Read Online Relic (The Books of Eva I) by Heather Terrell - Free Book Online

words pass between Testors unless approved, as the Gods must know a Testor’s full deservedness to be Archon by the Testor’s acts alone
. If an Archon Scout should happen by, we could both be expelled. After all I went through, to be ejected from the Testing for a silly reason like a midnight chat! Still, I can’t help but feel a little relieved to not be out here alone. And if I’m completely honest, a little flattered.
    “You didn’t recognize me?” he asks, sounding surprised. “You dragged your dinner right past me.”
    I blink. I never seriously considered Jasper as the fallenTestor. All of us Testors resemble one another in our sealskin uniforms—except for me, I guess—but I assume that Jasper would’ve waved or something. Anything.
    “We kind of look alike in our gear.” I suddenly feel bad for not helping him. “Are you okay? If I’d known it was you underneath that sled, I would’ve …” I don’t finish.
    “I’m glad you didn’t know. I’m fine, Eva.”
    “Thank the Gods.”
    “Yes, thank the Gods. But if anyone is going to break The Lex, I want it to be me. Not you.”
    I almost laugh. “Well, that’s what you’re doing right now. It’s not worth it just to talk to me, Jasper.”
    Even in the low light of my fire, I think he looks hurt. But then he squares his shoulders. “You’re a Maiden, Eva. How could I sit on the other side of that iceberg without checking on your well-being?”
    I want to say that I’m not a Maiden out here—I’m a Testor, like any other—but I don’t. We’re both playing roles, and once again he’s typical Jasper, a chivalrous Gallant even in the Testing. “I appreciate it, but as you can see, I’m doing just fine.”
    The tension breaks, and he smiles a little. “I figured, what with all those geese slung over your shoulder. Still, I needed to hear it for myself. And I have. So I guess I’ll say goodnight.”
    He pushes himself up, and his smile quickly changes to a grimace. Bracing his thigh, he turns and walks away. He is limping.
    “You’re hurt,” I whisper as loudly as I dare.
    “It’s nothing,” he says, not turning around.
    “Come back here.”
    He continues hobbling, as if he can’t hear me.
    “Jasper, please.”
    He stops. Pauses. Peering back over his shoulder, he stares at me for a quick tick, as if to gauge my seriousness.
    I motion for him to come inside. Lurching a little, he finally makes his way under the flap of the tent that I’m holding for him. With two of us in the little enclosure, it suddenly seems too warm. Taking off my hat, I command, “Let me see the wound.”
    He shakes his head.
    “Lift up your pant leg,” I insist.
    “That wouldn’t be …” he hesitates, searching for the right word, “… seemly.”
    “Seemly plays no part in the Testing.”
    “But you’re a Maiden, Eva.”
    Now I have the courage to say what I was thinking before. “Not out here, I’m not. I’m just a Testor. Let me see your leg.”
    Peeling off his gloves first, he folds down his
kamik
and starts to roll up his sealskin. Even though I’ve seen a boy’s bare shin before—Eamon’s, of course—Jasper’s motion feels very intimate. Suddenly, the Lex rules for Maidens rush at me unbidden—
let no immodesty touch your eyes or thoughts—
and I cannot help but blush. My mother would die if she saw this. Or kill me first.
    “I knew it. I’ve made you uncomfortable,” he says.
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Jasper. I need to see your leg.” Before I really think through what I’m saying, I blurt out, “I have remedies.”
    He raises an eyebrow at the mention of the word “remedies,” but continues to roll up the sealskin past his knee. I have to stop myself from gasping when I see the deep gash in his mid-thigh. He has a cloth tied around the cut, butit’s no tourniquet, something Lukas taught me. The cloth is soaked with blood. I’m shocked the metallic smell hasn’t alerted every nearby predator.
    “How did this