She reached the Ring of Scythes and kept running.
Wham!
Suzie flew backward through the air. She landed hard, rolling on the dirt. She got up and stared at the Ring. The scythes looked like they always did, enormous arches of metal surrounding the College. She walked to the ring and put her hand out. Her fingers halted in mid-air.
The Ring of Scythes was shut. She was locked out of the College.
Suspicion
Suzie ran down the Ring, but an invisible wall sealed each archway. She remembered the villages, but wasn’t sure which direction to walk. Finally, she started to yell.
“Hello? Can anyone hear me? I’m trapped out here.”
She continued to yell off and on for several minutes before a tall man with bright green hair walked to the Ring.
“What are you doing outside?” he said.
“Please, sir,” she said. “I walked out for some air. When I tried to get back, the Ring had shut.”
“It’s a drill,” said the man. His eyes glowed like fire. He must be a ’Mental. “It’ll be over tomorrow. Come back then.”
“I don’t want to be here all night,” said Suzie. “Please, can you send someone for help?” She pictured Sindril sneaking out of the strange house. Had he locked the Ring, afraid people might follow him?
“I’m only a servant,” said the ’Mental.
“My housemates Billy and Jason, can you get them? I live in Eagle Two, room six.”
The ’Mental shrugged and stared at her.
“Please, sir, get them for me.”
“You are a Death,” he said. “I am yours to command.” He nodded and walked away.
Suzie didn’t understand, but didn’t care either. She hoped the ’Mental brought Billy back. This was Luc’s fault. She hated the fat bully more than ever.
She sat down on the grass outside the Ring, looking up at the stone mounds and massive mountainous towers of the College. The forest stood far too close for comfort; the nearest trees grew less than twenty yards away. She suspected the albino was lurking in the forest, still waiting for her.
The sun passed behind a cloud, darkening the sky. It must be about three or four in the afternoon. A raven cawed high above her, swooping over the Ring of Scythes and toward the towers of the College. Shafts of sunlight slipped out from the cloud behind her, reaching down toward the trees. Rays of light lit up the bottom of West Tower, while the top grew dark. A cool breeze blew from the forest.
“Hey, it’s the girl,” shouted a familiar voice.
She looked up.
Frenchie stood on the other side of the Ring with some of his friends. She didn’t see Luc.
“What’re you doing?” taunted Frenchie.
“I wanted some air,” she mumbled. She refused to mention Luc.
“They don’t open the Ring ’til tomorrow,” he said. “And it’s supposed to get nice and cold tonight.”
“If the wolves don’t get her,” laughed another Death.
“That’s right,” said Frenchie, “you’ve got more to worry about than the cold, with the forest lurking right behind you.”
Luc had told them. He must have. Yet she refused to give in to their taunting.
“I’m stronger than I look,” she replied.
“She didn’t seem strong at the field,” said another Death. Frenchie turned and glared at him.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said, walking off. The try-outs must still be a sensitive subject.
As they left her view, Jason ran up to the Ring.
“Suzie,” he said. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said. “But I’m stuck out here.”
“We know,” said Jason. “What’re you doing outside of the Ring?”
“Never mind that, can you get me in?”
“Billy’s talking to Headmaster Sindril now.”
Sindril again.
“Did the ’Mental tell you I was here?”
“Yeah, I was checking on you before our final classes. I found Billy and told him. He told me to come here and went to find Sindril.”
“Well, thanks, Jason.”
“What
are
you doing?”
“I’ll tell you on the other side,” she said.
She heard a commotion behind Jason and watched a large group of Deaths walking toward the Ring. Headmaster Sindril, in his purple rode, walked at the front of the crowd, followed by Billy. Sindril held out a scythe with a golden blade and lowered it slowly between the blades of the outer Ring. The air shimmered. He held the golden scythe in place.
“Susan, my dear, you may come in now.” He extended an arm through the ring and grinned at her.
Suzie walked through the Ring. Sindril pulled the golden scythe back and the air shimmered again. The way must have resealed.
“My dear,” he asked through his grin, “What in the world were you doing outside of the Ring during a drill?”
The sight of him made her sick. Had he seen her in the house? Had he guessed someone was there and closed the Ring? Did he want to kill her? What was going on?
“I needed some fresh air. I wasn’t feeling well today.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Sindril. His smile oozed like slime. He reminded Suzie of a snake.
“We’ll take her home,” said Billy. He put a hand on her shoulder, leading her through the crowd.
“Lucky for you, I was able to open the Ring,” said Sindril behind her back.
“Thank you, sir,” said Billy, turning over his shoulder.
“All right, the rest of you get back to class, this isn’t a show,” snapped Sindril. “And Susan…” He moved fast for someone his age. He leaned over her. “Do tell me if there’s anything else I can do to help you. The first female Death in a million years, and the first time we’ve needed to open a sealed Ring, even partially, in as long as I can remember. Times are surely changing.”
Sindril spun on his heels and walked away, his purple robe flapping behind him.
“Let’s go home,” whispered Suzie. “I have a lot to tell you guys.”
* * * *
Jason sat at the kitchen table, watching Suzie. She finished her gorger and looked up.
“Took me a while to find him,” said Billy, leading Frank into the room. Suzie hadn’t told them anything yet; Frank was her friend. It didn’t seem right to exclude him.
“Billy told me you were outside the Ring,” said Frank. “I guessed you were skipping some classes ’cause of what happened at try-outs. You okay?”
“I’m fine now,” said Suzie. She glanced at the door behind Frank. Luc wouldn’t come back, not now. Would he?
“What happened?” said Billy. “Don’t tell me you were getting some air.”
“No,” said Suzie. “I was attacked.” She took a deep breath.
“Attacked?” asked Billy.
“After you guys left, Luc knocked at the door. He blamed me for embarrassing his brother.”
“Frenchie embarrassed himself,” said Frank.
“He had a man with him, I’m pretty sure he was a ’Mental. An albino, with white skin and red eyes.” She shuddered. “He terrified me.”
“What did he do?” asked Jason.
“I’m not sure exactly. Wolves and snakes appeared, and I ran from them. He seemed to turn on Luc at one point, right outside the Ring of Scythes. He chased me into the forest, and I felt terror. He didn’t do anything. I just had to get away. I’ve never been more afraid in my life.”
“A fearmonger,” whispered Frank.
“A what?” asked Billy.
“Fearmongers,” said Frank, “are ’Mentals who manipulate fear. They were killed off a long time ago. We learned about them in class. Apparently there’s one still around.”
“And Luc just happened to find this fearmonger ’Mental?” asked Billy.
“I suppose,” said Frank. “If he did, he was trying to scare her out of the Ring. He probably wanted to get her outside the Ring before the drill.”
“And he succeeded,” added Billy. “She was outside, but we didn’t find out about the drill until breakfast at the Hall. Did Luc plan this?”
“I didn’t believe any fearmongers were left,” said Frank. “Not any more. What happened to him? How did you get away?”
“I kept running.” She hesitated. She had to tell them about Sindril but didn’t want to reveal that she’d found the old library. These were her friends, but they were still boys. She was still alone, and she needed a place to get away. However, if Sindril had been in the house, how could she go back?
“Suzie,” said Jason, putting a hand on her arm. “You can trust us.”
Sindril hadn’t been in the library, only in the house. The library would still be hidden. Still, her place was vulnerable.
“Suzie?” asked Billy. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk. You’re a girl, and the only one. I can only imagine what they might do. If this albino hurt you, or touched you in any way—”
“No,” she said. “It wasn’t like that. I got away from the albino. I found an abandoned house past the forest. I hid.” She paused again.
“And?” asked Jason.
“Take your time,” said Frank.
“A man was talking, but he didn’t see me. He was doing something secretive. He kept talking to someone but I didn’t see anyone else. He asked if he needed
the girl
alive. I think he wanted to kill me.”
“Who was it? Did you recognize them?” asked Billy.
“Yes,” said Suzie. “Headmaster Sindril.”
She expected them to look surprised, but no one moved.
“Okay,” said Jason, “the headmaster was in the house. I’m sure he goes out of the College at times.”
“You don’t understand,” she said. “He didn’t want to be caught. He was in a black robe, not his usual purple robe. And the conversation he was having…he was plotting something.”
“If he was in black, are you sure it was him?” asked Frank.
“I saw his face clearly. It was him.”
“You saw him, but he didn’t see you?” asked Jason.
“Are you sure it wasn’t part of the fearmonger’s attack?” asked Frank.
“I’m sure. The albino terrified me, but didn’t follow me out of the forest. Since the College closed up, he’s probably still in the trees. No, I definitely saw Sindril, I’m completely sure. Trust me. He was hiding something secret, something important. He definitely has some plan, and it involves me.”
“Something about you?” asked Jason.
Suzie shrugged.
“This doesn’t make sense,” said Billy.
“Did anything else happen?” asked Frank.
“No. I hid in the house until he left. I waited for a long time, before running toward the College. I didn’t realize the Ring would be shut.”
“I don’t remember when the drill began,” said Billy. “But Sindril wouldn’t be outside when it started.”
“If she waited long enough, he could have come back and sealed the Ring of Scythes,” said Jason. He sounded skeptical.
“When he let me in, I believed he had sealed the Ring on purpose, in case anyone had followed him.”
“No,” said Billy. “They seal the Ring a few times a year, to make sure it works, and protect us if the Dragons ever attack.”
“Or ’Mentals,” muttered Frank. “Dragons would fly over.”
“Sindril himself announced the drill,” said Billy. “In the Hall this morning, he told us to stay within the Ring today.”
“But maybe…” Suzie paused. “Maybe he scheduled the drill thinking no one would catch him. Maybe he planned to visit that house and didn’t want anyone else to follow him.”
“That’s a big stretch,” said Billy. “We don’t have any evidence to support that. Honestly, even if it was him, who’s to say he’s planning anything bad?”
“Why wouldn’t he wear his purple robe?” asked Suzie. “Why meet someone in an abandoned house?”
“Maybe it wasn’t anyone,” said Frank. “If you did encounter a fearmonger, it could easily have been in your head. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, they’re terrifying. At least, I’ve heard they are.”
“Is it possible?” asked Billy. “Is it even
possible
? Can Sindril be involved in some terrible plot involving Suzie?”
Frank, Billy, and Jason looked at each other. She could tell they didn’t believe her.
“It’s possible,” said Frank. “But it’s more likely the fearmonger.”
Was her imagination going crazy? Could the albino have followed her out of the woods? No, they were wrong, she’d seen Sindril. The announcement of the drill and his appearance in the abandoned house; this was not a coincidence. Or was it? Was she looking for something to keep her mind off her loneliness, her complete isolation? Was the mystery real or imagined?
“No,” she said at last. “It wasn’t the albino. Something is going on with Sindril, and I’m going to find out what.”
Billy shrugged. “We’ll help,” he said. “We are your friends.”
Frank and Jason nodded.
Suzie smiled, but they still didn’t believe her. She wasn’t sure she believed herself anymore.
Mysteries
The test in Applications came far too soon. Suzie’s weekend had been a blur. While working on assignments for History and Theory, she’d been obsessed with thoughts of Sindril and her secret library. She needed proof and wanted to learn more about what he’d been doing. She hadn’t been back yet, though Frank had gone into the forest on Saturday.
“The fearmonger won’t bother anyone anymore,” he’d said after returning. His face was ashen, and he spoke with finality in his voice. She didn’t ask what had happened, and he didn’t volunteer to tell.
“Line up,” shouted Hann, snapping her back to the present. Suzie stepped behind Frank and Billy. They’d get one shot to demonstrate their skill with the beginner’s blade. She’d missed an entire day of practicing, but Billy had snuck her into the room over the weekend. A few other first years had the same idea, though thankfully Frenchie and his brother Luc hadn’t been around.
Sam, a second-year Death and friend of Frenchie’s, went first. He took the beginner’s blade confidently, swung the scythe downward, and slit the air. A green swath of light trailed the blade, vanishing like steam on a cool day.
“Good,” said Hann. He marked something on a clipboard. “Next.”
One after another they went. Every second and third-year student created a green light, as did most of the first years. Luc stepped up. Since the attack, he’d been quieter around her, but she sensed he was biding his time. He swung and a green light appeared, fading like vapor.
“Good,” said Hann.
Billy and Frank went soon after, both making the green light appear.