The Mage Scrolls: Gift of Healer by Marcia Welsh

Author:Marcia Welsh [Welsh, Marcia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M. V. Welsh
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

THE FIRST CHALLENGE

13 SEPTEMBER YEAR 139 FPD

“What do you think this will be about?” Zeta asked no one in particular.

Today was the day of their First Challenge. Aelle had spent the morning gearing up and filling her rucksack with the list of equipment Sauce and A-13 had given to the members of Charlie unit. Now, they were packed in a transport truck as tight as spectators on the benches at a government-mandated execution. Heavy canvas covered the seating area in the back of the truck.

Aelle had barely been able to sleep, tossing all night with a combination of nerves and excitement. As Dorie tried to hurry past her, Aelle reached for her hand and guided her down onto the seat beside her. She squeezed Dorie’s hand twice. Best friends.

“We may have to run a bit. Then I think we’ll fight each other,” Kaize said. “None of us are prepared to fight like they can.” He tilted his head toward the Delta recruits sitting further down the bench. “Did you see all the times they practiced in the gyms?”

“Yeah,” Traye added. “We don’t have the training to beat anyone in a Matched Fight. Hopefully, the whole challenge will be slogging through mud and climbing obnoxiously tall walls—as a team. We sure did a lot of that.”

Fix glanced at them, a smug smile on his face. “It’s all we did,” he said. “Those crazy bastards love to fight. We would go for a short run in the morning, then square off all afternoon. Crazy-Eight gets some sick satisfaction from watching us pound each other to a pulp, but we’re ready for anything.”

“We’re going to beat the crap out of all of you.” Hanes howled out a gruff laugh. “I never saw any of you working out in a fight gym. What the hell were you doing?”

“Getting covered in slime,” Zeta muttered. Dorie sat with her head down, studying her nails. Stars! They’re bitten down to bloody stumps.

“As Traye said, we were ‘team building,’ or something like that,” Aelle answered. “Hey, Dorie. How are you holding up?” Aelle waited for a response, but there was none. “We’re still working on this,” Aelle whispered to her. “Me, Joleigha, and Zeta. We’ll figure out a way to get you back with us. Just hang in there a little while longer.” A wave of guilt flooded her, but she had to keep faith they could find a way.

Dorie gave her a weak smile. “I’m so afraid of him,” she whispered. “I have this friend, Drake, who’s helped. But …” Her voice trailed off.

Aelle put a protective arm around her and hugged her close. “We’ll think of something. Maybe we can report Crazy-Eight—”

Dorie cut her short. “No one will listen. I’m not the only woman with this problem. They keep it all hush-hush. The A-class get away with it. No one cares.” Dorie’s words were bitter, leaving Aelle unsure how to comfort her. “I can’t go to the Infirmary either,” Dorie whispered, resting her head on Aelle’s shoulder.

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