Chapter 47
Alor and her friend from Clan Tower have been engulfed by others, and Sorza is on her own. I make my move by heading toward her, expression neutral.
“Professor?” Sorza startles slightly when she sees me approach.
“Wait a minute. Get Luren. Bring her out the door I leave from.” That door is in the same direction as the bathrooms, so it won’t look suspicious, I hope, especially if we’re all leaving at different times.
“Got it.” Sorza keeps her voice barely loud enough for me to hear but her face calm, as though this is nothing more than a harmless conversation between professor and student.
I don’t linger a second longer. With measured steps, I slip out the door I gestured to.
The academy’s once mazelike halls are now so familiar to me that I know exactly where I am, even before I stepped out the door.
Just like I knew this door would lead to the bathrooms, I also know there’s an unused office down a little corridor.
One I confirm is still vacant before I wait out of view from the exit to the room where the banquet is being held.
Finally, the door squeaks open. I hear Sorza and Luren talking and step out. My eyes lock with Sorza’s. Luren stops, confusion furrowing her brow. But she obliges as I gesture her around the corner and into the office, Sorza a step behind.
“Is something the matter, Professor?” she asks as I close the door behind her and Sorza.
Sorza wastes no time in making herself comfortable, leaning casually against the old desk. Luren, however, is tense. She clasps and unclasps her hands in front of her, as though she can’t quite figure out what to do with them.
“I have a favor to ask of you,” I say carefully. I’ve the rough outline of a plan and no time to fill the lines in with care. “Something that can benefit us both.”
“All right?” Her tone is still skeptical, but she’s trying so hard to conceal that with a veil of respect for authority.
I take a breath and brace myself. There’s no easy way to get this out, and I don’t have the time to dance around it. I’m choosing to put my trust in her, and I must have faith in that decision. I lock eyes with her. “It’s me, Clara.”
“I don’t…” She squints, takes a step forward and then two back. “I don’t understand.” Forced laughter. “This is some sort of jest, isn’t it? Did Sorza put you up to this?” Luren looks to our friend.
“It’s her.” Sorza nods, well practiced with others’ disbelief thanks to Thal. “Just with a new face.” Sorza glances my way. “I assume that’s why you wanted me here, too, so I could back you up?”
“Indeed.” I nod.
“This is ridiculous.” Luren shakes her head, and her eyes dart to the door, as though she’s considering bolting. “I’m not sure what sort of game you’re playing, but—”
“That night in the library,” I say. There was no one else there that night, so there’s no way for her to write it off. “You comforted me after my sister’s death. You held me as I cried.” Luren doesn’t know Arina’s alive, so I leave it at that.
Luren slowly looks back to me, her jaw gone slack.
Her eyes dart to Sorza, and the woman’s calm demeanor keeps Luren grounded.
Even if Luren knows who I am, she also believes I’m a deadly criminal, and I have a different face.
Sorza will be the rock upon which I rebuild this connection and then use it to my advantage.
“Is this why you’ve been staying late after classes with her?” Luren asks Sorza.
“She’s been helping me.” Sorza nods. “And I’ve been helping her.”
Well, not me directly…But Gregor says she’s been vital in his search, and the Worldkeepers continue to impress me with their acceptance of those close to me.
“And here I just thought you were a teacher’s pet, when you were actually committing treason.”
“I multitask,” Sorza says.
Luren ignores the remark and turns her attention back to me. “Why reveal yourself to me now?”
“I already told you, I have a favor I need to ask…Have you already decided on what clan you want to try to join?”
Luren fidgets with the strap of the bag draped over her shoulder, focusing on the seam of the leather.
“I…had been hoping for Clan Chariot.” Because of Dristin, I assume.
“But I think I royally screwed that up already.” I thought so.
“Knowing my luck, I’ll end up somewhere like Strength or Tower.
Somewhere they’ll want me to fight monsters in the woods, or make cards to defend the northern coast and borders…
because we all know how good I am at wielding,” she finishes with a bitter, sarcastic note.
“How do you feel about Clan Star?” I ask.
She looks up, startled. “It’s a bit far from home. But I hear they treat their Arcanists well. And they do specialize in reading, which would be nice.”
I nod. I’ve heard much the same. No doubt Liam did, too, and that was part of what drew him there years ago.
“I’m going to make it so that Clan Star is interested in you,” I announce.
“You don’t have to select the clan as your final placement—that’s up to you, should you have more interest than just them…
” That seems to put her at ease. I’m giving her options, not boxing her in.
“And you might get more clans eager to know you after we get Clan Star’s focus on you.
There’s nothing quite like making something desirable and exclusive to entice others.
Ultimately, you can go to whatever clan you please, but I need you to go to Star during the winter break. ”
“Why?” She’s skeptical. “What are you going to do to them?”
“I need you to find something for me. It’s nothing that would cause harm, and is mine to begin with.” All truths. “And I need it back; I can’t go myself, for reasons you can probably guess.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you should help her,” Sorza chimes in.
Luren considers this for a long, tense moment, and finally nods. “I suppose I’ve much to gain and very little to lose. I’m not exactly a desirable candidate for any clan.”
“They’re shortsighted and small-minded if they really believe that,” I say without missing a beat.
“You always thought that.” Luren gives me her most sincere smile yet. “But if you can secure me the invite to Clan Star, I’ll do the rest. It helps me, too. And I suppose I owe you for last year still.”
I can’t stop a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet; let’s see if we’re successful first.” She shifts, clearly steeling her resolve.
It’s just like when she faced off with the Stellis.
I’m not sure where this strength in her is coming from, but I’m pleased to see it manifesting more and more.
“What do you need me to do to make Clan Star ‘interested’?”
“I need you to read for a man named Liam…” I start, swiftly going over the broad strokes of my plan. “…Now, we shouldn’t waste any more time. You have cards on you, Luren?”
She nods.
“Good,” I say. “I’ll go ahead first, since I left first. Then you two follow. By the time you’re back, I’ll have Liam ready.”
Without another word, I leave, heart pounding. I reenter the gathering and drift among the attendees. Swinging by the central table, I grab two glasses. Liam is wrapping up a conversation, and I pick up my pace.
Heart in my throat and Kaelis’s eyes boring holes into my back, I slide up next to him, holding out a glass.
I plaster on my most charming smile. “It looks like you could use a refresh, my lord.”