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Chapter VII

"Would you like to take a seat?" he asked politely, motioning towards one of the benches in the hall. Jade complied. She had nothing better to do with the rest of the afternoon. "I'm sorry if I was rude earlier," he started.

"Don't worry about it."

"You were on master Solomon's orders, right?"

"What of it?"

"Just curious... He is my master too as a matter of fact, and I couldn't figure out why he ignored me today. Now I know."

"Fascinating," the girl said, rather bored. Nothing he said seemed worth the conversation and she tried to think of a polite way to get away, but she didn't know where to go and what to do.

"Um," he then said, trying to say something but he didn't seem very certain about it. "Did anyone show you around?"

Is he offering to be my guide or something? the girl wondered.

"Well, I saw the prison, the chambers, the dining hall, the clinic and the training grounds. Is there anything else for me to see?"

"There's also the library, of course!" The mere mention of it set a spark in his eyes, but the words that followed were near silent, as if he were speaking to himself. "But I'm not sure you're allowed there yet."

"What are you two talking about?" sounded a voice from behind. It was Cinder. "Kris?" He looked straight at him.

"I think he was saying something about a library," jumped Jade to respond. "Am I not allowed in there?" He shook his head. "Why not?"

"It's like a vault. You will only find historical events and other documents of the like in there, and they're all confidential. If you plan on reading something you'll have to pick from these bookshelves." Cinder motioned his hand so as to point around the room.

"Boring," was all she answered and then rolled her eyes. Her reaction made the two boys laugh.

"Not on your taste?" asked Kris. The girl shrugged.

"I don't really know what's on my taste." They fell silent for a while until Cinder came up with an idea.

"Why don't you read something from here to see if it's on your taste. You need to occupy your time somehow!"

"Actually, I'm not sure that's a great idea..." She faltered and made it obvious something was wrong. The two boys simply stared at her so she continued in a shy whisper. "I'm out of practice."

"How can you be out of practice?" laughed Kris. "Since when?"

"Well, my father was illiterate so he kept no books, therefore I had nothing to read." The two boys looked at her in complete confusion. Knowing that her father was a master assassin, what she had just said made no sense at all. Therefore she corrected herself. "My adoptive father. The sailor, pirate, you name it."

"Ohh," they both exclaimed. "So," went on Cinder. "You haven't read since before you ran off?"

"Embarrassing, right?" She forced a laugh and the two boys smiled in sympathy.

"In that case," said Cinder with an optimistic look as he put his hand on her shoulder. "We better get you back on that routine."

"Yea, we'll help!" offered Kris.

"Oh! Thanks, guys... but maybe it's not such a good idea. I do appreciate it though."

"Don't be silly, you're part of the Brotherhood now. You have to be able to read, it's a big part of being an assassin."

"Hey! I never said I can't read, just that I'm out of practice." Her cheeks flushed red.

"Calm down, Jade," said Cinder with a soothing voice. She didn't even want to listen so she stood up and walked away without another word.