by Brenda Hiatt
“Very well,” Lennox says. “If we wish to speak with you before your next report, we will message you. Remember to keep your device with you at all times.”
They break the connection without saying goodbye. I deactivate the dampening field, close the secret screen, then flush the toilet before emerging into the living room.
“Good walk?” I ask brightly.
At school the next day, Sean seems nearly as eager to avoid me as I am to avoid him. We exchange no more than stiff smiles in our Physics and Lit classes, and give each other a wide berth whenever we pass each other in the hallways. I tell myself I’m relieved.
At lunch, he again sits with friends from the basketball team. Mindful of my new instructions, I only pause briefly at the newcomers’ table with my tray of food.
“Hey, guys. Molly O’Gara asked me to sit at her table today, so I probably should. See you all later, okay?”
A couple of them look impressed, even envious. Only Alan seems disappointed. In Physics, he acted a little too pleased when I didn’t talk to Sean. Another reason not to sit here and risk Alan thinking it’s because of him.
Gathering my courage, I walk over to the table where Molly O’Gara is sitting…right across from the Sovereign. “Er, hi. Do you have room for one more?”
“Of course!” Molly exclaims delightedly, snatching her backpack off the chair next to her. “I actually saved this seat for you—I was just about to invite you to join us.”
Smiling tentatively around the table, I sit down. “I, ah, thought it would be nice to, er, branch out, especially since I’ve already met most of you.” Bri and Deb smile back and I glance at M, across from me. She and Rigel seem a little preoccupied, but then their serious expressions relax.
“That’s great, Kira,” M says. “I hope the others will start mingling more, too. Have you had your interview for the school paper yet?”
“Yes, Becky called Monday night and asked about a million questions, plus some follow-up ones before Statistics yesterday.” It was like getting an intensive pop quiz on all the background info I memorized in Dun Cloch, but I’d only stumbled once or twice—and not in ways that would make her suspicious.
Rigel chuckles. “Angela, the editor, has really been riding us to get those stories in. She wants our first drafts this afternoon. M and I are doing the Walsh twins. Yours is ready, right?” The look he gives her is so intimate it makes me a little uncomfortable, especially after what Sean told me last night.
I’m curious to know more details about their bond but with Bri, Deb and a few other Duchas at the table, we obviously can’t talk about anything Echtran-related. Instead I ask about school sports, claiming I’d played soccer—a common Duchas sport slightly similar to caidpel—at my last school.
“Jewel used to have a girls’ soccer team,” Bri tells me, “but it fizzled a few years back. All we have now in the fall is cross country, then basketball after that.”
Molly gives me a knowing grin. “You should totally go out for basketball—unless Trina has talked you into joining the cheerleading squad?”
“She’s tried, but I, um, don’t think it would be my kind of thing.” Again, I don’t commit about the basketball.
The conversation moves on to school gossip about some cheerleader’s breakup with some football player. I don’t take part, since I don’t know either of them. Still, by the time the bell rings I feel like I’ve taken a decent first step toward following my latest orders.
I take another at the end of Economics, when I hang back to talk to Trina after the Sovereign leaves for her next class. If anyone can tell me about M’s weaknesses, I reason, it’s likely to be Trina, who seems to dislike her at least as much as I do.
First I make some comment about the class, then say, “Last week you warned me to watch out for Marsha Truitt. Is there anything I should worry about other than boyfriend-stealing, since I don’t happen to have one of those?”
Her eyes instantly light up, a malicious little smile curving her lips. “Oh, where do I begin? She’s been a total pain since elementary school, so there’s a lot. One thing you definitely want to be careful of is her tendency to get violent for no reason.”
“Violent? Really?” I did read a mention of her starting a fight last year. Details on that would be great. “Like, who has she gone after?”
“Me, among other people,” Trina replies smugly. “She’s always had it in for me, though I can’t imagine why. The last time she got pissed at me, she actually broke my nose, believe it or not! And never even said she was sorry afterward.”
So it was Trina she attacked? Jackpot.
“Wow, that’s awful!” I squeeze every ounce of sympathy I can into my voice. “Why would she do that?”
“I honestly have no idea. Afterward she claimed it was because of something I showed her on my phone, but since she also broke that, of course she had no proof.”
By now I’ve seen enough of Trina to suspect she did something to deserve it. Still, considering how good Marsha Truitt is at Taekwondo, completely apart from her being an Echtran—and the freaking Sovereign—nothing could possibly justify a physical attack.
I’m about to ask more questions when Trina notices the time. “Oops! I’ve already been late to Government twice this quarter. I better hurry if I don’t want to risk detention. Later, Kira!”
I don’t particularly need to hurry. Wednesday’s not one of my NuAgra days, so I spend seventh period in study hall, then take the bus so I can attend Taekwondo after school. On the way home, Adina tells me she’s thinking about dropping out at the end of our two-week trial period.
“I’m not very good at it and I want to spend more time with Aggie.” That’s what she decided to name her puppy. “She already gets left alone too much.”
“I’m sure the dog will be fine.” I roll my eyes. “Don’t most people with dogs have to work or go to school?”
“Well, yeah, but she’s still so little…”
In class, I try much harder than I did on Saturday to act friendly toward M. I’m not sure she’s buying it, though, no matter how much eagerness I force into my voice when asking about Taekwondo terms and moves.
“How long did it take you to get your blue belt?” I ask her as we’re changing out of our sparring pads at the end of class.
“Longer than it should have because I was gone for almost six months,” she replies with a too-penetrating look. “I was in a study-abroad program in Ireland spring semester, then got into an accident there, so I didn’t get back to Jewel until mid-August.”
Like every other Echtran, I know exactly where she really was all that time, as well as the story given out in Jewel to account for her prolonged absence and Rigel’s supposed memory erasure.
I nod, mindful of all the Duchas students nearby. “Did you have fun in Ireland? Before your accident, I mean.”
“Oh, yeah, it was great.” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes—in fact, there seems to be a lot of pain reflected in those green depths. I feel my first stirring of sympathy for her—but quickly squash it.
“I’d love to hear about it sometime.” I force a light tone as I avert my gaze to look over at Adina. She’s talking to two Duchas students around her age. “Well, um, I should go collect my sister. See you at school.”
Molly did say M disliked the trappings that went with her position, but what I just saw in her eyes went way beyond that. Like she had some seriously bad memories of her time in Nuath. Maybe I can convince Molly to tell me why.
“Ready to go, Sprout?” I say once I’ve turned in my borrowed pads. Adina nods and jumps up and we go change.
“You seemed to be having a good time today,” I comment as we leave to walk home. “Think maybe you’ll stick around after all? It’d be good to at least learn more self-defense moves.”
She slants an amused glance up at me. “What, like I’m going to get attacked in Jewel? Not likely. I was hoping you wouldn’t be so over-protective here.”
“
I’m still a big sister.” I ruffle her hair with a laugh.
Just then, I hear a voice—the Sovereign’s voice—calling our names. We turn and she hurries down the block toward us.
“Hey, sorry, I didn’t have a chance to tell you guys in class where no one would hear, but we decided to have Saturday’s party at Rigel’s house instead of the O’Garas.’ Less chance of other kids from school hearing about it that way, or maybe even dropping by.”
“Oh, um, okay.” I glance at Adina, who’s nodding eagerly. “Where does he live?”
She pulls a sheet of paper out of her gear bag. “Here’s his address and phone number. Or you can call me, I put my number on there, too, even though Cormac didn’t want me to.” She grins conspiratorially and glances over her shoulder at her Bodyguard—who also happens to be the Vice-Principal at Jewel High. He’s hovering half a block away.
“Wow, I can’t believe she gave us her personal phone number,” Adina gushes once we’re well out of earshot. “She must really trust us, don’t you think?”
I just nod, pushing away the uncomfortable thought that I’m the last person in Jewel she should trust. What would her Bodyguard do if he knew I was reporting back to the Populists about her? I’m not sure I want to find out.
* * *
The next day in French class, Molly asks if I can come over again that evening after dinner. “We can work on some of this stuff.” She jabs a finger at the textbook, then lowers her voice. “And maybe you can give me some tips on growing plants, since mine always curl up and die.”
“Oh, um, okay.” Now that I’m avoiding Sean, Molly is likely to be my best source of inside information. I want to ask if he’ll be there—I do not want a repeat of last time!—but I don’t dare with the Sovereign sitting right there.
Then, as we’re leaving the room after class, M surprises me by stepping close the moment Molly’s too far away to hear.
“When you go over to Molly’s, don’t make fun of her about the plant thing, okay? She’s kind of sensitive about it.”
“Of…of course not. I’d never do that.”
Her concerned frown disappears. “I didn’t think you would but…it’s hard for her sometimes, not feeling like she belongs in either world, you know? Maybe being friends with you will help.”
With a genuine-seeming smile, she heads off to her next class and I head to mine, thinking hard. A Chomseireach is basically a Sovereign’s personal servant, but she sounded as protective of Molly as I’d be of Adina. Conflict wells up in me again but I firmly remind myself that being nice isn’t enough to make her an effective Sovereign.
As the day goes on, I find it harder and harder to ignore Sean. In Lit class, I force myself to concentrate on Fahrenheit 451 and the essay I’m supposed to be outlining on its themes. The book is interesting, parts of it reminding me of Faxon’s regime and the Resistance, but I’m distracted by Sean’s presence two desks away. The third time I sneak a peek at him, I catch him looking back. I quickly avert my eyes.
The thought that he might be having trouble ignoring me, too, creates a tiny bubble of pleasure that I immediately try to pop. My mission no longer involves trying to persuade Sean, so there’s no reason for me to get to know him any better. No reason at all.
Over lunch, I take the added precaution of asking Molly if she can come to my place tonight instead of me going to hers. Though she seems surprised, she quickly agrees.
“Great!” If my relief at eliminating any chance of seeing Sean tonight is marred by a tiny thread of disappointment, I ignore it.
27
Fadeaway
Sean
I was worried my resolve to stay away from Kira would be hard to keep once I saw her again. Not so much, it turns out. Since that unplanned almost-kiss, she seems as determined as I am to maintain our distance.
Unfortunately, I’m more hyper-aware of her than ever whenever we’re in the same room, my eyes straying her way when I should be paying attention in class. And it bothers me much more than it should when Alan uses my backing off as an opportunity to move in on her himself. I don’t notice her giving him any real encouragement, but that doesn’t stop him trying.
When he again hurries to her side as we’re leaving Government class Thursday, I feel a surge of jealousy similar to what I used to feel toward Rigel. Which is crazy. Then, at least, I had tradition as an excuse, and what I considered the good of our people.
Now? More like the exact opposite. Still, I speed up until I’m close enough behind them to hear what he’s saying to her.
“Hey, Kira, I was wondering if I can give you a ride to the football game tomorrow? Oak Hill isn’t far, so my folks said I can borrow the car.”
“Um, thanks, Alan, but I wasn’t really planning to go. If I do, it’ll be with my sister again and this time I’d have to sit with her since my parents are a little more nervous about us attending away games.”
She gives him a smile that I tell myself doesn’t reach her eyes, then turns down a different hallway. Alan watches her for a moment before he continues on, looking disgruntled. I slow down so he can get well ahead of me, trying hard not to gloat. Because I have no business being so pleased she shot him down. Besides, their conversation just reminded me of something.
My next class is Weight Training, which I have with Rigel and, as of last week, Liam Walsh. Rigel and I have been answering a lot of Liam’s questions about our respective sports when none of our Duchas classmates are listening, but today I watch for a chance to catch Rigel alone.
“Hey,” I whisper when Liam moves to the other side of the room to spot Andy on the bench press. “Got a sec?”
Rigel shoots me a curious glance. “Sure. What’s up?”
Together, we go to the leg press and I start loading weights for him—less than half what I know he can manage these days, his bond with M has made him so much stronger.
“Last Friday. The game. I kept meaning to ask you—?”
His mouth twists in an amused grimace. “Yeah, I know. I went way over the top. Believe me, I’ve heard plenty about it from my parents. They even got a call from somebody on the Council who saw the highlights on the local news.”
“So I, uh, guess you’ll be scaling it back tomorrow night?” That had been my main concern.
He takes his place on the bench and starts pushing with his legs. “Definitely. Even though M’s planning to be there.”
“Yeah, that’s another thing. How did you manage to play like that without her there? I thought—”
“Pure adrenaline, I think. She, um, told me I had to play really well, that it would help keep her safe. Keep the, er, secret safe. Because of that crazy dude, Farmer.”
I stare at him. “Wait, she told you before the game? But you waited until after to tell anyone else, so we could go help her?”
“She didn’t give me a choice. She wouldn’t tell me where she was until the game was over—said if I didn’t play at all, Farmer would claim that proved his theory. That’s why I tried to make the game go as fast as possible. I knew they’d run a continuous clock if we were up by over forty points, so…”
That had definitely ended the game sooner, though I can’t imagine how he’d played so well when he had to be out of his mind with worry. But— “How did she tell you all that? You said you didn’t get her text until… Oh.”
The look he gives me is answer enough. Since the two of them re-bonded or whatever, and he got his memory back, they’ve been able to communicate telepathically across even greater distances than those Scientists reported. A whole lot greater, apparently.
“Um, don’t mention that part to anybody else, okay? We figure it might come in handy someday if no one knows how much our range has increased. You know, just in case.”
I promise I won’t, but now he’s got me thinking about the graell again, a subject I’ve tried not to think about since Tuesday. And wondering—again—what it would feel like to be bonded to someone the way he’s bonded to M.
; 28
Double coverage
When Molly shows up at our apartment that evening, Mum’s greeting isn’t quite as over-enthusiastic as I feared. Maybe because I told her Molly’s not Royal, just an Ag like us?
“It’s very nice of you, Molly, to offer to help Kira with her schoolwork. We’ve been hoping she would make friends in Jewel, especially as she was initially so reluctant to come.”
Molly smiles up at Mum from where she’s crouched down, petting Adina’s puppy as it scrabbles at her knees. She won my sister’s allegiance first thing, by cooing about how cute it is.
“It is a pretty big adjustment,” Molly admits. “I especially missed ionic showers when we first moved to Bailerealta from Nuath. And recombinators—though now my mum cooks way better than our old recombinator ever did. I’ll have to bring you some of her scones sometime.”
After a few more minutes chatting with my family, I suggest we go out to the courtyard to study, where it will be quieter. Mindful of the Sovereign’s warning this morning, I didn’t mention Molly’s difficulty with plants to my parents.
“Your family’s nice,” she comments as we walk down the one flight of stairs, backpacks over our shoulders. “They seem to be settling in here really well.”
“Yeah. Of course, they were all excited to come in the first place.”
“And you weren’t.”
I try to turn my snort into a laugh. “Not so much.”
She nods sympathetically. “Sean hated leaving Nuath, too, not that we had a choice. I didn’t mind so much. Maybe because I was younger, around Adina’s age.”
“Does he still miss it?”
“Sometimes. Especially when it rains or, worse, snows. He still has issues with stuff falling from the sky.”
She chuckles but I don’t. I know exactly how he feels.
“So, um what do you want to do first?” I ask when we reach the courtyard. “I really suggested coming out here because of the gardens and trees. You said—”