Obsidian Sky Read Free Page B

picked for one. Would you be sad if I left?”
    “You wouldn’t be gone long, so no.”
    “What if I got killed while I was away? Would you be sad then?”
    “You would have gone on the mission knowing full well the possibilities.”
    “So is that a no?”
    “That’s a no.”
    “You’re the only thorn in the rose garden, aren’t you?”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” Aidan groaned. “And what’s with the hypothetical situations? There’s only one thing we should be worried about right now. The end of our fifth year.”
    “You mean how we’re supposed to give our wishes to the Elders?”
    “Exactly.”
    “I take it you have no intention of following through on that.”
    “Do you?” Aidan asked, turning to face Isaac for the first time in their conversation. Isaac grinned and shook his head.
    “Hey, Aidan!” a student of Mr. Young shouted from behind them. They turned to see a short, stocky boy with glasses that were more like goggles. “Heard about your threat during Mr. Young’s presentation. What are you doing? Trying to graduate early? You know you’re not getting expelled while those are still active.” He pointed directly at Aidan’s right arm.
    “I understand that, Jared,” Aidan said.
    “Then what’s the deal?”
    “I have a plan.”
    “Oh? Do tell.”
    “I would rather not,” he said, staring forward. “The walls have ears and the wind is an excellent messenger.”
    “Isn’t he hilarious when he gets all metaphorical like that?” Isaac laughed. “Don’t know where he gets it from.”
    “Fine, whatever,” Jared huffed. He turned to Isaac. “You watch out for this one. He’ll get you in trouble too.”
    “Oh, I’m fully aware,” Isaac chuckled. Jared waved bye and ran off to the right as the two boys remained outside their home. The crowd from the presentation must have decided to mingle in the village center, located further north and in the opposite direction the boys had gone. The voices were now at a tolerable volume.
    “Guess I don’t have to blow a hole in the shield next week,” Aidan said, looking towards Isaac for a reaction. All he did was raise an eyebrow in puzzlement.
    “Because you have a master plan all of a sudden?”
    “Tell me more about these missions.”
    “Basically the Fourth and Fifth Years are their strongest and most mature, so the best of them are sent on missions outside of the Institute.”
    “I already know that part.”
    “You want to learn something or not?”
    “Fine. Go on.”
    “I think the Elders use the somewhat established adults because they don’t want to risk their own lives to procure supplies and information.”
    “I don’t even want to know what it takes to get established around here…still, what I don’t understand is why they use Fifth Years. They have the most to lose. They could stay out there as long as they pleased, and if anyone tried to bring them back, they could just use their Yen to resist.”
    “There are chaperones of course,” Isaac replied.
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “So your master plan is to go on one of the missions and then bail?”
    “Exactly.”
    “Like no one has thought of that one before,” Isaac scoffed. “And I’m sorry but it’s too late for you. You said it yourself. No one’s going to send you out there without a leash, a bridle and a muzzle. You’ve caused too much trouble.”
    “But you’ll be selected, won’t you?” Aidan asked, looking hard into Isaac’s eyes.
    “Doubtful. I associate with riff-raff like you.”
    “When they’re desperate enough, they’ll take you,” Aidan nodded with confidence. “And when that happens, I’m coming along for the ride.”
    “While getting me killed in the process.”
    “What are friends for?” Aidan chuckled.
    “Well, this is highly suspect,” a pleasant, sweet voice muttered from the shadows between the two cabins. The boys turned, half-worried that too much had been heard, when the intruder stepped into the