Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

twirled her staff around above her head twice before dropping to her haunches, one leg stretched out for balance and kicking herself into a low circle with her weapon also extended, Siray noted several of the captives in the formation struggling to keep up with the patterns.

And she had no doubt that Herrin was also observing who was keeping up and who wasn’t, even if his full attention seemed to be on what he was doing.

As they kept progressing through the weapon drills, Siray’s mind seemed to forget what had happened yesterday, what might happen tomorrow, and instead concentrated on the now. Her training had always done this for her, allowing her to think of nothing else but the movement of her hands and feet and the next technique. And if she focused hard enough, she could almost pretend she wasn’t here, a captive of the Faction, but back in one of the Resistance camps, amongst friends and allies.

Siray’s hands were stinging and her back and legs aching when Herrin finished one set of movements and finally turned to them, his weapon shifting back to the ready position at his side. She almost wished he hadn’t, as what had been a dull sensation in her back earlier became a painful protest once her body realised she had ceased placing physical demands on it. Yet Siray knew others, including Genlie, would be hurting far worse, so she held her head up even as her chest heaved for breath, gasping as much at the effort of her exertions as at the stinging pain that jabbed at her along her spine.

‘Leave your weapons where they are and get food,’ barked Herrin, then he pivoted away and strode towards the arena’s exit, his powerful form giving no indication that he was tired from the morning’s exercise. Indeed, the training master wasn’t even breathing hard.

Siray felt a new level of respect, and fear, for the master trainer as she blinked wearily. Then her mind caught up. Food. She turned her head quickly and saw some captives to her right begin to run from their place in the line, their long weapons falling forgotten onto the sand. She had just started after them, her legs protesting, when a waving movement on her left made her glance over.

Baindan saw her look, lowered his arms, and jerked his head for her to follow.

Siray frowned at him, but as he peeled off from the main group without another word or signal, she merely gritted her teeth as her stomach raged and altered direction to begin following after Baindan instead.

CHAPTER NINE

WHEN BAINDAN INCREASED his pace, Siray became confused but pushed herself harder in order to make up ground. She reached him as they were nearing the opposite end of the arena from the other captives.

‘Baindan, what …?’

The question died on her lips as she realised what it was he had seen.

Two steaming barrels stood not far away, quietly delivered and unnoticed by all—except Baindan.

Stunned, Siray slowed to a halt and spun.

Most of the other captives were fighting amongst themselves down the other end of the arena over the two barrels the group had been positioned near.

And then Siray noted that there was also another barrel standing by another side of the arena.

More than enough food.

Plus, a bigger-than-normal barrel stood near the entrance to the arena, its dark sides telling Siray that its contents had been sloshed over its edges by clumsy guards.

Her instincts rose up like a cripwof’s hackles, and Siray tracked her eyes around the arena, not liking the sudden abundance of the fare that had been put out for them. Why make them fight it out for food and water yesterday only to make it amply available today? Had they passed some sort of test the day before, or been deemed to have a learned a lesson? It didn’t seem to fit with Genlie’s theory about how the Faction might be trying to turn them against each other.

Siray couldn’t work it out, but as she examined the arena carefully, everything else seemed as it had been yesterday.

Three figures running across the sand towards her and Baindan made Siray’s gaze snap to them, and she tensed until she realised she recognised the figure in the lead.

Zale reached them first, followed by Kovi and Genlie. ‘I looked up and you’d both gone,’ he said, concern mixed with something else in his voice.

He addressed both her and Baindan, but Siray noted how his eyes scanned her first before he actually seemed to relax. Which brought to mind the other issue she kept wondering about—if he would follow through on his promise and ask her permission to court her.

She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to or not. Wasn’t sure if she could bear the thought of someone taking Deson’s place.

Baindan seemed to register that some strong emotion had given Siray pause, if his step forwards to draw Zale’s attention away from her was any indication. ‘We’re fine—but I thought this was interesting.’ He twisted and waved a hand at the barrels to show the others what had drawn him over to this end of the arena.

The three of them stared.

‘I don’t get it—two lots of barrels?’ Genlie’s tone was confused and suspicious.

‘Not just two,’ Siray corrected. ‘There’s another one over there.’ She pointed.

Kovi shook his head. ‘Yet they’re all down there, brawling over the same barrels,’ he commented dryly, his fingers flicking towards the approximately fifty captives at the other end of the arena.

‘Not all,’ remarked Genlie suddenly, her fair face focused on something. ‘There goes Wexner.’

Siray looked to where Genlie was pointing. Wexner had indeed noted the third lot of currently unattended barrels and had begun shepherding Loce, Tamot, and Kinna in that direction, leaving Annbov to follow along.

‘Well, no point in standing around and waiting for an invitation,’ Zale said eagerly, his strong frame spinning in the direction of the warm aroma wafting from the barrels.

‘Wait,’ Siray ordered sharply, earning four incredulous looks. She reminded herself that they