~Chapter Eleven~
Dena doted over me back at camp. She’d managed to procure some food from somewhere (a lot of it looked like the mash we made for the horses) and made me eat most of it. She’d checked me out thoroughly on the boat here, and whilst I was physically in perfect health, I knew she was expecting me to have some mental breakdown.
Too bad I’d already had it.
We spent the rest of the break playing on the beach, but I anxiously counted off the days until we could return to the Academy, the big, safe Academy. On our second to last day, I succeeded in teaching the Lotherian boys how to play softball, though Petre found it a little difficult to grasp the concept of ‘out’.
“Out!” I called, as Red Hair caught it on the full. Petre kept sprinting to the next base and I nodded at Red Hair, whom we all had noticed had almost perfect aim.
Red Hair ditched the ball at Petre, catching him in the legs and sending him sprawling in the sand. Despite our laughter, Petre started wriggling on his belly to the next base. I’ll give it to the bastard, he was determined. I stood over him as he planted one firm hand on the tent bag we were using as second base.
“You’re out,” I told him pointedly.
He dragged himself up and brushed himself off.
“It was worth a shot,” he said haughtily, and sailed off to his teammates.
I rolled my eyes at Rain, who ignored me.
The next morning we set off early, and I determinedly did not look towards the island as we left. I hoped that I’d never see it again, and if I ever did, it would be too soon.
Phoenix had resumed ignoring me. I let it go, tired of trying to squeeze a friendship or any kind of common ground out of someone who so obviously didn’t have the time of day for me.
I rode with my group, chatting about the new term, though nothing would’ve changed. We still had the same classes, the same teachers, the same classmates.
I wondered why our class was so small. Jett had once explained to us that we were reaped every three years, so we ranged from eighteen to twenty. I would be twenty by the time I finished my study at the Academy and then...
And then what? There was a hollow feeling in my chest as I contemplated this new thought. I’d never thought of what I’d do after I finished my studies. Would I travel this new world, explore everything this realm had to offer? Yes, that sounded very appealing, but I had to be realistic. I would just have to hope that my magical talents would reveal themselves to me over the course of my tuition, and then I’d aim to secure a position, a paying position.
I realised I was floundering out of my depth. I didn’t even know the value of the coins in my belt purse. I made a mental note to ask Jett about prospective careers after the Academy.
I would really like to travel though, I decided. I have a whole new world to explore, and nothing’s going to stop me from seeing it.
When we made it past Keyes and the Academy came into view everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Though we had to resume our study, it would be far less dangerous than term break.
Soul Fire Page 28