Gates of Thread and Stone

CHAPTER 22

ON OUR LAST day with Irra and the hollows, we trained in the courtyard. G-10 had warned us that for our final lesson he wouldn’t hold back, because he felt we could handle it. Still, I winced through Avan’s fight.

Avan was growing into a good fighter, fast and powerful, but G-10 was a fully trained sentinel with a collar that enhanced his already superhuman abilities. When Avan finally landed a kick that knocked G-10 down, G-10 flipped easily to his feet and congratulated him. No one mentioned how Avan’s brief limp improved almost immediately.

In my fight, I dodged more often than not but managed to land a few quick jabs that made G-10 bare his teeth in approval.

Afterward, I sprawled on the grass, exhausted. But it was a good sort of exhaustion. I had gotten used to the insane training regimen. I was almost sorry it was over. A few minutes after G-10 left, a hollow I recognized as a medic from the hospital wing joined us in the courtyard.

Seeing as it was our last day, I let her prod my skin and feel along my bones while asking if it hurt. “Nothing’s broken,” she announced once she finished. “But this is some impressive bruising.”

She fished in her bag and withdrew a vial. She held it up and swished its contents. Then she popped open the top and offered it to me.

I gave the vial a dubious look.

“It’s a healing tonic,” she said, pushing the vial into my hand. “We developed it from studying our own increased healing abilities.”

“Why would you need tonic?” Avan asked. He was sitting beneath the tree, looking attractively mussed but not the least bit tired.

“Some of us heal almost instantly, but a few of us don’t seem to have increased healing at all. It’s different from hollow to hollow. This just makes things easier for everyone, especially whenever Ninu sends sentinels into the Void to look for us.”

I tipped the contents into my mouth. It tasted bitter. I coughed, grimaced, and handed back the empty vial.

“G-10 told me you guys are leaving tomorrow for the White Court,” the medic said. “You should be all healed by morning. Can’t have you going into the Tournament looking like you were trampled by a Gray.”

“Thanks,” I said, dropping onto the grass again. Was it my imagination or did I already feel a bit better?

The medic didn’t bother checking Avan before she left. Did everyone know? More importantly, was Avan ever going to tell me?

I watched the clouds through the branches for a while, listening to the sound of the birds bustling around in their nest. The metal legs of Avan’s chair raked across the ground as he stood. My eyes closed, and the grass rustled as he lowered himself beside me. Neither of us spoke.

After sleeping next to each other for more than two weeks, having him so close no longer felt awkward. Well, not entirely. That fluttery feeling in my stomach had grown stronger, along with a constant desire to touch him, even if it was just my fingertips against the lines of his palm. There was a comfort in knowing that if I reached over, he’d be there.

And then there was the part of me that whispered every night to lie down beside him. To curl against his side and drape my leg across his hip. To place his hand on my thigh.

What would he do? Would he push me away or wrap his arm around my waist and grip me closer?

The next time I opened my eyes, the sky had grown dark, and I was alone.

I rubbed my face and rose to my elbows. Lanterns along the path confirmed that the courtyard was empty. My stomach rumbled. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I stood and glanced at the curtained glass doors leading to Irra’s study. Last night, Irra had met with us long enough to present us with our new IDs. I hadn’t seen him since, and I doubted he’d be there to send us off tomorrow.

In the mess hall, I was surprised to find that the clock said it was after nine. At our usual table, G-10 and Avan waved me over. The other hollows murmured greetings. They were polite, but G-10 and Hina were the only ones who consistently sought us out. I didn’t mind. I would probably never see these people again, and there was no point forming connections.

Forgotten things. I pushed the thought away.

I picked up a tray of food, overflowing again—the enthusiastic chef had eventually introduced himself as Rennard—and sat down at the table. “Why didn’t you wake me?” I asked Avan.

“You needed the rest.”

“But now the day’s been wasted.” It had been my last chance to explore Etu Gahl.

“You look good,” he said, his eyes roaming my face.

My cheeks grew warm.

“I mean your skin,” he said, and then broke into a smile as my face grew hotter. “I mean your bruises. They’re almost completely healed.”

I carefully chewed my bread. “Yeah. Thanks.”

G-10 cleared his throat. “I have a surprise for you both tomorrow morning.”

“Parting gift?” I asked, twirling pasta around my fork, glad for the distraction.

“Sort of. But I have another surprise for you first. There’s a reason Avan left you in the courtyard. He was in the kitchen with me.” G-10 brushed crumbs off his fingers and pushed aside his tray.

“You were cooking? Is that a skill we’ll need in the Tournament?”

G-10 waved at someone across the hall.

The doors to the kitchen swung open, and a flurry of hollows rushed out, carrying trays filled with drinks. Hina was wheeling a giant cake.

I stared, mouth open in confusion. G-10 rolled his eyes.

“Your good-bye party. Couldn’t let you leave without proper fanfare, could I?”

“This is for us?”

“No, it’s for the gargoyles,” G-10 said.

“Maybe we should have invited them.” Avan nudged my shoulder.

I didn’t know what to say. No one had ever done something like this for me before.

The hollows around us stood and pushed their tables against the walls to clear the floor. Avan helped to arrange the drinks on our table. I eyed the cake as Hina rubbed her belly and pretended to take a big bite off a frosted end.

Along one wall, a group of hollows set up battered but functioning instruments. Lilting music with a quick beat filled the room. Hollows, young and old, converged into the cleared space, arms linked, the air buzzing with excitement. I awkwardly tried to push into a corner, but G-10 grasped my hand before I could get very far.

He tugged me out into the middle of the crowd and began . . . I don’t know what he was doing. Dancing, I think. I’d never been to a party; and music in Ninurta, outside of the underground clubs, was a rare treat. I didn’t know how this dancing thing was done.

What I did know was that I had no interest in trying. It looked silly.

“Oh, come on, Kai!” G-10 swept me up in the air, hands at my waist, and spun me around with a breathless laugh.

His enthusiasm drew a laugh from me as well. All around me, hollows shouted encouragement. Hina whistled from behind her boyfriend’s beefy shoulder. For the first time since we’d gotten here, I felt like one of them.

I swung around, looking for Avan, and the smile grew stiff on my face.

Avan held a pretty hollow in his arms. He drew the stares of more than a few people around him. On full display, his beauty reduced even trained soldiers to helpless admiration. The girl with him leaned in closer.

Gentle fingers touched my jaw and directed my attention back to G-10’s blue eyes. He smiled ruefully. “He’s just having fun.”

“It’s none of my business.”

“I don’t think he’d mind if you wanted it to be.”

I didn’t want to think about what that meant. “Avan is my friend. And my only interest right now is to find Reev.”

G-10 pushed his fingers through his tousled hair. Then he took my hand and led me over to the drinks. He plucked a green one that smelled of citrus.

“Well,” he said, pushing the cup into my hands, “hard to compete with that, isn’t it?”

What was he talking about? I examined the green liquid before taking a sip. It tasted sweet and a little tart.

“What is this?” I asked, watching the way the green liquid caught the light.

“Fruit juice with a touch of magic for flare,” he said, and then nodded at some glowing blue drinks farther down the table. “Those are alcoholic if you’re inclined.”

“I’m not.”

“Come on.” He pulled me into the crowd of dancers. The hollows shouted happily at us as we passed.

It amazed me that they’d done all this for us, and I appreciated it, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what lay ahead of us. G-10 turned around to face me. In the light of the lanterns overhead, I could see the way his eyes searched mine.

“Tomorrow, you leave us,” he said. “But tonight, be here. For a little while.”

“I am here,” I said, lifting the drink in my hand.

He rubbed his thumb against my temple and stepped close enough that I could count the pale freckles on his nose.

“No,” he said. “Be here. Quit thinking about what’s going to happen when you get to Ninurta.” He touched my jaw. It didn’t hurt anymore. “For now, be here.”

I sighed softly. He had arranged all this for us. “All right.”

His eyes lit up. They were really very nice eyes.

“Good,” he said. “Now dance.”

I did, but not very well. He laughed at my attempts, and I laughed along with him. Around us, people twirled and swayed to the music with no embarrassment. I could disappear here. For a little while.

Avan spun by, the pretty hollow clinging to his shoulders. He looked at me, then at G-10, before looking away. The girl’s lips hovered at his ear. I couldn’t tell what she was saying—Avan showed no reaction.

I closed my eyes and let myself move to the beat that vibrated through the floor and into my body.