To get my mind off the inaccuracies of history, I sneak another look at the girl by my side, searching for that something about her that’s triggering my memory cells. She notices and glances at me briefly before dropping her eyes to her desk. But it’s all I need. Her eyes are brown and big and just like Matt’s.
It’s her – Matt’s sister Isabel! My new Apprentice. Well, what do you know?
I take another look – for scientific reasons, of course. I mean, this is the girl I’m going to be training. I really have to size her up, assess her strengths, for instance; and, well, I haven’t seen her for a couple of years. Except for the last six weeks, I guess, if she’s been here in my history class all that time.
As I scrutinise her appearance, I wonder what happened. She looks so different from the scrawny little monkey I remember. She’s still pretty small, but she’s filled out a bit. In places, I mean. And her hair is lighter now, much lighter than Matt’s. A real sun-kissed blonde, like she spends heaps of time outdoors.
I glance down at her legs and realise straight away I’m being too obvious. She notices. ‘Are you finished?’
But I can’t help staring at her, suddenly seeing the training of my new Apprentice in a different light. This could be fun. Hell, all those long days and nights working together, teaching her new skills like personal combat, sword fighting, bush survival and how to harness her inner psyche …
I don’t realise I’m smiling at thin air until Carter points it out to the rest of the class. It’s their laughter that brings me out of my daze. ‘Huh?’
The class just laughs harder, girls exchanging funny little looks with each other.
‘Mr Roberts,’ Carter calls out, his voice filled with mock wonder. ‘How is it that you spend half your lesson either daydreaming or disrupting the class with your antics, and still manage to sustain a straight A-plus grade in this class?’
Uh-oh. Arkarian’s always warning me not to give away clues. It’s dangerous, he says, for anyone to suspect. And that means anyone from the Guard or the Order. Should my true identity be revealed, my life could be at risk.
Maybe I’d better start getting some answers wrong. Of course I don’t have any problem failing tests in my other subjects, but after living history for twelve years, it’s hard to mistake the facts.
Carter’s still looking at me, waiting for an answer, one thick eyebrow raised. ‘Uh, it’s just you’re such an excellent teacher, Mr Carter.’
This has the class in stitches. Everyone knows I hate this man’s guts. And I don’t intentionally set out to be a disturbing influence in any classroom, but as I see it, there’s enough sadness at home, why carry it around with me all day? Although sometimes I have to force myself to remember my personal motto: enjoy what I can, when I can. At least the Guard gives me a purpose beyond this mortal existence.
‘It would be a good idea if you remembered that, Ethan,’ Carter says softly, spinning away. But his tone has a threatening edge, leaving me with an uneasy feeling in the deepest part of my stomach.
Appearing cool and detached, Carter nears the whiteboard at the front of the classroom and starts talking about King Alfred’s introduction of the penalty system, a modern form of today’s courts; and I brush the eerie sensations aside, joining in the discussion of what effect this penalty system had on the people of the time. But halfway through the discussion he loses me again, my mind unable to stay focused on something I’ve experienced first hand, with so many other ideas to occupy it. Training Isabel will be the most challenging thing the Guard has thrown at me so far. I have to prove I can do this. I want my wings above anything else in my life to date. This is one way I can prove I’m worthy of the responsibility. Worthy of the reward.
An idea hits me and starts taking shape in my mind. The most difficult aspect of my own training was getting past my inner disbelief. The amazing things Arkarian told me about, I had to see for myself. And I was only four, an age when imagination and reality run a fine line. So I decide, as long as I’m careful no one’s watching, to show Isabel a little of what I can do. Just something trivial but enough to spark her interest.
Casually so as not to attract attention, I push my pen to the edge of my desk. Glancing around, sure that no one is looking, I will the pen to spin. For a second Isabel keeps staring straight ahead, but then her eyes shift. She sees the pen spinning by itself and her mouth drops, colour draining from her face. Yes!
This is exactly the reaction I want and I can’t help grinning. But just then I notice a pair of trousered legs in my vision. I raise my eyes and see Carter standing before me. The look on his face causes heat to flood every cell of my body. His head shifts slowly from side to side as if he can’t believe my stupidity, while his eyes squint into narrow slits, staring at me. Oh, hell!
Suddenly Isabel’s reaction pales into insignificance. I’ve just made a huge mistake, and it’s really going to cost me.
I’ve just broken a vital code – never to reveal one’s powers in public.
Chapter Four
Isabel
He rushes out of class so quickly I have to run to keep up, struggling not to lose him through the narrow corridors and students changing classrooms. He runs right to the front gates and goes straight through without even stopping for breath.
‘Hey, wait!’
He turns around, looking surprised. He didn’t even know I’d been pursuing him for the last five minutes. ‘Isabel? What are you doing here?’
I try to stop panting long enough to explain, secretly pleased that he knew my name, but still feeling like the world’s biggest fool. ‘Ah, I was just … sort of wondering, that’s all.’
‘Wondering what?’
‘Where you were going. I mean, you’re leaving school grounds and it’s only third period.’
He walks the few steps back to where I stopped at the front gates. ‘There’s someone important I have to talk to and it can’t wait till the end of the day.’
‘Oh. Who is it?’
He doesn’t say, just kicks a stone. Obviously it’s none of my business. Why would he tell me anyway? We haven’t spoken before today for two whole years. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.’
His hands come down on either side of mine on the iron railing. Suddenly I have to concentrate hard to force my breathing to sound normal. Feelings I thought were long dead, or at least deeply buried, claw their way back to life again.
‘Look, I want to tell you, but I’d have to start at the beginning and I don’t have time right now.’
‘What beginning? You’re not making any sense.’
‘Yeah, well, I just did something I shouldn’t have.’
‘That thing with the pen?’
His eyes roll. ‘Yeah. I have this habit sometimes of doing stuff and not thinking through to their consequences.’
‘You know when I said you weren’t making any sense?’ He cocks an eyebrow. ‘You’re doing it again.’
He starts to laugh and his weirdness reduces slightly. ‘Why did you chase after me?’
My pulse starts racing, but what happened with the pen made me think of my magically healing finger. Matt didn’t believe me. ‘Well, you see, something weird happened to me this morning, a bit like your rotating pen.’
‘Really?’
I have his undivided attention and for the first time I realise just how deeply blue his eyes are.
‘What was it?’
I take a step back, his presence overwhelming me for an instant. It could be because I’m about to say something that could make me appear a complete psycho case. ‘I was—’ I start and stop quickly. ‘Um, well …’
He nods at my hand. ‘Has it got to do with your finger?’
This takes me by surprise. ‘How did you know?’
‘I saw you examining it this morning as if it had suddenly grown a ten-centimetre nail or something.’
His words relax me for a minute. ‘I cut my finger.’
‘Yeah, and?’
; I flick a quick look around to make sure no one is within hearing distance, then hold up my hand. ‘A few seconds after I screamed at it to heal itself, well, it did.’ He stares at me for a second, his eyes narrowing slightly. ‘It healed itself,’ I repeat clearly in case he didn’t get it the first time around.
‘Well, well, Arkarian wasn’t exaggerating, was he?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Nothing. Look, you must be so confused.’
So he doesn’t believe me either. ‘You guys are all the same, aren’t you?’
‘What?’
‘I told Matt, and he had the same reaction as you – total disbelief.’
‘Oh, wait a minute, Isabel, don’t get me wrong. I do believe you.’
His words shut me up fast. ‘You do?’
‘Yeah, I do, but I haven’t the time to explain anything right now. I have this problem I’ve just created for myself. But don’t worry, I’ll be back. I promise. Can your curiosity hang on a couple of hours?’
‘Well, yes, but –’
He turns to run off again, spinning around briefly for a final word. ‘Don’t tell Matt anything, OK? He won’t understand.’
I agree about Matt not understanding, but I need more. My self-healing incident, Ethan’s spinning pen, both on the same day, have completely freaked me out. And now he’s rushing off to see someone who can’t wait till school is over. Well, honestly, I can’t wait either. It’s all too mysterious for me.
Glancing around again I see no teachers in sight, just a couple of kids lingering between classes. One of them is Dillon Kirby, a friend of Matt’s and of Ethan’s too, I think. But he quickly moves off to wherever he’s going, and now there’s no one around. As fast as Ethan, I take off in the same direction and run hard until I glimpse him up ahead. I keep way back, hiding behind trees and boulders and scrub whenever he turns around, which he does often as if on the lookout for me or anyone who might be following.
I trail him for what seems like ages, right to the top of Angel Falls. It’s quite a climb, almost straight up. Most people around here call it the mountain. I start wondering if it’s worth ditching class for when suddenly he stops directly in front of a rocky wall. Just as suddenly a hole the size of his body appears in the rock and he walks inside – right inside the mountain!
I rub my eyes and move closer. But there’s nothing there now except the rock wall. Going right up to it, I touch the place I saw Ethan walk through, but it’s hard and solid, jutting out sharply here and there. There’s a spot where some dirt has lodged and grass has started to grow with even a small tree taking root. I run my hand over the area I swear I saw Ethan just disappear into, but nothing seems out of place, nothing comes loose in my hands.
I take a step back and try to focus on breathing slowly.
This is all too weird.
Chapter Five
Ethan
‘Arkarian!’ I call for the fifth or sixth time, pacing his main chamber over and over, searching for a clue to his disappearance. ‘Arkarian, where the hell are you? Arkarian!’
Finally his body forms before me, and even though I’ve seen him do this a thousand times, I still step back in awe as he uses his wings and resumes his physical form. He gives himself a small shake, brushing a speck of dust from his caped shoulder. ‘What’s the problem, Ethan? Whatever’s got you in such a rush?’
‘Something horrendous has happened. Where were you?’
He gives me a look bordering on intolerance. ‘I don’t live here,’ he mutters. ‘Much as it may appear that way sometimes.’
‘I’m sorry, Arkarian. Did I disturb you?’
‘Quite. Now tell me what’s wrong. Your thoughts are too jumbled for me to make any sense out of them.’
I take a deep breath while Arkarian points at my feet. Producing two wooden stools, he sits on one. But I can’t possibly sit still, and start pacing the room. ‘I used a very small …’ I hold up my hand with thumb and first finger a centimetre apart. ‘The tiniest, miniaturest amount of power –’
Arkarian’s eyes follow me around the room. ‘Were you seen?’
‘Yes.’
‘By Isabel?’
‘No. I mean yes. I mean, I had intended Isabel to see, but my history teacher happened to –’
‘Ah, Mr Carter.’
‘You know him?’
He nods but won’t elaborate. ‘How did he react?’
Remembering Carter’s face brings me back to the stool. I sit and try to explain. ‘His eyes went hard, his mouth drew tight as a string. He was angry, Arkarian. I don’t get why, really. It was strange.’
‘He was angry, Ethan, because you revealed your powers, and he understands the consequences of your act.’
‘But how could he, unless … Is he …?’
‘Ethan, what possessed you?’
A mental image of Isabel sitting there flashes through my head. What exactly made me take such a risk? Did I really want to convince Isabel before I’d even talked to her? In the middle of a room full of people? The thought that maybe I was simply trying to impress her crosses my mind, but I push it aside. I’m not that stupid. Not that irresponsible. Surely.
Arkarian looks at me with raised eyebrows.
‘Oh, hell, Arkarian, I can’t believe I did it either. I’ll be more careful next time, I promise.’ I’d better be more careful at home too, I remind myself, recalling the exploding-clock incident the other morning. What if my door hadn’t been closed and Mum had been walking past? ‘What’s going to happen to me?’
‘A breach of security is punishable, Ethan. I’m sure you’ll hear from the Tribunal shortly. I can only assume you’ll be called to explain yourself at a trial before the Tribunal in Athens. But remember your good work for the Guard. And your upcoming mission will be a further chance to prove your talent and loyalty. I’m sure the Tribunal will balance it all out in your favour.’
I nod, slightly relieved. ‘What should I do now?’
‘Nothing.’
‘But Carter?’
‘I’ll speak with him.’
‘He’s one of the Guard, then?’
Arkarian, obviously disturbed at having to reveal the identity of another of the Guard, reluctantly nods. ‘He’s a coordinator in the Citadel.’
‘No way!’
‘He’s been with the Guard for twenty years. And now, his position is exposed.’
‘Well, I won’t reveal his identity to anyone. I swear!’
‘There are two problems here, Ethan: Carter’s position is now revealed to you, and your position must be revealed to him, or he’ll suspect you could be a member of the Order.’
I groan at how my simple thoughtless act has started snowballing into an avalanche already.
‘He’s probably right now working out a plan to have you eliminated.’
‘You have to tell him!’
‘And then there’s the fear that others may have seen you. Isabel did, Carter did. Who else was in that classroom?’
I really don’t want to say this out loud. I know Arkarian knows my thoughts as I think them, and right now I haven’t the concentration to shelter anything from him; but he’s making me voice these next words on purpose. ‘The whole class,’ I mumble.
He groans softly. ‘It’s dangerous, Ethan. You must see this. If anyone from the Order happened to witness you use your power—’
‘I know, I know.’
‘And even if there was no one from the Order in that classroom today, it’s just so easy to arouse suspicion. People talk, and unusual actions attract attention, creating a lot of gossip.’
‘I thought I was being careful. What are the chances someone else saw me?’
‘I don’t know. Think.’
‘A girl called Leanie, maybe; but no, she was right up front. Rochelle, Matt’s girlfriend, was in that class, but I have no idea if she was looking.’ My head suddenly feels enormously heavy. It drops into my hands. ‘What do I do now?’
‘My advice is to
do absolutely nothing.’
My head lifts to meet his violet eyes. ‘Why nothing?’
‘It’s simple. Your breach will be dealt with when the Tribunal is ready. And if you keep acting normally, especially in front of Marcus Carter, anyone else who did see your little stunt, may assume it was a trick of their own eyes. Maybe no one else saw anyway and we’re concerned about nothing. So, especially at school, act as you normally do, whatever you call that.’ He looks at me and grins. I don’t acknowledge his humour and simply stare back. ‘That will be the best way to avoid arousing anyone’s suspicions. I’ll talk to Marcus before he jumps to the wrong assumption.’
‘Promise me you’ll speak to him quickly.’
Arkarian pats my shoulder comfortingly. ‘I will. But he’s not going to be pleased with you.’
‘I can’t wait for history class tomorrow.’
‘Don’t let fear consume you. Your work for the Guard has hardly begun yet, like training your first Apprentice. Trainers are selected carefully and are looked upon with honour and pride. In your case, you’ve been given only three weeks to train your Apprentice for the first stage of her initiation. She’ll be accompanying you to England, to the year 1377, to aid the future King Richard II. But as an observer only. This mission will break the ice for Isabel, prepare her mentally to tackle her own mission in the weeks following. So she must observe carefully.’
‘I understand.’
‘Good. There are some dangers, though.’
‘Isabel won’t be in any danger, will she?’
His pause is lengthy; his words, when they come, are carefully selected. ‘Not if you train her well.’
Chapter Six
Ethan
I have to see Isabel. We have to get started on the training programme. Quickly! But first she has to understand all that’s happening around her and to herself. Arkarian advised me not to explain everything in one hit. The Prophecy, for example, is probably the hardest to absorb and can wait. Sure, it’s to be an observation-only mission, but mentally she’ll have a lot to do, mostly in accepting this complete other world that works within our mortal one, the only one she understands right now.