Chapter Eleven

“We can’t just leave her to die!” Aldric said, arms crossed against his chest.

The cell they were placed in probably could’ve fit a carriage. Its roof rose above them like a tower, the walls bleached of color. The window sat in the middle of the wall, the city’s buildings visible beyond it.

Emma hadn’t said a single word ever since the Horsemen detained her and the others. All she could see was Yori jumping in front of her to take that sudden shot. She could practically hear the way their questmaster hit the cobblestones. It had been a very dissonant thud, like nails rasping a chalkboard. It made her shiver.

“Hey, pipe down,” Linnea said to Aldric.

“No way. We’re not just normal people. Or did you forget that we come from a training corps or whatever?”

“You’re being too loud.” Linnea pinched her forehead. “If anything, Yori is probably dead already. Besides, what can we do without our gear?”

“No fighting,” Ari said quickly. “Umm...well, there’s no gia here. For some reason. Did anyone else see that?”

“Yeah,” Taner murmured. “There is none. I think that’s because of how this room was made. Look at the ceiling and walls. This room doesn’t have any color. And if I try hard enough, I can smell the scent of blood. Slight, but definitely there… You know what I think we should do? We should just wait it out. That’s not the right thing to do, though, because we were given a mission and sitting here won’t help us finish it.”

“That’s the most I’ve heard you say,” Astrid said, shooting Taner a look. “Aye, no use in being bummed out. Let’s see. We have no swords. We have none of our other stuff. And there’s no gia in here.”

“Taner is correct about one thing,” Amynta said. “This room’s construction is rather strange. I can smell the blood as well. The width of these walls, coupled with the single window… I believe this was an execution chamber before its purpose was shifted.”

“Okay?” Linnea said. “What does that mean?”

“Execution chambers were constructed out of pyrium. That means that, with enough friction, the walls should crumble.”

“Oh,” Ari said. “That’s smart! But—”

“Hey, hold it.” Linnea clapped Ari’s shoulder. “What can we use to make friction? We don’t have anything tough.”

“These boots are pretty sturdy,” Goran said to Linnea. “Should be able to scrape the wall apart with the soles, man.”

“I don’t really get it, but,” Aldric said with a grin, “I think it’s worth a shot. Come on, guys!”

“Wait,” Corinna said. “Emma hasn’t said anything. You okay?”

Emma shook her head. The rage that stormed within her was stoked by Corinna’s words and concern. She regarded Corinna fiercely. Corinna didn’t flinch, surprisingly. Why do these fools still try? We don’t have any equipment. The only thing that awaits us is a trial. Best we can hope for is a quick sentence.

“Say,” Taner said. “Doesn’t anyone else find it weird that we got arrested without any type of formal procedure?”

“Yeah.” Corinna wrapped her arms around her legs. “Don’t the Horsemen usually bring you to a Clertician before dumping you in a cell?”

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“Dunno,” Linnea said, “I remember seeing a bunch of people get tackled by Horsemen. None of them cared. The people screamed, even kicked, but the Horsemen still kept on going.”

“What’s that matter?” Aldric shouted. “We still got put here!”

“Oi,” Astrid snapped. “Shut up.”

“Yeah,” Linnea growled. “You’re just gonna bring the….”

Linnea trailed off upon spotting a Horseman by the door. His blue eyes were sharp, set in a thin face with the faintest signs of a blond stubble. A rifle gleamed behind his back. Emma looked at him. What’s this, now? A Horseman shows up by himself? I felt all the rostai in this building once they dragged us here. I counted about thirty pulses. So why is this man by himself? Emma’s throat grew raw. Could it be someone has come to rescue us? Does that mean I don’t get to claw out the face of the one who shot Yoriana?

Emma shook against the bare wall.

Ari squeaked as the door opened. The Horseman regarded them all quickly; Taner and Goran shared a quick look. There it is. Gia curved away from the Horseman’s body like a receding tide, blue as ocean water. Dampeners. That’s what was embedded in these walls. No wonder we couldn’t feel any gia here. Why didn’t I notice sooner?

“Can we help you?” Amynta asked the Horseman.

“There’s been word from a benefactor of yours,” he said. “Sent us a magnetic copy of your pass. So you’re free to go, for now. Be on your best behavior. I was told to bring you to the nearest district for the sake of your own safety.”

“You serious?” Aldric said. “Just like that? Dude, our questmaster was—”

“How can we verify what you’re saying?” Amynta asked.

“Look at it this way,’’ the Horseman said, “I wouldn’t be trying to talk to you if I wanted to harm you. Not all of us are on board with this decision, so it’s best if we leave right away.”

Emma eyed him. Amynta’s right. We can’t tell whether or not this man’s words are truthful. If he’s lying, then what? What will I… She trailed off upon noticing Ari. She’s the most child-like out of everyone here. She almost always smiles, regardless of what happens. How can humans smile like that when they know that life is unfair and pointless? I wouldn’t ever say this, though. I feel weird whenever I speak my mind. That time last week was different… I felt an unusual amount of courage that day. Courage that, now that I think about it, was fleeting…

“I say we stay here,” Aldric said.

“No,” Ari said. “Guys, I think we should go.”

“Agreed,” Taner said. “If we wait it out, we might not get to do… that. Life’s full of hard choices. If we made the wrong choice, we’ll know. That’s all.”

Taner rose. Amynta was next. Slowly, one after another, the Cadets stood before the Horseman. Emma tucked her arms behind her and balled her fists.

Just wait.