Greylith, page 5
Ironleaf gets inches away from my face, grits his teeth and speaks quietly. “That wasn’t a suggestion, Greylith. That was a fucking order.
At the corner of my eye, I see Xander whispering to Lyric and Wren, who both look extremely concerned now.
I see Wren’s lips move and in the same moment Cleo comes soaring down around the crowd, causing everyone to panic. He shoots back up into the sky and then comes hurdling between Dorian and I, cutting Ironleaf’s cheek with his blade-like wing. He makes a sharp left and dives toward the rest of the High Council.
Panic continues, causing everyone to run out of the Colosseum, and try to get back to the safety of Fort Weave.
Xander runs out into the pit and takes my hand and pulls me behind him. “Show's over, Commander,” he says to Ironleaf.
So much for that clean record at Fort Weave.
“You’ll suffer the consequences for interfering with one of my direct orders,” he growls at Xander. “And I will see you Weave,” Ironleaf looks to me.
Xander steps in again. “Maybe one day you will see him Weave, but that day won’t be today.” In one fast motion, Xander turns away from the Commander and drags me away.
“Thank you,” I whisper under my breath. “I owe you.”
“I’ve got you,” he says with a slight smile.
I look ahead and I see Wren and Lyric are waiting for me by one of the pillars at the exit.
“Thanks, Wren,” I give them both a hug. “And tell Cleo I said thanks too.”
“I want to know what the hell that was all about!” Lyric shouts.
Xander cuts her off and puts a finger to his lips. “Not here. We need to find a safe place to talk. All of us.”
Safe? Is Fort Weave not safe? I understand that was a dick move from Ironleaf, but I’m still safe, right?
“And where do you think that would be?” Lyric says.
“Xander, I’m not letting my brother just walk through the front gate after the chaos we just saw go down when they announced his Weave,” Wren stands firm.
“I agree, We can’t go that way,” he says. “Your room?” he looks at me.
I nod. “Let’s just hope the High Council won’t be listening, or anyone for that matter.”
“Don’t worry, they won’t be,” Wren grins.
“Follow me,” Xander commands.
He leads us back into the Colosseum, crouched low and instructing us to follow suit, making sure we aren’t seen by any stragglers.
I glance into the pit and see that all High Council have left.
“They left quickly,” I say, keeping my voice low.
“Probably back to Fort Weave with everyone else,” Lyric whispers.
“Yeah, to discuss how to discipline you for your insubordination,” Wren says with a hushed tone.
“Guys, we need to keep moving,” Xander shouts. He leads us down a long hallway and to the top of another staircase.
“More stairs?” I say, already out of breath.
A long flight of stone steps greets us as we prepare to head back into the tunnel.
“Jump on,” Xander crouches down, wanting me to jump on his back.
“I’m not letting you carry me,” I say. “I’ll manage.”
“Really, because when we walked down the last flight of stairs you almost passed out.” He’s not wrong.
“Phoenix, no one cares, we need to get you out of here, so stop being so damn shy and get on his back!” Lyric says.
“I said, no.”
“Then keep up!” Wren shouts, descending the stairs.
We are flying down the stairs at astronomical speeds, at least twice as fast as the last flight. And the only reason I can keep up is because my adrenaline is pumping.
“Guys, what do we do if the High Council is waiting for us when we get back?” Lyric shouts while running.
“Your brother and I will deal with them,” Wren defends.
We reach the bottom of the stairs that open right up into the massive tunnel. “Everyone, wait!” I shout, trying to catch my breath.
“There’s no time,” Xander says back.
The three of them are running down the tunnel toward the flight of stairs that leads back up to Fort Weave.
“Stop!” I yell louder.
Everyone stops in their tracks and stares at me. “You guys aren’t putting yourselves in danger for me.”
“For you?” Wren glares. “You do realize that by them trying to get you, an untrained Weaver to Weave, no matter how strong they think you might be, could’ve killed you and everyone at Fort Weave. Phoenix, when you master your ability, you could level this entire place with the flick of your finger.”
“How do you know about Reality Weavers?” I ask, with a confused look on my face.
“I’ve read a few books about one, but they were never named, and I’m not going to tell you what happened to them,” Wren tells us. “All I will say is, you have the capability to change the entire world, and I’m not just talking in a metaphorical sense, you could physically change the world if you wanted to.”
“But I don’t want to,” I defend myself.
“Phoenix, we know!” Lyric chimes in. “We know you don’t want that, but by the looks of it, Commander Ironleaf wants you to Weave just to show everyone how dangerous the Weave can be. I’m assuming that since you’re a Reality Weaver and he’s a Chronomancer, he sees you as a threat.”
“Xander?” Wren stops. “You’re being awfully quiet in an intense moment like this.”
“What? Oh sorry, I just think we need to keep moving,” he shakes his head. “No, we definitely need to keep moving. Now!”
Just as he says that, we hear voices coming down the stairs we were just on and they’re heading our way.
The two girls start racing up the next flight of stairs. Xander turns to me. “Are you good?”
I nod.
My face is hot and red. I shake the water bottle that Xander gave me and quickly take a sip, nodding at him.
“Let’s go,” I say, still trying to catch my breath.
We reach the top of the stairs inside of Fort Weave. The hallways are fairly busy. Xander leads the way, myself and Lyric in the middle and Wren comes up the back. As we make our way back to my room, everyone parts the halls for us and they stare at us.
“Caspian!” Xander shouts.
A tall, dark-skinned Senior Recruit in a sleeveless tunic comes up to us and starts talking to Xander. “Yeah X, what’s up?”
I can’t help but notice the large scar on his upper shoulder.
“I need you to cloak us on our way up to Greylith’s room,” Xander says.
“Yeah, I can do that,” Caspian nods. “Can I ask what the hell that was at the Colosseum though?”
“Come with us,” Xander says. “We’ll tell you there.”
I slap his arm.
“Don’t worry, we can trust him,” Xander confirms.
Wren lets out a slight snort. Lyric and I look at each other and then I glance to Wren who looks aggravated.
Caspian turns his wrist, and just like that, everyone that was around us looks around as if they can’t see anything like we just disappeared.
“What are they looking for?” I ask.
“You,” Caspian says. “Shadow and Light Weavers are able to bend light in certain ways to hide or reveal objects and people.”
“Well, to humans. Spirits can still see them,” Wren states.
Caspian slightly turns his head to talk Wren behind him, “You’d know all about that, Dead Girl Walking.”
Wren hisses and reaches for the dagger at her side, before anyone can catch her, she lunges forward and holds the knife to Caspian’s throat.
“Wren stop! What are you doing?” I shout.
“Quiet, Phoenix,” she orders.
“Greylith, put the knife down,” Xander orders.
She ignores him. “If you even think about calling me that again, this knife will be driven into your neck so deep, no Water Weaver will ever be able to heal you. Got it Skywatcher?” She draws back and sheaths her dagger.
“Skywatcher?” Lyric interrupts. “As in General Skywatcher. The guy who almost won the Battle of Axlis?”
“Yeah,” Caspian sighs, focused on Wren. “That’s my grandfather.”
Wren doesn’t take her eyes off of him.
Caspian swallows and gathers himself. “Let's keep moving.”
A few minutes later we are in my corridor standing at the part of the wall that says ‘1225’. I slap my hand in the same spot as I did the first time, and the wall dissolves instantly. Xander puts his arm out blocking the entrance of my room and he goes in, knife drawn and does a sweep of my quarters before he waves us in.
“Wren, can you-” Xander starts.
Wrens hand glows purple, and her eyes roll backward as she speaks an unknown language. “Qeunjino Ifrfre, euxo iomu bas ghyq oa ienen sauenh,” she draws her attention back to Xander. “Done.”
“What was that?” Lyric asks.
“Spiritwalkers can use spirits to create a sound barrier around an area,” Wren tells her. “That’s why one of us is almost always present at any intel meeting.”
“And that language?” I ask.
“You didn’t understand her?” Lyric asks.
“He couldn’t have,” Wren says flatly. “Only Spiritwalkers understand it.”
I nod to Wren in approval, but she doesn’t see. Now she’s just standing at the window, looking out into the ocean.
“So, why did we all need to come to my room?” I ask.
“We need to figure out how you’re going to survive at Fort Weave,” Xander starts.
I look at him rather confused. “What do you mean? Commander Ironleaf doesn’t stay here long term, so I should be fine, right?”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Lyric starts. “Even I’ve figured it out. If you are a Reality Weaver-”
Xander interrupts. “He is.”
Everyone looks at Xander.
“Okay, you are a Reality Weaver, so you’re a threat to Ironleaf and his position as Commander-in-Chief. I guarantee he’s talking to some of the strongest Weavers at Fort Weave right now into getting you kicked out, through fighting, or underperforming, or using your Weave in a dangerous way, he’s going to try something,” Lyric says.
“Or he could hire someone to kill you,” Wren says, still focused on the ocean outside.
The color drains from my face, and Xander see’s it. “We won’t let that happen.”
“What about the rest of the High Council? Wouldn’t they step in?” I ask, looking at all of them.
“Sure, if Ironleaf is gone, but since he knows you're here, I’m sure he’s going to be spending a lot of time at Fort Weave observing you,” Caspian says.
“And if Ironleaf lays another hand on Phoenix, I’ll kill him myself,” Wren says coldly. She turns to the rest of us. “Besides my mom, Phoenix is the last bit of family I have and I’m not letting someone take that away from me, so, if anyone sees Commander Ironleaf, tell him ‘Dead Girl Walking’ is watching him.”
Caspian swallows hard.
“It’s not going to come to that,” I look at her, but I’m saying it to everyone. “I can handle myself. I know my limits and I’ll do what I need to do to survive. If I have to avoid Weaving for a while, then so be it.”
“This is more than just your survival, Greylith,” Xander grabs my shoulder. “They are going to try to turn you into a weapon and we aren’t going to let that happen.”
“I don’t need security. I came to Fort Weave to learn how to fight and help defend Aetheria against the Shadow Army and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Dude, they aren’t going to let you fight,” Caspian says. Everyone turns around and stares at him. “I heard the High Council talking about it.”
“When exactly did you hear them talking about this?” Xander says angrily. “Tell me everything they said word for word.”
“Last night, on Elixir Day, I was on guard duty, so I was walking around Fort Weave and thought I’d try to listen to see if I could hear any of the new abilities, but I guess I missed them,” Caspian walks over to my bed and sits down. “After all the New Recruits were asleep in the Elixir Chamber, I overheard the Commander-in-Chief tell the rest of the High Council that at the Unveiling of the Weavers and how he was going to have Phoenix use his powers.”
Xander exhales loudly.
Caspian turns to me. “And if you didn’t they were to take you out of all training sessions, sparring sessions, and drills until you show the High Council your Weave.”
We all have the same look on our faces. Pure shock.
“They can’t do that!” Lyric cries.
Xander looks down, defeated. “Actually, they can, I’ve seen it happen before.”
We all turn to him.
“I couldn’t perform for a while, and they pushed me until I nearly killed myself,” Xander tells us. “We can’t let that happen to you. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can go about this? We need to protect Greylith at all costs.”
Everyone looks around at each other.
“Nightingale. Are you talking about treason?” Caspian asks. “I’m not going to commit treason against the Aetherian Army for some kid that doesn’t know how to Weave.”
Wren begins to stir. “You’re dead, Skywatcher,” Wren lunges toward Caspian, dagger in hand. Lyric and I grab Wren at each arm and do our best to hold her back. “Let me go! I’m gonna kill him!”
Xander just stands and watches. Caspian jumps off the bed and backs up against the wall.
“Wren! Stop!” I yell. “He’s right!”
Wren calms herself and backs off toward the window again and stares at me, along with everyone else.
“I’m not letting any of you commit treason just to help defend me. I’ll do what I can and try my best to stop them from getting me to Weave,” I say.
“Greylith,” Xander crosses over to me. “They’re going to try to kill you.”
“Yeah, try,” I say. “I know my limits.”
Xander pauses, but then nods. “Fine, but we all need to promise to keep an eye on him.”
Everyone in the group nods.
“And he doesn’t leave this room without one of us with him,” Xander continues.
“I don’t need bodyguards,” I stand firm.
“That wasn’t a request,” Xander says through his teeth.
“He’s right, Phoenix,” Lyric chimes in. “You can’t go against the entire High Council by yourself, at least not yet you can’t. You need help and that’s what we’re here for.”
I hesitate, but nod my head. “Fine.”
“Then it’s settled, as of this moment, our top priority is Greylith’s safety, we don’t overstep as Recruits, but we push the limits,” Xander tells the group. Everyone nods.
“Push the limits like you did with Ironleaf?” Lyric raises an eyebrow.
“No, not like that,” Xander looks at her, raising an eyebrow. “I know I’ll pay for that. I’m not sure how, but Ironleaf will find a way.”
Everyone leaves the room, leaving me alone for the first time since I came to Fort Weave.
“What the hell! I’m a Reality Weaver!” I’m pacing around my room trying to wrap my head around the idea of it all. I trip over myself and fall flat on my face. I get up and notice I can’t stand on my feet. My ankle is throbbing, I’ve definitely twisted it.
There’s a knock on the wall where the door should be. I hobble over to the wall and place my hand there. The wall falls away and Xander is standing in the opening. “I figured you’d need this,” he says holding a bag of ice.
The following day marks the beginning of training. At the crack of dawn, the siren sounds once, signaling all the Recruits to wake up. I get out of bed and throw the Aetherian Army Code of Conduct aside. I must’ve fallen asleep reading it.
When I stand on my ankle, I still feel it throbbing, but it’s manageable. The ice that Xander brought me last night seems to have helped. I head over to the dresser to put on my uniform before hearing a knock on the wall at the front of the room. I walk over, place one hand on the wall while rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Xander walks in and sits on the bed.
“Are you ready for your first real day at Fort Weave?” he asks me with a smile on his face.
I walk back over to the dresser, grab my uniform and make my way to the washroom. “Why are you so smiley?” I ask. “Aren’t you tired at all?”
“Oh no, I don’t sleep much. My mind usually races and it can never shut off. Besides, I get to walk you to breakfast,” he cheers.
I poke my head out of the washroom, but just my head because I don’t want to repeat what happened yesterday and show him my naked body, again. “And you’re happy about that because?”
“Because, I like you,” Xander says abruptly. “And I like spending time with you.”
“I’m sorry? You like me? You barely know me,” I say as I pull my trousers on.
“Okay? I’m an adult and a good judge of character. I know who I like being around.” Xander stands up and walks into the washroom.
I rush to pick up my shirt and hold it in front of my stomach. “Oh,” What the hell am I supposed to say to that? He likes me? Even if he likes me, I don’t know him like that. Yeah, he’s attractive, but I told myself not to get involved with anyone while I’m in training. I need to think of something to say, and quickly because the way he’s looking at me, he’s not taking it so well. “Listen, I’m flattered, but I’ve known you for two days, let’s just see how things go before we take this anywhere.”
“Alright,” he says. “I can be patient.”
“Great, now I need to get changed, so, do you mind?” I say, ushering him to leave the washroom.
“Want some help?” Xander asks with a smile.
I roll my eyes at him, but smile back.
As we make our way down to the mess hall, we’re stopped by Wren who has a panicked look on her face.
“Everything alright, Wren?” I ask.
“Um, I’m guessing you haven’t seen the bulletin that was put out this morning?” She looks at both of us.
Xander and I shake our heads.
