Chapter 56

Clara

My training to become a scout of the Warren began that very night. Ronan kissed my cheek and promised to talk to Jordan. I went to the healer’s ward, and found Healer Naomi.

“I wish to train as a scout,” I wrote, “and Ronan said it would be helpful to learn some emergency healing skills.”

“You want to be a scout?” Healer Naomi said.

I braced myself for her to laugh. Instead, she smiled brightly.

“I think you’d be a good fit among them,” she said.

“You do?” I wrote.

“The scouts are a unique group,” Naomi said. “And yes, healing skills will be useful to you. As it happens, you impressed Gregor. He’s our best teacher. He’s a little rough around the edges, but he knows his stuff. Do you think you can handle him? If you can’t, I’ll be happy to teach you.”

“I’m not afraid of a grumpy healer,” I wrote.

Naomi laughed. “You’ll be eating those words soon enough. But if you’re going to be a scout, you need a stout heart. Let’s go find the old grouch.”

Gregor was in a storeroom full of medical supplies. He was working on sorting and taking inventory of baskets full of bandages, slings, and other such necessary things. He grunted and turned around when he heard us enter behind him.

“Huh. It’s the quiet one,” Gregor noted. “You hurt?”

I shook my head.

“She wants to learn healing. She’s planning to join the scouts,” Naomi said.

“She can speak for herself. Well, she can’t, but she can communicate,” Gregor said. “Well, girl. You want to learn from this old wolf?”

Gregor was a werewolf? I hadn’t realized. He must be a Rogue, to be among the Warren, but I’d never heard of a healer going Rogue.

I nodded, and wrote, “I want to learn. Naomi says you are the best.”

“Aw, you’re gonna make me blush, girls,” Gregor said, utterly deadpan.

I was fairly certain that man’s face did not know how to blush.

“All right,” Gregor said after studying me for a moment. “You learn best by doing. We have to sort and replenish our supplies. You’ll assist, and I’ll teach you as we go. By the time this place is set to rights, you’ll know what everything in here is good for, and I’ll know what you’re good for, too.”

“I am good at sorting,” I wrote. “I used to be a maid.”

“Wonderful,” Gregor said. “So you know better than to complain about the tedious jobs.”

I nodded, and accepted a basket from the elder healer.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Naomi said. “I have to hunt down the scouts and make sure none of them are hiding injuries.”

“Have fun with that,” Gregor said, already turning his attention to his task.

I wrote a quick thank you to Naomi and then rushed to join Gregor.

Gregor was gruff, yes, and he never repeated an instruction. He gave orders and expected them to be obeyed immediately. But he was also patient while I wrote out my answers when he checked my knowledge.

And when I made a mistake he didn’t ridicule me or smack me around. He just sighed about the state of education among the castle servants, like it was a personal affront. And then he corrected my mistake and made certain I knew what I was doing.

All in all, I found Gregor to be about the best teacher I had ever had, at least since my foster mother died.

After a few hours in Gregor’s company, the scout who had escorted me through the secret entrance appeared in the storeroom. I had been standing by the door, so I had no idea how she got in there.

“Oh, hey there Jordan,” Gregor greeted the scout. He didn’t seem startled at all.

“Hi, Gregor,” Jordan said. “I’m here to take Clara and see what kind of a fighter she makes. If you’re done with her, I mean.”

“I honestly expected her to try to bail an hour ago,” Gregor said. “She’s made of tough stuff. Most healer apprentices are fantasizing about wringing my neck an hour in.”

“How do you know she’s not?” Jordan asked.

“I can always tell,” Gregor said. “But go on. Don’t bruise her too much, though, I want another chance at her tomorrow, early.”

I nodded and bowed respectfully. Gregor patted my head fondly and waved us both out.

“Well that’s a surprise,” Jordan said. “I think he likes you.”

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Oh, Gregor isn’t as bad as some folks think,” Jordan said, “but he’s got no patience for fools. You must have impressed him. Good work.”

I blushed. I wasn’t used to this much praise, no matter how hard I worked.

“Okay, we’re going to find an empty room. Normally we do this kind of training outside, but with the vampire lord after our blood it’s best if we keep everyone inside as much as possible,” Jordan said.

I nodded, sobering at the thought of just why I was learning these interesting new things.

The fighting lesson did not go as well as my lesson from Gregor. Jordan was a good teacher, too. She did her best. I was just hopeless.

No matter how hard I tried to obey Jordan’s orders, I still flinched when she threw a punch in my direction. I failed to evade most of her attacks. The few strikes I managed to dodge were pure accident.

As for attacking back, I was even worse. I could barely throw a punch, and Jordan had to correct my hand position several times. When I did actually hit her, I barely made any impact at all.

I brushed myself off after hitting the ground for what had to be the hundredth time. Jordan called for a break. I was grateful, and accepted the cup of cool water she offered me.

“I’m sorry I’m wasting your time,” I wrote.

“You are not wasting anything,” Jordan said. “So you’re not a natural. That’s fine. What’s important is that you’re willing to take your lumps while you’re learning. And you keep getting up when I knock you down.”

“Really?” I wrote.

“Really. You are not the worst I’ve ever seen,” Jordan insisted.

“So I’m the second worst,” I wrote.

Jordan laughed. “Well, maybe. But it’s your first time. You’ll get there. And I’ll let you in on a secret: I’m cheating.”

“How?” I wrote.

“It’s my vampiric power. I can see into the future. Only by like five, ten seconds. But that’s enough to have a real advantage in a fight.” Jordan grinned at my shocked expression.

“Do all the vampires here have powers like that?” I wrote.

“Hm. Most of us have something, yeah,” Jordan said. “Not everyone has something useful, mind you, but we make use of what we have.”

I wondered if I might have a vampiric power. Somehow I doubted it. Surely if I did, it would have shown by now.

But maybe I didn’t, because I spent my life working in the sunlight and I didn’t drink blood.

“Do you think I might have a power, even though I’m only half vampire?” I wrote.

“Well, I’m not an expert on these things, but it’s possible,” Jordan said. “You’re still young, for one of us, you know. Lots of vampires don’t find their powers until they’re older than you are. And you don’t drink blood, right?”

I shook my head.

“That’ll slow things down,” Jordan said. “But it’s okay. You’ll be a good scout, whether you have a power or not.”

“I will?” I wrote.

“Sure. You’re a good student. You accept correction well, and you keep trying. Besides, you’ve got a wolf, right? She’s an advantage.”

I blinked. I wasn’t a very strong werewolf, but I did have my wolf. I’d never thought of her as an advantage before though.

“Listen to her,” Jordan advised. “I think part of your problem is that you’re trying to do everything consciously. You should trust your instincts, and your wolf. That way you’ll stop tripping over yourself.”

I nodded, accepting the advice.

“Now. Let’s go again. I want you throwing a decent punch by the time I hand you over to Ronan.”

I sighed. This was going to be a long night.