Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Scraping away the wet curls from my face, I licked at my chapped lips, praying once more that Talon would announce we were done. But he didn’t. And so I kept walking. I walked until my feet throbbed, my back ached, my legs protested, and my shoulders hurt from the knapsack straps.
Soon, the ground became more solid, and the grass became softer. The wind, however, didn’t ease. The gust swept up tufts of grass, purple petals, and bits of debris.
Would it be so bad to dump the knapsack?
Who needed a tent? I could just sleep on the ground. The soggy ground. Where worms and frogs could be found.
And snakes.
Okay, so I was keeping the knapsack. But I reserved the right to inwardly sob about it. The weight—
The line stopped as Talon let out a loud whistle. I held my breath for a few moments, not daring to believe that we weren’t simply pausing for one reason or another.
“Listen up, everyone,” called out Ajax, “we’re going to set up camp here.”
My shoulders slumped with relief. Oh, I might kiss him. I really might. I was betting that I wasn’t the only one who thought it a fine idea.
“Gather round and watch how this is done just in case you need the reminder,” he ordered. “Because no one is going to do this for you.”
Like the other candidates, I walked toward his voice, finding him and Talon stood together near a fallen tree with the Laelaps circling them. Ajax was pulling a rolled-up canvas tent out of its protective leather covering.
Talon gave me a swift onceover, and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t inwardly laughing—I had to look a mess. His gaze briefly held mine before skittering away to scan our surroundings, ever vigilant.
Ajax deftly erected his tent in a series of quick movements. “You lay your wool sheet on the floor and use your cloak as a blanket. Simple. Now go pitch your tents. Pick a spot in this area. Don’t go beyond the fallen trees here unless it’s to do your private business—that we don’t need to see.”
Glad the ground in these parts was more solid and a lot less muddy, I quickly found myself a spot. I was glad that we’d had to practice putting up a tent, because I wasn’t sure I could have otherwise managed to do it right this moment while my fingers felt numb, my muscles hurt, and my hands were shaky … just as they often were after I’d been forced to stand in the same position for what felt like hours while naked and cold.
It just went to show that, though the trials of Xalbia sometimes felt cruel, it did prepare you for the reality of being part of the Order.
As we put up our tents, the officiates built a fire. We all soon gathered around it, holding our hands up to the warmth to chase the chill from our bones. Small rations of food were passed around—nothing that tasted particularly good, but I’d eat pretty much anything right now.
Feeling eyes on me, I glanced to my right just as I finished my “meal.” Atticus and Klemens were looking right at me, whispering to each other. Whatever.
Eventually, we were all sent to bed. Inside my tent, I carefully removed the drizzle-covered cloak, not wanting to shake any rain droplets onto my bedding. Peering down at my feet, I frowned. Gods, my boots were covered in mud. I kicked them off and placed them off to the side, away from the woolen sheet. I’d better not wake to find any worms in my boots—they seemed to be everywhere in the moorlands.
I wanted out of my sodden clothes more than I wanted my next breath, but there was no chance that I was going to sleep in just my undergarments. It was too damn cold for that.
Deciding I could instead don my one clean outfit, I first shed my wet clothes and used the dirty tunic to dry off my clammy skin. Once I’d tugged on my clean garments, I settled on the woolen sheet on my side and then dragged my spare cloak over me. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I decided to keep my blade handy.
Well, I wasn’t the only one who’d earned a weapon when sparring.
I slipped the dagger beneath the sheet within easy reach and then closed my eyes. Shivering from the cold, I burrowing deeper under my cloak. I suspected that I was going to have some major aches tomorrow from sleeping on the hard ground.
I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. Outside, the wind moaned and howled, rattling my tent and causing the canvas to flap incessantly. But I was so exhausted from the hellish hike that I eventually managed to fall asleep.
I wasn’t sure what woke me. It almost felt like I was nudged awake, yet I was alone.