Axira Episode One

  Chapter 12

  Axira

  “How was your special training session with Ma’tovan?” Elle asked as she walked by my side.

  She had a reassuring, friendly smile on her face. One she wore permanently in my company.

  “Fine,” I managed as I directed my head forward to ignore the collective stare of a group of muttering cadets.

  “She’s so unpredictable,” one of the cadets whispered.

  “That’s one word for it – unstable is a better one.”

  “If you spent less time muttering and more time studying, you wouldn’t have to put down others to make yourself feel less inferior,” Elle snapped at the cadets.

  I was starting to learn that Elle – despite her incredibly sweet nature – was as protective as a mother rock warrior.

  “It’s fine,” I said quietly. “Let’s just hurry along.”

  “It’s not fine,” she said passionately. “They’re making stuff up about you. You’d think the Academy would require its cadets to have a certain level of maturity. Even my brother can’t keep his mouth shut, and he’s much older than me.”

  I attempted to control the interest that tried to crumple my features. “Your brother?”

  Elle looked sprung. “Never mind. I just caught him talking to Hendra about you, that’s all.”

  My jaw stiffened. I had to pretend to swallow – that or let the tension shatter my skull. “I see.”

  “It’s okay to get angry with him,” she assured me, “He had no right to talk to her about you. None of them have any right to talk about you.” Elle swept her angry gaze over the crowd.

  “… It’s okay. You don’t need to put anyone offside because of me.”

  Elle turned to me, that same smile back on her face. “That’s what friends are for. They defend each other in times of need.” She waggled a finger at me.

  I returned her smile and tried not to think of what I’d just learned.

  Not that I should be surprised. I knew Jason was curious about me, and considering yesterday’s events, he would only be more curious.

  Or maybe he’s not curious, my suspicious mind suddenly offered – maybe he’s suspicious.

  Last night I’d fought off a Kore intelligence team essentially on my own. Today I agree to have a “Session” with Hendra, even though I’d made it crystal clear I didn’t want to have anything to do with her.

  Perhaps he even thought I could be the source of the intelligence leak.

  “We should go away somewhere this weekend – get out of this place for a while,” Elle offered as she skipped ahead.

  I would be busy this weekend.

  It was time to catch a spy.