Page 25 of Storm of Shadows

“But what does it mean?”

“It means they’re linked together for life. Their magic becomes bound together.”

“And these other two boys are bound to Beaufort Lincoln? Are they happy about it?”

Fly laughs. “I have no idea, Cupcake. But considering they’re three of the strongest shadow weavers the realm has seen, I doubt they care too much.” He lowers his voice and adopts a mysterious tone. “They call them the Princes.”

“Not obnoxious at all,” I sniff, then glance towards my new friend. “What kind of service?” I ask next, my stomach turning sour.

Fly doesn’t answer, which tells me everything I need to know.

“Well,” I say with a frown, “I don’t care who they are or how powerful they may be, there’s no way in hell I’m being their thrall.”

Chapter Twelve

Briony

“Are you crazy?!” Fly asks. “Did you bump your head as well as twist your ankle? Or did you not hear what I said? If you’re a thrall, you’re untouchable. No one can hurt you.”

“Except the ones you’re a thrall to,” I point out.

I know how that goes. I’ve been a lackey to Muriel for years.

Firestone Academy may have a reputation for being brutal but at least it’s my chance at freedom. I won’t be dependent or bound to anyone. I will no longer be someone’s slave. Least of all a bunch of privileged shadow weavers who will use and abuse me just like my step-mother.

Fly shakes his head. “Do you know how many kids from Iron Quarter didn’t make it back from the academy last year? Four. Four kids who were some of the toughest, strongest people I knew. No offense, Cupcake, but you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

“If it’s such a help, then why the hell did some girl nearly kill me out there on the assault course?”

“Hmmm,” he ponders. “It’s not official yet, I guess. Until it is, maybe some of these kids think there’s still a chance the Princes will change their minds and choose them instead of you. Especially if you’re dead. I’d get it all official as quickly as you can.” He peers over his shoulder as if he expects someone to be coming at us with a knife.

I chew on my lip. “I’m not going to be a thrall. I’ll take my chances with the other kids.”

Fly harrumphs. “I’d give my right legandmy right ball to be someone’s thrall – anyone’s at all.”

“Can we change the subject?” I say. I don’t want to fall out with my new friend already and right now I can’t see us agreeing about this. I would refuse to be anyone’s servant as it is. I most definitely will not be serving shadow weavers. “Where are we going exactly?” Because we’re not heading in the direction of our rooms.

“The clinic, of course.”

“Uh uh, I don’t need any treatment. My ankle will be just fine.”

“You’re going to have to start accepting help if you want to make it through the next year.” He glances at me and I drop my gaze to the floor. “It doesn’t make you weak, you know. In fact, if you’re crazy enough to refuse the Princes, I’d say our next best plan is to stick together and help each other out.”

“It’s not that I think accepting help makes me weak, it’s just … it’s hard to trust people.” Because look what happens when you do! Muriel. Stanley. I trusted them and both of them abused me. And goodness knows who Amelia trusted.

Keeping my cards close to my chest, being wise about who I share my secrets with, is the only way I’m going to survive this place.

“I’m hurt,” Fly says, adopting a fake expression of pain. “You don’t trust me, Cupcake?”

“I don’t know yet,” I say honestly. “I want to.”

“Fair enough. That is sort of sensible. We probably shouldn’t trust anyone in this place. Not even each other.” He sighs. “Although that’s going to make for a very miserable twelve months.”

“Were you expecting anything different?”

He laughs. “No, I suppose not.”

Nonetheless, he still drags me along to a clinic, where there is a small line of other students waiting to be seen. Most of them are injuries from the assault course, a few look like casualties from the night before. I wonder just how many kids got hurt that night.