"Today you will be practicing your climbing skills," Malte announced the next morning. Like the day before, we were standing in our neat rows in the courtyard. I hated living by such a strict structure, but the food I'd just eaten more than made up for it. Malte continued talking, reminding the boys of things I already knew. "Pair off and remember to always have someone on the ground watching you," he explained. "This is not like practicing with your swords; if you fall, you will be hurt. Go."

I groaned and rolled my shoulders as the boys around us started pairing off. Tannix moved closer to me. "Do you not like climbing?" he asked.

I almost laughed. "Climbing's easy, but my arms are still sore from that beating yesterday." Not to mention sleeping on the roof. I wasn't used to luxury but at least at home I had clothing to cushion me.

Tannix smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I thought you'd be a better fighter than that."

"Yes, well... Let's climb." I noticed that the other groups of boys were heading towards the different buildings that bordered the courtyard. The walls, I could tell, had been designed to be easy to climb. The stones had been put together so that there were often pieces sticking out, which created perfect handholds. There were also many windows facing the courtyard. For the first time, I felt confident about a task the place had given me.

I led Tannix over to one of the buildings that the other boys had decided not to use. It was taller than some of the others, but of course that didn't bother me. "You stay here and watch me, in case I fall," I told Tannix, even though it was unnecessary. I never fell.

"That is the way we do it," Tannix pointed out dully. "Apparently a couple of years ago a boy fell to his death while practicing, because his partner wasn't watching him."

"How would his partner have helped?" I asked. I had my back to Tannix and was staring up at the wall thoughtfully, planning my route as best I could.

"He could have seen that he was having trouble," Tannix replied.

"And then what? Climbed up and helped?" I couldn't help but let a hint of sarcasm creep into my voice. "Or maybe he would have caught him?"

Tannix didn't answer.

I turned around. He had his arms crossed, and he was looking at the wall like it was some sort of enemy. "You don't like climbing," I guessed.

He nodded.

"This wall will be simple." I tried to sound comforting, but I really wasn't good at it. "Just watch me when I go up, and then when it's your turn, follow the same path." My words clearly did not have the right effect. "Maybe you can tell Malte that you..."

"No, I can't," Tannix said. "Everyone needs to practice this, though I don't see why. I'm not going to become a spy, or assassin, or whoever would do this. Soldiers don't climb walls."

"Spies?" I repeated, wondering if I'd just solved the mystery of who these people were.

"I've always known I was going to be a soldier." Tannix continued as if I hadn't said anything. "Give me a sword, or a knife, and I can beat anyone here. Those are the kinds of skills I'll need, not climbing walls."

"Why would you want to be a soldier?" I asked carefully. I realized that I was heading into dangerous territory. It sounded like something I would know if I had actually belonged in the group. If I was lucky Tannix wouldn't notice that I had no idea what he was talking about. "Sounds boring to me. I mean, you should be helping to run your city, right?"

"I want to go into the army. That's part of the plan. Tandrin gets West Draulin, I become a soldier. Your parents must have plans for you."

"Of course they do." I nodded.

"Do they want you to become a spy?" Tannix asked curiously.

"They believe I should do whatever it is that my skills are suited for," I lied. "I happen to be very good at climbing walls."

"A spy, then."

"Yes. I'm sure they'll be pleased, as long as I work my way up the ranks." I hoped that spies worked that way, with ranks. I turned my back on Tannix once again and shrugged off my stolen cloak. "Just watch me," I told him. Without looking back to see if he was watching, I walked up to the base of the wall. I reached as high as I could and let my fingers grip the edge of a jutting stone, then I began to climb.

It was easy. There was always a stone or window ledge I could grab or stand on. Not once did I have to pause to think about my next move. My sore arms seemed to forget about their bruises as I carried out something they were used to. I made swift progress, and almost before I knew it, I was perched on the roof of the building. I stood up and took in my surroundings. My favourite part about climbing was how far I could see. On the other side of the building was the huge wall I had scaled days before. Looking past that, I could see my lower city, and beyond it, the Adymuss River filled with ships.

After a moment, I leaned over the edge of the roof to look down at Tannix. "Easy!" I called before I noticed the large body standing next to him. 

Malte was staring up at me. "Come down," he ordered. His voice easily carried up to me, even though he seemed to be speaking in a normal tone.

Every instinct told me to flee. I briefly considered rushing down the far side of the building and up over the wall to freedom, but I knew I wouldn't make it. Malte would simply have to run around the base of the building to meet me on the other side. My other option was to try to leap the gap between my building and the wall, but it was further than I'd ever jumped before, and even with a running start, I doubted I would reach it. The only choice was to do what I had been told, and hope that Tannix might try to help me.

I carefully lowered myself back onto the wall. My descent was slow. It was usually harder to go down than up, but this time was slower than most. I dreaded reaching the bottom and facing Malte. Once I got close enough to the ground, I let myself drop and landed lightly on my feet. As I turned around, I tensed, ready to flee if I was given the chance.

I was taken by surprise to see Malte holding my cloak out to me. I took it gingerly and draped it back over my shoulders. A quick glance at Tannix told me that he was just as confused, though I knew it was for different reasons.

"You climb well," Malte commented. "Very quick, instinctual. You have a lot of practice."

"Yes. There's a building back home I enjoy climbing to watch the sunset," I replied calmly. It wasn't even a lie.

Malte nodded, as if he'd once done the same thing. "Maybe you can teach Lord Tandrix how to do it. Climbing is his weak point."

"Of course I'll try," I promised, silently willing him to walk away. I wasn't worth talking to, not unless he suspected I didn't belong. Although if he did suspect me he wouldn't have told me to teach Tannix.

Malte smiled briefly, so briefly I thought I had imagined it. He looked like he was about to say something when a boy across the courtyard called for help. Malte turned and quickly walked over to him. The boy's partner was about halfway up their wall, and it looked like he was having difficulties. It seemed odd to be so relieved that someone else was in trouble, but I was.

"You're going to teach me to climb?" Tannix asked, clearly unimpressed. "Why would you agree to that?"

I shook away thoughts about the other boy's wall, and turned to glance at Tannix. "I don't want attention any more than you do," I said. "I didn't want him to stay here and keep asking me questions."

"Why not? He was praising you."

"I don't like attention," I replied with a shrug. "Shall we?"

Tannix shook his head. "No."

"Then you'll be the one explaining to Malte why you can't climb such a simple wall." I strolled back over to the wall, this time not bothering to take off the cloak. After all, I was used to climbing with my old cloak. I used the same stone to start off, and climbed up a few steps before moving off to the side, so that the simplest path I had used the first time was clear. "Come here, Tannix. I'll tell you where to put your hands and feet."

I could almost see him thinking it over. It took a moment, but then he suddenly dropped his cloak to the ground and approached the wall. I grinned down at him. "Here, this one." I tapped the first protruding stone with my foot.

Tannix took a deep breath. Reaching the stone was easier for him simply because he was taller than me. I quickly adjusted the path for him in my mind. He would have an easier time reaching things I had ignored my first time up. After grasping that first stone, he managed to work his way up to be level with me quite easily.

"You're not as bad as you think," I said. 

Tannix narrowed his eyes. "Just tell me what to do."

We worked our way up the wall at a slow but steady pace. Sometimes I told him where to go next, but sometimes I didn't have to. We reached the top sooner than either of us expected. I pulled myself over the edge onto the roof first, and leaned over to help him up the last bit. When he was up, we sat together and let our legs dangle over the side.

After a moment had passed, Tannix broke the silence. "Thank you."

Lunch followed. Like with the other meals, we went to the room with the two long tables. This time there were pots of soup as well as various platters of cooked meats and vegetables. Once again, I had to monitor how much I took to eat, because a rich Telt would never try to hoard food the way I was used to doing. I followed Tannix's example, for the most part, taking the same amount of food he did and eating at the same pace.

I also took the time to look more closely at the other boys. At the other table there was a boy wearing a red cloak similar in colour to the one I had stolen, so I assumed I'd taken it from him. Sitting near that boy was the one who had been stuck on his wall earlier. None of the others caught my attention. They all looked similar, same age, same arrogant actions that came with being a rich Telt. Tannix didn't act like that. Maybe it was because he was part Native. The thought left my mouth almost before I'd realized it.

"Why don't you act like the other Telts?"

"Telts?" Tannix repeated.

I froze with my spoon halfway to my mouth, suddenly realizing my mistake. They didn't call themselves Telts. "Teltans, I mean," I said hastily. I glanced around furtively, wondering if any of the nearby boys or men had heard me.

"Why would you say Telt?" Tannix asked.

"I'm half Native Zian," I pointed out, trying my best to sound casual. "I picked up some things from my mother. She says Telts."

"High class Zians don't usually use that term."

"No, I know. She isn't. Wasn't," I faltered, but recovered quickly. "She was a maid, working for my father's family. They fell in love. It was quite scandalous, apparently. She's put a lot of Zian habits behind her, but some stick. I'm sorry if I insulted you, I'm just used to the term."

Tannix shrugged. "Oh well, it doesn't bother me as much as it does others. As for your question, I don't act like them because I have nothing to prove. I have money, I have rank, and if I wanted to, I could let them all know and instantly be in charge. They're all trying to size each other up and figure out who is the most important or powerful. All I'd have to do is remind them of who I am. I could ask you the same question, Finn. A boy from a farm villa near Kitsi must feel like he has a lot to prove."

"Either that or a boy from a farm villa near Kitsi knows he can't compete with the rest of them and has decided it isn't worth the attempt," I replied.

"Fair enough," Tannix said. "I suppose this is why we get along so well, isn't it? We don't need to compete for power."

I thought it was slightly more complicated than that. Tannix had no reason to treat me like an equal, but he had right from the start. Maybe he liked that I did the same for him, instead of fawning over him. For the first time it really occurred to me how isolating his life might had been, and I wondered if he had ever had a friend who valued him for more than his family name. I smiled at him. "You're way more powerful than I'll ever be, why fight you for it?"

"That's not what I meant."

"But it's true, and it doesn't bother me. I'm used to my place in the world." I finished my soup and started to work on the slab of meat. The fork and knife felt odd in my hands but luckily, years of carefully watching people meant that I knew how to use them. I began to slice off a bite-sized piece.

"You're left-handed, aren't you?" Tannix asked.

I was startled and stared at my hands for a moment, trying to figure out what had prompted his comment. "Why?"

"People tend to hold the knife in their right, not their left. There's nothing wrong with that, it was just an observation. So when we were fighting with our left hands, was that your better hand?"

"What do you think we'll be doing this afternoon?" I asked, uncomfortable with the subject. The fact that I favoured my left hand had hidden my ignorance, at least involving the knife and fork, but I didn't want to let Tannix's mind linger on it.

He eyed my hands for a moment longer, then finally said, "I believe Malte said something about the library."

"Yes," I muttered, remembering now that Tannix had mentioned it. I just had to figure out how to hide my inability to read.

The library was a huge round room with a towering ceiling. Bookshelves lined the walls all the way up to the top, and there were walkways and ladders built in so people could get to the higher shelves. In the middle was a well-tended fire, and around that sat chairs and tables of different sizes. 

I trailed after Tannix as he walked to a section of shelf that was obviously familiar to him. "So, what are you going to read?" I asked.

Tannix shrugged as he looked over the shelf. "I usually just look for a title that seems interesting."

I nodded like I did the same. "Anything you can suggest?"

"This one is good." Tannix pulled a book from the shelf and handed it to me. "Some of the chapters are, at least."

I flipped the book open and let my eyes run over the front page as if I were reading it.

"What do you think?"

"I'll give it a chance," I decided.

"Just skip to the chapter about warfare," Tannix suggested, pulling another book from the shelf. "That part is the most interesting." He led me to a nearby, empty table, where we settled into our chairs. The library quieted down as people got set up with their different books or pieces of parchment to write on.

I decided to follow Tannix's example once again. I pretended to be reading my book, while watching him out of the corner of my eye. Every time he flipped a page, I waited a moment before flipping my own.

About ten pages in, I found myself looking at a colourful map. It showed our kingdom, as well as our two neighbours, Deorun and Navire. I understood that much without needing to be able to read the labels. I recognized Zianna's location by the bay and the river, and the Cliffs of Loth. The shaky geography I'd learned over the years from listening in on conversations helped me understand the rest of the map. The Adymuss Mountains were to the right, Deorun was above them, Navire was beneath. Above the Cliffs of Loth was a huge island I knew to be New Teltar.

"There's West Draulin." Tannix interrupted my thoughts by reaching over and tapping the highest point of the island. Meaning the section of water between that point and the mainland were the Straits of Draulin, and the dot on the mainland must have been East Draulin.

"It looks far away, doesn't it?" Tannix asked. "It's amazing how much faster travel is over water."

"I don't like water," I muttered, without first thinking about whether or not it was a strange thing for a rich Telt to say.

"Why not?"

"I never learned to swim."

"But Kitsi's beside a lake."

"But my villa isn't," I told him. "It just never came up."

"So you didn't travel to Zianna by boat?" Tannix asked. "The trip must have taken days on horseback."

"Yes, it did, but I'm used to horses. After all, I live on a farm," I lied. Horses didn't scare me the way water did, but that didn't mean I liked them. I had never been on a horse's back before, and I could only pray to Zianesa that riding wasn't something these boys learned. There would be no way to fake that.

My words seemed to make sense to Tannix. After a moment he nodded. "Well, that is understandable. Ships and the ocean are important to my city. I've been on boats my whole life. I love them. There's a sense of freedom you get while sailing."

"There's a sense of freedom you get while galloping through empty fields on the back of a horse." Or at least I hoped there was.

"I know, I know. I ride too," Tannix said. "How do you think we get to smaller cities and towns in the centre of the island?"

"I thought you had flying ships," I replied, feigning seriousness. When Tannix started laughing, I couldn't help but join in, and we were quickly shushed.

After dinner, we were once again instructed to practice fighting with either swords or daggers. Since Tannix knew I favoured my left hand, there was no reason to pretend I could do better with my right, so I insisted we stick with our lefts. Unfortunately, Tannix didn't agree. He wanted to use our right hands, and I had to go along with it. The wooden sword felt even more foreign in my right hand than it had in my left. It was clear, as soon as we started, that I had no idea what I was doing.

Tannix and I stood facing each other. I wasn't sure how much time had passed since we started practicing. We were both still holding our wooden swords, but limply, and not with the intention to strike at each other.

His eyes were running up and down my body thoughtfully. "You've never fought before."

"No," I admitted. There was no point denying that.

Tannix glanced over my head, at the wall we had climbed that morning. "You helped me, so I'll help you. I don't know why you haven't had training yet, but I won't ask questions, agreed?"

I thanked Zianesa. "Yes."

He spun his sword at his side and held it up. "Then I'll teach you."

Tannix easily ducked under the wild swing of my wooden sword. He knocked it out of my hand with a simple flick of his wrist. I watched it fall. I didn't think I could ever be good at sword fighting. Confrontation felt wrong to me. My eyes were drawn back to Tannix when he gestured at my wooden sword with his own.

"Pick it up," he told me. We'd been at this for hours, and I could tell he was starting to get frustrated with me. The other boys had gone inside when the sun started setting. It was only the two of us still out in the courtyard. "Really, Finn, I don't understand why you have so much trouble with this."

"Different people have different skills," I muttered as I leaned over to pick up my sword.

"Yes, I've noticed," Tannix said. "And I thought you were bad with your left hand."

I glared at him. "My left hand is stronger."

"But everyone else is better with their right, so when fighting us, it'll be easier for you to use the same hand."

"Then don't complain about my form."

Tannix sighed and held up his sword again. "Come on, then. Attack me." I lunged at him and swung the sword at his. They clashed together and once again, he did some apparently simple motion with his wrist that flung my sword from my hand. It thudded against the cobblestones of the courtyard. He drew his sword back and swung it toward me for a blow that would have killed me had the sword been real. I forgot about form and dove at the ground to his left, rolling to my feet behind him. Tannix spun around, and his wooden sword met a metal blade.

For a moment, we were both frozen. Tannix stared in shock at his jewelled dagger, the blade of which had bitten into the wooden sword. I held the knife upside-down, the way I had grabbed it as I rolled past. I'd held it up just in time to block Tannix's strike. While I jerked the dagger free, I met his eyes. I passed it into my right hand before offering it to him, knowing enough to give him the handle instead of the blade. He lowered his sword and took the knife.

"When?"

"Now, when I rolled past you," I said.

"I didn't notice," he said.

"Of course not, you weren't supposed to." I shrugged.

"That wasn't proper fighting," Tannix complained, finally coming out of the stupor my trick had caused. "That was cheating."

"Would keep me alive though, wouldn't it?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yes, it would." He slipped the dagger back under his belt. "Very well then, you may have not won the fight, but you're alive." Tannix moved his sword into his left hand and held out his right for a handshake.

I let myself be drawn into it. His grip was firm and warm, and it lasted longer than I expected. Usually, when I shook someone's hand, it was quick and light and with the intent of slipping off a ring or bracelet. When Tannix released my hand, he was grinning.

"Looks like I've found another one of your skills, besides climbing walls," he teased. "Fighting dirty." He walked past me, toward the rack for the swords, and as he passed, he clapped my shoulder briefly. I hesitated before picking my sword up from the cobblestones and following him. We placed our swords back on the rack and walked slowly towards the doors.

"You were getting better. A little."

I flashed him a smile, but I wasn't really paying attention. Holding Tannix's beautiful dagger had distracted me, the way fancy things tended to. I knew I needed to own one, and it was quite obvious how I would have to get it.