“And he said,” Ileni added, “that we are both being tested.”
Arxis’s lips remained curled in a sneer, but his eyes were thoughtful. The master’s tests were both legendary and constant within the caves. It was a rare advantage to actually be told one was being tested.
At least, it was an advantage when it wasn’t a trick.
Ileni couldn’t tell whether Arxis believed her or not. Finally, he jerked his chin and said, “I will show you. But not tonight.”
When? and How? and Show me what? jostled against her teeth. Ileni said, “Why not tonight?”
“Because my own mission takes precedence. I have no excuse for going into the city in the middle of the night. If we’re caught, I’ll be exposed.”
“In the city? That’s where they keep them?” Ileni frowned. “Wouldn’t it be safer to keep them here?”
Arxis tilted his head to the side. “When you say them, Teacher, who exactly do you mean?”
The way he said Teacher reminded her of Irun, of his fingers clamped over her mouth. She shivered slightly. “The slaves.”
Arxis remained perfectly still for a moment, and then he began to laugh.
A flush crept over Ileni’s body. “You know what I mean. The people they breed and keep in cages—” He laughed harder, though no louder, and she ground to a halt.
His laugh shut off as abruptly as her words. “You know, Teacher, I find it hard to believe the master sent you here still believing Renegai children’s stories.”
The sense of danger overwhelmed Ileni’s embarrassment. She tried to fight down her blush, and when that didn’t work, she tried to ignore it. “He told me I wouldn’t understand the truth until I saw it.”
Arxis snorted. “That’s probably true. I hope he’s right about you understanding it once you do see it.” He started toward his bed.
“Wait,” Ileni said. “When will you show me?”
He spoke without turning. “In two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Ileni’s chest tightened. “That’s too long. What’s going to happen in two weeks?”
“I’ve made arrangements to go to the city then. Find a reason to come with me.”
“But—”
Arxis sighed and looked at her over his shoulder. “Do you think you can manage that?”
Ileni ground her teeth together. “I’ll do my best,” she said as haughtily as she could.
“Excellent.”
He waited, watching her, his body relaxed and predatory at once. After a moment, Ileni let herself out.
Arxis’s laughter rang in her ears as she headed down the corridors toward her room. Her skin tingled with embarassment. Was nothing she knew about the world true? And if so, how could she—ignorant, naive, wrong about everything—possibly make a decision that would affect the world so drastically?
But beneath her despair ran a tingle of hope. If her whole past was a lie, it changed the possibilities for her future. Maybe the Empire wasn’t evil. Maybe using the magic wasn’t so wrong.
And if so, maybe she wouldn’t have to give it up after all.
CHAPTER
8
“Blue really isn’t your color.” Cyn’s cool voice interrupted Ileni’s spell, making her jump. Strands of magic scattered through the room. “With your complexion, I would try orange. Or maybe dark green.”
Ileni unclenched her muscles, one by one, and pulled the magic back in. She had been planning to use it to lengthen her dress, but instead she took the time to turn the dress even bluer—until it was the shade of the sky through her small window—before she turned around, as slowly as she could manage.
Cyn was leaning in the doorway, wearing black leggings and a black tunic with a single red stripe across its front. She tilted her head back against the wall. “Just some friendly advice.”
You know, Ileni thought sourly, when I lived with assassins, my door was warded. What she said, as she smoothed down the front of her dress, was, “What are you doing here? Did you forget to show me a really, really nasty way to kill people?”
“Several,” Cyn said. She wasn’t joking.
Ileni rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait.”
Cyn shrugged. “Sorry for the intrusion, but you’re the first worthy sparring partner I’ve had in years. Lis is barely worth spending magic on, and Evin is too lazy to be interesting. Want to get in some practice before breakfast?”
Ileni hesitated, so she could tell herself she had, before she pulled in more magic and strode toward the door. “Sure.”
Ileni and Cyn strolled into breakfast together, late and sweat soaked. Evin looked from one of them to the other, then tilted his head back and studied the stone ceiling. “I think we’re all in trouble.”
“Where’s Lis?” Ileni asked.