“Careful, Kayah,” Wallis said as he swung his sword and rapped her hard on the arm.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “My mind’s elsewhere.”
“Wondering abou’ the ceremony?”
Keriya forced a laugh and redoubled her efforts so Wallis wouldn’t be able to chat. She’d long since given up asking him for clues about the evening ceremonies and classes. He’d told her, after much pestering, that the apprentices were sworn to secrecy by blood oath.
Thinking about the classes was better than brooding over Fletcher, and Keriya latched onto the new topic. What secret was so dangerous—and so fragile—that the Xamarai went to such pains to keep one small girl from discovering it?
When the clock tolled six, signaling the end of the workday, Hanso dismissed them.
“Want to grab dinner together?” Keriya asked Wallis
