The Night Compass by Amanda Foody

Author:Amanda Foody
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: 2024-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

It lies at the point of the night compass.

“Do you know what that means?” Barclay asked.

Shakily, Runa backed away. She looked furious. She looked scared. “No. I have absolutely no idea.”

FIFTEEN

What do you mean Runa canceled training today?” Tadg demanded.

“She’s tired,” Cyril told him. Then he haughtily jutted up his chin. “And it goes to show—you really shouldn’t depend on coffee.”

Tadg might’ve rolled his eyes, but Barclay knew better. And sure enough, as Tadg stomped back to their tent, Cyril’s gaze locked on to Barclay’s, a hundred questions loaded in his stare.

Yet as Barclay opened his mouth to answer, no sound came out. He couldn’t guess why Runa wouldn’t have told Cyril about last night, but if she hadn’t, maybe he shouldn’t either.

Barclay fled, the secret writhing inside him as if trying to claw its way out. He hadn’t slept after returning from the eerie tomb, instead excitedly reading and rereading Epic of Heroes under his covers to the light of a sunscale. He’d confirmed it—the symbol belonged to Balthur.

But lucky for Barclay, there was one person he could confide in.

One person, he realized, who already knew.

“Psst,” he hissed at Cecily, who strode with Hasu out of the other apprentices’ tent.

“I’m serious, Cecily!” Hasu whined. “Bitti and I barely slept a wink last night!”

Cecily’s shadow danced as she laughed. “Oh, come on. What’s a camping trip without a few scary stories?”

“Hey, Cecily,” Barclay said, making her pause and hang back. “Can I talk to you for a sec? It’s about…” He looked at her meaningfully. “It’s about Epic of Heroes.”

Cecily’s crooked grin vanished faster than a candle snuffing out. “I knew it. I knew I was right.” Then she motioned him toward the tent. “Come on. Quick. Before Cyril or Codric sees us.”

The pair snuck through the flap, and Barclay’s jaw dropped. Though their tents might’ve matched on the outside, while Barclay and his bunkmates had been sleeping in their uncomfortable, Guild-issued bags, apparently the other apprentices had been camping in style. Plush, shaggy carpet lined the floor, strewn all over with nail polish, comics, candy wrappers, and half-finished card games. Shimmering string lights made of Rantula web and molted Elyctron exoskeletons crisscrossed the ceiling. And in the corner, a mountain of pillows heaped as high as Barclay stood tall, the tip of Saif’s tail poking out from where he still snoozed beneath them.

Barclay gaped. “H-how did you—”

“Oh, Oudie and I brought along a few essentials.” Cecily exchanged her hiking boots for a pair of fuzzy slippers and flung herself into one of the hammocks. “We’ve kept it all hush-hush, though—the string lights are against Berg’s fire safety protocols.”

“A few essentials? Where did you even get all this stuff?”

Cecily managed to look sheepish. “Well, I don’t know if you noticed, but back in Permafrosk I may have nicked a few things from Grusha’s house—”

“Yeah, we all noticed,” Barclay said flatly. “You weren’t subtle.”

“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. So I took them to Dragonanza Troves and Treasures, right? It’s my old reliable. Lots of locations.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.