Clash (The Arinthian Line Book 4) (26 page)

“Just in time for oatmeal,” he said, gesturing for her to come in.

“Great, I’m starved,” she replied, hobbling by. “Who’s mentoring us now?”

Jengo closed the door. “Bridget. Where’s Chaska?”

Haylee found a spot at the trestle table. “Sent him to Mr. Haroun and Constable Clouds to be placed on the town watch. Gives him something to do other than mope around all day.” She spied the Herald on the table. “I read it too. Oh, I’d love to face Robin in that tournament, give him a good—” She made a strangling motion.

“You and everyone else in this room,” Leera muttered.

Haylee glanced around at them all. “When are we training? Can’t spend another moment with—” She gritted her teeth. “—Ms. Crazy.”

Jengo placed a steaming bowl before her. “Ms. Singh isn’t so bad, you just need to know how to talk to her, especially when to back off.”

Haylee rolled her eyes.

“This I am learning,” Mr. Okeke was heard to grumble. He cleared his throat and adjusted his doublet. “I have to go to the mine soon.” He nodded at the Blackhaven Herald. “I am going to bring that to remind the miners what loose lips get one in this day and age.”

“I am sure you will not have any problems, Kwabe,” Mr. Goss said, taking over stirring the fire. “Those miners are loyal to you and to the town. Most are hiding to avoid being drafted anyhow.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Okeke,” Augum began, “but is it really necessary to say anything? Can’t we just keep the Resistance between a few people?” It still bothered him the whole town knew about them.

Leland shook his head ferociously and moaned.

“Agreed, kind of defeats the point,” Bridget said, blowing on a spoonful of steaming oatmeal. “The Resistance needs to be more than us, Aug. We need to learn to trust others.”

“Worry not, Augum.” Mr. Okeke gestured at the table as he took his seat. “One more there, Jengo, if you please.” He gave Augum a firm nod. “Leave it to us, we will get the town in order.”

Jengo set another place. “Expecting company, Father?”

“Constable Clouds’ son, actually.”

Leera crinkled her nose. “Devon?”

“Yes. His father asked me to expose him to more friends. He seems like an amiable but lonely young man, and was quite enamored by you all, if I remember correctly. I hope I have not overstepped my bounds.”

“Of course not,” Bridget said with a smile. “We would be happy to be his friends, as long as he knows training comes first.”

“This I warned him about, as did his father—”

There was a knock at the door.

“Ah, this must be him now,” Jengo said, giving the steaming pot another stir before running for the door.

“Hi!” Devon said the moment the door opened. “I know we’re practically the same age, but … wow, you really are so very tall!” He let himself in, flinging off his shoes. “I’m Devon, you met me yesterday,” he said, wiping greasy fingers on an ill-fitting quilted vest. “You’re Sierran, aren’t you? I’ve always wanted to go to Sierra. I bet the place is a giant desert, isn’t it?” He rushed over to the table, extending his hand across it, knocking over the salt cellar. “Thank you for inviting me to breakfast, Mr. Okeke, it really is an honor. Oh, sorry about that—”

“Yes, indeed, it is a pleasure, young man. Would you like to have a seat—” but Devon had already run to Augum.

“I heard you’re training today so I hope you don’t mind if I come,” Devon said, shaking Augum’s hand, stubby ponytail bouncing. “Did you read this morning’s Herald? Did you? You three are really famous you know, like,
really
famous.” He kept shaking Augum’s hand while throwing a dismissive wave with his other one. “Though
infamous
might be a better word, if you know what I mean, seeing as the Lord of the Legion is painting you as an ungrateful and brainwashed son and all that now—wow, I still can’t believe I’m in the presence of the Lord of the Legion’s son! I feel like such a rebel—”

Leland made two succinct and angry moans while covering his ears.

“Devon, come have some oatmeal,” Bridget said, gesturing at the empty place.

Devon finally let go of Augum’s hand, nodding at Leland. “I’m sure I’ll be able to eventually understand him better, but I’m afraid right now I’m going to have to rely on a translator.”

Mr. Goss ran a hand over his balding and burn-scarred scalp. “Dear me, I think he said his, uh, his ears hurt.”

“That really is awful, Mr. Goss,” Devon said, “and I really am sorry about his pain. Have you tried a healer yet? I know the Legion stole them all but—”

“Yes, Mr. Goss tried a healer,” Leera said, shoving a spoonful into her mouth.

“Leera, hi—” Devon extended his hand across the table, once again knocking over the salt. “Oops, sorry, I’m a bit clumsy, but Father says that’s natural to a chub like me.” Leera just stared at him. Devon finally withdrew his hand, fumbling for the salt.

“Never mind that,” Bridget said with a smile, “I’ll get it.”

“Thank you, Bridget, thank you so much. WOW! YOU’RE USING MAGIC—!”

“We call it arcanery,” Bridget said, wincing at his sudden outburst and clearing the rest of the salt using Telekinesis. Augum was impressed, actually—he’d never moved a pile of anything before, nor had he tried. Sure, stone by stone, maybe, but not a
pile
. Bridget’s arcanery was definitely getting stronger.

“Sorry, uh, arcanery. Right, I should know that, being the son of a Legionnaire and all. You know I was really upset when I heard that foul Harvus took Leera, but wasn’t surprised at all that you and Augum saved her—”

Augum watched as Devon prattled on and on, the boy’s face steadily growing more and more purple. When will he take a breath? He could not recall ever meeting someone so … energetic.

“And you’re Haylee Tennyson. I’ve heard about you and your family. You were really rich once, right? I mean, back before you changed sides and all. My, you’re really pretty, you know that? Chaska is very lucky—”

“Oh no,” Haylee said, staring at him with a slack expression. “You’re not …”

Devon blinked. “What is it? Are you not feeling well? Is it the leg? I heard if you—”

“No, I mean, you’re not coming today, are you—”

“What Haylee means,” Bridget quickly began, “is, you know, you should really … just take a breath once in a while, Devon.”

Jengo took a seat at the end, nodding gravely. “It’s really bad on the humors to go on like that. Could even kill you.” He opened and closed his hand. “Heart can suddenly … explode.”

Devon’s eyes grew wide. “Explode? I mean, I’ve been told I can talk the ears off a jester, but … hey, do you think—”

“I ought to get going,” Mr. Okeke suddenly said, standing. “Good luck with your training today, everyone—”

“But, Father, you haven’t finished your oatmeal—”

“Yes, well, the men need me at the mine and time is short—” He slapped on his boots and hurried out the door.

Mr. Goss, who had been rushing to finish his oatmeal, stood in haste. “Dear me, I do believe Mr. Haroun is expecting me. I ought not to keep him waiting. That would be terribly rude, it would.” He kissed his son on the forehead. “Behave yourself and be
very
careful with those artifacts, Leland. I shall expect you all to be training at the cabins. Good luck, everyone!”

He strode off just as Devon plowed into another dialogue on cabins and how wonderful this one was and how he couldn’t wait to see theirs and—

Leera pushed her half-finished oatmeal away. “Kill me,” she mouthed to Augum. He squeezed her hand under the table instead.

“Aww, you two really are adorable together,” Devon said. “I mean,
really
adorable. And nobody even knows that the renowned Augum and Leera are boyfriend and girlfriend! I bet you two are going to be a famous warlock couple, aren’t you? Like Matilda and Franco Viperborn, or Semma and Sinna Trailweaver, or even Sarah and Anna Burnfire. So when are you getting married? I mean, I know you’re not old enough, but it must be less than a year—”

Bridget, who was sitting beside Devon, placed a hand on his shoulder. “Devon, we have a great deal to think about and do today. We need to focus.” She gave him a kind smile. “I hope you do not mind me asking, but can you help us do that? Can you help us focus on training?”

Devon gaped at her a moment. “I would do
anything
to help you three. I mean, no offense, Haylee and Jengo and Leland, but Augum and Bridget and Leera are legends in every school, every academy and … oh, please, just tell me what I can do to be of service. I’ll do
anything
you ask—”

“You can begin by starting on your oatmeal,” Jengo said with a weary sigh.

Matters of the Heart

Somehow they made it through breakfast. Throughout, Devon offered countless ideas on ways he could help.

“I can also hold the book for you while you read,” he said to Leera, completely oblivious to the expression on her face. “Maybe even give pointers on any administrative language. I sometimes help Father with official documents and stuff, so I’m sure I can be of service.” He turned to Bridget. “Or fetch things for you. I mean, not like a dog and stuff, but do serious errands, like run secret messages back and forth for the Resistance—”

Bridget, packing a rucksack with the Agonex, Orb of Orion, and books, was reduced to the occasional nod by then. “Let’s go,” she finally said, and tromped out the door without waiting.

Devon scampered after her, talking all the while. Augum, Leera, Haylee, Jengo and Leland mutely followed.

It was a sunny morning, cool and still. The forest was wet with dew that glistened in the slanted rays of the sun. Birds warbled softly. Bridget marched in the front. Devon struggled to catch up, offering wacky training ideas, like sparring on their stomachs, or flinging pinecones at their heads while they were trying to cast a spell, or standing on one foot while blindfolded.

“… oh, and you could climb the trees and try blending in,” Devon said as they reached the two cabins on opposite sides of the creek. He was panting. “Wow, so this is the hideout—it could be a painting! There’s a creek, and some nice looking trees in a meadow. But where are the—”

Leera’s face lit up. “It’s not too late—” she whispered to Augum.

Bridget turned to Devon, face strained. “Devon Clouds, I want to formally invite you in to our training ground.”

Leera’s face fell. “Now it’s too late.”

“Oooooh, there they are!” Devon flashed a confused smile. “But … but I thought I was already invited …”

“She did that to bypass Mrs. Stone’s enchantment,” Jengo said, walking by, holding Leland’s hand.

“Wow, I just passed one of
the
Anna Atticus Stone’s enchantments? I mean, a real live one? What’s it do? Why can’t I see it? Hey, wait up—!”

Once they descended to the sunny glade, Leland moaned. Bridget dug out the Orb of Orion and the Agonex for him. He plopped down in a patch of sun and immediately placed his ear to the orb. She left the rucksack beside him.

“That’s the cabin Mr. Harvus built, right? Oh, can I look inside? I know they’ll write about it in the history books one day, or maybe someone will write a grand adventure detailing your heroic deeds—”

Bridget watched Devon waving his arms about while he yakked on. She kept moving her jaw from one side to the other, as if stretching it. Finally, perhaps realizing Devon wasn’t going to let up, she turned her back on him.

“I want to start by going over all our spells,” Bridget said, ignoring him. She held up her hand. “Shyneo.” A glowing vine entwined around her palm and fingers.

Devon was as animated as ever. “—and they’d have to mention that I was here as a visitor, wouldn’t they? I mean, this is real live history—”

“Shyneo,” Augum, Leera, Haylee and Jengo echoed. Augum noted Jengo’s was the weakest, eventually flickering out. At least he had been practicing. It was astounding the boy could cast a complicated healing spell but not even know Shine. How was that even possible?

“—and I bet they’d write about Milham too, how it supported the legendary trio and—”

Bridget, whose nostrils actually flared, made the glow of her hand fade then brighten, nodding at them to do the same.

“Think you can teach me that, Bridge?” Devon interrupted, standing right beside her, pudgy face glowing with wonder. “I mean, I’ve never been any good at arcanery, but I think I can get the hang of it if you teach me.”

Augum shared a look with Leera, mouthing, “ ‘Bridge’?”

Bridget firmly shut her eyes and took a very deep breath.

“Here we go,” Leera murmured. “We’re about to see a murder.”

Bridget suddenly thrust an open palm at Devon’s face. “Devon, first of all, can you take a step back please? Thank you.” She turned to him, jaw set. “Look, you’re very nice, you really are, but you need to let us concentrate. We’re about to do something very dangerous, maybe stupid even, and we need to be ready. We need to
focus
, Devon, and I don’t have the time to teach you arcanery from scratch—”

Devon’s chin trembled as he stood there for what seemed an eternity.

“Sweet, blissful silence at last,” Leera whispered.

“You hate me …”

“No, Devon, of course we don’t hate you—”

“You really hate me …”

“Devon, how could you even—”

“You hate me and think me fat and ugly and stupid.”

“Devon, don’t be silly, we just need—”

But Devon suddenly did something quite unexpected—he shoved Bridget. She fell to the ground, stunned.

“Don’t bully me!” he yelled through tears, storming off.

The rest of them stood gaping, too shocked to react.

“Yeah, don’t bully him,
Bridge
,” Leera finally said with a smirk, giving Bridget a hand up.

“It’s not funny, Lee, he’s obviously very unhappy and lonely.” Bridget dusted off her blue robe, watching the back of Devon as he struggled up the gentle valley incline. “I don’t know, I guess I was being too harsh or something.”

“Harsh would have been stuffing a sock in his mouth,” Leera said. “Firmly, so that only high degree arcanery could dislodge it.” She sighed. “All right, stop giving me that look. He had it coming. He’s our age yet he acts like he’s nine.”

Leland gave a sharp moan.