Rules of Stone by Alex Lidell

Author:Alex Lidell [Lidell, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Danger Bearing Press
Published: 2019-05-03T05:00:00+00:00

Coal strode into Shade’s infirmary office, slamming the door hard enough to make the wooden frame shake in protest. “I want out,” Coal said without preamble, his blood simmering as it had since morning training. “I’m a soldier, not a bloody nursemaid for noble brats.”

“Do you?” In his neat white shirt and leather vest, long black hair pulled back, Shade looked every inch the civilized officer—though Coal had fought beside Shade for enough years to know the man was a vicious warrior when the situation called for it. Still, Shade seemed as content here at the Academy as when he, Coal, and River served together at the coast, fighting the hordes of islanders wanting to gain a foothold on the continent.

“I was unaware that you ever wanted to be here,” Shade said with a hint of amusement as he rose from behind his desk and walked around to perch himself on its edge. “So, you see how the absence of the desire now fails to make an impression on me.”

“I’m not here to make an impression.”

Shade’s strange golden eyes strayed to the door, likely assuring the lock was engaged before speaking—this time in a low voice. Shade was a friend, yes, but also Coal’s military superior, a fact that Coal sensed was about to be brought up. “You are here because you were one bad night away from doing something stupid,” Shade murmured. “To put it bluntly, King Zenith invested too great a fortune in your training to let you get yourself killed in some suicidal outing. Until you’ve worked out…whatever is going on in there, Lieutenant, you aren’t going anywhere.” He gestured toward Coal’s head as if it were a messy barracks.

“It’s worked out.” Coal crossed his arms. In the five months since Coal had come here—since Shade and River had forced him here—things had only worsened. The nightmares. The flashes of darkness and groundless fear. Images of a woman who was never real to begin with, yet whose loss bled him raw. Coal’s spine stiffened. He was a soldier. He needed to fight, not sit shackled behind high walls. “I’m fine, Shade. What isn’t fine is this made-up world of Great Falls Academy, where brats play at soldiers and generals, safely away from anything that might actually take their lives. I want no part of it.”

“I see.” Shade’s words barely touched the air before the man was moving, his body low, his hands snatching at Coal’s unprotected elbow.

Coal shifted his weight, his mind waking to the fight. Twisting away from Shade’s opening attack, he crouched low, his breath even as his eyes took in the room. Lunging forward, his hands cut Shade’s knees out from under him, sending the dark-haired warrior to the floor.

Shade fell smoothly, rolling over his shoulder to reclaim his footing. Chest rising with deep breaths, he bared his teeth, his feet light as he circled Coal. With a soft growl, the man lunged forward again, this time ducking under Coal’s arm to grab his wrist.

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