Read Online Mercenary Little Death Bringer by Catherine Banks - Free Book Online Page A

invigorated
again. I was definitely going to have to get the twins a present
for this!
    After redressing and hiding the medicines in
the pouch in the bottom of my bag I headed out to the outdoor
training arena for a meeting with Master Martin. As I neared it I
realized this was not a meeting, but a set up. The arena was filled
with every student of the school and every teacher was there as
well, sitting up on the railings. I stepped inside the arena and
Master Martin waved me forward. I walked to him, looking at all of
the faces around until I spotted the one I was seeking. I
immediately turned away from him, having only been wondering if he
was there.
    “Marin, I’m glad you made it. Did the earlier
training make you sore?” Master Martin asked.
    “Yes,” I said in a truthful statement. The
training had made me sore, but the medicine the twins gave me had
cured that.
    “I’m sure you’ll loosen up soon.”
    “What’s going on?” I asked him, “Why is
everyone here?”
    “Today is a trial,” Macon said as he stepped
into the arena.
    “A trial?” I asked in shock, “Against
me?”
    “More of a trial because of you,” he answered
with a smirk.
    “I do not understand,” I replied, “Why a
trial? What is to be proved?”
    “Those my dear are the perfect questions. We
are putting on trial whether girls should be allowed to join the
Academy more often than just your case,” Macon said as he walked to
the center of the ring.
    Now I understood. I was the first girl to be
allowed to attend, let alone complete the Academy. They had to test
me to see if it was a good idea to allow girls to attend in the
future. “I understand,” I said with a nod of my head. “What trials
am I to face?” This was so sudden and seemingly random. Had Favian
known? Was that why he had really come to my dorm?
    “You’ll be tested in everything,” Macon said,
“but first we will test you on your fighting skills.” Macon nodded
his head at Master Sean.
    Master Sean smiled evilly at me and then
snapped his fingers. Two first year students climbed down from the
railing and approached me. I pushed my cloak back behind me and
gave myself freedom of movement depending upon the type of attack
they used on me. “Hand to hand, no weapons,” Master Sean said,
“Begin!”
    The two boys charged me and I forgot about
the kidnapping attempt. I forgot about Favian being mad at me. I
forgot about everything except the trial. I would prove that girls
should be allowed. I would prove that I was a capable mercenary and
I would prove that I could be a Protector. The newbies charged
forward enthusiastically and I ducked their wild swings easily and
kicked them in the backs to use their own momentum against them.
They both stumbled forward and down to their hands and knees and
then jumped up and turned towards me again. I took a wide stance
and put my hands in defensive positions near my face.
    The boys moved away from each other so that
they would both come at me from different sides and then darted
towards me again. I blocked and punched and kicked and after only a
minute had them both on the ground, knocked out.
    I backed away from them so others could drag
them out of the arena and faced Master Sean waiting for his next
signal. “Swords,” he said and then snapped his fingers. Two second
year students hopped down and drew their swords. I drew mine and
fought to keep the smile off of my face. I knew it was a test, yet
I felt no fear or worry, only cheerfulness.
    Master Sean yelled, “Begin!”
    The two looked at each other and then one of
them ran at me. I blocked his downward thrust and elbowed him in
the stomach before rolling away from the second guy’s sword. He
spun around in an advanced technique no second year should have
known and I barely had time to jump back from the blade which
skimmed passed my shirt. I sliced upward, catching him in the chin
and knocked him on his back.
    “That’s why you don’t use advanced