I draw my finger across my chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Your heart doesn’t work,” she points out, “and you can’t die.”
I smile. “I’m still telling the truth.”
“Good,” she says. “And let’s be clear, if youeverdo use it on me or any of the others, I’ll?—”
“You’ll what, sweetheart?” I ask her.
She lifts one eyebrow. “There are very effective ways a woman can torture a man.”
I groan. “I bet there are.”
And I can’t help imagining several right now.
Chapter Fourteen
Briony
As we swing back toward the central part of the academy, toward the library and our safe room, we hear noise in the distance – shouting, screaming, and hollering. I look at Fox in alarm.
“The others!” I say, and before he can stop me, I’m running in the direction of the noise.
It takes me a while to catch my bearings and understand where all the chaos is coming from, and then I’m hurrying along the paths in the direction of the canteen. I sense Fox behind me, even if his footsteps are silent, and I can feel his shadows swirling around my body, attempting to keep me hidden.
Outside the canteen, we find a large crowd of students gathered. I can tell almost immediately that something is wrong. There’s agitation and tension bustling through the students and several people are crying, holding on to each other, clearly upset. They’re all staring in one direction, but I’m too small and can’t see what it is they’re gaping at. I slip between them, pushing my way forward. Everyone’s so engrossed in what’s happening infront of them, no one seems to notice me. Or is that just Fox’s magic?
And then I stop.
Someone has erected a makeshift stage right outside the canteen. There are soldiers standing guard along its length, staring out toward the crowd. And up on the stage, there’s Sterling. Sterling and Fly, Fly pincered between two hulking soldiers.
A scream comes rushing up into my throat before I even realize it’s begun, but I feel a heavy hand slap across my mouth – just like it had in the wardrobe – muffling that noise and pressing me against him. I wriggle as he holds me tight, because whatever’s happening up there on the stage, it isn’t good. Sterling isn’t about to award Fly a certificate for Best Academy Student of the year. Fly isn’t about to perform poetry to the gathered crowd.
No, something awful is about to happen.
And this feeling is only confirmed when I spot Clare on the edge of the stage, struggling in a soldier’s grip, tears cascading down her face.
What the hell is going on?
Sterling stands right in the center of the stage, his dark cloak billowing in the evening breeze, his hands crossed behind his back, a look of irritation painted firmly on his wily features.
“It is my strong belief,” he tells the crowd, “that the traitors to the realm are at this very moment hiding, concealed in this academy.” He pauses, clearly expecting a shocked gasp from the crowd. When it fails to materialize, he sniffs and continues. “Although our soldiers have conducted a thorough search of the academy and surrounding grounds, we have yet to find the traitors. And that is because we believe they are being helped.” He spins on his toes and glares at Fly. “Such treachery to the realm will not be tolerated,” he sneers. “If you choose to givetraitors help – if you choose to harbor them – then you are a traitor yourself.”
He spins back to sweep his cold gaze across the agitated crowd.
“This man is a known associate of the traitor ring leader, Briony Storm. Which makes him a traitor himself. And I’m sure, children, you don’t need me to explain to you what happens to traitors in this realm.”
This time there’s a gasp from the crowd, and Clare whimpers.
“I am certain he knows where she is at this very moment,” Sterling continues, “and to show you just how serious I consider this crime, I intend to make an example of him. Bring him forward,” he snaps to the soldiers.
It’s then I realize they’ve tied Fly’s hands behind his back and shackled his feet. They drag him forward, and my best friend – usually so full of energy and humor and love – looks rigid with terror, his eyes wide with fear. I feel my knees buckle beneath me, and only Fox’s arms keep me standing.
The new headmaster glares at the crowd for one long, uncomfortable second, and then he snaps around to face Fly, his cloak snapping around with him.
“This is your final chance. Fly Arison, tell me where the traitors are and I may choose to reduce your punishment. Otherwise…”
His lips pull into a cold, warped mockery of amusement.
