Corren nodded Mara Take him Feed him He will need strength Then get him gear If he is going to stand for us he should at least stop walking around dressed like river trash Mara smirked Yes Hall Master She tilted her head at Evan Move hero

Evan almost laughed at hero It sounded wrong coming from her mouth But he moved His legs felt wobbly as he walked back up the sloped floor and out through the water curtain He could still feel the pool watching him long after the door had closed behind them

They walked in silence down a short hall Mara did not speak for a while Then finally she said without looking at him Hall Master never says that

Says what Evan asked That someone is not going to drown today

He let out a breath that was almost a laugh Good to know I am special She snorted Do not get soft We are not friends I am just not ready to scrape you off stone yet She paused then added low You did good in there Flameborn Better than I guessed

He said My name is not Flameborn She lifted a brow Then what is it He opened his mouth to say Evan and then stopped Lira had warned him Lira had given him Ean He did not love either choice He did not love that people here already had a word for him that felt like weapon not person

He said You can call me Brooks

Mara rolled that in her mouth Brooks Hm Sounds like ground Sounds like someone who walks through mud and keeps walking Yeah That fits

He looked at her side profile and said Mara right She nodded Mara Tide Guard combat lead Lower rings He nodded You hit like someone who means it She almost smiled You block like someone who has had to move people twice your weight with fire chewing at your back

He blinked She knew She saw it on him She did not say it with judgment She said it with respect

They walked out into a narrow outer yard past a line of stone cells and gear racks He could smell cooked grain and broth somewhere ahead The tight coil in his stomach started to ease and shift into hunger His body remembered it had not eaten since before dawn of yesterday He felt shaky but present Alive

Mara pointed to a long low building with steam coming out from a vent in the roof Food she said Eat fast After that gear After that drills You do not get a rest day You do not get welcome songs You are marked You are watched You do not get to mess up

He nodded I hear you She gave him a hard side glance You better

He started toward the mess hall door Mara called after him Brooks He turned Yeah

Her eyes had a sharp humor in them now and something else Something like trust starting slow on the edge You are in it now You know that right

Yeah he said Voice steady I know

Good Mara said Because the queen will hear about you by nightfall Whether Corren wants that or not And when she comes calling You better already know who you are