38

Marcus

“This is the best K’mai I’ve ever had.”

It’s not really. Traditional Gollnar dishes of vegetables and roots braised in spices aren’t that appealing. Too many chili peppers for me. But I’ll say anything to keep from talking about events on the field this morning.

“Agreed,” Belair says. “The yams are so sweet.” He takes a massive bite from his bowl.

I blink and keep eating. Belair and I managed to make it in from the training field, clean up—with only cold water left after waiting in a long line of grumbling students—and reach the dining hall before the midday meal finished. Piper and Samsen waited for us, their bowls empty, expressions curious as they lean in to each other like a couple of slanting bookends. I can tell they know, or perhaps even saw, what happened on the field.

“Listen, you two,” Piper begins, her arm draped around Samsen’s shoulders. “First week’s the most challenging. Just stay focused and you’ll pass. They aren’t necessarily testing for the obvious things.”

Like control and ability? “Really?” I ask without looking up from my food. “Did you have warrior training?”

“You know I didn’t, but everyone goes through physical workouts with their phantom, and it’s grueling, I promise. You did well; you’re still on your feet.”

“Unfortunately, the obstacle course isn’t,” Belair says.

Samsen chuckles.

Piper refills my bowl from the central tureen. “Eat up. You’ll need your strength for the afternoon.”

I sigh, not sure I can face more of this fare. “You saw what happened?”

“To the obstacle course?” Piper tries to keep a straight face. “Everyone on Aku has heard the story by now.”

Samsen leans in. “It’s just the beginning for you and that house-sized phantom of yours. No one’s expecting you to perform like an orange-robe on your first day.”

“I don’t think they were expecting the training field to be destroyed on my first day, either.”

Samsen pats me on the back. “Great job re-turfing, by the way, and the obstacle course will be better for the new construction.”

“There’s that.” I notice the empty place beside Piper. “Where’s Ash?”

“Didn’t she record your first session?” Piper raises her brows.

“No, thank the bones. I don’t need an up-close account of this day bound into a book for all generations to come.” Although I know she saw some of our debacle from the library tower. What she didn’t see firsthand, she’d have heard about by now.

“Pity. She’d be in the library, though, no doubt.”

“And our friend Kaylin?”

“Haven’t seen him.” Samsen and Piper speak at the same time.

I frown and return to my bowl. Among the background noises of the hall, I catch the words Baiseen and stumbling fool. I make to push out of my seat, but I hear my name called in that Aturnian accent.

Destan, sitting opposite a few seats down the row, leans across the table. “It’s just Macor, from Sierrak, an inept ouster who can’t stir a wind to save his life.”

“Ouster?”

“Pay him no mind, I’m saying. With his gopher of a phantom, he won’t last the week.”

“Marcus.” Samsen grabs my shoulder. “Leave it alone. You’ll not serve Palrio by scrapping in the halls of Aku.”

I grimace but stay seated. Samsen’s right. Fighting in the dining hall would not earn me respect. It could even see us all booted out on the spot. For all that I’ve focused on reaching Aku, I must keep my eye on the prize. On honing my warrior. On serving and protecting my realm.

When I turn to thank Destan, he’s gone. Odd.

Piper frowns at the seat Destan abandoned. “Is his accent Northern Aturnian?”

“Maybe, but he says he’s from the Southern realm.”

“Quite friendly,” Belair adds. “He’s in Zarah’s group with us.”

“He’s been helpful.” Which is true, but Samsen and Piper don’t look convinced. I lean in close. “Kaylin has a theory. About Northern Aturnia sending their initiates to Aku from the south to bypass the ban.”

Samsen’s eyes widen. “Surely Yuki would know of this deception.”

“Which is why we need to be careful.”

Belair frowns. “You think Destan’s here for more than training?”

I draw in a breath. “If he is, it will be up to us to find out.”

Because protecting Aku from Northern Aturnian spies is exactly the complication we need while trying to earn our yellow robes.