Antebellum Awakening (The Network Series #2)(29)

“Nothing,” I called over my shoulder, setting the ax on the ground and heading for the well before he could ask for details, unable to get away fast enough. “Just need some water.”

The cool water parched my throat. I sat down on a nearby boulder and took long draws until my stomach started to hurt. How had I buried the ax in the stump?

I finished with my drink, and unnerved by my own inability to figure out how the moment of strength came about, I dumped the rest of the water bucket over my head and returned to the porch.

“We’re all done,” he said. “Stack your logs with mine. I’ll let Sanna know.”

I suppressed my sigh of relief and did as he said without word, water dripping down my back and ears. Sanna had walked onto the porch by the time he returned and pressed a small parcel into my trembling hands.

“For the trip home,” she said. “You’re bound to be hungry. It’s good. Isadora sent it over.”

“Thank you, Sanna.”

Despite my sweaty skin, she reached up and patted my face with a bit more slap than I expected.

“You’re a good girl. You’ll get him one day. Thanks for the free labor, Merrick!” she called as he returned from the shed. The warm hues of her rare necklace caught my eye again.

“Yes,” I said, smiling at her even though she couldn’t see my face. “I’ll come again. Thank you, Sanna.”

Merrick and I started off at a walk down the winding trail through the trees, crossing over the little brook that trickled past her house. I opened the parcel to find a large slice of pound cake. I broke it in half and offered Merrick the bigger slice. He waved it away.

“Don’t you feel hunger?” I asked, irritated that he came away so unfazed. My ravenous stomach threatened to eat itself, and the broken blisters on my hands pulsed. This run would be miserable. He ignored me, so I devoured the whole piece. Once the pound cake disappeared, I peeled the fabric off my hand to tighten the makeshift bandage. Blood had soaked through the fabric.

“When did that happen?” Merrick asked in surprise, his eyes narrowing on my injuries. Embarrassed, I just shrugged.

“Awhile ago.”

“You should have said something.”

I kept walking, not knowing how to respond. I don’t want people to know I’m weak because I can’t afford to fail again. If I fail this time, the High Priest will die.

A long silence fell between us as we walked, heading into the great maw of Letum Wood. Thinking of the run ahead, and the living memories that possibly awaited me in the forest, made my stomach hurt. Perhaps I shouldn’t have sucked down that pound cake so fast.

“It helps your hand-eye coordination,” Merrick said, breaking the silence. I turned to him in surprise.

“What does?”

“Chopping wood. It also strengthens your back, stomach, and arm muscles so that when you learn how to use a sword you’re strong enough.”

“Oh,” I said, chagrined that there had been a purpose behind the exercise after all. “How did you meet Sanna?”

“During my training as a Guardian,” he said. “I was lost in Letum Wood and fell into a creek in the middle of winter. I stumbled into her house, nearly frozen to death, and she took me in. I’ve been coming back to help her ever since.”

“You were a Guardian?”

He nodded. “I rose quickly through the ranks from Guardian, to Captain of the Guards, and then I tried out for the Protectors. Now, here I am, waiting to see if it happens.”

I could tell there was more to the story by the way he set his jaw. Before I could inquire, he motioned to the trail with a nod. He’d tied his hair back again with a leather strip, but several tendrils had worked loose while he chopped wood. He peered into the forest.

“You ready?” he asked. I shook my head. The very idea of having to fight the memories again while feeling so tired drained my already depleted energy reserves.

“No,” I admitted.

He hesitated, staring at me with those cool green eyes.

“You worked hard today, so I won’t force you to run back,” he said. “You can transport.”

Relief rushed through me like a cool breeze.

“Thank you.”

He nodded once, but even as I dropped into blackness, I couldn’t miss the concerned look that crossed his face.





A Broken Mirror

“I’ll do the algebra homework, Leda. I will. I promise,” Camille said three days later. “I’ll work on all the algebra rubbish that Miss Scarlett is forcing me to do over the summer, but you have to tell me how I’m going to use it in real life!"

Leda started to answer Camille’s challenge but stopped, her face crinkling into thought.

“Yes, Leda,” I said, from where I lay on the Witchery floor, lounging on the large, overstuffed pillows. “How will Camille use algebra in everyday life?”

“Very well,” Leda said, taking up the challenge by clearing her throat. “I’ll tell you how you’ll use algebra in real life.”

“Wonderful,” Camille said, setting down her pencil. “I’m waiting.”

Leda cleared her throat again. “First of all, there’s a lot of practical application,” she said, pausing to chew on her bottom lip.