The Boon of Alon

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

My plan to dart into the dorm to change before archive is interrupted by Rev, who waits just inside the monastery. She's got her arms around a sniffling Lemi; Suthi is there, too, and Rev flags down Jeddin too when he comes in just after me.

"I'm leaving today," she tells us. "I wanted to say goodbye before I left. Molla's getting antsy."

She gently peels Lemi off her and waves me in, so I hug her next. "I'm a little damp," I warn.

"No kidding." She pulls away pretty quickly. "Was it raining at the dragons again? I hate that."

"Yeah." I step back; Suthi reaches out to feel the sleeve of my jacket and frowns. She's been doing that more lately—touching me casually, I mean, not checking how soggy my clothes have gotten. I ignore it this time. "You aren't going to Pangessa, are you?"

Rev grimaces. "Technically not, but we're going to the Republic and that's the main thing they're dealing with right now."

Damn it. "Good luck."

From the look she gives me, I think she's got a good idea of what she'll face—maybe better than me. "Thanks."

She gives Jeddin and Suthi cursory hugs too and shoos us off to the archive with a promise that she'll be back soon. I consider going straight to the archive, too, but between Iamon's warning and the cold discomfort of my wet clothes, I figure it's better I go ahead and change. When I do get to the archive, Tack raises an eyebrow at me—we haven't had Gred for several days now—but they wave me to my seat. Suthi feels the dry sleeve of my sweater approvingly.

I don't know if I'm disappointed we don't talk about Pangessa today or not. I want to know what Rev is in for, but maybe it's better I don't.

By lunch, half the recruits are sniffling. I guess I wasn't the only one who didn't dress for the weather. I'm feeling fine, but a whole lot of people head back to the dorm for a nap after eating; I stay in the dining room. With Rev off being a rider, the couple of other mages among the recruits have switched from watching us practice, to practicing with me. Not a lot we can do inside, but the weather outside is miserable.

Which makes training afterward miserable, too—though at least up here the snow stays snow. And I'm dressed for it now. Plus, with half our number kept inside by the more healing-inclined riders, Chama included, it's a pretty casual session. When Tack releases us for afternoon break, everyone present still has plenty of energy left to hustle towards the warmth of indoors.

There's a figure just coming through the gate—not currently "guarded"—when I come around the front of the monastery. Not a rider, I don't think—their face isn't visible, but they're dressed like they climbed here, kitted out in furs and heavy boots and a walking stick. Riders don't exactly need walking sticks.

Suthi must notice me tense, because she's suddenly next to me with a hand on my shoulder, looking around for the threat. She relaxes, though, when she sees the newcomer.

"Huh," she says. "I think that's Kirt."

"Kirt?"

"He's a Knight." Suthi stops outside the door, so I stop too, though I have to steer her out of the path of the other recruits. "A friend. I wonder..." Her voice trails off hopefully. I remember that she wanted to stay a Knight, before we crashed into each other and sent both our lives careening in a new direction. Even though she was a rebel, even after all the ways she was betrayed, I guess the Knights were—are—still important to her.

Tack has headed over to meet the newcomer. He pulls his scarf down to talk to them and Suthi sucks in a breath.

"It is," she says.