I rolled and dodged as a spear was hurtled at me from across the room. I glared at Juno as he hoisted another one, aiming for me once again. Why does it always have to be me, Juno? I thought as I dove once again. He had quickly established himself as the most dominant of all the combat trainees. The others followed him slavishly, especially Jaynelle. But I refused to cower in fear just because he was bigger and meaner than any other Mer in the Academy!
I glanced at Starla. She gave me a worried look. It was obvious to everyone here that most of the spears were headed for me. Not that it was anything new. I was sure the others on my side of the arena were enjoying the break from actually training. I alone bobbed and weaved like a school of fish on the run. Naturally, the General did nothing to dissuade Juno and his crew from going after me, class after class. Only my friends were unhappy about it. We were taking turns evading and attacking. Right now, I was evading, but not all that well.
The spear tips were blunted, but they still hurt!
I knew because I’d already been grazed twice. A few students had been less fortunate and were now in the infirmary. Our team was getting canned, like tuna. Rip and Dane were on the other side, both of them trying to aim anywhere but at me, which I had to say, I appreciated.
The General blew into a conch, signifying the end of the class. And the hostilities. For now, at least.
Tomorrow is another day for Juno to try and kill me, I thought with an exhausted sigh.
Except Juno threw one last spear. I heard a piercing scream as the navy blue-haired Mer a few feet behind me suffered a direct hit. I turned to see blood streaming into the water as a gash opened in the Mer’s abdomen, right where our skin transitioned to scales. That was a particularly vulnerable spot for a Mer. Our scales afforded us some protection from superficial wounds. But our skin was a different matter.
I paled, realizing that she was in trouble. That she wasn’t merely injured. She might die.
I swam to her quickly, reaching out and applying pressure. I closed my eyes, wondering if my magic could do something useful like stop the bleeding. Or at least heat up enough to cauterize the wound.
Dane and Rip were by my side quickly. Starla swam to the floor to collect the spear where it lay, blood coloring the water around it.
Without a word, she showed it to Dane and Rip. I barely noticed. I was staring into the Mer’s eyes, frantically trying to stop the light from fading from them. Thank Triton, the Medics arrived and gently pulled me away.
My friends waited with me as the large training room emptied. Most of the students had left, and the few of us who remained were a safe distance from the General and the Medics.
“She’s not going to die, Tri. You saved her,” Starla said reassuringly. I realized I didn’t even known the Mer’s name. She was not in any of my classes except for General Assembly or Combat.
She could be anyone. She’d just happened to be floating too close to me. I closed my eyes, not even having the energy to tell myself that it wasn’t my fault.
Because it was.
It felt like it was.
“That spear was meant for you. It was not tipped,” Rip said tightly.
“Juno is being questioned, but I’m sure he’ll get off with a slap on the wrist,” Dane added. His face was pale. I was sure mine was too.
“Who handed it to him?” Rip asked.
I looked at Starla, then back at the others.
“Did any of you see?”
They shook their heads. I swallowed.
“I thought it was over. I thought . . . it’s my fault.”
“Tri . . .”
“Don’t.” I shook them off, unwilling to be comforted. “I’m going to stay with her. Do any of you know her name?”
“Nema, I think? I have no clue what program she is in, though,” Starla said with a shrug.
“Maybe she’s a spy,” Rip mused. “In training, I mean.”
I nodded sadly.
“You guys go. I’m staying.”
“I’ll stay too,” Dane offered.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” he said in definitive tone that told me not to argue. “And anyway, we have someplace to be, remember?”
The roses . . . I did remember. I nodded to Dane and swam back to watch the Medics working on Nema. They ignored me for the most part as they checked her over. The girl was knocked out, unconscious, most likely to keep her from feeling the pain as they buzzed around her, checking for any internal wounds.
As they moved around, I saw something that shocked me.
Her skin was already healed.
Did I do . . . that? I wondered in disbelief.
I’d thought I felt something . . . her skin closing up under my hands . . . but everything had happened so fast I couldn’t be sure. If it had been me, I had a gift I had not even known about. A potent one.
“It’s like it never happened,” I heard one of them say. They gave me an odd look, holding up the piece of her dress that had been viciously ripped open. They had cut it away to find . . . nothing. “The wound never even existed.”
I blinked. True healing magic was very rare. Annaruth had it. And the Medics had a touch, augmented with devices and gadgets spelled by far more powerful Mers. But apparently, I had it too.
I wondered idly if it worked on myself.
Annaruth swept in as if I had summoned her. She gave me a warning look and then clapped her hands to gain the Medics’ attention. They bowed to her. I belatedly gave her a small curtsy which made her roll her eyes.
“Tell no one of this.” She stared the Medics into submission. They nodded and promised not to tell. When she looked at me, I promised the same.
Well, how in Triton had she heard what had happened so fast?
“How long will she be out?” I asked, not caring that I was overstepping my place. I wanted to know.
“It will be hours yet,” Annaruth said. “I’ll have you summoned.”
I felt some of the tension go out of my shoulders. Nema would live. I nodded and Dane and followed me from the training room.