Chapter 30 #2
I couldn’t figure out why she seemed to like him more than me.
We had dressed similarly. We were both clearly soldiers.
I supposed I looked a little more gruff than he did with my overgrown hair.
Perhaps I needed a trim. Absently, I scratched at the scruff of my overgrown beard. I needed a shave, too.
“Libraries across the country have been burned to the ground by Hyraxian forces,” Ayanna explained. “We do what we can to protect ourselves and our pupils here, but we are scholars, not soldiers. Many of us feel that it’s only a matter of time before they come for us.”
Any thoughts of insecurity or confusion over her attention faded from my mind at her words.
“Why would they want to burn the libraries?” I mused aloud, almost accidentally.
She laughed, a deep, rich sound. “Come now, even you must be bright enough to figure that out.”
Her gaze was mocking as it turned to me only to soften when she glanced again at Kent, who nodded his understanding. Great, I was the only one who didn’t get it. Just the big, dumb lunk interrupting their conversation.
“If you want a new regime in power, you erase the history of an alternative option,” Kent told me.
“Precisely,” she smiled gently at him before tilting her head at me and then turning to continue on. “Here we are.”
She tapped gently on the door three times before pushing it open, stepping inside, and holding it ajar for us to follow in after her.
Golden light poured in through the three large windows behind the massive study.
Overstuffed bookshelves covered the walls, and various plants were scattered along their tops.
The Headmaster sat not at the worn desk, but in the oversized armchair by the fireplace.
A book lingered in his lap and a cup of tea in his hands.
His robes were entirely scarlet, standing out starkly against his pale, wrinkled skin.
He lifted his head as we entered, glancing first at Kent and me before his attention fell completely on Ayanna.
“And who are these fine men?” he asked her, pushing up the spectacles that rested on the bridge of his nose.
“They come with news from the Dragon.” She bowed her head respectfully as she passed him the note.
He took it gently, watching us apprehensively for a moment before tugging at the wax seal and reading the words Clay had written. His brow furrowed as he read, shoulders sinking.
“I must confess I am not surprised by this request.”
“Time is of the essence,” Kent told him. “We’d like to leave immediately.”
The Headmaster chuckled. “Ah, but just because you wish it does not mean it will happen. Ezmie tends to operate by her own rules and schedule.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Oh, we’re aware. Just tell her Rankor has come and she’ll get her ass moving.”
Ayanna lifted a pointed brow. “Your name inspires that much fear in her?”
I gave her my best smirk. “My name inspires that much excitement.”
It was a lie. Ezmie hated me as much as she hated.
.. well, everyone. I had always been surprised by how much venom that girl could hold in her small, seven-year-old body, and she had certainly never spared me from her wrath.
But the white lie was worth it to see the flicker of disgust in Ayanna’s gaze.
“Very well,” the Headmaster said, setting aside the parchment in order to bring the tea to his lips once more. “We will send for the girls, and the three of them can leave at once.”
Kent nodded his thanks. “Thank you, we—”
“Three?” I barked.
We were here for two princesses and two princesses only.
The Headmaster only nodded. “Ezmie and Myla are still young. They both have much to learn, and I imagine your destination is home to many other displaced children who need a proper education. Here at the institute, we make a vow to provide scholarly advisement to those who seek our services and to those who need our services. I see no greater need than at a time like this.”
I shook my head at him. “Be that as it may—”
“Ayanna will travel with you and the princesses,” the Headmaster continued as if I hadn’t even spoken.
“Headmaster!” she gasped, clearly as upset by this plan as I was.
“With all due respect, Headmaster, we’re already transporting three Mortal teenagers and two princesses. This is a rescue mission, not a caravan. We don’t have the resources to ensure anyone else’s safety.”
Her head jerked towards me, her glare fiery. “I beg your pardon?”
“You would be a burden,” I said, not bothering to soften the words. “Having to look after you would only put the princesses at further risk.”
Her mouth fell open at the insult, and she took an irritated step towards me, anger rolling off her in waves. Gods, for a moment she looked as vicious as Camille could when she was irritated with you. Maybe even more so.
I hadn’t met many institute instructors in my life, but they were usually more in control of their emotions.
“I do not need your protection,” she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You clearly will.”
“You misunderstand me, sir,” the Headmaster interpreted me once more. “You see, I believe Ayanna would be an asset to you. She is a Painweaver.”
My heart gave a single heavy thump inside my chest before pausing completely.
Her?
Well, damn.
My eyes widened as I took her in once more, scanning from the top of that dark hair to the worn leather of her boots that poked out from the bottom of her robes.
She wasn't quite tall enough to reach past my elbow and barely more than a hundred pounds.
How could something so small and delicate be such a rare and deadly Descendant?
It made no sense.
“You could attempt to look less shocked,” she advised through a pinched mouth.
The Headmaster chuckled under his breath. “Then the matter is settled?”
“No,” I protested.
At the same time that Kent clearly answered, “Yes.”
I lurched to the left, staring at him, letting him feel every burning bit of my irritation at this proposal. Kent merely shrugged.
“A Painweaver could be helpful,” he reasoned.
I tossed my head back, sighing. Sure, a Painweaver could be useful, but this one? This woman who stared at me with disgust and held her head far too proudly would be nothing but trouble. Far more trouble than she was worth.
“How powerful are you?” I asked her.
I refused to cart around a woman who could only cause a small sting against the flesh.
Ayanna’s rosy lips quirked into a crooked smile, a dimple popping in her right cheek, as she looked at me with the light of a challenge in her eyes. “Would you like a demonstration, General?”
Any momentary lust I had felt for this creature had long departed.
“Do your worst,” I dared her, reaching out my hand.
Her eyes flicked down to the fingers reaching towards her, her grin growing even wider.
“You want to know how powerful I am?” she parroted. “I’ll start by explaining that my powers are strong enough that I don’t need to touch you.”
Her green eyes darted up to meet mine, and her magic hit me with the force of a battering ram.
Gods damn.
The pain was instant, like millions of lightning bolts slamming into every inch of my body.
My knees buckled immediately, and I stumbled to the ground, barely catching my fall before my face touched down.
I bit down on the scream, not wanting to give her the satisfaction, but a desperate groan escaped, nonetheless.
Another wave of it slammed into me, and my muscles seized, locking in strain.
In my life, swords had run me through, Ciclopia’s beasts had brought me to the brink of death, and I had lost more blood than any man should reasonably survive. Still, I fought on in the face of that agony. Nothing had ever brought me to the brink of surrender before.
But this?
The third wave of agony had me ready to beg for death.
“I think that’s enough, Ayanna,” the Headmaster told her, a hint of admonishment in his tone.
Her magic slid out of me, purposefully slow, leaving waves of torture until it had fully retreated.
The room was silent as I heaved, patiently waiting as I summoned all my strength to rise back to my feet. Chest heaving, I met herself-satisfied grin. In my head, I looked angry, but when I saw my reflection in the whites of her eyes, I knew she could see the effect she’d had.
“Fine,” I spat out. “You can come.”
“We don’t have enough horses,” I hissed to Kent as I stormed back to where the rest of our group waited for us.
Ayanna went to get the princesses and would meet us here so we could resume our travels promptly.
Kent looked over our companions. “Antoni can ride with Myla and I’ll ride with Ezmie and try to keep her calm.”
That still left one new addition without a steed.
Kent turned, walking backwards towards the others. The whites of his teeth shone as he gave a genuine smile for the first time since we’d memorialized his mother.
“The instructor can ride with you.”