Page 31 (1/2)

"Hoill you find rin "I’m an Ender, that’s e do"

She smiled in return "Be careful, Lark Please be careful"

The sound of a high pitched whistle, like that of distant screahts of red and blue "I will And you too, Fern"

The car started up and I saw Fern’s eyes widen as they pulled away fro behind ure out how to keep Fern safe, and prove that Cassava was a ht

Chapter 13

The disappearance of Fern went relatively unnoticed Most people thought she ran away in disgrace when my father refused toin our favor I’d ; they were all as gossipy as Coal

As far as I knew, Granite hadn’t noticed themoney, either Of course, ould anyone steal hu of the sort here, and it would only be good for starting a fire

Three days after Fern "ran away," it was my turn to spar with Granite, one-on-one and no audience He used his abilities with the earth, and I was to try and use only my weapons Like I had any choice I still couldn’t reach that spinning green orb of power I could so easily see if I closed my eyes No, the pain dropped h to know

The upside of not having n that Granite was tapping into the earth, the easier it got forto do Like when the green glow deepened, I kneas going to shake the earth, and when it brightened and danced, rocks flew hard and fast So while I couldn’t fight hie what he sent rowled, wiping off a spot of blood where I’d caught a rock on the shaft of my spear like a baseball and fired it back at him

"I think I’ll keep that secret to myself" I smiled and offered hiet to my feet on my own" He stood, wobbled, and I put a hand on his shoulder

"Sure about that?"

"Bah, see how steady you are after you get a rock s, I crinkled up et soain in an hour"

With a twist, I split my spear in two, the halves easily carried on the belt atas if it were a part of ht, yet always right there when I needed it I wrappedhow often my mother had worked with the weapon Of course, her spear was back in h to use it