Trusted Companion

Preparations

"So you're the new recruit we were told to find."

Kayla groaned, throwing one of the pillows at Keigan's head. The six of them had switched cars and gone back to the coach Kayla had stayed in the past few nights after a misplaced comment of mid-class in a lower-class car.  Many of the boys had given her icy glares while a russet headed boy with freckles and a short, stalky figure had explained that this had been their place to dance, relax, and get to know each other for over three years.

"I didn't realize you guys were sent out to gather recruits. Am I the only one on this train?"

Ethan snorted, running a hand through his dark brown hair as he shook his head. "There are at least three other boys in the car before last and two snobs in the mid-class car that refuse to join the rest of the boys. You are however-" Jace elbowed Ethan in the side roughly as Micheal glared at Ethan. "What, can I not tell her?" Ethan glared back at Micheal as Keigan shook his head. 

"Tell me what guys?" Kayla looked around uneasily, all of them solemn and awkward. Justin finally cleared his throat to break the tension. Rubbing the back of his neck with his hand Justin looked at Kayla seriously. His smoky grey eyes were filled with sorrow and worry.

"Well, you see--" Justin looked at the others for help, Jace stepping in to explain.

"The Academy isn't for girls. Its for fighters and for the best of the best." Jace's voice was harsh and rushed, unable to look Kayla in the eyes. "Only two other girls are there and they don't have time for drama or distraction. You'll basically be on your own when we get to campus unless you get roomed with another girl."

Kayla shook her head, looking from one face to another until she had looked at Jace, Keigan, Ethan, Justin, and Micheal. Biting back a laugh, Kayla walked up to Jace and punched him on the arm. Her eyes were dancing with mirth as she sat back down. 

"Ow! What the hell was that for?" Jace frowned, rubbing his shoulder until the pain was a dull ache.

"That doesn't bother me. Like, really guys. I've been a loner for awhile. It just means I'll have more time to practice fencing." Kayla tucked a stray piece of hair that had escaped the braid and bun behind her ear, her green eyes  serious but unperturbed by the news. 

Micheal let out the breath he had been holding in, laughing awkwardly. "I honestly don't know why that scared all of us." The others grinned, punching Jace in the arm to joke with him. "Man you said ow to a girl hitting you. Man up bro!" Chuckling with the rest of the guys, Kayla tossed a pillow at Justin. Justin caught the pillow deftly, putting it behind his head as he sat down again. Justin and Micheal were sitting next to each other on one of the benches while Ethan stood nearby and Jace and Keigan sat on benches opposite each other. Kayla sat on one of the benches by herself, all of her stuff around her feet.

"So what's the Academy like?" Keigan's laugh rumbled from his chest as Micheal smiled mischievously. 

"You'll just have to wait and see, now won't you?"

                                                                                            ~   ~   ~

After ten uneventful days on the train, Kayla was glad to be standing on the platform at the train station with the other boys. The station-- like much of the old town-- was worn down and ancient with faded signs and rusty hinges. The glass in shop windows were filthy and ropes that were used to hold things together looked to be on their last leg. Even the platform was completely worn smooth from its constant use. 

Looking over at Micheal while Ethan went to go get the luggage situated in the wagons, Kayla raised her head and grimaced. There were roughly 30 of them now, including the snot nosed teens who resented mixing with the "lower-class". Roughly a third of the kids (Kayla included) were first years while the rest were a mix of second, third, and fourth years.

Ethan and Keigan were the oldest of the bunch being fourth years while Jace and Micheal were third years, leaving Justin as a second year. Many of the other boys were starting to warm up to Kayla as she joked around with Justin and another guy who was a third class.  Some of the new boys stood awkwardly around while others joked around with guys that had been there longer.

Kayla jumped as a dark toned hand landed on her shoulder. "Sorry," Keigan chuckled as Kayla's cheeks burned hot. "It's about time to load up. You ready to go?"

Kayla nodded mutely, noticing Justin and Micheal had already started rounding up the rest of them and Ethan was back with three large horse pulled wagons that would fit roughly fifteen kids per cart. Not much grandeur there but when looking at the clothes the guys wore Kayla understood. These boys weren't here for looks or to be flashy--they worked hard and trained and accepted what they were given without argument. While not all were gracious about it, they had the discipline not to make a fool of themselves.

Climbing up into one of the carts, Kayla found herself with some of the third and second classes. A man climbed onto one of the horses, leading them onto a well trodden path away from town. The path wound through  even older buildings on the outskirts of town and finally into the woods where everything seemed alive with the sounds of animals. 

Other sounds joined the mix as the wagons were drawn past running water, through fallen dried leaves, and kids relaxed a little more, though few of them spoke. Time seemed to slow down in the forest where calm reigned. Kayla sighed, listening to the low murmurs of the guys nearest her. 

"Think the newbies will make it?"

"Nah, Snakebite gonna put them through the fires of down under."

"You say that every year!!"

"Yeah well you know how many drop out each year."

Kayla looked up curiously at the two boys who were speaking. "Drop out? What do you mean?" Kayla mentally smacked herself, regretting butting into the conversation as one of the boys glared; the other boy just looked exhausted. 

"Like I'm sure the others have told you, the Academy isn't for everyone." One of the other boys spoke now, motioning towards Justin and Ethan in the cart ahead of them. "Roughly 100 students come in every year but normally two thirds of the newbies leave because they can't handle the pressure."

The boy who had dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep and arguing with the other boy shook his head. "Most the boys leave before it even gets to the really hard part. Mark is right though--roughly two thirds of every group that come into the Academy leaves because it's not right for them."

Kayla pondered this, looking at the boy who was still glaring at her. "So who's Snakebite?"

The boy's jaw dropped as he looked from Mark to the boy that was worn out and back at her. "You are joking right? How has Keigan and Jace not mentioned Snakebite when they know Snakebite loathes girls?"

Kayla resented the comment, crossing her arms defiantly as the corners of her mouth turned down. "Maybe because they won't tell me anything about the school."

"They seem to be wary of saying something wrong so they avoid the topic altogether." Mark nodded his head slowly while Kayla finished speaking. "Makes sense. Wouldn't want to give you the wrong impression and have you leave before you even started."

Kayla rolled her eyes, leaning against the wagon side as she studied the other boys in the cart with her. "So what's so bad about it anyway? And who is Snakebite?"

"Professor Larson, aka Snakebite, is the history instructor as well as the er--" Mark looked at the the boy who looked ready to pass out, a questioning look in his eyes. "What would you say man? He's the herbal instructor, right?" Kayla noticed the boys' posture become more rigid, a silent conversation happening between them through their eyes while the spoke to Kayla verbally. 

"Prof Larson is the herbal instructor. He often uses snake venom in his lessons and got bit by one on the neck so everyone calls him Snakebite." 

"Honestly," Mark looked at Kayla with a large grin, the conversation between him and sleepy over there apparently over, "I think he takes pride in the name and just hides it with a scowl all the time."

Kayla shook her head, laughing. "Well, I guess I have an interesting time coming." 

Mark snorted, while the other boys started to laugh and even the glare melted off the stubborn one's face. "You have no idea girl...."