Author's note: Hey guys! So HSHS finally has a book trailer! It's posted at the top of the first chapter now if any of you want to watch it. The art at today is of Gani and the song at the top is what I imagine a good theme for him would be. I just get a kind of vibe for him from the song in addition to how it's about childhood love between two young boys. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, the next one is a pretty big one so get pumped for next Saturday!

 I sat next to Gani in etiquette lessons as I struggled not to constantly drum my fingers over the surface of the table we sat at in boredom. In front of each of us was a place setting and we were currently having a 'mock meal'. I hated this. This counted as both 'training' and 'lunch'. We would be given a course and then we had to successfully pick out the right silverware and utensils to go with it and eat it in the right order. In front of me lay some kind of salad with bits of fruit and what looked like...goat cheese...maybe...scattered through it. Kahlil grabbed for a fork and I heard him let out a little yip when Orla brought down her fan hard on his knuckles.

"No. This is Kovonos an eastern dish from Starta. You air it first by tossing it with the smallest fork to your left before you eat." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Remember boys, we'll be putting your training to the test in two weeks time. You will all be attending a ball for the minor noble family Kivos that live on the outskirts of the kingdom. This will allow you to show us how much you've learned from these lessons in etiquette and if you'll be able to perform well at events with the prince. House Kivos resides in the farming city of Sheeren. I highly doubt they have ever seen a member of the royal family let alone even a real lord of the court. Speaking of which, Lord Vestari," she looked to Gerner. "Would you mind filling everyone in on how the Kivos were given their lands? You have been paying attention to your history lessons haven't you?"

"Uh...yes..." I could see Gerner struggling to remember. "The Kivos...they um...fought alongside King Jean II about one hundred fifty years ago...ish in the battle of uh..." he clearly couldn't remember the name. Everyone waited, watching him.

"The battle of Madok." A voice suddenly said. It was Kahlil. Orla nodded slowly, turning to him.

"Yes. That is correct. Go on."

"It was the great battle against the Dark Magics. The sorcerers had been using blood magic and sacrifice for their practices so the king banned it. The sorcerers came together and retaliated and the Kingdom wiped them all out. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Kingdoms ever." Orla nodded slowly.

"Well done. For once lord Vestari it appears like you could actually learn something from this one." I could see Gerner fuming the rest of the lesson and when it was finally over he practically burst out of the room with Munny trailing beside him.

"How dare he? He just humiliated me in front of everyone!" He roared to Munny who was watching him with a surprisingly sympathetic gaze. "Imagine it, a little street rat knowing more about the Houses of the Kingdoms then a nobleman." He suddenly spotted Kahlil exiting and stepped forward to cut him off.

"You and me kid. Sword training is next. When it's over duel me."

Kalil smirked at him.

"Why? You that desperate to get your noble pig ass beat?"

"More like I can't wait to finally put you in your place," Gerner growled giving the small boy a little shove. I sighed, Gani wasn't going to be happy about this.

Due to the fact that Emery didn't depart for the castle till tomorrow it meant I had to deal with a another full day of people oohing and awwing at his every move, especially when it came to his swordsmanship. Finally practice was over and the boys began to pair up or head back. I caught a glimpse of Emery slipping out early instead of going back to the changing room like everyone else, still fully in his training clothes. That was...strange. I was about to follow him when my attention was suddenly drawn back to the mass of shouts coming from the center of the arena. Kahlil and Gerner had already begun. They were currently circling around each other each waiting for one to make the first move. I joined the crowd slipping past a few of the boys to stand next to Munny. I turned to the younger boy, looking down at him.

"Do you seriously think this is a good idea?"

Munny shrugged, still watching them.

"I don't know Nicky. I think they were going to fight it out eventually, it might as well be in front of everyone in a safe setting."

"I agree." The voice belonged to Gani who had appeared next to us. I turned around to stare at him, eyes wide.

"Really?" Gani nodded slowly.

"Don't get me wrong, I hate this...I honestly do but...Munny is right. If they fight it out here in an open setting the likelihood of one of them hurting each other or getting kicked out is a lot less. Besides, maybe this will at least put an end to it all." They were swinging at each other wildly now, the clink of sword hitting sword sounded again and again. Gerner had the advantage and was clearly winning, the man was like a mad bull who had seen red, driving Kahlil into an almost completely defensive fight. Munny let out a nervous laugh.

"Good thing we practice with those special swords with training sheaths over them, if those were gone I bet those two would have hacked each other to bits by now..." that's when we saw it. Gani noticed first, his face turning ashen before he pushed his way to the front of the crowd practically screaming.

"Gerner! Kahlil! The training sheathes! Someone took them off-" The following events that occurred seemed to take place in slow motion. The sound of their names being called had distracted them both and when Kahlil had turned to look he lowered his sword so it wasn't in the position Gerner had been lunging at to block it. Gerner in the heat of the moment of his anger had too much momentum...the sword was still going and...the crowd went dead silent as the sword plunged through Kahlil's shoulder. The boy let out a blood curtling scream. Gerner's sword clattered to the floor and his expression clearly reflected the realization of what he had just done.

"Kahlil...oh my God...I am sorry...ahh..." he was panicking, blood was beginning to seep through the boy's shirt and his face was pale. Gani pushed his way through the crowd and ran to the wounded boy's side now.

"Gani I..." Gerner began.

"Quiet," Gani said, his expression unreadable as he pulled off his jacket and ripped off a section of it, attempting to wrap it around Kahlil's shoulder as a makeshift bandage. He looked up now, gazing around the circle of spectators watching. When he spoke I could hear his voice shaking from anger.

"What are you all standing around for? Someone get Madame Orla and a physician NOW."

We sat in our rooms in silence. Gani lay on his side on his bed, his back to me so I couldn't see his face. He had stayed with Kahlil all night until Orla had finally sent him away. Kahlil's own bed was empty and the weight of that fact was heavy in the room. Gerner stared blankly ahead, his eyes red, he had been crying though he would never admit it.

"Are you worried they're going to send you home?" Munny said softly. Gerner shook his head.

"No. They don't want to anger the Vestari House and endanger their loyalty to the crown over a simple matter like this as...as unfair as it is." Gani's voice came from the middle of the room now, low and monotone.

"They said they're sending Kahlil home. The sword entered extremely close to the joint in his arm and if it gets infected they think it might need to be...to be..." he was struggling to say the word. "Amputated. If...if I only hadn't called out...I...it's my fault..."

"It was...an accident. I was given that sword...how was I supposed to know the safety sheath had been taken off...I..." I could tell that Gerner was currently doing his best to hold back tears. "I didn't mean it. I didn't like him, sure. But I...I never meant to hurt him. Please..." his voice was desperate. "Please tell me you believe me." The room was quite a moment and finally I spoke.

"I believe you." I sat up slowly. "Someone has already sabotaged a trainee. Whoever it was...they wanted either Gerner or Kahlil to hurt each other and send one if not both home. They must have heard them talking about the duel and then took the safety sheaths off knowing both of their...personalities." This had grabbed everyone's attention. Gani sat up looking confused.

"But...who could be doing this? We are down to only about 25 boys now. Who would be cruel enough purposely try to hurt one of us?" I knew who it was. However the problem was that I had no idea why he was doing it and I knew none of them, Gani especially, would believe me unless I could provide them complete and utter proof. That's when it hit me...the ball. Our sleeping arrangements would all be different due to the fact that we were staying in Shereen and our rooms would most likely not be locked. I could find a way to sneak out during the ball and investigate Emery's room. I could go through his stuff to see if he was hiding anything I could use to prove he was behind this. That's right...in a few days time at the ball I would bring about the downfall of Emery.