She must not have planned it out, because she apparently had nothing to say. Her face looked slightly tortured. I wondered what she was reading on mine.
She glanced forward, to the backs of the others as they rode in front of us, and then again to me. “Was there something specific you were looking for, in the diary?”
It struck me that she had no idea why I had been reading it again. I’d not mentioned my dream, not my new knowledge. She must have thought I had been upset about Junnie or the human. They must have all thought that. They had no idea that I had remembered.
I realized I was smiling. Some part of me, buried deep inside, was happy about this. It relished the secret knowledge and wanted to protect it. I spoke without thinking. “No, really, it was just a shock is all. I’m fine.”
Her eyebrows knit.
“I’d been meaning to read it. You know, closure.” I almost scoffed at my own words. She was staring at me hard so I changed the subject. “So, where exactly are we going?”
Her face was concerned but she looked forward and nodded ahead to some structure I couldn’t quite make out in the distance. I hadn’t even noticed it before, so tied up in my thoughts.
We rode closer and the shapes became more defined. I kicked up my horse to fall in beside the others for a better view. In the bow of a large ring of trees, pillars of stone rose up in patterns around a massive amphitheater.
I gulped, cringing at the thought of what this place could be. “Grand Council?” I whispered.
“No,” Anvil answered, smiling.
I relaxed a little, letting out the breath I’d been holding.
Chevelle spoke from the front. “The temple of Loelle.”
I could see it more clearly now. It looked like it must have been abandoned long ago. The sandstone pillars were crumbling in places, weeds grew up between the stones. The others stopped and dismounted, leaving the horses as they entered the central building. I followed behind, still cautious. I remembered now my plan to sweep the sky each day, I’d forgotten that during the time spent fretting over Asher, and then I caught myself and focused on the present.
The floors of the temple were covered in a light dusting of the sand from the stones, which made me feel a bit more secure in my abandonment theory. Regardless of my concerns about the group’s relationship with Asher, I was glad they were here now. I knew I would be unable to stand alone to face Grand Council when the time came. Soon.
I shivered and Chevelle stepped beside me, wrapping his arm around my back to place a hand on my opposite shoulder. I forced myself not to look at him, not to betray my emotions.
“We will stay here until Rhys and Rider can locate council.”
I expected to stiffen at his words but realized I already was; I had when he’d first touched me. He must have noticed too, because he dropped his arm as he continued. “You will need to train.”
He turned and walked off without another word but, as if on command, Anvil approached with two large metal rods. Ugh.
We trained through the evening as the others gathered in small groups, planning or watching or checking perimeters. I was exhausted when we finally stopped for dinner and then, almost before I’d finished my last bite, Grey was urging me to train again, practice trying to stop his disappearing acts. It was dark when I finally gave up. I had thought I’d fallen asleep by the fire but when I woke, I was inside my own small hut, complete with soft bedding. I pulled myself out of bed and found immediately that the day’s training had already been planned out. I forced myself not to groan aloud but, internally, I was doing more than my share of complaining.
By the third day, exhaustion was winning out. They pushed me harder and harder, relentless. I was too tired to even be miserable. It reminded me of something that I couldn’t quite place, forced to train, exhausted, paranoid. I cried out as Ruby’s whip cracked at my shoulder and it was a cry of defeat. I fell to my knees, spent.
“Up!” she commanded.
I huffed out a breath, having no intention of following her order.
She stepped forward, her face trained on mine. “Up.”
I forced a look of defiance and her face became heated.
“You will burn, Frey.”
I knew she didn’t mean at her hand, not a personal threat. The truth. And I convinced myself to stand, not for her, but for me, to give myself every possible chance when the time came. On wobbly legs I fought back. When I could stand no more, it was Anvil’s turn. But I didn’t have much left to fight off electrical attacks.
And then, on the fourth night, a dream surfaced.
It was twisted and confusing, but I came away with an unmistakable feeling. I stayed inside my room, pretending to still sleep, and pulled the diary from my pack. I flipped forward to the pages of training. Asher, her father, forcing my mother to train. For his benefit.
I was sure then, sure of their actions. They weren’t training me for my protection. I had no chance against council in my condition. They were training me for him.
Lord Asher.