“None for me, that’s for sure.”

“I’d rather pound you when you’re not expecting it.”

“Well,” Samheed said, “I can’t be sure how I’d respond to a sneak attack. I might punch you again, and then we’d be right back in this stupid mess.”

“That would be awkward,” Alex said. He relaxed his shoulders a bit.

Samheed nodded. He looked over to the bar, squinted, and impatiently waved off his friend Will Blair. Will glowered back, his eyes like slits.

“What’s with that guy, anyway?” Alex asked. “He’s so … snarly.”

“He’s not so bad when you get to know him,” Samheed said, sounding a little bit defensive.

“Oh, yeah?” Alex didn’t believe it.

“He’s just, I don’t know. He’s acting. I guess.”

“Right.”

“Seriously. That’s what he said when I asked him. And he’s really good. He’s got some amazing spells.”

“Well, why would he want to hang around with a new kid like you? Did you know him in Quill or something?”

“Yeah, I did. He lived in my column, two houses back. His father is the Quillitary general.”

Alex looked shocked. “You lived in the Quillitary Sector? Your parents are Wanteds? You always walked beyond that sector from school.”

Samheed’s eyes flared. “I went to the Quillitary to do work with my father every day after school, to train and prepare myself for … Anyway. So what if my parents were Wanteds? Will’s parents were Wanteds. Heck, Lani’s parents were Wanteds, and her father is the senior governor! But look where that got her. And look at you—you’re Unwanted, your parents are Necessaries, and your evil twin turned out to be Wanted. There’s no pattern, Stowe.” Samheed nearly spit venom with the last words.

“My brother is not evil!” Alex said, a little louder than he had planned. He hastily settled back in the seat and took a deep breath.

“Right. Sure, he’s not.”

“What do you know, anyway? You’re just as Unwanted as I am.”

“I know plenty,” Samheed sniffed. “And no, I’m not as Unwanted as you or anybody else,” he continued hotly. “I was supposed to join the Quillitary. I was supposed to be a Wanted—Will Blair’s father told me so himself! I only had one minor offense, and they were going to let it pass. But at the last minute somebody snitched on me for something else I said. Reported me to the governors a week before the Purge.”

“You’re lying,” Alex said, horrified. “What was the offense?”

Samheed pressed his lips together. His face was red with anger. But his answer came out quiet, even. “Dramatic Boasting.”

Alex sat, stunned. “You mean … on the last day of school? When you and Aaron and I were walking home?”

Samheed nodded.

“But there weren’t any adults around!”

Samheed just stared at Alex.

“So who …?” Alex began, then turned pale. “No …,” he whispered. “I don’t believe it.”

Samheed sat excruciatingly still, his gaze never wavering.

Alex slumped back in his seat, trying to comprehend. Trying to remember if anyone else had been nearby as they left the school grounds that day. “How do you know?”

“Who else could it have been, Alex? You?” Samheed snorted.

Could it be true? Alex dropped his gaze to the table and shook his head slowly. Finally he looked up and saw that Samheed’s stare had softened slightly. “If it’s true, Samheed,” Alex said softly, almost helplessly, “I’m … I’m sorry.”

Samheed hastily looked away and bit his lip. His eyes glistened but remained hard. “S’all right, Stowe,” he said finally. “At least we’re not dead. But that doesn’t mean I’ll ever forget what your lousy brother did to me.”

The two boys sat, saying nothing, until Meghan and Lani arrived and slipped in the booth on Alex’s side, eyeing Samheed suspiciously.

Samheed looked up. “Hey. Look, I’m sorry for the fight I caused in Actors’ Studio. Forgive me?”

Alex looked away as both girls sat, slack-jawed, until Meghan murmured, “Of course, Samheed,” and Lani echoed, “Of course.” Hastily they all began babbling about their school-work in an attempt to change the uncomfortable subject. And then the next uncomfortable subject came up.

“Well, guys, I have news. I’m beginning Magical Warrior Training,” Meghan said, eyes bright.

Lani shrieked and hugged Meghan. Samheed’s lips parted in surprise; then he didn’t even try to hide his scowl. And Alex grinned, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach for the sake of his best friend.

One by One, the Warriors

After the initial shock Alex was truly glad for Meghan, thinking surely he’d not be far behind. After all, he was excelling in painting and drawing and had advanced to charcoals and sculpting, for which he had a special knack. The normally stern Ms. Octavia gave him the highest marks on everything and praised him until he grew red in the face. With only two hands (compared to her eight) he exceeded every assignment and finished with speed and grace. His attention to detail was well beyond his years.

“Marvelous and perfectly accurate,” Ms. Octavia had said of Alex’s charcoal sketch of the sea speckled with islands in the distance.