Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
She was heading that way when Helly appeared at her side.
“There you are,” Helly said. “I was on the way to your rooms. I’d heard that you returned.”
“Last night.”
“I’ll walk with you,” she said, glancing down the deserted hallway. “We have much to discuss.”
“Like where I was?” She dipped her voice low.
Helly shot her an imperious glance. “Maybe give more warning next time. You sent Dozan Rook to let your father know that you had disappeared because of a vision. The look on his face.” Her eyes widened. “It was quite a spectacle.”
“Sorry about that. There wasn’t time.”
“Did you find Fordham? Is he well?”
Kerrigan nodded. “Yes, though I’m not sure how much he would want me to speak on it. I think he’d prefer to speak for himself.”
“Yet he did not return with you.”
“No.”
Helly breathed out a sigh of exasperation. “All right. You’re a full member now. You kept your secrets before. I can’t imagine you’ll stop anytime soon.”
Kerrigan laughed. “Well, what’s the official story for my disappearance? I don’t want to get it wrong.”
“Your father took you to Waisley to get acquainted with maintaining the household.”
“That works just fine for me. I’ll have to recall him to the city now that I’m back. Wouldn’t want to mess up our story.”
And she had about a million questions to ask him about her mother. Questions she was determined not to let him wriggle out of this time.
“I’ll send a message. Also, March left at the same time as you.”
Kerrigan shuddered. The memory of him backhanding her across the face was still as vivid as ever. “Did he now?”
“Yes. He seemed irritated when you didn’t return to the party and then went to the seat of the House of Medallion.”
“So, he knows I wasn’t in Bryonica.”
“That’s likely.”
“Great.”
“Just, Kerrigan,” she said, drawing her to a stop, “please be careful.”
Kerrigan smiled at Helly. “I’ll do my best.”
“Yes, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
She laughed. “Thank you for your concern.”
“You can handle March, but this training?” She gestured to the magical artifact book Kerrigan had under her arm. “I really don’t approve.”
“How can I go up against my opponent if I don’t know what to expect? I need to prepare. This will prepare me.”
“Well, Bastian agrees with you.” Helly shook her head as they reached the exit to the mountain. “Still, I’d feel better if you tried to be a little safer.”
“I know,” Kerrigan said. “Doesn’t seem to work out for me though.”
“That, I have noticed.” Helly pulled her into an unexpected hug. “I know you’re a member and head of House of Cruse, but sometimes, I still see the little girl who was left in my charge. It’s hard to watch you all grown up.”
Kerrigan squeezed her tighter. She’d never had a mother, but this had to be what it felt like. “I’ll be careful.”
“No, you won’t.”
Kerrigan laughed, and Helly released her, smiling warmly as Kerrigan traipsed out of the mountain and toward the arena. She was lucky to always have someone looking out for her. She would have died a dozen times over without Helly there to patch her back together. But something was coming, and Kerrigan needed to be ready.
When Kerrigan entered the arena, Audria and Roake were already inside. It was large enough for most of the city to congregate inside for the dragon tournament with a sand bottom floor that they used for training. Sometimes, Dragon Eggs tournaments were held within it as well. A game where egg-shaped balls were thrown into hoops for sport. All the competitors were incredibly athletic. In fact, Roake had played Dragon Eggs in the south before joining the Society.
And now, they were going to use the arena for magical artifact training.
Bastian arrived last, carrying a large black bag, laden down with objects. He looked between the three latest Society members with a frown. “Well, this is a surprise. I thought I was only training Kerrigan.”
“We work better as a unit,” Kerrigan said. “That was what the last year of training taught me. It’s better for us to get the same experience. Then, I know they’ll have my back.”
Audria stood ramrod straight, as deferential as ever. “Truthfully, we can leave if you prefer, Master Bastian.”
Roake shot her a look. He wanted this practice more than anyone. They’d fought together on the battlefield. Everyone should be on the floor of the arena, begging for more training, but Roake finally relented with a sigh. “Yes, of course. Whatever you prefer, sir.”
Bastian waved them off. “Kerrigan has a point. So as long as you listen, we can proceed.” He dropped the bag on the ground. “Did you read what I left for you?”
She hefted the book up. “As much as I could get through this morning.”
Which was, admittedly, not much.
Enough to know the main offensive magical artifacts. Then she’d skipped forward until she found what she was looking for—an entire section on the Ring of Endings.