Prophecy's Promise (Prophecy of the Edges Book 1) by Lauren Amundson Read Free Book Online

of my cap-sleeved tunics.  I tucked my daggers into their slots in my boots and retrieved the throwing stars that Nazarie had given me for the spring solstice. I attached them to my belt, threw my black travel cloak over my shoulders and pulled up the hood.  With that, I set off for the practice field. On the way, I saw Nazarie in a heated conversation with Adine, the Dybreakean ambassador.
    “Ah, there you are, my sweet. Looking quite the warrior today,” Adine remarked as I drew nearer.
    “Don’t call me that.”  I lowered my hood.
    “Warrior or sweet?” he asked.
    Nazarie’s eyes narrowed. “You two know each other?”
    “We’ve been introduced,” I said dryly.
    “You’ve not told your aunt about the job offer?” Adine asked.
    “Job offer?” Nazarie folded her arms.
    “Some of the first years are taking Shezdon’s death very hard. I’ve been busy.”
    “I love that dedication,” Adine declared. “That’s why we’ve offered her the opportunity to start her own Scholar Academy in Dybreakea.”
    “Dybreakea?” Nazarie repeated.
    “Either before or instead of her Warrior Journeyman Year. The prince himself has promised to get her an honorable discharge from the Warriors’ services,” Adine clarified.
    “I have duties to fulfill in Gryshelm.”
    “If they can be removed, are they really your duties?” He bowed. “I will see you ladies again. At least think about it, Hailey.”
    “Dybreakea?” Nazarie said again. “I thought he was poking around where he didn’t belong. I didn’t realize he really was looking for you. Foreigners.” She shook her head.
    I threw my arms in the air. “What should I do?”
    “If you have the crown’s blessing, then you have mine.” She put her arm around me. “Whatever you do, I’ll support you a hundred and fifty percent.”
    “You’d prefer me to go with Altis.”
    “I want you to be happy,” she said. The knowledge of Shezdon’s book weighed on my mind. I was a horrid niece. Nazarie pulled me to her. “I’m sorry that we fought earlier.”
    “Are you sure you won’t be disappointed in me if I go to Dybreakea.”
    She sighed. “I do think that you can add logic to the Warriors. They desperately need logic. But, if you feel like this is your path, I’ll understand.”
    “I want you to be proud of me.”
    “I already am,” she assured me. “Have dinner with me tonight?” Her hand brushed my shoulder, but Shezdon’s secret pierced the familiar closeness.
    “I promised Meena.” I lied, sort of. I did promise to meet with Meena. Horrid, horrid niece.
    “Tomorrow, then?”
    “Tomorrow,” I promised.
    I trudged the rest of the way to the practice field. Curiously, a raucous group encircled the practice ring shouting taunts and jeers. It appeared as if every Warrior not out on deployment was here. I pushed through the crowd to see what was going on. To my great displeasure, Altis was what the fuss was about. Eight other warriors formed a circle around him. He blocked and parried each in turn. As his sword, blunted by a Mist barrier, slashed an opponent, he or she would leave the circle and a new challenger would enter with the weapon of his or her choice.
    I knew the game.  I’d not played it since I was a novice Apprentice, before I’d chosen my Track.  The winner was the one remaining after all the others had been defeated. All the players could fight anyone they wished.  It was intended to be everyone for him-or-herself, but the whole group ganged up on Altis in an unofficial and temporary truce. And other than any Fortifications already Woven into the blades, the fight was to be fully mundane.  No Lightning Balls or any other use of the Mist.
    I’d heard Altis was good, but I’d never actually seen him dance the Patterns of the Warriors before. Begrudgingly, I appreciated the beauty of his form. His movements appeared effortless. In contrast, his sparring partners labored trying and failing to keep up with him. Emotion did