Collecting the Pieces of the Shandhi Sword (Book 2 of Mark Series)

Chapter 29

"Hey, look who finally decided to join us," Carter said when I walked into the cafeteria, and he grinned in amusement. "Did you have a nice nap?" He raised an eyebrow before he wiggled them, and I rolled my eyes and scowled.

"I did have a nice nap, thank you very much," I said, and Samuel bit back a small snort. I looked at the other male, giving him my best annoyed look before I looked at Carter again. "What about you? Did you get any rest?" I raised an eyebrow in question.

Carter and Chase looked at each other before they shrugged and looked at me and shrugged again, looking nonchalant.

"We've been plotting," Carter said, "and making sure that whatever we need to write is good enough for Samuel," he added, looking at the other male before he looked at me. "We're also waiting to see where we need to go next."

I slowly nodded while I pressed my lips into a thin line. "I'll see where that is later," I said. "However, for right now, I think I need to get something to eat."

"Are we planning on getting your pack or the other sword first?" Samuel asked, and I shot him an annoyed look. He looked at me with wide eyes and gulped while he shifted in his seat. "What?" he asked innocently and cocked his head while he studied me. "It's an honest question."

"We're getting the other sword, Samuel," I said, feeling annoyed with him and wondering if I needed to deal with him or not. "I thought you were there when we discussed this the first time."

"Even though, I want to say we should go get them first and then the rest of your sword last," Carter said, and I looked at him. "I mean, we do have a secret weapon." He gestured to Clarice, and Clarice stopped eating and looked at us with a look of fear on her face, her eyes growing wide.

She didn't say a word while she looked between us, and her face grew paler. She didn't want to go there at all, and I wasn't going to make her, nor did I think it was a good idea either.

"No," I said, vetoing that idea with a shake of my head. "Even if we were going to get them first, we aren't taking her no matter how knowledgeable of the place she could be."

"And why not?" Carter asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Because she could be killed," I replied. "As much as I don't like her, I am not going to let her die at the hands of her father or his "master" because I don't think it's him calling the shots."

"It's not," Clarice said, her voice barely above a whisper while she slowly started to relax and shook her head. She let out a small sigh of relief before she cleared her throat and shifted in her seat. "There is someone else that is calling the shots, but I don't know who."

I nodded in agreement before I cleared my throat. "In any case, we aren't going to be able to get them until I am ready. I've told you this before, Carter." I looked at him and gave him a pointed look.

Carter nodded and grinned. "I know," he said, "and my promise still stands." He cleared his throat and gestured to the food. "Now, get something to eat so that you can start planning again and getting the rest of your sword."

I rolled my eyes and scowled but did what I was told to do and went to get some food, and I wasn't surprised when Samuel got up from the table and went with me.

"Wh-"

"Shut up, Carter," I said, interrupting him and not looking back at him. "That is none of your business."

"Bu-"

"Dude, she said shut up, so zip it," Chase said, and I had a feeling that he nudged Carter's shoulder while he interrupted him.