Page 21 of Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1)

Be cautious; be vigilant; be wise; the enemy’s greatest weapon is his lies.

“We’re not traveling to Theirland today.”

Roman’s loud call filled the women’s locker room. Frowning, we flooded into the hall, joining him and our other teammates.

The second-in-command stood in the center before the two rooms. “I don’t know why, so don’t ask. We’ll proceed with our regular schedule today and go tomorrow.”

A reprieve. Nice. I returned to my locker and finished preparing for class. When I finished, I raced to gym C. The coming warm-up meant I was seconds away from seeing Shiloh and High Prince Dolion.

Anticipation warred with nervousness and determination.

There, in that moment, I made a decision.

I would tell the HP about the invitation.

Letting him find out another way would do no one any good.

But I’d take a risk and leave out Ember’s name.

Although, I did need to mention the execution threat, bluff or not.

However, I would confess my intentions to Shiloh first.

Argh! He wasn’t here. The HP didn’t show up either. Both absences bothered me, agitating my stress response.

As the day progressed, my agitation magnified. There had been no sign of either man. Maybe someone had overheard Shiloh’s talk of the Rock and tattled. He might be locked in a room with the high prince, undergoing an intense interrogation.

“Roosa,” Duchess Mimidae snapped.

I blinked into focus, realizing my turn to fire a netter had arrived and every member of class was fixated on me.

Cheeks heating, I stepped up to the designated line and aimed the heavy gun at a dummy set up on the other side of the classroom.

My grip trembled as I squeezed the trigger.

A metal net unfurled as it whipped toward my target.

Dang. I’d missed, the net adhering to the wall beside the dummy.

So far, I’d done my best with the throwing stars.

“You’re too stiff,” she said. “Next time exhale a deep breath before you fire.”

Disappointed in my performance, I hustled to the end of the line to await my redo.

Titus stepped up to bat and executed a perfect shot.

“Excellent,” the duchess praised. “A netter is your best choice when you come upon a glower or any feeder in need of treatment rather than death.”

The bell rang, and we hurried to lunch. Then came self-defense, then first aid. Again, there was no sign of the HP or Shiloh. My worry for them sprouted thorns. By the time drills arrived, I felt as if I’d been tied to a rack and stretched beyond my limits.

I entered the Dome and drew up short. At last!

Both males were present. But. Hmm. Neither appeared happy.

Shiloh glared at the floor again, his hands fisted.

The HP maintained a blank expression, but the usual force field around him crackled with tension.

My stomach sank. Something had definitely happened between them.

Maybe today wasn’t the best day to share my intentions.

“Line up,” the HP bellowed, never glancing my way. “Hustle.”

The entire class rushed to obey, and I could do no less. We put ourselves shoulder to shoulder in the center of the room.

He walked in front of us, his arms behind his back. “Tomorrow you will step into Theirland for the first time, officially becoming realm walkers.”

I cringed inside. Many soldiers cheered.

Our leader barked, “This isn’t a time for celebration but dedication.

You won’t be doing patrol because you aren’t ready for it.

But you will be paired with an established knight and watch a patrol from the safety of a POD.

Afterward, I expect you to write a paper explaining everything the soldier did right and wrong, citing information you’ve acquired in your classes. ”

Okay, that didn’t sound so terrible. From my studies, I knew a POD was a private observation deck, protected by a clear unbreakable shield.

The HP stopped and scanned the line. When he came to me, his gaze lingered for a heartbeat longer, and I thought he maybe, possibly, searched for something. But what?

“Today, we’ll play a game that mimics what you’ll witness with the knights.

See the cubbies carved into the wall?” He pointed.

“Each opening acts as a shelter for a lone soldier. Currently seventeen are available. There are eighteen of you.” He motioned to Mykal, who dragged in a box of practice armor in the shade of bronze.

The color for lords- and ladies-in-training.

“Suit up,” the HP commanded, and we rushed to obey.

“Like your assigned soldier, you’ll compete in the dark.

Though those in the field will encounter real feeders, you will be hunted by a hologram designed to detect fear and noise.

You’ll only see it when it comes within a five-foot range.

Stay aware. Remember, you can’t help others if you can’t help yourself.

If a feeder grazes you, you won’t be disqualified, but you’ll hurt.

Once you’re tagged, you become a permanent target.

The game doesn’t stop until every cubby is filled.

The one stuck out in the open is eliminated.

We’ll run the drill again and again with minor differences until we crown a winner, who will receive three meal vouchers to be used at their discretion. ”

I fought for calm as the weight of the armor settled into place. He’d listed everything I despised, all rolled into a single activity. The dark. Being stalked by a maddened. Battling others for safety. Pain. But. Those vouchers. How wonderful to share “a food” with Shiloh, my treat.

I cast a peek the medic’s way, hoping to engage him and rouse a smile, if only for a moment.

He stalked from the room.

If the HP noticed, he didn’t show it. He scanned the line of soldiers, impassive. “Any questions? Good. Engage your lenses.”

Trembling, I obeyed. A small screen lowered over my eyes and molded into a half mask.

Just as the shield darkened, I caught the HP’s gaze.

In a moment of camaraderie, he offered a brusque nod, surprising me.

Then the world around me vanished, and my thoughts centered around the only problem that mattered. I—saw—nothing.

Inhale. Exhale. If I’d been smart, I would’ve practiced with the lens outside of class while I’d had the chance, exactly as suggested. Bad decision to ignore good advice. Today I’d probably choke on the fruit of my choice.

“Go,” the HP stated simply.

Someone bumped into me. Yelping, I tripped forward and collided with another soldier. Murmurs, grunts, and screeches created a frightening chorus. A piercing scream added to the chaos.

My heart galloped. Leave, fear. I’m brave. I extended my arms and threw my feet forward, panting breaths clogging my ears. My nose wrinkled. What was that atrocious smell?

A feeder flashed before my vision, eyes wild, teeth bared, the worms on its head sticking straight out, giving the illusion of spikes.

No! I tried to dive out of the way. Too late.

Sharp pains exploded inside my brain, and I shrieked, my knees buckling.

I dropped like a stone in water, crashing into the floor.

Someone tripped over me, kicking me in the gut, setting off a fresh chain reaction of pain.

Coughing, I crawled away as fast as I could. The cubbies, where were the cubbies?

Sweat beaded on different parts of me. When had the room become wall-less? I must be going in circles. Which way, which way? The north and south had cubbies, the east and west did not.

“Over here,” Roman called from across the room, as if he sensed my desperation.

“Where?” Lark demanded.

“Follow my voice,” he responded.

I didn’t know about her, but I took Roman’s advice. If he was safe in a cubby, he was where I needed to be. I could help myself to safety, then turn my efforts to aiding others, like Roman had.

Lark grunted and cursed. Had she gotten tagged? I quickened my pace. Other trainees issued warnings and pleas for aid. Shrieks and thumps ebbed and flowed.

“Learn to detect the slightest hint of a feeder’s approach,” the HP instructed.

The death stench hit me again. This time, I acted faster, diving and rolling. My brain rattled against my skull, but I didn’t scent the maddened anymore. Invigorated, I crawled with swift determination.

Boom! My forehead greeted the wall at long last. More discomfort. More dizziness. Rising to my knees, I paused to orient. The decision cost me. The same wild-eyed feeder flashed over my vision, too close to avoid. Tag!

Searing agony flared anew. Despite it, I shoved myself along the wall. Panting, grunting, wheezing. Finally! An open cubby. Noooo! I bumped someone.

“Taken,” Titus announced, no doubt ready to defend his hideaway despite sounding sympathetic.

Adrenaline surged, and I crawled faster, panted harder, feeling my way. More cubbies, more occupants. Open! I threw myself inside the tight space and stood, pressing my back against the wall, making my body as small as possible. Raspy breaths pumped my chest up and down. I’d done it!

“Round over,” the HP announced. “Lenses up.”

I pressed the button and blinked rapidly against the onslaught of light. No sign of the holograms. Six soldiers toppled from their cubbies to writhe on the floor in various stages of torment.

With a groan, I eased down and stretched out. “I’m dying,” I muttered. “Or dead. Yeah. Definitely dead.”

“Walk it off, Roosa,” the HP commanded.

Walk off being dead ?

“Cash, you’re out.”

The fallen lord-in-training raised his thumb in a show of acceptance.

Our merciless leader announced, “Line up.”

I left the security of the cubby with a groan. Behind me, a door slid shut. One less competitor, one less cubby.

The HP motioned to the medics, who rushed over to examine anyone with an injury. Someone I’d never met had taken Shiloh’s place.

I glanced at the HP, seeking answers. He watched me. When he arched a brow in question, I knew what he was asking. Could I handle more?