CHAPTER 10 - MEDRA
We were supposed to be meeting Visha and Florence in the refectory but once Theo and I were out in the hall, I stopped.
“I don’t think I feel up to breakfast. I think I’ll just go straight to class.”
“Don’t let Blake get to you,” Theo protested. “He’s just...” He trailed off.
“Being an asshole? Like he usually is?” I watched Theo’s expression of discomfort. “Look, I know he’s your cousin, but...”
“It’s not just that he’s my cousin,” Theo said quickly. “I know him. I know what he’s been through. He’s had a tough time of it, Medra. But despite that, he’s stood up for me, time and again.”
“Stood up for you to who?” I demanded.
Theo didn’t answer. But it was obvious.
“Blake’s been through a lot,” Theo repeated stubbornly.
“I’m sure he has,” I said, as gently as I could. “But he doesn’t seem to have learned from it. He might be kind to you, but he doesn’t extend that same kindness to others.”
“You have to understand,” Theo implored me. “Blake really believes you’re his mate. You’re his only consort now. He cast off Regan for you. You’re his sole source. That kind of a relationship is everything to a highblood. He’s completely dependent on you.” He shifted awkwardly. “To know you don’t want him back, that you’d reject him completely if you could... Well, it must be driving him mad. Especially a protective highblood male like Blake.”
“Protective? I think you mean possessive.” I shook my head. “My relationship with Blake is so toxic. I didn’t want to be tied to your cousin, Theo. I didn’t want to hurt him. But I didn’t get a choice in any of this. You say Blake’s feeling desperate? Well, so am I. And I’m going to do everything in my power to try to end this for both our sakes.”
“If Blake finds out he’ll go nuts,” Theo said miserably.
My lips twitched. “More nuts?”
Theo grimaced. “You haven’t seen anything yet, believe me. Besides, Medra, what’s the point of going down this road? You heard what everyone said at the Tribunal. It’s impossible.”
“Well, your people also thought the dragons were gone forever, didn’t they?” I pointed out. “And that turned out to be false. So when they tell me bonds can’t be broken, forgive me if I don’t pay very close attention.”
Theo smiled slightly. “Fair, I guess.”
I wanted to point out that Theo wasn’t the one who had to hold weekly feeding sessions with Blake. But I’d realized I was encroaching on some vulnerable territory. Highbloods were prickly about the idea of blightborn not wanting to be fed from. It was almost as if it hurt their feelings or something. Even Theo, who was so progressive in most other ways, seemed to still have at least some of this mentality.
“I’ll see you in the refectory later, okay? Maybe at lunch.” I touched his shoulder and forced a smile. “Good luck today.”
He nodded and then slouched away, still looking morose and reminding me of Naveen a little. Except Theo’s hair was perfectly styled and he wore expensive, tailored clothes. And he was a highblood, of course.
I wondered who Theo had fed from this morning. He was looking a little paler than usual. Did he space his feedings out like Blake did, waiting as long as possible? Did he dislike using thralls like Blake had claimed to? I wasn’t sure these were things I should ask. But I was pretty sure I needed the answers if I was going to try to develop a real friendship with Theo and Visha.
I made my way through Bloodwing’s halls, purposely skirting around the Dragon Court. I wasn’t ready to see that place again so soon. The thought of the remaining three stone dragons still sitting there frozen made my skin crawl.
So, instead, I took the cloister path, walked to the end of the arched tunnel and pushed through a side door that led outside.
I breathed in the sharp, salty air of the island. The morning sun was beginning to break through the clouds, casting a soft glow over the rocky cliffs and grassy slopes surrounding the castle. Everything was still green and vivid. The leaves hadn’t begun to change color yet.
It felt strange to be leaving the castle to attend a class. I walked slowly down the pebbled path towards the greenhouse that lay nestled at the base of the hill. As I grew closer, I eyed it curiously. This was the nearest I’d ever come to the greenhouse, though of course, we could see it through various windows from inside the castle. Up close, the building was larger than I’d thought, with an arched roof and a beautiful glass and iron frame. The structure looked surprisingly delicate for such a functional building.
The breeze whipped at my cloak and I pulled it around me. I’d chosen my outfit with practicality in mind. My fitted black trousers were tucked into knee-high boots, perfect for the muddy, mossy hillside. Overtop I wore a thick, soft black wool sweater—free of House Drakharrow insignia. I’d torn off the house motto patch that morning. It had left a slightly frayed spot but no one had noticed so far. I’d worried Blake might, but I needn’t have been concerned. He’d been too busy bullying me that morning to notice what I was wearing.
A crowd of students were already gathered around the greenhouse. I saw Florence. She stood near the entrance, holding a stack of books, her face lit up with excitement.
It gave me pause to see her in black and silver and not the blue and gray First Year colors. But she was in House Avari now. Considering how Blake had acted that morning, maybe it was for the best. I wondered how she’d fare with Kage as her House Leader.
“Medra!” Florence called, spotting me. She waved enthusiastically and came towards me, juggling her stack of books.
“How did you beat me here?” I asked her. “I thought you were having breakfast in the refectory.”
“You weren’t there so I came here instead. I didn’t want to be late for my first class,” she said, beaming. “I can’t wait to see what we’ll be working on with Professor Allenvale. My mother says she’s brilliant. She’s written so many treatises on alchemical applications in battle.”
I smiled at her enthusiasm. “I’m glad one of us is excited.”
She tilted her head, her smile faltering. “What about you? You don’t have to be worried about Regan this year and there’s no chance she’ll be in a herbology class. But is everything else all right?”
“I just came from a bit of a run-in with Blake,” I admitted. “But don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you about that later. Let’s just focus on class for now.”
She nodded, but her concerned expression lingered on me and made me wish I hadn’t said anything. One of us should have a good first day and I wanted it to be Florence.
I looked around, scanning the faces of our fellow classmates. To my surprise, we were a mix of blightborn and highbloods from all four houses. I even spotted another familiar face. Lunaya Orphos. She stood near the edge of the group, her straight silver-blonde hair hanging around her shoulders. She’d fixed her gaze dreamily on the greenhouse like she was peering into some other world.
Before I could decide whether or not to say hello and introduce myself to Lysander’s sister, a cheerful, melodic voice broke through the chatter.
“Good morning, everyone!”
A woman was approaching. I assumed this must be Professor Vasanti Allenvale. The professor’s arms were full of parchment scrolls and herb clippings. She even had a potted plant precariously balanced on top of everything.
Our instructor was younger than I’d expected. She was also a highblood, which surprised me as she was co-teaching the class with Professor Rodriguez. But then, Rodriguez seemed to get along with some of his highblood colleagues at least some of the time—such as Professor Sankara.
Professor Allenvale’s long hair was pulled back into a practical braid. Smudges of dirt streaked her robe which were trimmed in the purple and gold of House Orphos. A pair of round gold spectacles perched at the tip of her brown nose, giving her an air of sunny disarray. I glanced at Florence and grinned to myself as I saw her pushing her own, black-rimmed glasses self-consciously up the bridge of her nose as she watched the professor.
But the most surprising thing about Professor Allenvale was the color of her hair. When she turned and I could see her braid more clearly, I noticed that the long strands were streaked with purple and green highlights. I blinked. I’d never seen a highblood with dyed hair before. It seemed so out of place at Bloodwing where tradition loomed large over everything. But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered why students didn’t do it more often.
“Well, it’s so nice to see you all—and on time, too. Pardon my tardiness. I hope you’re all ready for a wonderful term together,” the professor said brightly, adjusting the scrolls and other items in her arms. “Let’s not waste any time, shall we? Follow me inside the greenhouse and I’ll show you where the magic happens.” She beamed at us. “Well, figuratively speaking. Alchemy is mostly a science after all.”
“But there is some magic to it, isn’t there, Professor Allenvale?” Florence asked eagerly, as she hurried up to the professor and lifted the potted plant out of her arms. “Here, let me help you with that.”
“Thank you so much, Miss—?”
“Shen,” Florence said, beaming back at her. “Florence Shen. And it’s an honor to meet you, Professor Allenvale.”
“Ah, yes, you must be Jia’s daughter. What a lovely woman. An incredibly helpful librarian. Why, when I was working on a new paper for publication this summer on the synergistic effects of herbal compounds for wound salves, her insight was invaluable. I can only imagine how proud of you she must be. Professor Rodriguez mentioned to me that you were on a healer and a strategist’s path.” Professor Allenvale tilted her head. “Your timetable must be very full.”
Florence flushed with pride. “Thank you, Professor. Though I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep up the double course load for much longer. But it’s just so hard to choose one specialization.”
“Well, perhaps this class will help to sway you,” Professor Allenvale said, her eyes twinkling. “Now tell me, Miss Shen, what do you think of magic’s role in alchemy? Necessary or simply supplementary?”
Florence didn’t hesitate. “I think that magic can enhance alchemical results but is rarely required. Understanding the natural properties of herbs and how to properly combine them is the foundation. Magic is a bonus.”
“An excellent perspective,” Professor Allenvale said. “I like to think alchemy is a science first and foremost, grounded in experimentation and study. Magic can amplify its potential but some of the best alchemists I’ve ever known had little to no magical ability.”
Considering how little aptitude for the arcane Professor Wispwood had been able to detect in me last year, I was encouraged to hear this.
From the other side of the group, a soft voice chimed in. “And perhaps,” Lunaya Orphos said dreamily. “Alchemy also teaches us to appreciate the magic that is inherent in nature itself. Some things don’t need to be enhanced. They already hold more power than we could ever hope to understand.”
Florence was nodding thoughtfully beside me. “That’s a good point. I’m still very new to alchemy, but already it seems as if it can sometimes feel like uncovering secrets rather than creating something new.”
Professor Allenvale clapped her hands together happily. “I couldn’t have put it better myself. Beautifully put, the two of you. Alchemy is indeed a delicate dance between discovery and creation.”
They’d lost me a little but I was thrilled that Professor Allenvale was so kind—and so appreciative of Florence’s sharp mind.
Allenvale was looking around at the rest of us. “Now, let’s put some theory into practice. We’ll start by forming groups. Let’s see, I think I’ll have you in groups of three. I’ll assign you so we can ensure a good mix of skills and perspectives.” She scanned the group, her eyes landing on where I stood close to Florence. “Oh! Hello there. Red hair.” She beamed. “I suppose you must be Miss Pendragon.”
“Yes,” I said, a little nervously.
“Excellent. You’ll pair up with Miss Shen.” Her eyes flicked over to Lunaya. “And Miss Orphos, would you care to join them?”
Lunaya drifted towards us, a sweet smile on her face. “I’d be delighted.”
“Wonderful.” As Professor Allenvale organized the rest of the students into groups, I exchanged a glance with Florence. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Lunaya, but she certainly seemed agreeable enough—especially for a highblood. There was something about the girl’s presence that was sweet and calming.
Professor Allenvale clapped her hands to get our attention. “Your first task is to familiarize yourself with three key plants we’ll be working with this term. Please choose a table. At each one, you’ll find some samples of mirthleaf, shadowroot, and emberfern. Each one has unique properties that form the basis of a great number of restorative concoctions. I want you to observe them, study them, take some descriptive notes, and prepare to share what you’ve gleaned with the rest of the group in a few minutes. Some of you may have had personal experiences with these herbs already so I invite you to share those insights.”
As we moved towards our worktable, I leaned close to Florence. “Her hair is amazing. Is that a House Orphos thing?”
Florence looked thoughtfully at our instructor. “Well, sort of. Professor Allenvale usually teaches at a university in the Sable Isles. Most of the students who go there are from House Orphos. And apparently things are less formal there. A little more open.”
I glanced at the professor and her purple and green streaks. “That must be nice.”
We approached the table where small pots of the assigned plants waited.
Not for the first time, I wondered how and why I’d really wound up in this class. I was thrilled to be with Florence, of course. But I wasn’t on a healer’s path like she was. I wasn’t sure how any of this would apply to dragon riding. I had a moderate interest in herbalism and botany, and I’d received decent marks in Professor Rodriguez’s Restoration class. But I’d been surprised to hear The Alchemist’s Garden was on my timetable.
I eyed the potted plants curiously. Mirthleaf had delicate, feather-like leaves that shimmered faintly, as if they’d been dusted with gold. The plant’s scent was slightly citrusy.
Florence leaned in, touching a leaf gently. “This one is used in energy restoratives, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Lunaya agreed. “But it’s also an antidote to certain poisons if distilled properly.”
I looked back and forth between the two girls, already impressed. They seemed to know a lot about alchemy. I wasn’t sure what I could bring to the equation.
“Why don’t I be our note-taker?” I offered quickly. My handwriting wasn’t as nice as Florence’s, but I figured it was one way I could contribute to the group. I quickly scribbled down everything they’d said about mirthleaf and then glanced at the next pot.
Shadowroot was very different. The plant had dark, almost black leaves with a faint bluish sheen to them.
“This one doesn’t exactly scream healing,” I observed, half-expecting them to tell me I was wrong.
Florence grinned. “You’re right. It’s a tricky one. Shadowroot can be toxic in large doses, but it’s a critical ingredient in remedies for frostbite.”
I studiously wrote down what she’d said.
“It’s said to grow best under a new moon,” Lunaya added suddenly. “My house sometimes uses it in dreamweaving potions.”
I stared at the highblood girl. Was she supposed to be telling us this?
Florence looked fascinated. “That’s right. You’re in Year Two now, too, aren’t you, Lunaya? And since you’re a highblood, you’ll be taking House-related magic courses.”
Lunaya nodded slowly.
“What’s your magic course called?” I asked, curious.
“The Veil and the Mirror,” Lunaya replied, soft-spoken as always. I couldn’t imagine this girl ever bellowing. I wondered what Blake would make of her. “It involves exploring the meaning of our dreams and searching for portents in the world around us.”
“Your house motto is ‘Blood of Dreamers,’ right?” I remembered.
Lunaya nodded.
“But what does it mean exactly?” Florence asked, looking as curious as I was. “Can you really control what you dream?”
“Many of us learn to do so. That part is quite simple,” Lunaya replied. “It’s stepping into the dreams of others that’s more of a challenge. That and conjuring dreams of the future.”
“Dreams of the future?” I said sharply. “Can you really do that?”
“I’m not sure if I have a true calling,” Lunaya said, reverting back to her dreamy attitude. “But my professor says I have a knack for deciphering portents. I suppose we’ll see in time.”
I thought of the other three houses. I knew House Drakharrow specialized in blood magic. As I’d already managed to do some blood magic of my own last year with my mother’s help, I wasn’t too impressed with the concept. It was unpredictable, powerful, and dangerous as far as I was concerned. But still, I wondered what the blood magic courses entailed exactly.
“House Avari specializes in magic to do with shadows, illusions, and other kinds of manipulations,” Florence observed. “Of course, since I’m not a highblood I won’t be able to take those courses.” She sounded almost disappointed.
“And House Mortis?” I lowered my voice. “Are they really... necromancers?”
“They learn to manipulate the dead, yes,” Lunaya said complacently. “But most of these magical courses are irrelevant.”
“Irrelevant?” Florence sounded almost offended. “Is any knowledge really irrelevant?”
“Most of our houses specialized in battle magic that could be used against one another, and which was amplified by our house dragons,” Lunaya continued as if she hadn’t heard Florence. “Sangratha is at peace, so the magic is mostly theoretical. Some of it hasn’t been actively used in centuries. I’m not sure my professor can even practice half of what he talks about. But the theory is fascinating to be sure.”
“I can only imagine,” Florence said enviously. She sighed. “Well, shall we move on? This plant isn’t going to talk about itself.”
“Emberfern,” Lunaya said, reaching out a hand to brush a leaf. “Careful. The sap can burn you if you’re not protected.”
“Good to know,” I muttered, keeping my own hands away from the plant.
“Though you’ve ridden a dragon,” Lunaya said, looking at me with a small smile. “So I suppose you’re not afraid of fire.”
“It’s used in tinctures to treat hypothermia,” Florence said. She cleared her throat and I remembered I was supposed to be writing this down. I scribbled quickly. “And in salves to stimulate circulation. But it can be volatile, so it’s often paired with mirthleaf to stabilize it.”
“House Drakharrow would use it on their dragon riders,” Lunaya said suddenly. “When prepared correctly, it was said to be able to amplify courage and strength.”
I thought about what Blake had told me about the Inferni dragons. How their flames were the fiercest but they were prone to volatility, making them dangerous to handle. Is that why House Drakharrow riders needed such a concoction?
As I finished writing down what Lunaya had said, she turned to me.
“Medra, I wanted to tell you how happy I was that you weren’t executed.”
The comment was so sudden, I almost dropped my quill. Beside me, Florence froze. I had the sudden impulse to laugh.
“Um, thank you, Lunaya?” I managed to say. “That’s very kind of you. I’m glad I wasn’t executed, too.”
Beside me, Florence made a choking noise.
But Lunaya didn’t seem to notice. “My brother and I were both very relieved. Lysander said what he could during the tribunal, but he knew no one would listen to him. It makes us both happy to see you back at Bloodwing. Alive.”
For a highblood, her words were so genuine, so guileless. I found myself smiling at her. “I appreciated what Lysander said at the Tribunal very much. Your brother didn’t have to stand up for me, but he did. It means a lot.”
“Lysander believes in doing the right thing, even when it’s hard or goes against tradition,” Lunaya said simply. “And so do I.”
There was a moment of silence as we looked at one another.
“Well, um, I’ve finished my notes.” I glanced around. “I think Professor Allenvale is about to begin.”
As the professor began to call upon each group in turn, surveying us for our observations, I couldn’t help but wonder just which highblood traditions Lysander and Lunaya were ready to discard.
“Hungry, are we?” Florence asked with a laugh, as my stomach rumbled.
Our class had just ended and all of the other students were streaming back into Bloodwing.
“Starving,” I moaned. “Nothing good ever came from skipping breakfast.” Not to mention I hadn’t even grabbed a cup of kava.
She laughed. “Thought you would be. Here. I grabbed this from the refectory buffet table.” She pulled a parcel wrapped in brown paper from her school bag. “I thought we could have a picnic outside.” She looked at me sympathetically. “No kava though.”
“That’s all right. I’ll swing by after classes and grab a mug... or two,” I said, smiling at her. I unwrapped the parcel she handed me to reveal fresh brown bread, mellow orange cheese, slices of ham, and a cup of berries. “Perfect.”
We ate lunch on a flat rock overlooking the churning sea. The waves below crashed against the rocky shoreline. Sea birds flew overhead. The sun was out and it soon became so hot I shrugged my cloak off and sat on it instead.
I didn’t want to go back inside. I lay back on the rock, thinking about Lunaya and Lysander Orphos.
Florence sat cross-legged, flipping through one of her books. “It’s nice out here, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Let’s live on the beach and never go back to Bloodwing,” I grumbled.
Florence hesitated. “Is Blake really going to try to make your life worse?”
“Oh, definitely,” I said immediately. “He seems intent on it.” I glanced at her, trying to decide whether to tell her about the scene in the Drakharrow common room that morning. But the last thing I wanted to do was make her worry about me more.
The rhythm of the sea filled the silence.
“What class do you have next?” Florence asked finally.
“That history class. You’re really not in it?”
She shook her head. “But I’ll walk you there. I know my way around the castle better than you do.”
I’d learned a lot last year, but she was right. And the history class was listed as being in a new location I didn’t think I’d visited before.
A little while later, Florence left me at the bottom of a winding staircase.
No other students we’d passed had been going this way. I was the only one at the bottom of the stairs that supposedly led to “the cliffside wing” where Historical Perspectives would be held.
I made my way up the stairs and emerged into a narrow corridor. A single door, reinforced with iron, stood at the very end. I pushed it open and stepped into a strange classroom unlike any I’d seen before.
The room was semicircular and the far wall was entirely open to the sea beyond. Tall roughly-hewn red sandstone pillars were all that separated the classroom from the jagged cliff’s edge. A breeze swept through the space, rustling papers on the desk that stood off in one corner.
Professor Amina Hassan stood behind the desk, her back ramrod straight, her cane gripped tightly in one hand. Her expression was as severe as ever as she looked at me.
“You’re late,” she snapped, tapping her cane against the stone floor as she walked towards me. “Sit down.”
I knew I was a few minutes early if anything, but I didn’t bother arguing. There were low stone benches arranged in rows and I took a seat on one.
I glanced around, realizing the room was still empty. And if I was supposedly late...
“Where is everyone else?” I asked.
“There is no one else. This is a private session.”
I stiffened. “A private session. Why?”
“You’re a very privileged girl,” Hassan said, her lips curling in a way that told me she thought I was spoiled and arrogant. “Lord Drakharrow has arranged this class for you. He believes you require special instruction.”
I felt my stomach drop. “How kind of him. But I really don’t think that’s necessary.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” Professor Hassan said.
“But...”
“Headmaster Kim has approved your course of study. Would you like to take it up with him?” she snapped. “Or perhaps you’d like to return to the Tribunal?”
“The Tribunal?”
“Yes. It’s my understanding that Lord Drakharrow had your timetable approved by the other members of the Tribunal Panel. They all agreed this course was essential for a dragon rider of Sangratha.” She smiled thinly.
I knew when I was outnumbered. Balling my hands into fists in my lap, I watched as Professor Hassan began to pace back and forth across the cavern-like room.
“This class is to teach you the history and purpose of dragon riders. To ensure you understand your place in the hierarchy of our world. Riders have always been subordinate to highbloods. You are a tool, Miss Pendragon, and so is your dragon.”
My jaw twitched. “I don’t think Nyxaris would agree with that assessment.”
Hassan narrowed her eyes. “Nyxaris is an animal. He is an asset. He exists to serve. As do you.”
“He’s not a tool. He’s intelligent. Wiser than we are. And he doesn’t serve anyone,” I shot back.
Professor Hassan gave a tight-lipped smile. “If that is really true, you will find yourself in a great deal of trouble this year, Miss Pendragon. You will learn to control him. To command him according to highblood wishes. That is your duty as a rider.”
She moved to stand by one of the sandstone pillars. “The Tribunal—and by extension, the four regents—expect you to prove your worth to them this year. You are here not simply to learn but to show results. You are here to show them that your dragon can be controlled. Do not forget it was you who made that claim in the first place.”
With a sinking feeling, I knew she was right. I’d done it to buy time. Could my time be up already? “I thought the Tribunal had already made their decision. My life was spared and I was to attend Bloodwing again.”
“Yes, but their decision was not an end but a beginning.” Hassan’s lips twisted. “Do not delude yourself, Miss Pendragon. You are still under intense scrutiny.”
My heart hammered. She was blatantly admitting they were spying on me now?
“Failure to meet the Tribunal’s expectations will have serious consequences,” she finished.
“What kind of consequences?” I asked warily.
“For one,” she said, her voice hard. “Your freedom. It is conditional. If the House Leaders feel you are not making adequate progress with Nyxaris, your movements will be restricted once again. You will be confined to your quarters. Your access to anyone outside House Drakharrow will be limited. You’ll be allowed out only for essential reasons.”
I tried to force myself to stay calm. “What exactly are they expecting me to do?”
“You’ll demonstrate you have control. You’ll summon the dragon when you are commanded to do so. You’ll practice and execute specific maneuvers.”
Military ones, no doubt. I could only imagine where this would lead. If they had their way, I’d be a tool to hunt and kill and so would Nyxaris.
“Not to mention teaching the dragon to demonstrate the proper submission,” Professor Hassan went on.
I did not see that going over well.
“You’ll prove that the beast obeys you.” Hassan’s cane struck the floor for emphasis. “Your first public evaluation has already been scheduled for next month. You’ll be expected to showcase a number of maneuvers which are of strategic importance. I suggest you start preparing immediately.”
I stared at her. “And if I can’t?”
“Can’t? You can’t afford that possibility, I assure you. Understand this, Miss Pendragon: the Tribunal spared you because you represent potential. They want to see if that potential can be harnessed for the good of the realm. If they cannot get results by using the carrot then they will turn to the stick.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I demanded.
Hassan’s smile was scathing. What a horrid woman. She was enjoying this. “Do I really need to explain it? Do you think your friends will be immune to punishment if you fail? Little Florence Shen, for example. A brilliant pupil. But do you believe she is untouchable? Do you want her to end up like your friend Naveen?”
I froze. Naveen’s face flashed in my mind. The way his entire essence had been distorted into something twisted and monstrous. The awful moment when I’d been forced to kill him during the Consort Games. My stomach churned.
“He failed and so did you,” Hassan said bluntly, dismissing my pain and Naveen’s life. “Mr. Sharma could not meet Bloodwing’s high standards. If you think the four great houses would hesitate to make another example of one of your friends, you are gravely mistaken.”
I felt dizzy. I gripped the stone bench with both hands. Florence. They wouldn’t. They couldn’t.
Professor Hassan took a step closer and leaned towards me. “Your defiance endangers everyone who associates with you.”
I couldn’t help it. I looked up at her, hoping for some measure of understanding. “But Professor, Nyxaris isn’t just some instrument to be used. He’s an intelligent creature, just like you or I. He has more wisdom and experience than any of us, including you and Lord Drakharrow.”
Hassan’s eyes flashed. “Careful, Miss Pendragon.”
“But it’s the truth,” I said, barreling on. “You’re asking me to force him into obedience—as if I even could. He’s not a weapon. He’s not our property. I’m not going to treat him like one just to make the Tribunal happy. Have you forgotten what happened to Lord Mortis?” Maybe that’s what the Tribunal needed to be reminded of.
“You insolent child,” Hassan hissed, her voice trembling with fury. “You dare to mention Lord Mortis to me? As far as I am concerned, you ought to have been executed for his death. You believe you’re above centuries of tradition? That your feelings or those of that beast’s outweigh the will of our masters? You are lucky to still be alive.”
I knew she believed every word she said. I tried to breathe slowly. “I think that we need to be patient and treat Nyxaris with respect. It’s easy to preach obedience when you’ve never had to earn it. Nyxaris isn’t a mindless creature we can order around. But then, I guess that’s something you wouldn’t understand, is it?”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
We stared at each other.
“You ungrateful little brat of a girl,” Hassan spat. Her hand was shaking on her cane. “You dare to lecture me? As if you have any idea what it means to serve. To truly sacrifice for the greater good. You think your precious dragon sets you apart, makes you special? All it makes you is dangerous. You are a loose cannon in a world that needs order!”
I flinched but didn’t reply.
“I have spent my life proving myself worthy of the highbloods’ trust,” she continued, her voice trembling. “I didn’t stumble into power. I earned what I have. Every moment, every opportunity.”
I felt a twinge of guilt. She was right that I hadn’t earned what I had. But I refused to back down. “So what you’re saying is that you’ve earned the right to let them use you.”
The words slipped out, sharp and cutting. Hassan’s eyes widened with disbelief, then narrowed with rage.
“You arrogant little whelp,” she hissed. “You think you can lecture me on loyalty? You know nothing.”
“I understand more than you think,” I shot back. “I woke up in a burned out village your precious highbloods had destroyed. I saw Naveen die because he’d done nothing worse than fail a few courses at this fucked-up school. And now you’re telling me they’d threaten Florence, an innocent girl, and that sits right with you? You think she’d deserve that? That’s cruelty, not sacrifice. Look at you, defending it.”
Hassan’s composure cracked. “The world is cruel, Miss Pendragon. Those who survive do so by aligning themselves with those in power, not by defying them. If you insist on waging this futile little rebellion of yours, you’ll be crushed and so will everyone you care about. I’ll be happy to stand on the sidelines and watch.”
She moved towards the door. “I’ll make my first report to the Tribunal. When they decide your fate, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”
The door slammed shut behind her and I stood there, staring at it, my heart pounding.
I’d just burned a bridge with Professor Hassan. Was our private class over before it had even begun?
I’d made things harder for myself. Harder for Florence. For everyone I cared about.
I couldn’t let what had happened to Naveen happen again. Not to Florence. No matter what it took, no matter how much groveling I had to do, I couldn’t let my friend pay the price for my rebellious tongue.
But how could I prove control over Nyxaris when he’d barely speak to me?
I turned towards the open sea, watching the sun on the horizon.
If I wanted to keep Florence safe, I needed to do what the Tribunal wanted.
And if I wanted Nyxaris to cooperate, I’d need leverage. Something that would show him I was trying to find the answers he needed. Something I could use to gain his trust.
I needed it before the Tribunal’s patience ran out.