The Unearthing (Book I of the Tebel Chronicles)

Chapter 32

The group had not been able to find out anything more about the mysterious Master's plan. The I'tes had enlisted Jesse's help and had set up a roster for the five of them to keep tabs on Greyton. For the next week he was never out of their sight. Even at night, the I'tes made sure one of them was always keeping watch. But although they all reported that he seemed to be more fidgety and nervous than usual, there were no further signs of his plans against Noring or any unusual interactions with any of the Masters. Braeden was also spying on the staff. Despite Kael's assurances that Braeden was one of the best in Tebel at prying for information, without being able to officially interrogate anyone, he came up with nothing. Cyan's anxiety rose as the days passed, fearing they were heading closer to catastrophe. Her memories of the earth shaking beneath her in New York were now causing multiple nightmares in the night, making her afraid of sleep and consequently, irritable and jumpy during the day. To make matters worse, Master Evan had started belittling her twice as much as usual. Kael had retaliated on her behalf on a particularly bad day, but after Master Evan then punished him with two weeks of pool duty for cheek, Cyan made him promise to remain quiet in future. All in all, it was a bad week for the five students.

None of this was helped by the final set of practical exams for manipulation skills scheduled for that week. Even though Kael, Braeden and Shyla were very skilled at their respective gifts, their Masters were assigning extra assignments which were making the surveillance of Greyton even more difficult. When he wasn't with Braeden and Shyla in the fire manipulation practices, Cyan was left trailing him herself. This was made difficult when Dakin refused to let her out of her weapons training sessions. Between the five of them, they decided to risk the anger of the Masters and so one of them would always skip their session. Cyan had offered to take the day before the exams so that her friends could concentrate. She was trying to keep close to Greyton as he wandered through the Noring halls, hoping he would stay well clear of the training areas or Dakin would catch her playing hooky. She watched with the others as Greyton left the main building after lunch.

'Good luck, Cy,' said Kael, before heading upstairs for his afternoon session with Master Penn. Shyla was spending an hour with Master Evan while Braeden was practicing with Master Marlin. Cyan sighed and followed Greyton. The third years had many solo sessions with the Masters for this set of exams. These exams would determine whether students were ready to graduate in a months time.

Greyton headed towards the outdoor gym and Cyan's heart sank; now she was sure she would run into Dakin. But as he reached the gym he darted into the bakery to the left. She waited outside looking in the windows of the tailor. After a couple of minutes Greyton reemerged with his pie. He slurped the insides out of the pastry and continued towards the staff quarters. Her heart began to race. Is he going to meet the Master at his house? But Greyton continued past them towards the woods. Cyan hesitated as he left the roads and headed into the open fields covered in purple flowers. She would be noticed now if she continued. She cursed under her breath and watched as he entered the woods. Giving him a couple of seconds she sprinted after him, hoping she'd be able to continue her tracking. Braeden or Kael would be so much better at this.

Cyan wandered around the entrance of the woods hoping to pick up his trail and keep her noise to a minimum.

A bright white light and explosion of pain shot through her. She'd been struck on the back of her head. Rolling onto her back, Cyan looked up from the ground and could just make out Greyton standing above her holding a large branch.

'Stupid Natlin!' he spat, 'did you really think I couldn't tell you were following me? I've been waiting for an opportunity to be alone with you. And you've presented it sooner than I'd hoped. I am going to pay you back for humiliating me in front of all the students, and for the pool duty. But first –' His lips curled in malice and his eyes were dilated in pleasure. 'First, you're going to tell me why you're following me.'