I did something stupid.

I felt sorry for them. I knew this training was way less vigorous than what we’d gone through, but still, I wanted to help them.

“Ma’am.” I don’t know why, but I raised my hand

“Trela Margrave.” She eyed me and I flinched. I could tell that she was a nun by the shiver that ran down my spine to hide in my pants.

I realized after almost a minute of being stared down that she was waiting for me to speak.

“Nun Margrave.” I could tell by the smirk on her face that I was correct. "We’re down a Hitter.” I swallowed. "I know it would be powerleveling, but do you think you could spare one for us to take to the second floor to fill our party out?”

“Hmm, you want to take one of these lazy ones off of my hands?” She shrugged. "Maybe they’ll learn what a good student is.” She turned to where the students had already started into the tunnel to the south. "Eggar, Fray, Gunter!” The three of them froze. "Come here!”

The three students hurried over. I thought I saw relief on the other two student’s faces as they hurried into the tunnel and out of sight. The three students whose name she called lined up in front of her.

“Eggar." She pointed at the black-haired, brown-eyed silver man with a sword.

“Fray.” She pointed at the green-eyed brunette green woman with the other sword.

“Gunter.” She pointed at the blue-eyed blonde snow-white man with the spear.

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“Take your pick, they’re all useless, but maybe you can make something out of them.” The nun looked at me. "Who do you want?”

Gunter was out. I could see the way that Justia was shying away from him that she was still hung up on Edward. I didn’t blame her, I had instantly discounted him simply based on his looks. I didn’t know how we were going to work through that particular piece of trauma that the four of us had.

Fray had a twinkle in her eyes that told me even though she had a sullen look on her face, she was going to play off of Aelin. The thought of two bubbly women chattering away while we were in between fights didn’t exactly entice me to pick her.

Eggar looked hopeful. He genuinely didn’t want to go back down that tunnel. He was my top pick, just because he looked eager to please, which meant he’d probably follow directions the best.

“Eg…”

“We want Fray!” Aelin interrupted, pushing me out to rush over and grab the brunette by the hands. She pulled the smiling woman over to where we were standing.

Fray had perked up after being named, but was taking care to restrain herself, while putting members of our party between her and the nun.

Nun Margrave eyed me. "That’s who you want?”

“I…” I looked at Aelin, who was smiling ear to ear. Rix looked indifferent as always. Justia was wearing her Noble face. None of them was going to help me counter the excitement.

I looked at Ether for support. I locked eyes with the red-eyed woman and she gave me a slight nod.

It was two for, two abstain, and one against. I could argue, but that would take time, I would lose, and we would look bad.

“Yes.” I sighed. "We’ll take Fray.”

“Go on, you heard him.” The nun shooed the two men to follow after the other two.

“When and where do you want us to bring her?” I needed to know how long we had her for.

“Keep her ‘til you head back to the Cathedral.” Nun Margrave waved at me as she followed after her students. "Or keep her. One less headache for me.”

I watched the Nun grumble as she walked away.

I turned around to our new party member. "I guess we should head out.”

Aelin was grinning ear to ear. "To the boss!”