Hather (Hather Series Book 1)

by Prince Edan

  People began to throw their trash into the arena, screaming insults at the top of their lungs. Roland dodged the bottles of juice and beer that were aimed at him. The boys were forced to depart before further conflicts ensued. The crowd was apparently rather devoted to Carl. How important was that boy? How rich was his family? Roland suspected that Carl’s parents were highly influential people in the city. The boy should not be trifled with or the consequences were dire.

  Roland and Carl left the corridor, and once outside Carl grabbed his shirt and leaned forward until their faces were only inches apart. “I don’t know what kind of trick you pulled to get that man on your side, but that match should have been my win and you know it.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You kicked me.”

  “It was a reflex, I panicked.”

  “You’ll regret this,” threatened Carl.

  Roland glared. “Try me.”

  Roland had not expected the commander to stand up for him, and he knew that if he ran into anyone outside of the arena, they would be quick to cast their judgments on him. Roland would have to defend himself. He looked skeptically at the instructor who observed his class with prideful eyes.

  “I’m extremely proud of all of you,” Bramen said. “Though two of you lost your matches, you fought bravely. I have never you seen any of you so determined or as focused as you were out there today. You have definitely made a name for King’s Academy and yourselves. I hope the Order will come to realize that you’re all very talented individuals and deserve a place in the most efficient divisions. Tonight they will announce what commander you will be placed under if you are accepted as members of the main attacking force. For those of you who don’t make it, you can try again next time. I have taught you everything I know. All that’s left is for you to take what you’ve learned and apply it to your chosen fields.”

  “Geez, old man, you make it sound like you’re saying goodbye,” Imani said dryly. “Even if we are accepted, you’ll be the only commander we’ll listen to.”

  Bramen raised his left brow. “You don’t listen to me.”

  Imani winked. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  “There’s no maybe about it, Miss Blake, the only person you listen to is yourself.”

  “And I’m right, eighty percent of the time,” she admitted and patted her back.

  Bramen sighed.

  Clark walked over to the teacher and wrapped his arm around Bramen’s shoulders. “I’ll never forget you, old man. Even when I’m fighting for our country a million miles away, I’ll remember the man that made us run laps whenever we were late. Thanks for being such a stubborn asshole, or I wouldn’t have tried so hard.”

  The instructor slapped Clark’s back and he stumbled forward. “You each have two hours of free time then we’ll meet in the arena for the welcome ceremony.” Bramen’s eyes focused on Roland. “Please arrive on time.”

  “Yes, sir,” Roland replied, bringing his hand to his forehead in a salute.

  “Scatter,” Bramen told them before walking away.

  Roland had been worried about the tournament’s results for so long. The time had finally come for the decision to be made; would the Order accept him or not? He had done his best in the fight against Carl. Was it enough? It had been so long since he had seen his family. He had written letters and sent them out secretly but never gotten a reply. While his classmates were chatting excitedly, he walked over to bridge’s handrail and watched the flowing stream.

  He heard footsteps approaching, and someone looped their arm through his. “Why so glum, chum?” Imani asked. “You won, didn’t you?”

  Roland sighed. Imani had scored an overwhelming defeat against her opponent, a young boy with short brown hair. No one doubted her abilities. Everyone respected her. But Roland was a cheater.

  “They hate me.”

  “No,” she said with a slow shake of her head. “The students and faculty at this school are upset that their favorite candidate was taken out by some hot redhead they’ve never heard about. They’re jealous. Besides, it doesn’t matter if they hate you. Commander Lang seems to like you. And he’s the one who decides who joins the main army.” She brushed his hair from his eyes. “Cheer up. This is downright gloomy. Get yourself together, man.”

  “Right,” he said. Imani was a tiny bundle of positive energy. He patted her head. “Thanks, I’ve got to go.”

  There was a girl that was waiting to meet him. He wouldn’t let her wait any longer. He removed Imani’s hand and started toward the end of the bridge.

  “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “There’s someone I’ve got to meet.”

  She whistled. “A girl, perhaps?”

  He paused and looked back at her. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  She smiled. “If you’re late, Mr. Bramen will kill you.”

  “I know.”

  Roland left his friends behind and continued down a path that wound past wooden benches and towering pine trees. He walked through a thick overgrowth and into the midst of a clump of trees. Cassandra was there, her head tilted back, staring at the sky. Her black hair reached the middle of her back. She wore a slim fitting white dress that clung to her hips and revealed her long, slender legs.

  He wanted her attention but he was at a loss for words. Apparently hearing him approach, she said without so much as a nod in Roland’s direction, “Do you have the rose?”

  “I did, but someone destroyed it. I can get another if you’d like me to.”

  She turned around slowly. “It’s okay,” she said, waving it off. “It wasn’t that important.”

  Roland noticed a blue clip attached to her hair above her ear.

  She curtsied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Brody.”

  He bowed. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Carter. You look stunning.” The words had left his lips before he could stop himself. He waited for her to laugh at him or reject his advances before the date began.

  Instead, her cheeks flushed and she broke away from his gaze. He looked away too, unsure of what say or do.

  “Thanks,” her voice was soft, hesitant. “Should we go?”

  Chapter XIV

  They found a secluded spot on the grass. The coliseum stood proudly behind them, shrouded by the leaves of tall oak trees. This area of the park was peaceful. They had separated themselves from the crowd of people celebrating their friends’ victories and settled for a small clearing. A blue jay chirped in the tree overhead as Roland placed a blanket on the grass. Cassandra was carrying the food they had bought from a nearby restaurant, an assortment of cookies and tuna sandwiches. She laid them out on the blanket and sat down. Roland hesitantly sat beside her.

  He was nervous. His palms were sweaty and he wiped them off on his pants. Don’t humiliate yourself, he thought. Don’t be like Clark. He slapped his cheeks. You have this, Roland. Woo her before another guy sweeps her off her feet.

  “Well,” Cassandra said, removing the plastic that surrounded a sandwich, “tell me about yourself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your likes, dislikes, what are you like when no one is watching?”

  Roland frowned. This was beginning to seem more like an interview than a date. He picked his answer carefully. “There isn’t much to say. I like music, food and reading. I dislike Clark, and I’m always the same person, regardless of whether someone is watching or not.”

  “Clark is your roommate’s boyfriend?”

  Roland nodded. “What about you?”

  She exhaled and rested her back against the blanket. Closing her eyes, she said, “I’m not always as open as I am around you. My dad has high expectations of me. He wants me to carry myself with prestige and look down on those below me. I’m supposed to be the quiet, perfect, trophy wife that he’ll give away to some rich guy in the future. He doesn’t give a crap about my dreams or aspirations. I want to be more than someone’s pretty wife. I want to be able to depend on myself, get a job
, and make an honest living.”

  “Oh.”

  Cassandra shook her head sadly. “My dad is a good guy, I know he only wants what’s best for me, but that’s not what I desire.”

  Mr. Carter had seemed like a decent fellow when he hired Roland, but they had never talked about anything aside from Roland’s schedule and pay. It was not uncommon for women to get jobs in their society, but the rich ladies rarely needed to. Men liked to show off their wealth by letting their wives stay home and paying for their expenses.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She watched him from the corner of her eye. “Why are you apologizing?”

  “I just think you deserve better than that.”

  “I do, don’t I? I should at least be able to pick the man I love.” Cassandra smiled but it didn’t meet her eyes. “You know what’s funny?”

  “What?”

  “I was kind of happy when you asked me out.”

  This caught Roland’s attention and he met her gaze. “Really?”

  “Yes. You’re the only one I can be myself around. Everyone else I have to watch what I say or do, so I don’t make a fool out of myself. It gets exhausting. They’re all so judgmental and superficial. They want the latest fashion trends and music albums, and I couldn’t care less about that.”

  Roland laid down, placing his head beside hers. He had thought he would have a chance with her if he worked up the courage to ask her out, but there was an even bigger obstacle…her father.

  “I’m sorry,” she told him, “I’ve been going on and on without giving you a chance to talk.”

  “It’s all right; I like the sound of your voice.” It was soft, gentle, and melodic.

  Her cheeks flushed. “Can you say my name?”

  He furrowed his brows. “Why?”

  “Please.”

  “Cassandra.”

  She laughed.

  “What?”

  “You sound like a robot,” she explained.

  Roland’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. Both remained quiet.

  “Can I be honest with you?”

  Roland shrugged. “Sure.”

  “I don’t want you to work for the Order.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s dangerous. People die fighting for our country. You’re a musician, playing the piano and singing is what you do best. You don’t have to do this.”

  Roland’s eyes followed the curve of her jaw, and landed on her exposed neck. He licked his lips. “I have my reasons.”

  “Will you tell me?”

  “Not right now.”

  “One day?”

  “Yes, if you’re still as honest as you are now.”

  “In that case, I don’t want to lose you before we can get to know each other better.”

  “Then, would you like to be more than just friends?”

  She smiled. “I would love to, for now, though, we’ll have to keep it a secret from my dad.”

  Roland’s heart raced and he swallowed the lump forming in his throat. He took a chocolate chip cookie and bit into it.

  “Well, I have to get back in time to hear the results,” he said, checking his watch. While he was not eager to leave, he didn’t want to be late either. He lurched to his feet. “I’ll see you around.”

  Cassandra got to her feet and stood beside him. She held her hand out and he took it. “It was nice having dinner with you, Mr. Brody.”

  “Take care of yourself, Ms. Carter.”

  ***

  Roland arrived in the coliseum just as the ceremony was beginning. The participants were seated in the rows that were close to the front with their separate instructions. There were the female fighters from Lady April’s Academy in their black dresses and wide brimmed hats. The brutish looking guys from Denver’s Knights’ School were dressed in their school uniform; a gold vest, black long sleeved shirts, and black pants. Roland’s faction was sitting in the row behind them. The boys and girls from King’s Academy wore their white uniforms with pride. They held their heads up, kept their gazes forward. Roland felt guilty. He should have stayed back to celebrate with them instead of running off with Cassandra. At least he had finally found out what she thought of him.

  Mr. Bramen turned around as Roland was making his way down the stairs and told him to walk faster.

  Roland mumbled an apology and slid into the empty seat that Bramen had saved for him, right next to Clark and Imani.

  “If you were just a minute later,” Bramen whispered, “I would have had you running laps for the rest of the week.”

  “I know.”

  The arena was empty. Roland wondered if Cassandra had stayed to hear the results or decided to leave. If he had more time, he would have offered to walk her to the gates. He had not known that her father was that strict. They would have to keep their relationship hidden from the general public to make things work. And what the hell did she mean by ‘for now’? Would things change in the future? Roland bit his lower lip. He hated the anxiety the woman was stirring within him. He had never felt this agitated about anything before.

  “Where have you been, piano boy?” Clark inquired.

  Roland shrugged.

  “Come on,” Clark whined and quickly put Roland into a chokehold. “Friends don’t keep secrets from each other.”

  “Let me go or I’ll kill you.”

  “You wanna go? I’m not afraid to knock you around the classroom again,” Clark replied coolly.

  Imani brought a slim finger to her lips and glared at them. “Shut up. It’s starting.”

  The drummers began a standard battle piece as Commander Mark Lang emerged from the tunnel with one of King Albert’s Royal Guards. Lang raised a hand, the audience’s murmurs ceased, and the drumming stopped. His calculative eyes scanned the crowd. “Please stand.”

  Everyone rose from their seats.

  Chapter XV

  Placing his right palm over his heart, Roland joined the audience in reciting the national pledge, ending with the last stanza,

  “Till we die, we will never abandon this country of ice and forests. We fight; we nourish and support our people under our almighty king. May God bless this land and its people so we can continue to thrive in our daily lives.”

  Commander Lang nodded approvingly. “Please be seated.”

  The crowd took their seats, anticipation hanging in the air above their heads. Roland could feel it, taste it. He wanted the man to hurry up and tell them who had been accepted into the army. Clark tensed beside him, leaning forward to get a closer view.

  Mr. Bramen squeezed his shoulder and whispered, “How do you think you did?”

  “Satisfactory. Was the match to your liking?”

  “I would have liked it if you were a bit more aggressive,” Bramen said. “You might not notice it but sometimes when you land a few successful blows you start to relax, and you let your guard down. That’s when the enemy strikes. You see, fighting isn’t like playing the piano. Your aggression shouldn’t fade and return at planned intervals. It needs to be constant, deadly.”

  “I didn’t let my guard down,” Roland argued.

  “Then why were you disarmed so easily?”

  “He had a heavy blade. My saber couldn’t defend against it.”

  “If you had gone in there with intent to kill—”

  “Kill?” Roland interrupted, drawing curious glances from the people around him. “This is a school tournament, there’s no need for anyone to die.”

  Bramen shook his head dismissively. “Look, Roland. I know you have your reasons for wanting to join the army, and I don’t mind having you patrol the campus and doing little things like that. But I don’t think you have it in you to kill someone. I don’t think you understand the serious implications of what you’re planning to partake in. You’re too kind, too gullible.”

  Roland heaved a sigh. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Bramen, but I’m my own man. I can make my own decisions and I will change as the situation requires me to.�
��

  “You’ll become a killer?”

  Roland nodded.

  “For what?” Bramen asked. “Why are you putting yourself through such a gruesome trial when you have a promising future ahead of you?”

  Roland noticed the hurried manner in which the man spoke, and the slight edge of worry that tinted his voice. Bramen did not have a problem with any of his other students wanting to join the Order. He trusted their abilities and never questioned their motives for anything. Roland was the only one he tried to discourage, and Roland was not sure why. Still, the man’s question echoed in his mind. “You’ll become a killer?”

  Roland frowned. He just wanted to see his family, embrace them, memorize every line in their faces and tell them he loved them. In his dreams their faces were blurred, their bodies unrecognizable. Director Brody had told him that joining the army was the only way to see them, and Roland trusted him well enough to do it. Kill? He wasn’t sure if he would be able to do that when the time came.

  Bramen faced the arena with a smug grin, as if he had accomplished his duty.

  Commander Lang whispered something into the King’s guard’s ear. The guard was well dressed in a black suit and golden shoulder pads. On his back was the golden lion insignia of their country. There was a red slash slung across his left shoulder, and a long, slim sword hung in a sheath at his side. He was tall with cropped black hair, an oval face, and a stern look.

  “Lord Kayne will announce the names of those that have passed the entrance test. Once called, you will kneel before him and pledge your allegiance to our King, and return to your seats. We will begin with the ladies from Lady April’s Academy.”

  Lord Kayne cleared his throat. “Anna Abe,” he called loudly. A girl with blonde hair that reached the middle of her back stood and made her way down the stairs. She turned to wave to the audience like a queen that had decided to bless her subjects with her presence. The crowd cheered. Anna knelt before Lord Kayne, who unsheathed his sword and touched her left shoulder with the blade, then her right. Kayne pressed two fingers against her forehead and mumbled a blessing. After reciting the pledge, Anna stood, bowed, and returned to her seat. He friends huddled around her and squealed in excitement.