Faith and Moonlight Page 3

  Taking in the pattern, Kay nodded, but the floor was large, its design covering too much space for her to fully grasp. “I see it, but what now? What do I do?” Kay asked.

  Sabine allowed the shifting floorboards to deliver her before Kay. Then she recommenced her quick, easy steps. “It’s like learning the steps to a dance,” Sabine said. “Forget about the preceptor for right now. Look at the pattern around you. Right around your feet.”

  Kay shifted her attention from the immense Rose and down to the boards around her feet. She watched as they moved from white to dark, and to white again. Again and again.

  The fourth time the pattern shifted, Kay took a step, then another. She slid, hopped, turned, and stepped again. At the end of her movements, she was back where she had started, but she was still standing.

  Sabine flashed a smile.

  The preceptor must have seen her accomplishment, because Ksena called out, “Saer, Collesse, that is enough coddling.”

  Sabine pointed at the boards around Kay’s feet and winked before retreating gracefully back the entrance. Kay saw Erik leave Roan, exiting the same way.

  The rhythm of the cane never faltered. “You walk the Rose to reach me,” Preceptor Ksena repeated.

  Once more, Kay set out across the floor. She got further this time, making headway before a board slid forward, propelling her faster than she anticipated. Kay scrambled with quick, desperate steps, but it was not enough. She fell hard onto the unforgiving wood floor, the impact knocking the wind from her.

  “Up!” Preceptor Ksena called.

  Kay fought to regain her feet, gulping for air. It took her a while to finally get upright, moving her feet with concentration over the wood. As she stood, her heart sank. Preceptor Ksean was in the center of the Rose and Kay was all the way back by the door they had entered. Roan was far ahead of her, but still not near the center.

  Ksena smiled at them, but the look was such that Kay could not tell if it was encouragement or mockery. “Walk the Rose,” she said, the tapping never ceasing.

  Biting her lip, Kay stepped forward.

  ***

  By the time she left, Kay was sore and exhausted, and she had never come close to touching the preceptor. Now, the sun was beginning to set. Sabine and Lillarn had said goodbye, promising they would see them later. Kay and Erik sat under a tall tree, waiting for Roan to finish cleaning up.

  All around them, the beautiful grounds were filled with uniformed students reading, painting, sparring, and laughing.

  Kay wanted this.

  The power of the emotion threw her. She knew it was foolish, but she’d never experienced anything like their joy before. Had never even dreamed it. It was like the stone buildings and manicured grounds held a magic she yearned to be a part of.

  Erik gave her a knowing smile, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  A pair of students walked past, waving to Erik, who waved back. As they passed, Kay noticed their capes. Like Erik’s, theirs were torn and faded, whereas all the others were bright white and perfect.

  “Why is your cape torn?” she asked him.

  Erik’s fingers touched the faded white fabric around his throat. “It belonged to my father. He was a Razor here, a long time ago. I’m what’s called a legacy,” he said. “There are a bunch of us here. You can always tell a legacy by their cape. It’s always a little shabbier, but I think that makes them a little more special.”

  “Is that why you joined Faith? Because of your father?”

  “Well, that, and because Faith is one of the greatest places in the world, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

  Kay laughed softly. It felt good to laugh, but also strange and foreign. Kay realized she had not laughed much since the fire. Perhaps Erik was right about this place. “I have noticed,” she said.

  “But there is something holding you back.”

  His statement caught her by surprise. “I suppose there is,” she admitted. “I like this place. I think I am beginning to love it, even. But I can’t really commit my heart to it. Not until I’m really here.” Her tone shifted as another thought crowded her mind. “And I’ve only got a month to make that happen.”

  “Don’t worry. Pamalia is the preceptor overseer for admissions for a reason. She must have felt something in you to accept you. Trust that.”

  “I want to, but I just don’t know how,” Kay said. “I mean, I don’t really know how to do anything. Everything feels so unbelievable and new.”

  “That’s why you’re here. It’s what most of your lessons will focus on. The preceptors will try to teach you different ways to reach the spirits, because there’s no one real way to do it.” He sat forward. “My father used to tell me that all the spirits of every Razor that had come before, from Aedan himself to those that fell this very day, are all out there. Good, bad, ambitious, selfless, as varied in spirit as the men and women they had been in life. And anyone could call out to any kind of spirit out there.” He paused thoughtfully. “What matters most is that you call out with a reflection of your truest self. And one will answer.”

  Kay weighed his words. “Your father sounds very wise.”

  “He was,” Erik said. He looked away, and when he spoke, there was a sadness in his voice that tugged at Kay. “I miss him a lot of days,” he said. “Every day, actually. He was killed in a duel three years ago.”

  Kay laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Erik.”

  He nodded while looking across the grounds to the massive white structure of the main hall. “He saw me enter Faith before it happened, though. So that’s something, at least.”

  Kay took in Erik’s cape. The small holes and ragged edges seemed to have a new dignity. “He would’ve been proud.”

  “He is.”

  Kay felt a surge of energy. Though it seemed to be originating from Erik, she felt it around her, moving past like she stood in a stream, feeling the passing current. Her eyes widened and he glanced back at her.

  “The spirits of all the Razors before us are out there. Including my dad.”

  Kay shook her head slightly. She had heard Pamalia talk about energy and spirits, but now it was real. It was as though they were all there, the legends and heroes of the great stories. They were all out there. Watching. Waiting.

  Waiting for her to be worthy.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a bell tolling in the main school hall. In the far distance, across the expanse of Crucis, other bells joining the song. They came from the directions of the other Razor schools.

  Erik got to his feet. “School’s out for the day,” he said. “And it’s time for some fun. Come on, let’s go and get Roan.”

  “What is it?” Kay asked, watching the other students moving around. “Where are we going?”

  Erik grinned.

  “We’re going to Ascension.”

  Kay

  Erik led Kay and Roan toward the center of the district. As they neared the area’s heart, the narrow streets filled with students mobbing every food stall.

  There was clamor and rattling as two students on a rooftop settled a broad wooden board into place, bridging the gap between buildings. On other rooftops, the same thing was happening. As she watched, an entire level took shape above their heads. All around, the murmur of students rose to a greater pitch, fueled by their shared excitement. Uniformed students abandoned the streets in droves, scrambling into the heights above.

  Erik led them up a wooden ladder affixed to a building.

  Set against the blazing red of the setting sun, the students gathered on rooftops. A hum of anticipation colored the air and made Kay thrum with its energy. Tall poles held unlit lanterns. Students climbed up with torches, and, one by one, the lanterns came to life.

  The towering forms of the five great Razor schools loomed in the distance. The section closest to each school was packed with the colored capes of their own school, and everywhere students talked and laughed.

  “What took you so long?” a voice a
sked.

  Kay turned to see Lillarn and Sabine approaching across the rooftop. Both carried wrapped packages of food that smelled incredible, and Kay realized how famished she was. As they sat beside one of the chimneys, the rooftop world grew into vibrant life.

  The closest rooftops were filled with students wearing the white cloth mantles of Faith. A small knot of these students had laid claim to a higher roof off to the right of where Kay sat.

  “Who are they?” Kay asked.

  “Hmm?” Erik said. “Oh. Those are the Royals.” There was a slight edge to his voice.

  “Royals?” Kay asked. “They’re connected to the king?”

  “No, but they all act like they are.” Erik shook his head. “The name has nothing to do with blood. They call themselves the Royals because they’re the best.”

  Kay tilted her head. “At what?”

  “At everything,” Erik replied. “They were the youngest to pierce the veil. They are consistently the top of the class rankings. And they all believe that being a Royal means they are destined to be future Grand Tournament champions.”

  A young man wearing a blue mantle and a round shield slung over his back walked up to the Royals. Everyone stopped talking as the young man said something to one of them and then pointed across the rooftops. One of the Royals stood up, smoothed out his white cape, and followed the young man in blue. The other Royals followed close behind.

  Sabine sighed. “The Royals are wasting no time tonight, are they?”

  “It was the one in the blue cloak who approached them first,” Roan said.

  “The Aegis issued the challenge?” Sabine said. “Ha! One of the Royals must have really been an ass today.”

  Kay was wide-eyed, taking everything in. “So the blue capes are all Aegis?”

  Erik gestured to one of the towering schools in the distance. “Yup, that’s Aegis over there. You can always tell an Aegis even without the blue mantle, though. They’re the ones carrying shields around all the time.”

  The Aegis who had approached the Royals stepped into the center of the roof and pulled a round shield off his back. He drew a wooden sword and held it ready. Other Aegis students backed to the edge of the rooftop. The Royal the Aegis had challenged stepped into the center space while drawing his own practice blade and giving it a few test swings.

  “They’re going to duel,” Roan said, standing to get a better view.

  “Yup,” Erik said. “First of the night.”

  Lillarn opened one eye and yawned. “Who is it for us?”

  “Royce Lanquinn,” Sabine said with a sneer.

  Lillarn closed his eye once more. “Ugh. I hope blue boy puts that shield of his to good use and knocks old Royce down to the cobbles.”

  “But he’s a member of your own school!” Kay exclaimed.

  “Yes, my sweet girl, but he is also what is commonly referred to as an ass.” Lillarn said. “Sabine used to know most of them when they were younger.”

  “That was a long time ago,” Sabine said, pushing her red hair out of her face. “They’re all different now.”

  “What she really means is that she tossed the Royals aside when she fell under the spell of my wit and charm,” Lillarn said.

  Sabine gave Lillarn a playful slap on the shoulder, but Kay could see in her eyes how much she cared for the tall boy. It dawned on Kay that the two were a couple. Her blush of embarrassed ignorance soon gave way to a wide smile.

  On the other rooftop, the first exchange of blows signaled the fight was under way. As the two combatants engaged, Kay felt a tingle of electricity, like a coming thunderstorm. The sensation thrilled her.

  The Aegis turned aside the Royal’s first strike, then lunged in with a thrust. It caught the Royal along the ribs, making the white cape flutter. There was a surge of energy, and the Royal swung his sword above the shield’s rim and caught the Aegis on the shoulder. The blow sent the young man sprawling. Royals cheered and howled.

  The Aegis slowly regained his feet, favoring his injured shoulder, then removed his blue cloak and handed it to the victorious Royal. Royce tossed the cape back to his friends as he rejoined them, and they clapped and cheered.

  Roan frowned. “If you’re defeated, you lose your cape?”

  Sabine nodded. “Your school mantle is the stakes you put up in a duel. You lose, the winner gets it till twelve bells. Then you gotta go get it back.”

  “And they’ll just give it back to you?” Kay asked.

  “Not exactly,” Erik said. “You’ll have to endure some talk first, but then, yes, they’ll hand it over.”

  As Erik spoke, more electric feeling built around Kay. Now that the sun had set, duels broke out across the rooftops. A girl in a red mantle swung two practice blades savagely against a green-caped young man, driving him to his knees. Three roofs over, a boy in a dark purple mantle scrambled and flipped around a rooftop, swinging a circular blade in dizzying motions while a tall young man in red tried to close in.

  The rooftops had become a second world, separate and distinct from the streets below. Here, the night belonged to students. There was a beauty and a majesty to everything that captivated Kay’s attention and took her breath away.

  A swirl of bright white caught the corner of Kay’s eye and she turned. Erik held his faded and frayed cloak loosely around his practice sword.

  Erik grinned. “It’s tradition. First night at Ascension for any new student, it’s considered good luck if you fight.” He turned the cape in his hand, so the hilt of the covered sword extended toward Kay.

  “Me?” Kay said, staring at the offered blade.

  “Well, you first. Then Roan,” Erik said. He gestured with the sword and cape once more. “It’s good luck,” he repeated with a broader smile while waving the hilt in front of her eyes.

  Kay wiped her hands clean before accepting the cloak and sword. She assumed just how important the faded cape was. “I’ll take good care of it, Erik,” she said, getting to her feet.

  Erik’s grin widened and Sabine cheered, moving to Kay’s side.

  Lillarn laughed and walked to the rooftop’s edge. “Fresh meat for the grinder, boys and girls!” he yelled into the night. “Faith has a first-nighter who needs to taste a Razor’s edge!”

  From the rooftops nearer the other schools, other voices called in response. “Send ‘em this way!” yelled a voice from the direction of the red-draped students. “We’ll make it fast and clean!” came a response from Aegis, the students with the blue mantles. More calls came amidst cheers and laughter.

  Kay blanched at the invites, but Erik gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s a real enough fight, just like any other here at Ascension, but don’t worry. No one expects you to win, or even do well.”

  “That’s encouraging,” Kay said as Sabine helped drape Erik’s mantle over her shoulders.

  Erik hid his wry grin behind his hand. “Looks like Lillarn has found you a suitable opponent.”

  Lillarn was talking to a young man in a green cape. Sabine and Erik led Kay across a series of wooden planks to them. She felt her heart hammering in her chest as she stepped onto the selected flat roof.

  “My dear Kay,” Lillarn said theatrically. “Normally, you would issue challenge, but in this case, I have done so on your behalf. For your first fight, I have found you a most valiant and esteemed opponent here in Deram. He’s a Torrent, but don’t hold it against him.” The boy with the green mantle smiled and gave a deep, dramatic bow. “And not to worry,” Lillarn continued, “for though he is a Torrent, I can assure you, he is the slowest of them all.”

  At that, a chorus of ooohs rang out while assembled Torrents laughed and shouted at their friend.

  Deram smiled. “You know, Lillarn’s just bitter because he tried to join Torrent, but we turned him down, so he had to settle for Faith.” More laughter rolled over the growing audience. “Not too late for you, though, if you’re looking to change schools.”

  “Thank you, but I think I’ll take my c
hances with Faith,” Kay said.

  Deram sighed. “Suit yourself,” he said and pulled out two short practice blades. He held the blades easily, swinging them through the air to loosen up.

  Erik winked at Kay and intoned, “Challenge issued by a blade of Faith. Accepted by a blade of Torrent. This is a duel of glory. The eyes of history are upon you. Prove your worth.” As he spoke, Erik raised an outstretched arm between the combatants. All those assembled, Faith and Torrent, fell silent.

  Erik dropped his arm and the duel began.

  Kay felt a wave of force flow from Deram. Then, almost as soon as she felt the sensation, he moved. Before she could raise her blade to block, he made contact. The countless strikes landed across arms, shoulders, legs, abdomen, and the top of her head.

  Deram was a blur of black jacket and shining metal. Kay’s legs gave way and she fell back, the grit of the rooftop pressing into her. The fight had barely lasted a moment and she had not even swung her sword.

  Kay looked to Deram in front of her. He had sheathed his practice blades and was offering an outstretched hand. As she grasped his hand, he pulled her up and the surrounding students erupted into cheers.

  Deram raised Kay’s arm in the air and yelled into the night, “An aspirant has been blooded!”

  The group cheered louder. This time, cheers sounded from all around Ascension, drifting through the night. Cheers for her.

  Kay smiled widely as Sabine and Lillard came over.

  Sabine gave her a big hug. “You did great!” Sabine said. Even Roan smiled.

  Lillarn handed Kay a bottle of water. She unplugged the stopper and drank thirstily. Her body was sore, but she knew he had gone easy on her, and she was glad of it.

  Kay fingered the bruises on her arms with a wince and then caught Roan’s eye and smiled. “Your turn,” she said.

  “That’s right. You’re next, Roan,” Sabine said.

  Roan held up a hand. “No. That’s alright.”

  Sabine looked surprised, and obvious disappointment painted Lillarn’s face. “Oh come on. Tradition and all that,” he said.