Empire of Sand

I couldn’t say what we talked about during the walk back to the barracks. For all I’d known, we could have floated back. Perhaps we had. I came to life again when we parted near the corridors, a last kiss shared in the dark as the watchmen paced nearby. As I made my way to my bedroll, I was not as careful as I should have been. I could feel Roweena’s eyes on my back, but I would worry about that another time.

William and I shared our first kiss under the stars. Tomorrow’s problems would just have to wait.

_#_

Tomorrow’s problems didn’t wait as long as they should have. My stomach grumbled greedily, coaxing my feet toward the dining hall for a plate of hot eggs and buttered toast. Roweena’s snake-like eyes watched me settle into the empty place at our table beside Ian and Tessie.

“A night spent in that dreadful cave they’ve the nerve to call barracks is like a night spent . . . well . . . in a cave,” Josephine complained.

“I agree with you, Josephine,” Roweena said coyly. “I think Ash would agree with you, too, only she has spent so little time in hers, haven’t you, Ash?”

Josephine’s gaze slid from Roweena to me.

“The guards gave us leave to come and go as we please,” Ian muttered.

“They certainly have,” Roweena continued. “Only I’d like to know where our little sand spitter is sneaking off to, wouldn’t you? If she wasn’t hiding her whereabouts, she wouldn’t feel the need to skulk, would she, Ian?”

Ian paused with a fork full of diced potatoes in his mouth.

“Roweena, the term is sand splitter, though I’m sure you already knew that,” I said evenly, “and it’s no business of yours where I go, though I’m surprised you’re so fond of me that you’ve been monitoring my activities so closely.”

Tessie chortled, and Ian smothered a grin of his own. No one cared to disagree with Roweena openly, but it was clear none of us cared for her at all.

“I know you’re up to something,” Roweena hissed. “If I find out you’re bribing the guards, I’ll see that you don’t leave Tristan alive.”

Tessie slammed her hands down on the wooden table, causing the plates to rattle. She stood slowly, eyes trained on Roweena’s hunched form.

“Threaten my friend again, Roweena, and I’ll see that you don’t leave Tristan alive,” she promised.

I believed Tessie more than I believed Roweena.

_#_

Master Givvens paired us up after that. I had the misfortune of being partnered with Roweena, who relished the opportunity to do me a bad turn. I caught Tessie’s eyes wandering my way more than once, and I said a secret prayer for my protective new friend.

Roweena and I sparred under the watchful gaze of Master Givvens. His bald head glinted under the midday sun, and his blood red robes dripped from his narrow body. I swiped the sweat from my brow and dodged another attack from Roweena. Givvens had forbidden us from using our extra abilities; he insisted we begin at the beginning, with our footwork.

“I know what you’re doing,” Roweena growled.

She circled me like a hungry predator, waiting to strike.

“How is that? I don’t even know what I’m doing,” I teased.

Roweena advanced again, and I ducked and twisted out of her grasp. Her hands were clammy like a dead fish.

“You’re angling to win,” she huffed.

She hit me with a punch to the right hip. I kicked out at her with my foot, hitting her knee and sending her down on one leg.

“I thought that was what we were all doing,” I gasped.

Roweena glared as she climbed to her feet and crouched to spring.

“I don’t know what you and that boy have going on, but I’m going to find out, Ash.”

I paused.

Roweena had seen William.

How far had she followed us? Did she know we’d gone to the stables? Did she see our kiss? My cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Roweena’s eyes had a wicked glint in them.

“Tell me, Roweena, what were you doing out so late at night?”

“Remember, Ash? We’re free to come and go as we please,” she said, throwing my earlier words back at me.

“Cease!” Master Givvens called.

The exhausted pairs straightened and panted under the blistering sun.

“Tomorrow, the lesser matches begin,” Givvens announced. “The pairing process will be out of my hands. Get some rest, conserve your energy. Leave all the petty nonsense to the crows,” he said, flicking his eyes at Roweena.

“May fortune be on your side,” he said.

Roweena stared at me from down the line. She had death in her eyes.

_#_

That night, I snuck out again. I needed to visit Birdie and calm my nerves. I’d seen what some of the other elementals could do, and my pitiful sand tricks didn’t compare. Mayven taught me all he could, but the tasks of daily living hadn’t afforded us much time to train. Besides, moving sand was hardly a great feat. Anyone with a hand tool could accomplish that.

“Shame on you,” William whispered.

I started and held in a scream. William chuckled quietly behind me, his beautiful face emerging from the shadows like the sunrise.

“I should’ve known you’d be out.” I grimaced playfully.

I swatted at him, and he grabbed my hand first, pulling me in for a light kiss.

“I hoped I might see you again.”

“You mean to tell me you’ve been waiting here all night?” I challenged.

“Of course not. I stopped by the kitchen first,” he said, pulling a hunk of sweet bread from his pockets.

My eyes grew round, and I stifled a gasp.

“You’re thieving, too?” I hissed.

We ducked as the watchmen marched by. He paused mid-step, glanced around him, and scurried over to a secluded spot to relieve himself. The two of us snickered in the dark.

“Now is our chance. Let’s go, little troublemaker,” said William.