The coil around my gut loosened. I finally took a full breath. He was alright, and I would avoid the lash.
I smiled back at him. I wanted to run and throw my arms around him, but it wouldn’t be appropriate. Emotion tightened my throat.Thank you.He did this for me, and I didn’t know why. But... strangely enough, I’d do it for him. Falcon said most trainers wouldn’t. Was it because this was simply who Vander was, a protector at heart who did what he thought was right, or something else?
I hadn’t forgotten what he’d said,There will never be any feelings between us other than loyalty. You have my back, I have yours. That’s it. This fight was his promise to have my back. That’s all it was. But my mind drifted to him sewing the cut on my hand, to the way he leaned in like he couldn’t help himself... There was something there between us, something we were both afraid to touch, to even think about.
Chest pounding filled the chamber once again, and a pleasant tingle raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Pride for my trainer—my friend—swelled in me. I smiled and joined in.
Commander Ace walked Beast to the center of the room. “Remove your shirt and get on your knees, Beast.”
Beast glanced at me then pulled his black assassin top over his head and went to his knees before her.
The pounding stopped. It seemed everyone collectively held their breath, including me.
As much as I hated Beast, watching anyone subjected to this treatment was harsh. At home thieves were whipped in the town square. It didn’t happen often, but thesnapof a whip hitting flesh was burned into my memory.
Commander Ace removed a short, black leather whip from her belt and held it to Vander. The first strike across Beast’s back echoed in the dome above. I winced as it cracked again and again.
I felt no remorse for him after what he’d done to me, and how he had treated my friend, but it was still hard to watch. Beast kept a straight face, staring at the planks in front of him.
For Vander, I could see this wasn’t vengeance, he didn’t do it in anger but as a task that needed to be done. Each lash struck harder and more intense, until Beast finally fell onto his hands, panting. Twenty lashes left his back bloody and welted.
Commander Ace replaced the whip on her belt. “On your feet, apprentice. This rivalry between the four of you ends here and now. Assassins protect their own.”
Beast slowly rose up, and those dead eyes met mine. Hatred burned into me. I could choke on it. Despite the Commander’s words, this made him loathe me all the more. He would blame me for this shame and embarrassment.
Vander pulled off his top and mopped his sweaty, bloody face with it. He didn’t see the way Beast scowled at me.
Commander Ace waved me over. “Shake hands.”
I nodded, and when our hands clasped, he crushed my fingers in his grip, then pulled me into a rough hug and whispered in my ear, “You won’t always have Viper around to protect you.” Then he said loudly, “Truce, Bonecarver?”
I swallowed hard. “Truce, Beast.”
Not many wordswere exchanged between Vander and me on our walk back to our room. I thanked him, but it didn’t feel like enough. He assured me it was what any good trainer would have done, but that wasn’t true. The only reason Dred fought for Beast was because of his own pride. If he’d turned down Vander’s challenge, it would have made him appear weak and shameful.
It took us a good twenty minutes to walk across the grounds with assassins stopping Vander to congratulate him. More than a few invited him to go out and celebrate, but he turned them down with a simple, “Not tonight.” I wondered if he was hurting more than he let on. He walked as tall and strong as ever. The gash over his eye was the only real battle wound, and he had his hood up to cover it anyway, but he was on edge. His movements were jerky and quick, his jaw muscles clenched and flickered every time another person stopped us to talk. Anxiety and agitation rolled off him.
We were almost to the entrance to our tower building when a group of three waved us down. “Viper, that was an epic fight,” said the man with a wide smile and freckles. “We always knew you were dangerous, but that was something else. Come out, let us buy you a drink. You can even bring the pup.” He winked at me.
“Pup? I thought you might have learned not to disrespect me after this morning’s events,” I teased.
The assassin let out a hearty laugh, and the other two, a man and woman joined in. “You’re funny. Bonecarver, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Great name. You’re lucky to have him as your trainer. He’s the best. It doesn’t matter what some say. Things happen in our world, eh?” He bumped his shoulder into mine.
He was talking about Vander’s other apprentices like I knew the stories. I should know them, but part of me didn’t want to. They might make me see him differently.
“So what do you say, Viper? Goldman’s Rum and Drums?”
He looked away, his jaw muscles tightening. The silence became uncomfortable.
I finally cleared my throat. “He’s not up for it.” Vander simply nodded in agreement. His steely blues begged for escape. He reminded me of a wild animal caught in a trap. I couldn’tfigure out why either. He’d just won the fight. I thought he’d be celebratory and excited. His behavior put me on edge.
“I guess your trainer isn’t the only protective one.” The man laughed again. “Some other time then.”
The three of them wandered off, and Viper hurried for our tower before anyone else could bombard him. He moved swiftly up the stairs and straight into the bathing chambers.
