Mask of Shadows (Untitled #1)(17)

“Mediocre.”

He moved to Eleven. Her stance was shaky as mine, and I yanked my sword off the ground. At least no one could see me flushing, heat racing up my cheeks at his words. I swallowed it down and watched him tear Eleven’s stance to pieces.

What did it matter what I’d done? There weren’t jobs—with magic gone, a whole generation of mages lost their empire and flooded the world with jobless adults. The mages were adults who could afford to do whatever people wanted and already knew things, and they had all the right manners and money saved. Kids couldn’t compete with that. We scrounged for the fringe jobs no one wanted.

I didn’t do much else because there wasn’t much else to do, and moving was the last thing I wanted to do after a night of fighting.

I jabbed the air in front of me in time with Ruby’s call and scowled, fingers gripping the hilt so hard my knuckles strained against my gloves. Ruby hit my elbow.

I didn’t drop my sword.

Nearly disemboweled myself with recoil but small steps.

“It is day one, I suppose.” Ruby waved us to the rack in the corner closet, barely-there runes lining the undersides of his fingers. “Dinner is served in the dining hall, but it is entirely up to you how it goes. There will be food and servants, and you may continue to compete, granted you are not caught and you do not harm anyone else. I’ll see you at breakfast. Or not.”

Four and Two glanced at each other. Three lingered in the doorway, dirt under her nails and bark clinging to her mask. They disappeared down the pathway, and Ten, Eleven, and Fifteen followed them one by one, not going together but not willing to take their eyes off each other. I eyed the forest.

“The quarters for our honorable court members are beyond that little forest. Lovely cherry trees in spring.” Ruby paused in the doorway, wiggling his fingers toward the wall. “If you’re caught beyond the wall, they’ll arrest you for trespassing and we’ll disqualify you.”

I nodded. Ruby glided away, humming.

Good thieves didn’t get caught.

And I was the best.





Eleven


The forest beyond the wall was overgrowing with deep green pines and towering oaks. A small stream trickled softly under the hum of insects and birds, and I pulled myself onto the edge of the wall. The windows behind me were dark and blank, shadows flickering in the holes when I stared too long. I shook out my arms.

Nothing but the fuzzy haze of darkness.

An arrow ripped over my head. I dropped to the wall, stomach to the bricks. Another tore over my shoulder, missing by a hairbreadth, and I rolled forward into the forest. A line of decorative shrubs broke my fall. An arrow burrowed into the tree across from me.

No footsteps followed. They must’ve been shooting from a window.

I tossed my glove above the wall. Another arrow slammed into the tree as I caught my glove. They were either on the roof or in one of those windows, but the rooms would be safer. They were out of the way, and I’d no idea how to get to them—I doubted anyone else did. How’d they find that perch in such a short time?

A guard wandered down a winding path nearby, sword slapping his thigh and empty left sleeve fluttering in the breeze. I waited for him to walk out of sight. Thick curtains of green needles and fading red-gold leaves filtered out the evening sun and forest sounds. It was a miracle the guard hadn’t heard and come running. I dragged myself to my feet.

“Still there?” I wiggled my fingers over the edge of the wall. Nothing.

I peeked over it. The courtyard was empty and the windows dark. I’d not seen them last time I’d looked though. Black gloves, black sleeves, black bow would do it. And arrows arced, didn’t they? I traced a line from the arrow embedded in the tree.

A large empty window at the top of the left building, sill a solid block of wood. It was perfect—high ground, only window on its level, and probably only one entrance. They’d think they were safe.

I followed the wall till it was flush against the left building, leapt to the top, and slowly scaled the roof, arms and legs burning. No one there but me.

And the bloodstains from last night.

The roof outside my window was speckled with red. I peered sideways through the shutter and spied Maud pacing round the room on the other side. I tapped the sill. She tripped.

“Bless!” Maud pried apart the bells and helped me inside. “There is a door.”

“And a dozen people waiting for me to walk down that hall.” I flopped onto the bed, pain shooting up my arms. “Can you make me dinner?”

“That is precisely why I’m here.” Maud fluttered around me, tugging the clean blanket from under my dirty boots. “They didn’t tell us you’d miss lunch, but I have compensated with a meal we usually reserve for floundering new recruits.”

I glared at her. “Floundering, am I?”

“Thin.” She set a tray of food next to the bed. “There are clothes in the corner, clean bandages, and a physician’s basic care bag. Change. I’ll set up your food.”

I rolled out of bed. Maud turned her back to me and busied herself with the food. I peeled off my dress and pulled on a loose tunic. She’d filled the tub, but I’d have to bathe after. Least I was dry.

“Do any foods make you sick?” Maud stared idly at the opposite wall, kneeling before the tray, and poured a cup of dark chicory. She added a large dollop of honey. “I’m assuming you won’t be sleeping anytime soon.”