Free Legacy of the Claw by C. R. Grey Page B

we’ll get a scrimmage going. I’m Arabella, captain of Squadron Blue, and this is Taylor, captain of Squadron Gold. We’re the co-captains, and if you’re picked, you’ll obey our every command as if your measly lives depended on it!”
    â€œWhich they do,” Taylor said, grinning meanly.
    Hal gulped.
    Bailey, Phi, Hal, and the twenty or so other new hopefuls lined up so that Arabella and Taylor could have a closer look at them. Coach Banter, who seemed to be letting Taylor and Arabella run the show, was sitting with his feet up in the stands, pawing through a Gray City newspaper and making disapproving grunts.
    â€œWhen we get to you, tell us your name and your Animas,” Taylor barked. “As you know, the stronger your Animas bond, the more skills you’ll bring to a team, so let us know up front what you think you can do. And then,” he finished with a dark look, “we’ll be the judge.”
    Bailey felt, all of a sudden, as though he’d been filled head to toe with wet sand. He wanted to run, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t even breathe.
    Phi was first of his group to go.
    â€œSophia Castling  …  Phi,” she said. “I’m Animas Falcon.” As if she needed proof, there was a loud screech overhead. Everyone looked up beside Phi. Two falcons were circling the field.
    Arabella raised an eyebrow. “So you are,” she said. She made a note on her clipboard.
    It was Hal’s turn.
    â€œUm, I’m Taylor’s brother,” he said.
    Taylor rolled his eyes and muttered, “Barely.” Hal glared at him.
    â€œ
Name,
please,” barked Arabella.
    â€œHal Quindley,” said Hal. “Bat.”
    Taylor whispered something in Arabella’s ear, and she laughed a little as she made a note.
    Finally, they came to Bailey. His hands were freezing
and
sweaty.
    â€œBailey Walker,” he said. Hal was staring at him. In fact, everyone was staring at him. “Well, I  … ” he stammered. He felt like the world had stopped, like the entire kingdom was staring him down. He wanted to disappear. “I  … ”
    â€œYes?” said Arabella impatiently.
    Bailey looked at Hal. He gave Bailey an apologetic look.
    â€œI don’t want to say,” Bailey said.
    Taylor and Arabella narrowed their eyes at him.
    â€œYou
have
to say,” said Taylor. He smirked at Bailey, and Bailey knew that he did have to say, even if he didn’t want to. It was clear from Taylor’s smirk that he’d heard the rumors in the Lowlands, and if Bailey didn’t tell,
he
would.
    â€œI  … ” Bailey trailed off.
    Suddenly, a dark shape swooped toward Taylor and grabbed his clipboard from his hands.
    â€œHey!” yelled Taylor. It was Phi’s falcon. It flew to the roof of the changing rooms and hopped back and forth there with the clipboard dangling from its talons.
    â€œFor Nature’s sake,” Arabella said. She and Taylor rushed to the bird to try and coax it down. Bailey breathed out loudly. Next to him, Hal laughed as Taylor jumped up and down, waving his arms at Phi’s falcon. Bailey looked down the line at Phi. She looked straight ahead, as if nothing odd was happening.
    Bailey felt a rush of gratitude ease the sting of humiliation.
    Finally, the bird dropped the clipboard and flew off. In the chaos, Taylor forgot he hadn’t noted down Bailey’s Animas, and instead began helping Arabella divide everyone into positions for the two teams. Phi was chosen to try on Blue Squad as a Sneak.
    â€œThat’s perfect for her,” Hal whispered to Bailey. “Sneaks are the ones who have to infiltrate the other team’s part of the terrain. She’s so quiet, and her Animas connection is out of this world, don’t you think?”
    Bailey nodded, but he was still shaking with mortification. He couldn’t even imagine what position Taylor and his