The Knight Academy

CHAPTER 44

I dreamed of death those days. Graduation time was soured by the fight between Clive and I. Somehow a lot of boys visited me in my special room with the academy physician attending to me every night.

It took a while before the physician finally said, "I think you may never hold a sword again." 

"Even a rapier?" I asked.

"Maybe, but I don't think you can move as well. It's like holding a stick, you can hold it but—it's quite useless, a stick."

I groaned and made no argument.

Will, Wyatt, Cory and Hale all came to hang out since my room was spacious and I was healing in the bed.

I couldn't walk due to a cut tendon in my leg, but my other arm could hold a crutch and my wrist was broken. Imagine Wyatt's damage during the hunt but doubled.

Their smiles were always forced and their eyes pitied me, but I still had what sweets they snuck to me.

"I can't believe Clive of all people would do that," Will finally broached the topic. The rest all jumped in.

"It didn't look like Clive at all!"

"You mean he didn't look normal."

"He reminded me of a hunting dog."

They fell back quiet until Wyatt joined in. "The Headmaster has students kill rebels."

"I heard of those special students! Clive and Nathan were, weren't they?" Cory asked.

"We were, but I left him alone," I said. "I betrayed him first."

"No!" Will scratched at his head. "The Headmaster is messed up, he must've told him something."

I suddenly remembered.

Before seeing Clive and all the attacks, back when I received the sword from the Headmaster, and what he said.

"The Headmaster told me if I made Clive unmovable, I'd be allowed to see him." I looked at them.

"That sounds like him alright," Wyatt growled.

"But then he's lying to you both!" Will complained. "Where is Clive? Where has he been? The graduation ceremony is soon."

"How are you going to stand?" Hale asked me.

"I should have a seat, the doctor told me," I answered. "So no one saw Clive at all?"

They looked at each other.

"No."

"Me neither."

I sighed.

After they were all leaving I called Will back.

"What's wrong?" Will asked.

"I don't feel safe. I don't know who to trust—and being unable to fight back scares me." I looked around. "Don't tell anyone but there's a dagger in my second drawer, can you get it for me? Secretly?"

Will nodded, "I'm scared for you, too. Tell me if you're in danger."

"Then can you get me one more thing?" I whispered it to Will and he nodded.

He got it for me that night.

The next day they visited we acted as though nothing had happened. We spoke on how they would rotate guarding me each night but I jokingly pushed it away. They spoke about decorating the halls and finally getting to skip class for a bit. Classes were mainly reviews and most boys were talking and fooling around.