Knight School by Andrew Mayne

Author:Andrew Mayne [Mayne, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-03-03T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Shadow Woods

Tall burnt trees, the color of gray ash, stick out of the ground like skeletal fingers clawing at the darkening sky. Benny, myself, and two juniors named Kevin and Mike are escorting Sparrow from the edge of the forest to Dragon Rook.

As a captive, she had to wait for a patrol to pick her up and walk her to the paddock. Technically, she could walk herself because she wasn't allowed to escape under the terms of parlay. The escort was more of a formality and a way for us to drill. The path we took was well within our territory.

The Shadow Woods were so far back in there was only one fort within a half-mile, located near the rear entrance to the woods. The fort was designed to watch the outer edge of the forest and let us know if there was an assault coming from behind.

Sparrow walked along in front of me about five paces. Dressed in blue jeans, hiking boots and a sweater, she looked like any other kid after school. A year younger than me, she was small for her age, but possessed a kind of steely nerve.

I'd been trying to find the opportunity, or rather the courage, over the last half-hour to ask her if she knew Jesse. I could never get her out of earshot where it wouldn't look awkward to the others. Even if that happened, I wasn't sure what I'd ask.

I finished the book, Methuselah's Children, the same night Jesse gave it to me. I read it on top of Skyperch. Although I'd rotated to other forts when I was given a duty roster, it was my favorite and I came back in my spare time. It was the tallest and largest tree. You could climb up on the top deck and feel like you were the only person in all the forest.

The swaying of the other trees in the wind made the top of the trees feel like a vast evergreen ocean. Watching the sun go down and listening to the breeze was my favorite part of the day. The frogs by the lakes would start their croaking, then the crickets would join in the chorus. In the distance, the small orange glow of lanterns in the other forts would light up, like ships far out at sea.

Even the lanterns of the Centaur forts across the meadow were somehow comforting. The thought that each one of their inhabitants would like nothing more than to shoot me full of arrows until I was paralyzed didn't diminish the thought.

After I finished the book I tried to think of something clever to say when I texted Jesse. My mind was a blank. Everything I could think of sounded like either I was trying to kiss up to her by saying something I thought she would like, or something to make myself sound smart.

I realized the problem was I'd read the book with trying to impress her in mind. I sat down and read it a second time, trying to think of how it struck me.

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