Disarmed (Fence #2)

by Sarah Rees Brennan

“Thanks for your permission, bud,” Aiden returned. He spoke in the light way he always spoke, like the sound of silver bells, but there was a note underneath that sounded like steel.

Seiji’s breakfast was always healthy and wholly unsatisfactory, so Nicholas couldn’t steal from it. Nicholas had once expressed his feelings on this subject, and Seiji had told him to stop stealing food. That wasn’t happening, so they had reached a compromise: Seiji would bring a single small breakfast roll for Nicholas to steal, but Nicholas had to promise to steal it, because Seiji wasn’t eating it and unbalancing his lean, mean fencing-machine diet.

“Where’s Eugene?” he asked. “He had to stop by the infirmary for a checkup after he saw your match,” Bobby explained. “Um! I’m sure it wasn’t that he felt ill after seeing your match. Tell him, Dante!” Dante shrugged. “I’m sure he only wanted to have Melodie, like, smooth his pillow and pat his hand.” Bobby laughed. Nicholas stared off into the hazy blue among the trees. “Yeah, they seem like very good friends.” Dante was suddenly struck by a violent coughing fit. Nothing was going right today.