Page 9 of Storm of Shadows

I groan and, stretching out my stiff body, hurry back down the tree.

I am going to be so fucking late for the academy. They’ll think I bolted. They’ll have soldiers out searching for me – or my body.

At the lowest branch, I glance down at the drop to the floor, then, taking a steadying breath in, jump. My legs buckle with the force of my landing and I roll across the hard earth, groaning at the pain in my ribs, until I right myself back on my feet.

“Chose a night up in the trees too, huh?”

I spin around. A tall, spindly boy walks towards me. His clothes are creased and grubby and a dead leaf rests in his mop of dark curly hair.

I freeze in indecision.

He isn’t a shadow weaver. I can tell by his clothes. I don’t recognize his face, which means he isn’t from Slate Quarter either. Granite Quarter maybe?

Which means, while he may be smart, he probably isn’t strong.

Should I be running anyway? He could still hurt me if he wanted to. Who says it’s only the shadow weavers who get their kicks out of beating up weaker kids?

Look at Stanley.

However, before I’ve made up my mind, he’s grinning at me and, maybe I’m naïve or stupid, or both, but it seems genuine. Kind even.

“Although, it looks like it didn’t help you much.” He points to my face.

“Nah,” I say, “this I already had. No one caught me last night.”

He applauds me.

“You know we’re going to be so fucking late.”

“Probably,” I concur, waiting for him to catch up with me.

He chuckles. “No doubt about it, Cupcake. I’m just so glad I won’t be the only one.”

“Do you know where we are?” I ask him.

“I think …” he says, pulling out a compass from his pocket – definitely Granite Quarter. “We’re west of the academy which must mean we’re in the Dankland Forest.” I nod like I know what that means. I guess he sees right through me. “About an hour’s walk from the academy.”

“Shit,” I mumble. “That far!”

Judging by the lightening sky it’s already eight o’clock in the morning.

“Yeah. Afraid so.” He smiles flatly. “Although, I have to say, turning up late and receiving whatever punishment we get given has to be a hell of a lot better than the beating we’d’ve gotten last night if any shadow weavers had caught us.”

I nod, although I can’t help thinking of the shadow weaver who let me go. “No points for us though.”

The boy shrugs. “I think we made the better choice.”

We walk on together, the dead leaves crunching under our feet. The cold air nipping at our faces.

He pulls something else from his pocket. A small parcel wrapped in a handkerchief. He unwraps it carefully, pulling out a lump of baked goods.

“Want some?” he asks, breaking a corner off and offering it to me.

“Is it poisoned?” I ask, side-eyeing him.

He takes a big bite. “Fuck, I hope not. Then again, I’m a massive disappointment to both my parents so maybe they decided to finish me off before I even got to the academy and could disappoint them even more.” He chews. “Tastes okay.”

“Not smart enough?” I say, taking a piece of the spongy concoction this time when he offers it again.