Without a King (Greatest Thief 1, mxm)

Chapter Five

"Today you will be practicing your climbing skills," Malte announced the next morning. Like the day before, we were standing in our neat rows in the courtyard. I hated living by such a strict structure, but the food I'd just eaten more than made up for it. Malte continued talking, reminding the boys of things I already knew. "Pair off and remember to always have someone on the ground watching you," he explained. "This is not like practicing with your swords; if you fall, you will be hurt. Go."

I groaned and rolled my shoulders as the boys around us started pairing off. Tannix moved closer to me. "Do you not like climbing?" he asked.

I almost laughed. "Climbing's easy, but my arms are still sore from that beating yesterday." Not to mention sleeping on the roof. I wasn't used to luxury but at least at home I had clothing to cushion me.

Tannix smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I thought you'd be a better fighter than that."

"Yes, well... Let's climb." I noticed that the other groups of boys were heading towards the different buildings that bordered the courtyard. The walls, I could tell, had been designed to be easy to climb. The stones had been put together so that there were often pieces sticking out, which created perfect handholds. There were also many windows facing the courtyard. For the first time, I felt confident about a task the place had given me.

I led Tannix over to one of the buildings that the other boys had decided not to use. It was taller than some of the others, but of course that didn't bother me. "You stay here and watch me, in case I fall," I told Tannix, even though it was unnecessary. I never fell.

"That is the way we do it," Tannix pointed out dully. "Apparently a couple of years ago a boy fell to his death while practicing, because his partner wasn't watching him."

"How would his partner have helped?" I asked. I had my back to Tannix and was staring up at the wall thoughtfully, planning my route as best I could.

"He could have seen that he was having trouble," Tannix replied.

"And then what? Climbed up and helped?" I couldn't help but let a hint of sarcasm creep into my voice. "Or maybe he would have caught him?"

Tannix didn't answer.

I turned around. He had his arms crossed, and he was looking at the wall like it was some sort of enemy. "You don't like climbing," I guessed.

He nodded.

"This wall will be simple." I tried to sound comforting, but I really wasn't good at it. "Just watch me when I go up, and then when it's your turn, follow the same path." My words clearly did not have the right effect. "Maybe you can tell Malte that you..."

"No, I can't," Tannix said. "Everyone needs to practice this, though I don't see why. I'm not going to become a spy, or assassin, or whoever would do this. Soldiers don't climb walls."

"Spies?" I repeated, wondering if I'd just solved the mystery of who these people were.

"I've always known I was going to be a soldier." Tannix continued as if I hadn't said anything. "Give me a sword, or a knife, and I can beat anyone here. Those are the kinds of skills I'll need, not climbing walls."

"Why would you want to be a soldier?" I asked carefully. I realized that I was heading into dangerous territory. It sounded like something I would know if I had actually belonged in the group. If I was lucky Tannix wouldn't notice that I had no idea what he was talking about. "Sounds boring to me. I mean, you should be helping to run your city, right?"

"I want to go into the army. That's part of the plan. Tandrin gets West Draulin, I become a soldier. Your parents must have plans for you."

"Of course they do." I nodded.