“Good,” she called out. “Now, your only task is to navigate the forest and get to the castle without removing the blindfold. Avoid the lake.”
Groans and complaints filled the clearing.
“Quiet,” she yelled. “This training is one of many that will help you begin to hone your senses. Focus on touch, sounds, and smells to navigate. Learn to find your way without having to see.The more equipped you are to move about freely and quickly, especially when impaired, the more likely you are to survive. Good luck.”
Well, this wasn’t how I expected my first class to go.
“Bella,” I said, reaching out for her. “Take my hand.”
She grabbed it and asked, “Do you remember which way we came from?”
I tried to picture the clearing. “I think it was this way.”
I tugged her along with me, and we found what felt like a trail. I carefully moved forward, my hand stretched out before me, searching for trees and the other Initiates.
“Ouch,” Isabella said. “That was my foot!”
“Oh, sorry, Bella!” one of the male Initiates said—Eli was his name?
Then someone bumped into me, knocking me to the ground.
Cursing under my breath, I growled.
Well,thiswas going to be fun.
For a while,it seemed like we were doing okay.
Then, somehow, we got separated.
I was about to rip the stupid blindfold off when I heard a stick snap.
“Bella?” I called.
“Sorry,” a male voice called.
The voice was familiar, and I turned abruptly, sensing him to my right.
This was ridiculous.
“Do not worry, no one ever makes it out the first day,” he said.
Blake. I could feel his warmth as he approached. His voice, low and comforting, put me at ease.
“We usually let the Initiates get lost for a while,” he said, “but—” A beat of silence fell before he spoke, like he was choosing his words. “Seeing how you already have a habit of getting lost, I thought I had best direct you on the right path.”
I let out a low hum at the clever dig. “How thoughtful of you—can I take this thing off now? I give up.”
He was near and I could feel his amusement prickling at my skin.
“You can,” he drawled, “or you can let me help guide you. It is a proven training method to improve sensory input, and now that I know you have not fallen into Lake Evermere, we have some time.”
I drew my lips in. Why was he checking on me and not any of the other Initiates? I stiffened, the thought vanishing as he moved closer, the leaves rustling beneath his feet.
I bristled at my own reaction. “Fine. But if you let me walk into a tree, it’s coming off.”
He chuckled, his voice right beside me now.
“I would not dream of it,” he said. “Take my hand. Use it to reassure your mind you are not going to walk into a tree and then focus on what is around you.”
