PART 2 – THE PREDATOR (Zirinos, 1st person)
I woke before the sun.
The room was dark. Mira slept beside me, her curly hair spread over the pillow. Her breathing was soft, rhythmic.
I rose in silence. I put on my tunic, laced my boots. I fixed my hair in the wall mirror – half gold, half blood. It shone even in the half-darkness.
My muscles were back. The hunger of slavery was a distant memory. Ander had fed me well. The training had hardened me.
'I am ready', I thought. 'Ready to begin.'
Mira woke when I was already dressed.
"Zirinos? Is it morning already?"
"It is."
"Are we going to eat?"
"We are."
---
The academy's dining hall was a huge room, with high ceilings and stained-glass windows. The wooden tables were arranged in rows. A hundred students, perhaps more. They talked, laughed, shared bread and cheese.
I sat in a corner, Mira beside me. No one approached. No one looked.
Better that way.
I observed.
Néris Truid was sitting near the window, with two friends. Her light hair fell over her shoulders. Desty's chosen one laughed at something – a light sound, almost sung. She was beautiful. Fragile.
Luna Lunos was alone, at a smaller table, reading a book while eating. Her silver hair shone. Her light eyes scanned the pages eagerly. Innocent. Easy.
Livia Aryster leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking out the window. Her retinue – a stern man and two women in dark robes – kept their distance. The pale princess. The human. The hardest one.
Mira tugged my sleeve.
"Zirinos? You're staring at the girls."
"I am."
"Are they your friends?"
"Not yet. But they will be."
I finished my bread. Drank the water.
Then I stood.
---
I found Néris in the corridor after breakfast. She was talking to a friend, but the friend left when she saw me approaching. Perhaps she was shy. Perhaps she thought I was too handsome to interrupt.
"Good morning," I said, my voice sweet.
"Good morning." She blushed. Her light eyes fixed on my hair. "You are... you're the new student?"
"Zirinos. Squire to Baron Ander Féris."
"I'm Néris. Néris Truid."
"I know who you are. Desty's chosen one."
She blushed more.
"You're handsome," she said, without meaning to. Then she covered her mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't..."
"Don't apologise." I smiled. "And thank you."
Mira stood beside me, holding my hand. Néris looked at her.
"Is she your sister?"
"She is my ward. Her mother died."
"Oh... I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It doesn't hurt anymore."
Mira looked at Néris with curiosity.
"Are you a princess?" the little one asked.
"No. I'm just a student."
"You have pretty hair."
"Thank you."
Néris smiled. She looked at me.
"Are you going to the library? I can show you the way."
"I'd appreciate that."
---
The library was in the west wing, in a building separate from the rest of the academy. The corridors were wide, lined with statues of old masters. The floor was polished stone.
Néris walked beside me, her hands behind her back.
"Where are you from, Zirinos?"
"Far away."
"And you ended up in Endomyar?"
"I was brought."
"By whom?"
"By a god."
She looked at me, confused. I didn't explain.
"And you?" I asked. "What are you? Daughter of merchants? Of nobles?"
"Niece of Marquis Derylini. My mother is Asa Truid, from the Ban Islands."
"Ban. I heard you have food problems."
"Yes. King Zayan came to Decatry to ask for help." She lowered her voice. "They say the situation is serious."
"Do you worry?"
"Of course. My family is there."
"Your family is lucky. You have a good heart."
She blushed again.
We reached the library.
---
Luna Lunos was sitting in a corner, a book about monsters open on her lap. Her silver hair shone in the candlelight. Her light eyes scanned the pages eagerly.
Néris greeted her.
"Luna, this is Zirinos. He's new."
Luna looked up. Her eyes fixed on my hair.
"What beautiful hair," she said.
"It's a curse," I replied.
She laughed. She thought it was a joke.
"What are you reading?" I asked.
"Bestiary of Endomyar. They say Krakeriar has hidden offspring."
"I saw one. At Decatry Port."
"You did?"
"I did. A girl killed it. Anorys's chosen one."
"Ana?" Luna's eyes widened. "She's at the academy. I saw her yesterday."
"Are you friends with her?"
"No. She doesn't talk to anyone. They say the chosen ones' revulsion keeps her away."
"Revulsion?"
"The chosen feel disgust towards each other. It's physical. They don't choose it."
'Useful information', I thought. 'Ana doesn't go near Ethan. And Ethan is weak.'
Mira sat on the floor, flipping through a picture book. Luna looked at her with tenderness.
"Is she your daughter?"
"My ward. Her mother died."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
Luna touched Mira's hair. The girl didn't pull away.
"You're a good person, Zirinos."
"I appear to be."
---
Lunch was at the same corner table. Mira ate vegetable soup with enthusiasm. I ate bread and cheese, watching the other students.
I thought about Néris: shy, curious, easy to impress with a smile and handsome hair.
I thought about Luna: naive, believes in fairy tales, sees goodness where it doesn't exist.
I thought about Livia: the wall. I needed a different approach. Perhaps a challenge. Perhaps indifference.
Mira drank her soup to the last drop.
"Zirinos? Do you like it here?"
"I do."
"Will we stay a long time?"
"We will."
"Will everything be all right?"
"Yes." I touched her hair. "Everything will be all right."
---
In the room, Mira fell asleep early.
I sat in the chair by the window. The moon shone over the inner courtyard. The corridors were empty.
I thought about Zerane. Her sweetness. Her death.
I thought about Ziring. The torn-off arm. The eyes I never saw cry.
I thought about the masked man. The mission. Endomyar.
'Destroy Endomyar', he ordered. 'But there is more than one way to kill a kingdom.'
I looked at the stars.
The first time I saw them, I was in a cell, next to Arth. Now, I was in an academy, surrounded by nobles and chosen ones.
'The difference is power', I thought. 'And power is won through alliances. Alliances with girls. And girls are won with smiles.'
I closed the window.
I blew out the candle.
The room went dark.