The Killing Grounds by Simon Corn

Author:Simon Corn
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: fiction, thriller, adventure, fantasy urban

Sixteen:

Another week passed with no sign of Lord Osari’s whereabouts. The stone still indicated that he hadn’t been retired but Alara could see that the crystals were diminishing in strength and had turned to a shade of dark inky blue. She had poured all of her magical energy in enhancing her training regime and the efforts were starting to pay dividends, and she could now beat anyone below the A’s in a five climb race. To add to her satisfaction Lucinda challenged her daily since the tournament, but hadn’t yet managed to beat her. She practiced her blade throwing three times a day and her left hand was now as proficient as her right, and her average hit rate had increased to nine blades out of ten. Her studies were up to par with all of the A’s and ahead of the rest of the pack and she finally felt that she belonged in the Killing Grounds. None of that really mattered to her though, since finding Lord Osari was always forefront in her mind.

Alara jumped from the last rope climb and signalled to Black that she’d had enough for the night and watched as the boy headed off to the dorms. She sighed outwardly feeling that she was getting nowhere fast being cooped up in the barracks. Get a grip girl! The Quartermaster had told them that they would have a free day soon, and she itched at the chance of returning to Sable’s estate and exploring some more.

Alara halted as she came to the last corner of the corridor before she entered the dorms. She could hear several of her classmates chatting close to the notice board area and scanned the group for any indication of trouble; she could sense elation in some and pure dread from the others. Throwing up a shield around herself she turned the corner and pushed her way through the throng of apprentices and read the note. The news of the open day was pinned neatly to the corkboard and as Alara read it a strange feeling of disgust came over her. The Killing Grounds was to be open to parents of the apprentices and some of the future candidates, and it was the thought of a hundred feet dragging dirt and grime through the barracks that sickened her. The current apprentices would be the ones that would have to escort the parties of people around the dorms and clear up the mess afterwards. Black joined her at the notice board and then stormed away after reading the news.

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