Chapter Twelve
My face positively glowed as I glided through the nearly empty academy corridor, a note from Sephi in the side pocket of my uniform trousers.
Yes, a note.
I wasn’t sure what the mores were regarding open displays of affection in noble circles. While Sephi’s interactions with me during class that week were laced with innuendo, they were, on the surface, merely cordial. Her note, on the other hand…
Well, technically, it was also merely cordial.
But it was in writing. I was invited to her place the coming weekend, unless the geomagic mapping excursion took place.
The event had been planned for ‘sometime’ toward the end of the semester, with the exact date depending on weather.
I’d never ridden in a balloon before and was looking forward to the field trip.
But I looked forward to visiting Sephimara’s home far more.
Magic glow lamps cast the hall in a dim but serviceable light. The last lecture ended twenty minutes prior, and I’d paused in an empty classroom to read her note.
Several times.
A voice down one of the side corridors I’d just passed caught my attention. Not a raised voice, nor a sharp one, but something about it was distinctly unfriendly. I paused.
“Fur tails like you don’t belong at an institution like this.” I recognized the voice. Aldyr.
Backtracking to the intersection, I peered around the corner to see him and his associates speaking to Yoi.
“Tending livestock is what you should be doing,” said one of the others.
“Sharp hearing to watch for predators. A far better fit for your species attributes.” The three of them had boxed her in against a wall. Not touching her, but she couldn’t get around without touching them.
What was with these guys?
“Actually, gentlemen,” I strode up to them, seeing a near panic in Yoi’s eyes. “People like her are exactly who belong at an institution like this.”
“Stay out of this, human,” said Aldyr.
Who knew what this dispute was about? I might be stepping into the middle of something and making it worse. But I couldn’t just… “Enlightenment, Integrity, Egality. Literally the school’s motto. Or is that too many big words for you?”
“How dare you imply Master Aldyr is unaware of this institution’s history.”
“I imply nothing.” I crossed arms over my chest.
“The nekojin are not one of the magically gifted species,” Aldyr spoke coolly. “It is a simple fact.”
“Almost as ungifted as humans,” added one of the others.
The statement was true. But there were variations in magical affinity within species.
“Your opinions are yours to keep.” I extended a hand to Yoi, leaving the lacky between her and me the choice of getting out of the way or getting physical.
He stepped aside, whispering something to Aldyr.
“But I believe this academy has an admissions council.” I took Yoi’s hand and pulled her next to me. “Which you are not a part of.”
“We have to go,” said one of Aldyr’s companions to him.
Aldyr ignored him, stepping directly in front of me. “This academy accepts students based on talent. It is a place for gifted people like us. And my brother.”
“Interesting. So this supposedly unqualified individual bested your brother to secure a place here? It makes me wonder exactly what sort of gifts he possesses.”
“You would dare to insult my family.” Aldyr’s voice turned to a growl.
“You are the one who brought up this line of inquiry,” I said.
His companion stepped back and gestured at him to follow.
“She doesn’t belong here.”
“As I recall, this magically ungifted individual has also bested all of you on every geomagic quiz so far this semester.”
“Geomagic.” Aldyr clenched a fist.
I was getting to him. My brother would be so proud.
“Passing it will depend on the upcoming field trip.” He glared briefly at Yoi. “Felines always land on their feet. Humans do not. Keep that in mind.”
“I shall. And best of luck to your brother. There are plenty of institutions out there. Ones you can buy your way into.”
Several veins along his temple seemed near popping, as his companions practically dragged him away.
“You OK?” I gazed at Yoi. She stood as tall as the elves, certainly taller than I, with a slim, lithe figure, and a tail that slowly began to swoosh again.
She nodded.
“Don’t let those guys push you around like that. You belong here. Probably more than I do. Certainly more than they do. I’ve seen your scores in geomagic.”
“Theory isn’t everything.”
“You belong here. And you’re one of us. We are mage students.”
She gazed back at me in silence a few moments. “Don’t tell Brenda about this, please?”
“I hadn’t planned on it, but I assumed you would. I thought you two were close.”
“She’s terribly protective of me.” She glanced at the floor. “If she found out, she’d probably beat them all to a pulp and be expelled for it.”
I huffed in frustration. Was that their plan all along? Elves had the reputation of being enlightened, perhaps a bit arrogant, but not bigoted. Was it all a show? “Yeah, well, I can’t blame her. But you shouldn’t have to tolerate any condescension.”
“I’ve seen them harass you as well.” She put a hand on my forearm. “By the way, insulting his brother wasn’t a good idea.”
“It… slipped out.”
“Regardless, thank you for getting rid of them.”
“It wasn’t me. Looked like they had someplace to…” I cocked my head. Where would they go on campus after hours? As locals, they didn’t live on campus.
“Well, thanks for helping.” She dipped her head in a half bow, and darted off.
I slumped against the wall as I watched her disappear noiselessly around the corner.
What were they up to? Not like it was my business…
A hand in my pocket brushed against the paper of Sephi’s note.
Maybe it was my business.
I walked along the corridor to the next intersection and paused. It was a big campus.
A light caught my eye across the atrium. The blinds were down, but…
Rounding the corner to the correct hall, I tread lightly along the corridor, counting rooms until I came to the one that should have matched the illuminated outer window.
I glanced furtively right and left. Empty hall, dimly lit, but not exactly any place for me to hide. I dropped to one knee in front of the door, pretending to tie my shoe. Voices emanated from inside, though too low to make out words.
I leaned closer, straining to hear something.
Wasn’t there some trick about putting a glass to a door? But I didn’t have a glass, I didn’t have—
I sucked in a panicked breath as a hand clamped around my shoulder.
Falling onto my butt in panic as I spun, I gazed up into Yoi’s face, her finger on her lips.
She led me to the next room over, shutting the door noiselessly behind us, and not turning on glow lamps or oil lamps. “You are a terrible spy, Theodore.”
“I can’t argue with that,” I whispered. “But they’re up to something, and it’s not cheating on geomagic.”
She nodded, moved to the wall adjacent the two rooms, and set a huge furry ear against the wall.
I listened as well, but couldn’t even hear as well as I could from the hall. I dared not move too much, I didn’t want to bump into something in the dark.
A door clunked in the hall.
Yoi gestured for me to get down as she ducked under the instructor’s desk.
Footsteps in the hall.
Sharp. Purposeful. Angry.
I crawled on hands and knees to join her, resting my back against the cold wood, a bronze drawer handle poking into me.
The door to our room clicked open.
My hand went to my personal dagger. Would it come to combat if they found us?
Hiding from monsters was instinctive, I’d learned it since I was a child, but this…
not knowing if an opponent would yell, punch, or slash your throat?
I held my breath. Despite the appearance of their ears, elven hearing was only slightly better than that of a human.
The door clicked shut.
We remained silent a good minute before Yoi spoke. “I didn’t get it all, but there was mention of a count and a baroness. Aldyr was the only voice I recognized, he was still a bit worked up and louder than the others.”
“Just the three of them?”
“There was a fourth. He didn’t say much, except to berate the others for not showing more initiative.”
“Anything specific?”
Yoi shook her head. “Aldyr said something about one solution for two problems.”
“Two problems.” I bit my lip. “Did he mean the two of us?”
She shrugged.
“I guess now I owe you.”
She patted my knee. “Somebody once told me mages look out for each other.”