“No, I never said I was better,” Michael looked at her in disbelief. “I didn’t say I was better than you for Heir. I said I was better than you when it came to fighting,” she exhaled tiredly. “This is pointless, I should be training.”
“Why do you think it is pointless?” Marcus asked, watching her carefully.
“Because you will never accept that this is what Iwantto do,” Tegan stood and made her way to the door. “My father didn’t keep me locked up, I was free to come and go when I pleased. I didn’t want to meet others, I didn’t want to spend time with them other than hunt with them. I don’t want to be sitting around a fire discussing inconsequential things like males, females,fashion. I want to be out there; hunting, killing, ridding this world of as many Drakhyn as possible. They are a scourge on this world and their numbers are increasing. I want to know why, I want to stop them, I want to never see another torn apart corpse that I could have saved.” Her gaze swept over all of them. “That is why the Great Council conducted my Trials at home, why I was trained against Elite Sentinels.Thisis who I am and what I was meant to be. If I am Heir, I am Heir. My fight against Drakhyn and other dark beings will not stop for a social engagement.” The three males sat in silence when Tegan was finished. “Thank you for the company, but I still have to patrol tonight.” With a nod, Tegan left the library.
Michael, Sloane and Marcus sat in silence for a few moments before Sloane looked at them both. “She totally believes it.”
“She should,” Marcus answered. “I spoke to Council Elder Anika earlier. She raved about her. Said she is the best they have ever seen. They are keen for her to take up her post and start training others.”
“But she doesn’t know Court,” Sloane protested weakly.
“Yes, but as she said, she can learn. Plus, the Great Council doesn’t care if she knows it, they want her and a hundred others like her, out there, patrolling and hunting.” Marcus stood too. “Try not to push her – she is fragile even if she thinks she isn’t. Leonid helped mould her into a soldier, but she is still young, vulnerable. She will need you both in the coming weeks. I had hoped Zahra may help, but alas, your father has sent her back to her school.”
“He sent Zahra away?” Michael jumped to his feet in shock.
“She would not listen, and she is too angry to try. She would only bring discord,” Marcus explained.
“She didn’t want to see me?” Michael’s hand was on the library door handle, paused in the act of leaving.
“She found out you were here with Tegan, she chose to leave without telling you.”
“By the Ancients,” Michael cursed. “This whole evening has been a disaster.”
“It has taken a sour turn,” Marcus agreed. “I am going to go offer to patrol with Tegan – an offer of peace.”
“She may stab you more than welcome you,” Sloane joked as he lay out on the couch, closing his eyes.
“She may be right to do so,” Marcus laughed as he headed out.
“You’re going to sleep?” Michael asked of his friend.
“Sure am. I’m on patrol in a few hours, perfect time for a nap.”
“You have a room with a bed,” Michael headed to the door. “And Zahra has left, so you don’t even have to pretend to talk to her.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” Sloane grumbled.
“Sure you don’t,” Michael closed the door firmly behind him.
“Low blow,” Sloane muttered as he heard the door close.
“Well that was enlightening.” The voice came from the darkness. Sloane kept his eyes closed, praying to the Ancients he had imagined it. “You’re ignoring me, brother?”
Groaning, Sloane opened his eyes and sat up, looking into the shadows. “When did you get here?”
A figure came out of the shadows, tall with a slim build that Sloane knew was deceptive – there was muscle under the robes he wore. A hood pulled over his head, hid his face, but Sloane knew the features too well. Dark hair over angular features and grey eyes would greet him when the hood was pulled down.
“I have been here for some hours, I did not declare myself of course,” long tapered fingers pushed the hood back.
“You know it’s against protocol to portal in here, Cord,” Sloane muttered as he looked at his brother. “I am not covering for you, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I was with Salem or Marcus all day.”
“No matter, I will tell Salem I teleported. His wards are weak, I will revive them,” Cord sat on one of the couches, arranging his red robes around him.
“When did you start wearing the robes?” Sloane asked as he eyed the robes with distrust.
“A few months ago after I passed the Testing Trial. I had an indeterminant Cast affiliation, so I chose Crimson Cast. It matches my eyes no?” His voice was mocking.
“Last time I looked brother – your eyes were grey.”