Dorothy Must Die Novella #7 (4 page)

He smiled. “I'm hardly the leader,” he said. “I leave that up to Gert and Mombi.”

“But you're basically in charge of the trainees.”

He shrugged. “I know how to fight.”

“Melindra does, too.”

“Melindra's our best,” he agreed. His expression was neutral. As usual, it was impossible to tell what he was really thinking. “But she's impulsive. Gert and Mombi needed someone with more control to train new members.” Impulsive? Was he talking badly about his girlfriend?
Was
Melindra his girlfriend? And why did she even care?
It's none of your business,
she told herself.

“Is that why you don't have emotions?”

He looked surprised and then he laughed. “I have emotions,” he said. It was the most honest, unguarded thing she'd ever heard him say. As if lurking under his harsh, controlled exterior
was a completely different person. Someone who knew how to smile, and laugh, and think about things other than fighting and death. Was that the person Melindra got to see all the time? Or was he this difficult with her, too?

“Not any that you show.”

“I've been fighting for a long time,” he said, his face closing down again. “And Oz teaches you that nothing is ever what it seems. It's not a good idea to show people your true self or relax your guard.”

“Even here?”

“Especially here.” He was suddenly distant again. Now she really wanted to know what he was talking about. Did he mean he didn't trust Melindra? Did he mean
she
shouldn't trust Melindra? Was he just jealous of anyone else building up a relationship with Melindra?

Out of all the Order, Melindra seemed the most untouched by all the horror of Oz. Somehow she had remained honest and open, while the rest of them toted around their scars. She wanted to ask Nox about her. If he was in love with her. If he was capable of being in love with anyone. But any chance she'd had of getting through his defenses to catch a glimpse of the real Nox was gone. “You should get some rest,” he added. “Real training starts tomorrow. You need to be ready.”

He walked away without another word. Lanadel watched him go. Why he was so insistent that no one could be trusted? It was more than just his commitment to the Order and their training. Was it what had happened to his family, or being raised by
Mombi—or was it something even worse? Whatever it was, it had hurt him so deeply that it seemed he would never be able to fully trust another person.

Nox wasn't her friend—but he was
like
her. All his anger bottled up inside, just waiting for an outlet. Putting up walls to keep himself safe. Melindra was the opposite of that. Despite all that she had gone through, she was still open to Nox and to Lanadel, and to life, in a way that Nox didn't seem to be.

Lanadel wondered if it was possible for Melindra to ever break through Nox's wall. She had already somehow broken through to Lanadel. Lanadel didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. They were preparing for a war with Dorothy. Was having people who she cared about something that made her a better fighter, or a more vulnerable one?

Nox seemed to be struggling with the same question. But which side would he come down on? And what would it mean for Melindra?

The next day was so different from her first weeks with the Order that Lanadel felt as if she'd suddenly traveled to an entirely new place. A tiny, winged image of Gert woke her at dawn by blowing a miniature horn in her ear—not that she could tell from her sleeping cave that it was dawn. She only knew it because Gert had told her when she first came to the caverns that that was when training started every day. But instead of her solitary meal in her sleeping cave and a long, dreary day of endless one-on-one sessions with Nox, she trained for the first time in the main cave with everyone else. The training caves all had the same high ceilings, bright crystal lamps, and hard, smooth white floors. The walls were lined with dozens of weapons: axes, knives, swords, staffs, and other fighting implements Lanadel didn't even recognize, let alone know how to use. Slings and harnesses dangled from the ceiling at one end of the cave; when Nox had taught her flips and leaping, whirling kicks, she'd started out in a harness
until she learned to spin and cartwheel without help.

Now Nox and Melindra circled her in the middle of the polished white floor while Larkin and Holly watched from the sidelines. In the ring, there was nothing friendly about Melindra's face. Her expression was stony and focused, her eyes fixed. Lanadel could practically feel the searing force of her gaze as Melindra assessed her every weakness with razor-sharp precision.

“How would you fight differently against two people?” Nox asked as the two of them continued their unnerving, predator-like circle. “Think about what I've taught you.”

“Like teaching her anything is going to help.” Larkin's voice was low, but it carried. Lanadel flushed with anger. She opened her mouth to answer him, and Nox and Melindra pounced. Melindra moved so fast Lanadel didn't even realize what was happening until she was on her back on the floor, the other girl's knee resting on her chest.

“Okay,” Nox said, in his usual infuriatingly even tone. “Let's try that one again, Lanadel.”

They did. And again. And again. Each time, Melindra knocked her down before she could even land a strike while Holly and Larkin snickered. This time, Melindra and Nox didn't defend her. They were so focused on fighting that she wondered if they even heard Holly and Larkin's sneers. Why couldn't she be the same way? Or maybe now they expected her to defend herself. Out there in the real world, out fighting Dorothy, there'd be no one to stop anyone else from trying to hurt her. If
she couldn't learn to deal with Holly and Larkin now, she'd be next to useless when she was faced with a real distraction.

But no matter how hard she tried, Lanadel couldn't concentrate. Each time Melindra knocked her feet out from under her, Larkin's laughter rang in her ears until it was the only thing she could hear. “Come on, Lanadel!” Nox yelled as Melindra knocked her down for what felt like the thousandth time. “Focus!” It was no use. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision, but Melindra was relentless. When she was fighting, she was practically a machine. Nothing could stop her. No wonder she was the Order's fiercest fighter. It wasn't just how strong she was. She had something else, some power that let her tune out everything except the enemy in front of her. It wasn't magic. It was sheer skill.

Finally, Nox dismissed her with a scowl. Equal parts relieved and humiliated, she wiped sweat and tears out of her eyes as Nox called Holly into the ring. As she watched Melindra circle the other girl, Lanadel started to understand how Holly moved. Her inhuman, panther-like grace let her flow effortlessly from one movement to another. Slowed down, she looked like a dancer performing an elaborate, fierce ballet. As Nox and Melindra took turns darting toward Holly, she quickly deflected their kicks and strikes, mimicking Melindra's easy, confident movements.

But while Melindra didn't even break a sweat, Holly's face glistened from the effort of blocking her attacks. Even Nox was actually breathing hard. Melindra looked as cool and as calm as if she hadn't been fighting at all. “Good, Holly,” Nox said, and
Holly flashed Lanadel a triumphant grin. Larkin's turn in the ring was next. As he fought, Holly sidled up to her.

“That's how it's done,” she said in a low voice. “I don't know why they bothered to recruit you if you can't even block a basic hit. What are you, some kind of charity case?”

Lanadel gritted her teeth and refused to look at Holly. If Melindra could ignore her, so could she. And Larkin might have been just as good a fighter as Holly, but he had to work even harder. He was breathing hard, and his forehead was slick with sweat.

“What was your family, a bunch of peasants?
My
family was royalty.
They
taught me how to
protect
myself. You know,” Holly said airily, waving a hand. “In case some dirty Quadling wanted to kidnap me for ransom.” She sounded as though she found the thought utterly delicious.

“That's ridiculous. Quadlings don't
kidnap
people. And you don't know anything about my family. And you know even less about me,” Lanadel snarled in spite of herself. She could take plenty of insults. But not that. Never that.

“Someone's a little defensive. Why, I bet your parents probably weren't even—”

Lanadel's body moved before her brain even registered the slight. All those weeks with Nox had paid off. Her instincts worked just fine when they wanted to. And before she knew what she was doing, her fist connected with Holly's sneering face. Holly reeled backward in shock, blood gushing from a nose that looked suddenly, distinctly crooked.

“What are you doing?” someone was shouting behind her, but Holly had already recovered and dropped into her fighting stance. Whatever else she was, she was no coward. And like Nox had said, she could really fight. She lunged at Lanadel, her fists up for the offensive, and Lanadel ducked and lashed out—just the way Nox had taught her. All the endless, boring repetitions and drills had sunk the movements into her muscles until they came as easily as breathing. As she and Holly flowed and jabbed around each other, she found herself smiling. She liked fighting. And more than that, she was
good
at it. She saw her opening and drew back her fist, preparing to lay Holly out on the mats of the training cave.

And then Larkin hit her in the back of the head. She staggered backward and brought her fists up again, but it was too late. Holly swept her feet out from under her with a low kick and she toppled to the mats so hard she saw stars.

“What is this?” Mombi barked. Where had the witch even come from? Did she have eyes in the back of her head?
Probably,
Lanadel thought, rubbing her ringing temples. Holly had danced away from her, a martyred expression on her face as she tenderly dabbed at her nose. “What were you thinking?” Behind Mombi, she saw Nox with his arms folded across his chest. Melindra looked like she was trying not to crack a smile. Holly and Larkin had identical expressions of smug satisfaction.

“Let her sit up,” Melindra urged. Mombi grumbled something under her breath that sounded a lot like “idiot girl,” but offered Lanadel her hand and pulled her to her feet. Lanadel winced as a
white-hot flare of pain lanced through her head. Mombi nodded grimly.

“Serves you right,” she said, but her voice was a little more sympathetic. “A trip to the healing pool would fix you right up, but maybe a headache will serve to remind you that we do
not
fight each other outside the ring.” She whirled around, pointing at Larkin and Holly. “And that goes for the two of you, too. Don't think I don't know who started this one. Try that again, and you'll be the ones getting whacked upside the head. Is that clear?” Holly and Larkin quickly rearranged their faces into expressions of contrite humility.

“Yes, Mombi,” Holly said sweetly in a high-pitched singsong. Mombi rolled her eyes.

“Now get out, the lot of you,” she said crossly. Nox looked startled. “Sparring practice is moved to cavern two. Lanadel and I will need the main cave. If you think our girl's ready for magic, it's time she got some real lessons. None of this aggravating-people-in-corridors nonsense.” She gave Nox a dirty look.

“I thought—” he said, flushing, and Mombi wagged a finger at him.

“Your job isn't to do any thinking!” she interrupted. She turned toward Lanadel, and behind her back Nox gave her a look that was murderous. Lanadel wondered what was going on there. It didn't just feel like Mombi reprimanding him for stepping out of line. It was like there was some whole long, complicated history between them. Something she couldn't even begin to guess at.

“You're dismissed,” Mombi added, waving a hand at Holly, Larkin, Melindra, and Nox. Melindra, slipping out of fighting mode as easily as she'd gotten into it, rolled her eyes and gave Lanadel a sympathetic look, mouthing the words “Good luck” when the old witch's back was turned.

Holly smiled evilly. “You're going to need it,” she added with a hiss. Mombi's mouth twitched into an almost-smile, and Lanadel knew she'd heard.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Melindra said in a normal tone of voice, prodding Holly and Larkin out of the cave. “Get a move on, you little Wogglebugs. I'll put you through your paces next door. And if you try to hit
me
on the head, I'll make you regret the day you were born.”

But Nox didn't budge as the others filed out of the cavern. “I should stay,” he said stiffly. “You put me in charge of training new recruits, even if you're the one teaching her magic.”

Another strange, electric charge passed between them, and something about Mombi's demeanor softened. “Oh, all right,” she grumbled, but her usual hostile fierceness was suddenly gone. Lanadel made a note to ask Melindra later what Nox's history was with the witch. She'd mentioned Mombi had raised him but there didn't seem much love lost between the two. Nox sat in a corner, stretching out his long, muscular legs and leaning back against the wall. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression back to its usual unreadability. Lanadel would have preferred he not be in the room. If she was going to humiliate herself, she'd rather he didn't see it. But she knew better than to
ask him to leave. Especially after whatever had just happened between him and Mombi. She straightened her spine—something about being around Mombi always made her remember her posture—and waited expectantly for the witch to tell her what to do. And waited. And waited.

The old witch stared at her silently. A long, awkward moment passed, and then another. Lanadel cleared her throat. And then, just like that, Mombi snapped her fingers and Lanadel jumped. The witch smiled. “You probably think magic is just like that,” she said. “Snap your fingers and miracles happen.” She snapped again and Lanadel gasped. A huge, perfect replica of a lion loomed over her, its mouth bared in a snarl. She knew it wasn't real but she still threw up her arms in self-defense. Mombi snapped a third time and the lion disappeared.

“I don't think that at all,” Lanadel said honestly.

“Good,” Mombi said. “Because it looks easy. But the easy part is an illusion. Like anything else worth learning, magic takes hard work. Not everyone can do it. In fact, most people can't. But Nox sees something in you”—she looked over at where he sat, looking stonily back at her—“and you wouldn't have made it here in the first place if you didn't have something more than ordinary courage.”

Coming from Mombi, that was a compliment. “So how do I—” Lanadel began, but the witch didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. She leaned forward and grabbed Lanadel's hands with both of hers, staring deeply into her eyes.

And suddenly Lanadel wasn't in the cavern with Mombi
anymore. They were standing on a surface that was as clear and solid as glass. Blooming clouds of color moved through the ground beneath them like ink expanding in water. More clouds swirled around them in the air, expanding and contracting as if they were living, breathing things. In the distance, a sparkling range of mountains shifted and pulsed like the clouds that surrounded them, changing colors with every beat: pale sunrise rose pink; deep sapphire blue; a vivid blue gray like the sky before a thunderstorm. Just past where she and Mombi stood, a river flowed merrily over the glassy ground, sunlight dancing across its surface. The air was warm and balmy as bathwater. The sky overhead was a clear, flawless blue that served as a gorgeous backdrop to the clouds that moved around them.

Lanadel gasped. It was the most beautiful place she'd ever been. More beautiful than Glamora's dazzling banquet hall, more beautiful than anything she'd seen on her long journey to Mount Gillikin—more beautiful, even, than home. Not that she had a home anymore.

Mombi beamed at her, pleased as punch. “Sky Island,” she said proudly. “Used to be quite the tourist destination, before . . . well, you know. Now it's one of the last remaining places in Oz that's truly free.” She waggled an eyebrow. “Of course, that's because there's no magic here and no one actually lives here now that the hotel is abandoned and the souvenir store closed, but still. On this single, glittery bangle, we're completely safe from Dorothy. For now. As long as she doesn't know we're here.” Mombi looked suddenly haggard. “So not really all that safe
after all. But you get my drift.”

“I'm assuming we're not here for a vacation,” Lanadel said when she caught her breath again.

“No,” Mombi said with a wry grin. “Though Lurline knows we all could use one. I'm afraid vacations aren't on the agenda for any of us anytime soon. You're here to learn magic, girl. Or—let me revise that. You're here to tap into the magic you already know.”

“I can't do that in the training caves?”

“Oh, sure you can. But this is much nicer, don't you think? Plus, if you accidentally turn a rock into a dragon or some such, there's no one for it to eat except you.”