Ninth City Burning Read Free Page B

differences.”
    â€œShut up, Vinn,” Kizabel yells. “You’re next!”
    Vinneas raises his hands in surrender. “Forget I said anything.” While Kizabel goes on punching Imway, Vinneas leans toward me and kind of half whispers, “Kizabel’s sense of honor demands a token show of force. Nothing to worry about so long as nobody breaks into their repertoire of artifices.”
    Just then there’s a kind of buzzing-popping sound, and Imway’s glasses go flying into the air. He stumbles back, blinking and looking between Kizabel and his glasses, which have landed at the other end of the balcony. “Oh, so it’s going to be like that, is it?” he says.
    Kizabel is taking off her earrings and putting them in her pocket. “Yup.”
    â€œNow’s about when we might want to take cover,” Vinneas says.
    â€œYou have to get to the shelters!” I shout. I’d actually almost forgotten where I was until Vinneas mentioned taking cover. We’re in the middle of an attack. “If the city is hit—”
    â€œWe’re not worried,” Imway says casually. I’d looked away from him and Kizabel for maybe half a second when I thought about the shelters, and now he’s somehow gotten her in a headlock. Her face is bright red from trying to squeeze out, but Imway is acting like there’s nothing strange going on. “We’ve got you to protect us, right, champ? Nothing’s getting past Fontanus Jaxten. You’re gonna—”
    â€œWill you
shut up
?” Kizabel breaks in. Even though she’s been yelling at Imway pretty much since I got here, this is the first time she’s sounded really, actually mad. Imway lets go of her immediately, and she stands up, using her fingers to comb back her hair, which is pretty messed up from the headlock. “Come on. Look at the kid.”
    That sick, airless feeling is back, and I feel hot, sort of quivery, like my legs are going to melt. It shouldn’t be me out here. The Seat of the Champion is made for people like Imway and Vinneas, and Kizabel, too, people who are smart and brave and amazing. Not some random kid.
    â€œHey, Jaxten,” Kizabel says, coming over to me. “It’s OK.”
    I’m afraid I’ll start crying, which in front of these three would be even worse than throwing up.
    â€œWe’re all scared,” Kizabel is saying. “That’s why we’re up here.”
    â€œDefinitely,” Imway agrees.
    â€œI don’t get it,” I say, shaking my head. Is it that, with me as Champion, they’re so sure they’re going to die that they might as well not bother with the shelters—save Romeo the trouble, like Bomar said?
    â€œIf the city is hit, it won’t matter whether we’re in the shelters or not,” Vinneas says.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I look up at him, confused, but all he does is calmly finish his drink.
    â€œVinn.” There’s a warning in Kizabel’s voice.
    â€œHe’s been told he has to protect the city, Kiz. He should at least know what he’s defending.” He looks at me. “What do you think, Jax? Can I call you Jax?”
    I’m not sure how to answer, but I say, “OK.”
    â€œExcellent,” he says, setting down his cup. “So here’s the thing, Jax. Those shelters were built a long time ago, before we knew quite what kind of firepower Romeo had at his disposal. As it turns out, nothing we can build would be strong enough to survive what he’s throwing at us. Down there, up here, we’re all cooked either way. Except for you, of course,” he adds with a grin. “You’re about the most indestructible thing this side of a black hole.”
    â€œBut if that’s true, why—”
    â€œWhy stick you in the Forum, when you could be off with the rest of the defense force?” he says. “To keep the city running,