s all I ask for, a chance to be your friend.” Standing up he reached for me and pulled me into an embrace, his chin resting lightly on my head.

I selfishly let the comfort of his hug wash away all of my insecurities. Tears started to come to my eyes when I realized the last time I had been hugged was months ago, from Mara. Taking in one last deep breath of his earthy scent, I pulled away. I couldn’t help but notice his look of disappointment.

Turning away from him, I ran my fingers through Faraway’s mane. “So what was their decision?” I asked, almost dreading the thought of them changing their mind after I had gone through so much preparation.

“What?” Joss looked a little puzzled, as he was deep in his thoughts.

“The Adepts?”

Regaining his composure, his eyes darkened and he was visibly upset. Climbing the fence he swung his long legs over and jumped down. He made eye contact as he spat out the words.

“Don’t worry. You’re still the target.” And with that he left, his tall head walking proudly toward the training grounds.

Chapter 21

With only hours to spare before midnight, I ran around the training grounds gathering the supplies I thought I would need. I wasn’t about to go on with my daily routine when I felt as if there was a big target painted on my chest that yelled ‘HERE I AM’ to the world.

Earlier we were each given our specific instructions as to the rules of the game. When the bell tower rings out its twelfth toll at midnight, the training game will begin.

The game can only take place within the training grounds. Leaving the premises results in disqualification. If you are hit with a paint pack, you must report to the main hallif you are a student. There, you will be inspected to make sure it is a legal hit. Guards report back to the barracks.

Whoever can take out the most attackers will win a purse of gold. Anyone caught cheating and trying to wash off any dye will be punished. The Adepts would also be patrolling the grounds and halls to make sure that the game stays fair. Healer Prentiss would be ready in the Healer’s ward in case any students or soldiers get too carried away. It was made very clear that we were allowed to outfit ourselves with various paint-filled weapons, similar to what we’d been training with.

Upon my request the paint had been changed from blood red to blue for the SwordBrother, yellow for students, and soldiers were assigned a pale green. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the change, which was to make sure that the game stayed fair and the Denai wouldn’t mutiny against each other.

I had sent Avina to the market to pick up some special ordered items that I needed for tonight. I had spent almost all of the money that Adept Cirrus had given me, but it was worth it if I learned anything from this.

Handing me the sack of supplies, Avina asked me what I planned to do. I told her she would have to wait and see.

I watched her leave and gently latched the door before I opened the sack and began to work. I had arrows, paints, clothes and a large jar of a special blend of Ruzaa’s perfume. I broke the ends of the arrows off and padded them with balls filled with paint.

Putting a wooden clothespin on my nose, I transferred Ruzaa’s perfume into smaller clay vessels with a rubber stopper and put them in a thick leather pouch on my hip, being careful not to jostle them too much.

Garit agreed to furnish me with a small grappling hook and just grinned at my initiative. I wound the rope around my slim waist and used the hook to loop around the rope, holding it there. It wouldn’t hold much more than my own body weight, but that’s all I needed. I couldn’t afford to get a bigger one because I needed to carry my arrows and bow over my back.

Running to my mirror, I pulled my hair into a ponytail and rubbed the black grease paint all over my face, making it itch. I stared at myself and noted the changes in my face since I first arrived at the Citadel. I had gained weight in my face and body, my skin had tanned taking on a healthy glow instead of the pasty white it had been. My eyes were still huge and had softened with happiness and health, but tonight they looked dark with determination.

Shutting my window, I strung a piece of very fine thread around the window latch. The string would break if someone tried to enter my room through the window. Donning my cloak I let myself out of my room, and kneeling down I poured a fine powder of dust around my door that would only be discernible if you got down to the floor level with cheek pressed to the marble and looked. I took the quickest exit to outside knowing that midnight would be fast upon me.

Running toward the stables, I opened Faraway’s stall and attached the new set of reins I had specially made for him. They no longer had a bit, but went around his muzzle and ears.

Faraway as my guardian didn’t need a bit, and he had expressed his displeasure at them. I had gotten an amazed stare from Horse Master Grese when I had it commissioned. That’s where the rest of my gold had gone. Leading Faraway at a slow walk I took him out to the pasture and let him loose.

If he were not penned up in the stall, then he would be an extra set of eyes watching out for me. From this pasture he had a very good view of the training grounds and would be my eyes and ears.

Quickly I slipped into the shadows and watched the guards patrol around the keep’s grounds. If I were the SwordBrother, I thought to myself, I would probably already be on the grounds in hiding. Just because the game didn’t start until midnight didn’t mean that he couldn’t already be here. And I was about to do the same thing. Hide.

Waiting, I leaned my head against the outer wall of the stable and tried to calm my nerves as I silently went over everything that I had on me.

It’s clear, go now.

The signal from Faraway was what I was waiting for. I slid along the building, staying in shadows until I slipped into the stable. Climbing up the ladder into the loft I moved through the hay until I came to a small window. I had gotten the idea from Jury and Pim. I was impressed by their resourcefulness of living in attics and lofts. I pushed it opened and crouched in the window sill. It wasn’t very far to the roof so I swung the hook and rope and pulled myself to the very top and carefully, using my bow, I closed the door.

Since the stable was a fairly large building in the shape of an L and two stories high, it gave me enough of a vantage point to see the layout of the yard. Carefully moving to the far-facing roof, I laid down in the shadows facing the keep. Pulling my cloak over my body I rested my head on my hands and waited. It was an hour until the bell would toll and I could hear the guards talking excitedly amongst themselves.

“This is going to be so easy. Who would be stupid enough to take on a whole training facility of Denai and the Citadel’s guards? This game will be over in an hour,” a gruff voice commented.

“And that purse of gold will be mine,” another challenged.

“Ha, not if I have any say in it.”

“What does it matter about a purse of gold when there are promotions at stake? We have the chance to prove ourselves and make Captains.” A few grumbled agreements followed. I heard someone spit into the bushes, and then the men moved away.