The Altered Wake by Megan Morgan

Author:Megan Morgan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clickworks Press
Published: 2022-07-29T00:00:00+00:00

William sat on a bench in Master Reese's courtyard, alternately watching the ocean waves and the students sparring. After two days of rest, he felt almost back to his old self. His anxiety to get back to Advon so he could continue his research rose every hour. He had skimmed through all of the books Master Reese had lent, and he wanted to compare the information to notes in his office.

Master Reese raised a hand and stopped the practice. Rather than launch into instructions as he so often did, he stood silent at the end of the line of pupils. Then William saw Sentinel Kardell approaching from the opposite side of the courtyard.

A long, scabbed cut ran in a wicked red line from the outer corner of her left eye, to her jaw, almost touching her chin. It looked like the track a tear might have made, retraced with the edge of a knife. Erika had made that cut. William held his breath as Cameron stopped in front of Master Reese.

His surprise grew when she dropped to her knees in front of her instructor, laid her bent sword at his feet, and rested her forehead on the ground. Her words were muffled, but William heard her say, “I failed, Master Reese. I'm sorry.”

Getting the apology out was clearly a struggle. Even when it had been delivered, Reese did not tell her to stand. All was silent except for the crashing waves and a finch chattering in the gardens. Surely it was not necessary to make her kneel on the ground like that.

“Rise, High Guard Kardell,” Master Reese said, and she got to her feet, wincing slightly as she did. Otherwise, her face was still, her eyes dark and unreadable as she met Reese's gaze. “Their names and how they died.”

William's skin went cold and he looked around for an escape route. He didn’t want to know what his sister had done, but there was no way to leave now without interrupting.

Kardell sucked in a deep breath and kept her eyes locked on the master's. “Specialists Natalia Fleet and Evan Holmes were beheaded. Sergeant Espen Flint took his own life. Erika stabbed Specialist Emily Lane, and then the Master of the High Guard, Andrew West. Private Henry Gray was wounded by friendly fire, Private Mary Schumacher killed, and Erika broke Specialist Oland Green's neck before stabbing Staff Sergeant Michael Hayes. Specialist Christian Ford, Private Sam Grumboldt, and Sergeant Charlotte Glover pursued Erika and were shot. Erika cut Sergeant Stratten Rhodes' throat. They were all experienced warriors, among the best in their fields. And because of me, they died.”

Master Reese nodded. “What was your mistake?”

“I was impatient. I tried to draw her out by letting her brother go after her. You warned me not to pursue her, but I recommended to the Master of the High Guard that we chase her, anyway.” She looked away then. Reese dismissed the students. They left rapidly, turning to one another and whispering before they were even out of sight.

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