EXALTED (An Exalted Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

training facility. While it’s not forbidden, since the Ambassadors make the rules, it is rarely seen. The focus of the room immediately shifts to them. The room falls silent. Even the medical citizens stop what they are doing and scurry off to the side of the room.
    Garret makes an announcement to the cafeteria of students and trainees. He speaks loudly so that all can hear what he has to say. “Another citizen was taken yesterday from the fields.” Everyone straightens up and leans forward upon hearing this news—news that I already know about. We all wait patiently for Garret to continue; knowing something out of the ordinary is coming. The act of kidnapping citizens isn’t a new phenomenon. “The Exalted are spread thin with guarding the wall around the Republic’s perimeter as well as the fields and farms outside the wall. The Ambassadors have requested that the upcoming United Trials’ participants aid in the Republic’s protection. This will now be part of your training. Understood?” he commands.
    The trainees answer in unison, “Yes, sir!” We are all eager to get started. While we have shadowed an adult Exalted on occasion, we have never been outside the walls on our own. This experience will give us a taste of what our lives will be like once we complete the United Trials.
    Millie explains how we will all share the patrol times where the extra help is needed. “Everyone will skip two morning weapons training sessions each week, as well as two afternoon combat training sessions. We have posted your schedules outside of the gymnasium doors. You will all be sent out in pairs with someone from your class. You will all do your share and guard the Republic. And you will not be late!” she orders. She looks from Ethan over to me. They are never going to let us forget that one time we were late.
    Force picks up from there. “You will all be guarding in different areas outside the walls. Most of you will be placed on the outer edges of our farms. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. This is not practice! Kill on sight!”
    I glance over to the medical citizens. They’re standing with their backs to us, facing the wall. My attention is quickly brought back to our weapons instructor, Garret, as he calls my name. “Ethan and Mena, you two are up first this morning. Report to Basav at the East Gate. You will both be patrolling in the cornfields until lunch. Strength be with you.”
    They leave us, and before anyone can say anything to me, I’m out of my seat and striding across the room. I stick my hand out to the cowering medical citizen for her to hand me my pill. She carefully places it in my hand and then backs away from me. I swallow it down as I turn to leave for the East Gate, for my first patrol. I’m ready.
    But as I approach the door, I stop short. I remember something from earlier in the day . . . I remember something about the East Gate . . . It’s the same gate that my father brought me to in my dream.

SEVEN
     
    The two Ambassadors that are in my path block my exit from the cafeteria. I will have to wait a few more minutes. The Ambassadors linger. They remained silent during the announcement of the trainees’ new duties, and now they whisper to one another as they both glance over the room, admiring their new crop of protectors. They are evaluating our potential and our physiques. They look at me, standing close by, with both fear and appraisal in their eyes. But I’m too close to them. They back away, moving like a crab as they clutch to each other.
    Finally, one of the Ambassadors snaps his fingers at the medical citizens and instructs them, “Please continue passing out the vitamins. We want our Exalted to be strong, now don’t we?” One of them chuckles, and then they both turn and leave the cafeteria, still whispering on their way out. They’ve seen what they needed to see for now.
    As if an electric shock zapped me back into action, I stride over to the citizen at the door.