This excerpt is unedited.
I apologize in advance for any errors in grammar, usage, or plot. The excerpt will be edited soon.
This excerpt is Chapter 9 of Break, which includes the least amount of information that could be considered spoilers. If you have not read Memory Lock and don't like spoilers, you might want to avoid this excerpt.
To avoid confusion, you should know that Mari is on her way to an assignment to gather information about a group called River and is spending the night at an inn located in a nearby village.
I eat my dinner slowly and alone, listening to the conversations happening in the dining hall of the inn. Hopefully, someone who knows of River will accidentally reveal some useful information to me. The village isn’t near River, but it seems to be full of travelers, as I can see by the multitude of group crests displayed proudly on the patrons’ clothing. Most of the conversation is uninteresting, but I do hear of the Institution and the Organization from a few tables, though it is mentioned in passing. I continue to scan the crowd with my ears, closing my eyes to concentrate.
A while later, bored of listening to idle chatter, I open my eyes. A man about my age has sat across the table from me and is eating his food, as if he doesn’t realize I’m here. He looks up and smiles. I frown. “What?” I ask.
“You looked lonely and all the other seats are full,” he says. His brown eyes are kind, but I remain guarded. I look around the room and he is right. The other tables are taken.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I’m your new friend, Lane.” He offers me a hand to shake, then realizes it’s covered in butter from his roll. He wipes it off and offers it again. I’m reluctant, but I shake it anyway.
“Mari,” I say.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mari,” he says. “What brings you here?”
“Traveling,” I say vaguely. “You?”
“I live here,” Lane says, gesturing to the kitchen. “Dad owns the inn. I just protect it.”
“You protect it?” I ask. This must be a joke. The man in front of me is scrawny, almost to the point of looking malnourished.
“Yeah,” he says, nodding. “I’ve been practicing with a sword since I was little. I’ve even scared a few people off with my skills.”
Is this guy for real? Am I supposed to be impressed?
“Is that so?” I ask, not knowing where to take the conversation.
“Of course it is,” he says. “What do you do?”
“I sew,” I say. I obviously can’t tell him what I actually do, in case the admission would alert an enemy of the Organization that might be in the inn.
“I see.” Lane continues his nosy interview for a good while and I humor him, but only in short answers. I yawn, my fast-paced journey to the village catching up to me. “Mari,” Lane says, “I think we’re going to be good friends!” He laughs.
I try to look enthused. I like making new friends, but the middle of an assignment is a terribly inconvenient time to make them. “Right. Well. I’m tired,” I say, trying not to sound like a jerk. The dining room has mostly cleared out. Aside from a straggler or two, the only people left are cleaning up.
“How about a game of cards first?” Lane asks. “People aren’t normally nice enough to talk to me. I’ll be sad if you leave so soon, friend!”
What can I say? “Okay.”
Lane hands our dishes to one of the maids and pulls a deck of cards from his pocket. He explains the complex details of a game I’ve never heard of and coaches me through the first round. I don’t quite grasp the concept, but I attempt the second round without help and, surprisingly, I win.
“Now let’s make it interesting!” Lane says. “Winner buys the loser breakfast!”
I really don’t have time to be making breakfast plans with near strangers. I’ll just have to leave before said breakfast plans occur, without him noticing. I agree to the bet.
“I win!” Lane says, excitedly, after obtaining all of the cards.
“Were you hustling me?” I joke.
“Yes!” He says. I didn’t expect him to own up to that. “So I’ll buy you breakfast!”
I laugh. The man’s sense of humor is beginning to grow on me, at least when paired with my exhaustion. “Alright, then. I’m off to bed,” I say, standing.
“When should I meet you here? I’m sure you’ll leave early, since you’re travelling.” Lane stands with me.
“Eight,” I say, arbitrarily. I’ll have to leave earlier, around seven. I’m starting to like my new friend, but what would the High Leader say if I allow it to slow me down?
“Perfect! So,” Lane says, with his biggest smile yet, “it’s a date?”
I shake my head, surprised. “I don’t date,” I say.
“Oh,” I hear him mutter as I leave to head toward my room. I don’t turn to witness his disappointment.
I awaken to a loud crash beneath me. More crashes and bangs follow it. In my tired stupor, I decide that the noise is nothing more than the people in the room below me, getting frisky, an experience I’ve encountered in pretty much every inn I’ve been to. I try to shut the sounds out and fall back asleep, knowing I will have to be up in a few short hours. My eyes only open when the banging is accompanied by real frightened screams and the smell of smoke.
Without hesitation, I grab my sword and throw my cloak around my shoulders. If nothing else, I need to find the source of the fire and make sure I’m not going to burn with this building. I shake the selfish thought from my head. I need to make sure everyone makes it out, not just me.
I throw open the door and sprint down the stairs. The smoke thickens and metal meets metal. The fire is in the kitchen and a woman lies dead on the floor. Lane fights with a large man while others come to aid the intruder. Lane will be killed at this rate. Without another thought, I draw my own blade and hurry to accompany him. He doesn't see the man aiming to stab him from behind until I knock the enemy’s weapon to the ground.
“Mari! When did you-”
“Not important! Just fight!” I cut him off his words before his opponent cuts them off for me. Literally. The men, while large and intimidating, are not very difficult to beat, the apparent muscle being nothing more that the fat of a few lumbering loafs. They lack speed, which is my specialty. I knock out three of the four intruders, while Lane continues to hack at the first man. “Make sure everyone gets out!” I tell Lane, while purposefully making myself the focus his opponent’s attention. The fire has reached the dining room and tendrils lick the ceiling. Sweating from the blaze, I quickly finish off the intruder and hurry to help Lane and get away from the flames.
Many of the patrons had heard the commotion, thankfully, and had left the building at the first smell of smoke. When the building is confirmed clear of the still-living, Lane and I push the onlooking crowd away from the inn and to safety. When I ask Lane about a firefighting team, he shakes his head. The blaze rages. There is nothing we can do but watch as the fire runs its course. Rain begins to fall near sunrise, thankfully preventing the flames from spreading to nearby buildings. Most of the the crowd has dispersed, put off by the drizzle. When has mostly finished burning, Lane’s father leaves us to see what he can salvage of his livelihood.
I lead Lane to the dry porch of a building across the street. I don’t know who owns the house, but I don’t care if they mind our presence. Though I just met him, I know the protector of the inn is broken. He failed his only assignment. He hasn’t looked up from the ground for hours.
“Will you be okay?” I ask. It’s a silly question, but I want him to talk.
“I messed up, Mari.” He covers his face with his hands in a heartbreaking form of a child’s game of peekaboo.
“You did what you could, and that was more brave than anyone in that place,” I say, trying hopelessly to reassure him.
“And then you come out of the shadows and kick everyone’s ass when I can’t even land a hit! I’ve trained for years! Why was I not good enough?” Lane is nearly shouting.
“The amount of training isn’t always enough. There will always be someone stronger than you. It also depends on the situation, you know? I had the element of surprise on my side and I’m sure it’s the only reason I beat them,” I say. It’s a bit of a lie, but I only want him to feel better.
“Where did you learn to fight like that? You said you were a seamstress.”
“I’ve been training since I was young also. I got lucky and was a student of a master swordsman for a few years.” I frown, thinking of Tiran and all he has done to help me. “You have a lot of skill, but sometimes it’s helpful to have someone see your blind spots for you, you know?”
Lane looks at me. “Can you teach me?” I recognize a hint of hope in his eyes.
I wish I could do it.
“I need to return to my travels, Lane. I’m sorry.”
“Oh. That’s okay.”
“Is there a swordmaster near here? Perhaps you can be their student if you tell them your story,” I suggest.
“I don’t have the money to train with him. Especially now that the inn is gone,” Lane says.
I reach inside my cloak and pull out the bag that I packed. There isn’t much, but I hope it will be enough. I take all of my cash and put it in Lane’s hand. “Tell the swordmaster that an Official of the Organization wishes to invest in your potential. I will bring more when I can, but tell him to consider it a down payment or something.” I try to smile, feeling awkward from Lane’s gaze of amazement. Being an Official has its perks, one being string pulling. The region has become my marionette and I will use it to help people.
That’s what I promised myself, right?
“Mari, I don’t know what to say.” Lane can barely catch his breath.
“Don’t say anything,” I say. “And don’t blow my cover either,” I add with a wink.
“I won’t! You have my sworn secrecy and unending discipleship!”
“No!” I shake my head, taken aback by Lane’s worshiping. “We are friends. Equals. Train hard and I will see you soon,” I promise.
“Thank you, Mari! This means everything!”
To avoid confusion, you should know that Mari is on her way to an assignment to gather information about a group called River and is spending the night at an inn located in a nearby village.
I eat my dinner slowly and alone, listening to the conversations happening in the dining hall of the inn. Hopefully, someone who knows of River will accidentally reveal some useful information to me. The village isn’t near River, but it seems to be full of travelers, as I can see by the multitude of group crests displayed proudly on the patrons’ clothing. Most of the conversation is uninteresting, but I do hear of the Institution and the Organization from a few tables, though it is mentioned in passing. I continue to scan the crowd with my ears, closing my eyes to concentrate.
A while later, bored of listening to idle chatter, I open my eyes. A man about my age has sat across the table from me and is eating his food, as if he doesn’t realize I’m here. He looks up and smiles. I frown. “What?” I ask.
“You looked lonely and all the other seats are full,” he says. His brown eyes are kind, but I remain guarded. I look around the room and he is right. The other tables are taken.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I’m your new friend, Lane.” He offers me a hand to shake, then realizes it’s covered in butter from his roll. He wipes it off and offers it again. I’m reluctant, but I shake it anyway.
“Mari,” I say.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mari,” he says. “What brings you here?”
“Traveling,” I say vaguely. “You?”
“I live here,” Lane says, gesturing to the kitchen. “Dad owns the inn. I just protect it.”
“You protect it?” I ask. This must be a joke. The man in front of me is scrawny, almost to the point of looking malnourished.
“Yeah,” he says, nodding. “I’ve been practicing with a sword since I was little. I’ve even scared a few people off with my skills.”
Is this guy for real? Am I supposed to be impressed?
“Is that so?” I ask, not knowing where to take the conversation.
“Of course it is,” he says. “What do you do?”
“I sew,” I say. I obviously can’t tell him what I actually do, in case the admission would alert an enemy of the Organization that might be in the inn.
“I see.” Lane continues his nosy interview for a good while and I humor him, but only in short answers. I yawn, my fast-paced journey to the village catching up to me. “Mari,” Lane says, “I think we’re going to be good friends!” He laughs.
I try to look enthused. I like making new friends, but the middle of an assignment is a terribly inconvenient time to make them. “Right. Well. I’m tired,” I say, trying not to sound like a jerk. The dining room has mostly cleared out. Aside from a straggler or two, the only people left are cleaning up.
“How about a game of cards first?” Lane asks. “People aren’t normally nice enough to talk to me. I’ll be sad if you leave so soon, friend!”
What can I say? “Okay.”
Lane hands our dishes to one of the maids and pulls a deck of cards from his pocket. He explains the complex details of a game I’ve never heard of and coaches me through the first round. I don’t quite grasp the concept, but I attempt the second round without help and, surprisingly, I win.
“Now let’s make it interesting!” Lane says. “Winner buys the loser breakfast!”
I really don’t have time to be making breakfast plans with near strangers. I’ll just have to leave before said breakfast plans occur, without him noticing. I agree to the bet.
“I win!” Lane says, excitedly, after obtaining all of the cards.
“Were you hustling me?” I joke.
“Yes!” He says. I didn’t expect him to own up to that. “So I’ll buy you breakfast!”
I laugh. The man’s sense of humor is beginning to grow on me, at least when paired with my exhaustion. “Alright, then. I’m off to bed,” I say, standing.
“When should I meet you here? I’m sure you’ll leave early, since you’re travelling.” Lane stands with me.
“Eight,” I say, arbitrarily. I’ll have to leave earlier, around seven. I’m starting to like my new friend, but what would the High Leader say if I allow it to slow me down?
“Perfect! So,” Lane says, with his biggest smile yet, “it’s a date?”
I shake my head, surprised. “I don’t date,” I say.
“Oh,” I hear him mutter as I leave to head toward my room. I don’t turn to witness his disappointment.
I awaken to a loud crash beneath me. More crashes and bangs follow it. In my tired stupor, I decide that the noise is nothing more than the people in the room below me, getting frisky, an experience I’ve encountered in pretty much every inn I’ve been to. I try to shut the sounds out and fall back asleep, knowing I will have to be up in a few short hours. My eyes only open when the banging is accompanied by real frightened screams and the smell of smoke.
Without hesitation, I grab my sword and throw my cloak around my shoulders. If nothing else, I need to find the source of the fire and make sure I’m not going to burn with this building. I shake the selfish thought from my head. I need to make sure everyone makes it out, not just me.
I throw open the door and sprint down the stairs. The smoke thickens and metal meets metal. The fire is in the kitchen and a woman lies dead on the floor. Lane fights with a large man while others come to aid the intruder. Lane will be killed at this rate. Without another thought, I draw my own blade and hurry to accompany him. He doesn't see the man aiming to stab him from behind until I knock the enemy’s weapon to the ground.
“Mari! When did you-”
“Not important! Just fight!” I cut him off his words before his opponent cuts them off for me. Literally. The men, while large and intimidating, are not very difficult to beat, the apparent muscle being nothing more that the fat of a few lumbering loafs. They lack speed, which is my specialty. I knock out three of the four intruders, while Lane continues to hack at the first man. “Make sure everyone gets out!” I tell Lane, while purposefully making myself the focus his opponent’s attention. The fire has reached the dining room and tendrils lick the ceiling. Sweating from the blaze, I quickly finish off the intruder and hurry to help Lane and get away from the flames.
Many of the patrons had heard the commotion, thankfully, and had left the building at the first smell of smoke. When the building is confirmed clear of the still-living, Lane and I push the onlooking crowd away from the inn and to safety. When I ask Lane about a firefighting team, he shakes his head. The blaze rages. There is nothing we can do but watch as the fire runs its course. Rain begins to fall near sunrise, thankfully preventing the flames from spreading to nearby buildings. Most of the the crowd has dispersed, put off by the drizzle. When has mostly finished burning, Lane’s father leaves us to see what he can salvage of his livelihood.
I lead Lane to the dry porch of a building across the street. I don’t know who owns the house, but I don’t care if they mind our presence. Though I just met him, I know the protector of the inn is broken. He failed his only assignment. He hasn’t looked up from the ground for hours.
“Will you be okay?” I ask. It’s a silly question, but I want him to talk.
“I messed up, Mari.” He covers his face with his hands in a heartbreaking form of a child’s game of peekaboo.
“You did what you could, and that was more brave than anyone in that place,” I say, trying hopelessly to reassure him.
“And then you come out of the shadows and kick everyone’s ass when I can’t even land a hit! I’ve trained for years! Why was I not good enough?” Lane is nearly shouting.
“The amount of training isn’t always enough. There will always be someone stronger than you. It also depends on the situation, you know? I had the element of surprise on my side and I’m sure it’s the only reason I beat them,” I say. It’s a bit of a lie, but I only want him to feel better.
“Where did you learn to fight like that? You said you were a seamstress.”
“I’ve been training since I was young also. I got lucky and was a student of a master swordsman for a few years.” I frown, thinking of Tiran and all he has done to help me. “You have a lot of skill, but sometimes it’s helpful to have someone see your blind spots for you, you know?”
Lane looks at me. “Can you teach me?” I recognize a hint of hope in his eyes.
I wish I could do it.
“I need to return to my travels, Lane. I’m sorry.”
“Oh. That’s okay.”
“Is there a swordmaster near here? Perhaps you can be their student if you tell them your story,” I suggest.
“I don’t have the money to train with him. Especially now that the inn is gone,” Lane says.
I reach inside my cloak and pull out the bag that I packed. There isn’t much, but I hope it will be enough. I take all of my cash and put it in Lane’s hand. “Tell the swordmaster that an Official of the Organization wishes to invest in your potential. I will bring more when I can, but tell him to consider it a down payment or something.” I try to smile, feeling awkward from Lane’s gaze of amazement. Being an Official has its perks, one being string pulling. The region has become my marionette and I will use it to help people.
That’s what I promised myself, right?
“Mari, I don’t know what to say.” Lane can barely catch his breath.
“Don’t say anything,” I say. “And don’t blow my cover either,” I add with a wink.
“I won’t! You have my sworn secrecy and unending discipleship!”
“No!” I shake my head, taken aback by Lane’s worshiping. “We are friends. Equals. Train hard and I will see you soon,” I promise.
“Thank you, Mari! This means everything!”