Free Bastial Steel by B. T. Narro Page B

hat.” Jessend looked toward the door. “I’m tired as well, always am after a visit from Kasko. Get in the shower so we can go to bed. I’m going to look for my sister in the meantime. Come by my room in an hour.”
    “Alright,” Cleve agreed.
     
    When Cleve came by later, Jessend’s door was locked, and his knocks went unanswered.
    Probably found her sister, he guessed.
    He sat on a velvet bench nearby, his thoughts wondering about home. It always made him nauseous to imagine a battle raging against the Academy’s walls with him not there to help defend it. Thousands of Kreps storming into the school, the students and teachers outnumbered and outmatched.
    Cleve’s fists clenched as if he felt it was happening right now.
    Why did he keep seeing Reela getting killed when he thought of her? It pained him every time, like a needle pricking his heart.
    But he did manage to realize that it hardened him as well, made him remember his priorities. He swallowed a thick stream of saliva that had built up in his nausea and pinched his leg to distract himself from the worsening pain in his chest.
    Cleve couldn’t sit any longer. He noticed a guard coming down the hall.
    “Do you know where Jessend is?” Cleve stood and asked.
    The guard glanced over his shoulder. “She’s in Lisanda’s room.”
    Cleve thanked the guard and started to leave before he realized he had no idea where her room was. “Can you tell me where it is?”
    The guard grunted dismissively. “Right there.” He pointed to the room next to Jessend’s and went back to his route.
    Cleve knocked.
    “Cleve?” Jessend asked from behind the door.
    “Yes.”
    She opened it just wide enough to slip through, closing it behind her and stepping out into the hall. Her eyes were red and her hair tangled.
    “I’m sorry I wasn’t there earlier, but…Lisanda…” Jessend choked down her next words. “She was finally telling me about Jek. It’s really bad. I had no idea how close they really were—are, close they are,” she corrected herself twice, shaking her head as she took a breath. “I’m going to spend the night with her. Tomorrow you’re starting horseback training. I’ll send someone to get you in the morning.” Jessend turned and slipped back into the room.
     
    Alone in his bed, Cleve missed Jessend’s company more than he ever would’ve guessed.
    He tried to remember the last time he’d felt as lonely as he did that night.
    When I was in Welson’s castle, after he told me I had to kill Rek, Cleve realized. I didn’t even sleep that night.
    But in bed now, he did manage to drift off, awaking with the sun peeking in through his window.
    Soon after he was up. Gerace was knocking and slowly opening his door without waiting for his answer.
    “Cleve Polken, I’m bringing your breakfast,” she announced, keeping her head low as she entered. Cautiously looking up, she seemed to let out a breath of relief when she found Cleve dressed.
    She wheeled in a plate with a fancy silver lid atop it. “Eggs, bacon, cheese, bread, and juice,” she told him.
    “Thank you, Gerace.”
    She pushed her top lip toward her nose in a petulant manner. “It’s Jay-riss.”
    Cleve could tell she was saying her name slightly different than he was, but he couldn’t hear the difference. He felt himself squinting as he attempted to figure it out.
    “Jay-ress?” he tried.
    She rolled her eyes. “Jay-riss!”
    Cleve became disinterested, not wanting to try again, but she seemed to be waiting for him to say it. He sighed.
    “Jerr-iss?” Cleve knew it was wrong the moment he said it.
    She scoffed, her curly dark hair bouncing with her head. She turned on her heels and left.
    Cleve could hear her sit down on the bench outside. He waited, but she didn’t move. So he peered out curiously.
    “What?” Gerace asked, displaying her annoyance with lowered eyebrows.
    “Why are you just sitting there?”
    She rolled her eyes. “So I can take you to the horse range