Chapter 14 Happy Hunting
One typically sought solace from gloomy weather inside of a building.
As Castien walked into Ambassador Westover’s Giftings class, however, he thought it would be better to be stuck outside than in here.
His peers eyed him warily as he passed. Castien did not spare them more than a glance as he made his way to the table he shared with Wren.
Their ridiculous anxieties were not his problem.
His only concern was that they were difficult for Wren to bear.
She seemed fine when he approached, but he knew how well she could hide.
“Are you trying to frighten every student here?” she said in a low tone as he sat down.
Her long blonde hair was pulled up in an intricate style; soft-pink pearl flowers dotted the plaits while a few ringlets were left to frame her heart-shaped face.
A blush-toned coat was draped over the back of her chair, and she wore matching gloves to dress for the chill.
Castien did similarly, but in black. He did not remove any layers, however, due to his still recovering from Tidesickness.
He was on the mend but could not risk anyone seeing him so much as shiver. Weakness was not allowed.
“I resent the notion that you think I have to try,” he retorted as he leaned back in the chair.
Westover had not yet arrived, and neither had Finn.
Though he was likely galavanting around flirting with one of the ladies.
He didn’t do well in isolation and seemed to shake with barely contained energy that morning at breakfast. There were a few other students missing as well, and Castien was curious whether they would show at all.
He suspected a few would take up the headmaster’s offer to sit out of classes.
Some people did not have the wherewithal to look fear in the eye and subdue it.
“You have come in with your sword on display, hand on the pommel as if you want everyone to know you would not hesitate to strike them down.” Wren sounded as though she were scolding him.
Amused, Castien smirked at her.
“I would not hesitate.” Wren glared at him upon his response. “If they were a threat to me or someone I care about, they would find themselves at the end of my blade.”
Something flickered in her deep blue eyes. He hoped she was recalling how he said he cared for her.
“Even so, it is not necessary to be so forward. It only sets everyone further on edge.”
Wren shifted in her seat. Castien saw a touch of weariness in the darkness beneath her eyes, the lines in the corners. The emotions must be taking a toll on her.
“Perhaps I can be more discreet,” he conceded.
Wren looked up at him, her surprise evident.
“What about you?” he asked. “Where is your dagger?”
Her face tinted a sweet pink.
“I have it with me,” she breathed out. “I am simply not as ostentatious as you.”
He wanted to ask where she was hiding it, but he wasn’t sure he could handle the teasing and maintain his composure in front of everyone.
“I’d hope not. My pompous lady does not have the same ring to it as my pompous prince,” Castien jested.
Wren let out a soft laugh. Still, it drew eyes in the near-silent classroom.
Castien was not yet sure if it was good to be associated with him or not.
He’d heard that Wren was suspected by many of the students, along with himself, given his relationship to two of the victims. If they had a visible alliance, it would either make everyone fear them or come after them.
Finn sauntered into the room, Westover just behind him. The look on Castien’s cousin’s face said all that he needed to know.
“Is that rouge on your jaw, Lord Valengard?” Wren asked as Finn settled in an empty seat next to them. Many of the chairs were still empty, so he did not have to take his usual seat. And his partner, Alysia, was … gone. Which meant he did not have to sit with her, either.
Finn swiped at his face with the sleeve of his white dress shirt. It came away stained the color of berry wine. He grinned.
“One can only imagine how that got there,” Finn replied with a wink.
Wren shook her head. “Rogue.”
“Don’t compliment him,” Castien groused. “You should be more careful, Finnick. You don’t know if your companion is dangerous.”
Mischief lighted in Finn’s blue eyes.
“Ah, but cousin, that’s the fun of it all.”
Wren’s soft giggle kept Castien from reaching over and smacking his cousin on the back of the head. He wished there was a way to capture the sweet sound in a music box to play on his darkest days.
“I suppose this is it, then?” Westover’s voice covered up the melody of Wren’s laugh. Castien scowled.
“Very well!” The ambassador clapped his hands together. “We shall rearrange and begin anew. It is just as well since I have a new project for you all.”
Castien’s brow furrowed. A new project? They hadn’t even finished the last one.
“Lord Finnick, please take a seat with Adalin. You two will be partners going forward,” Westover announced, then did the same for another two students that were without partners.
Finn winked at Wren and Castien once more before sidling up to Adalin.
The young girl was immediately enamored, diminishing Castien’s admiration of her slightly.
He could not fault her much for falling beneath the spell that Finn’s Gift of charm was, though, and it said a great deal of her character that she showed up to class despite the danger.
It worked out well that the girl was partnered with Finn.
He could determine just how useful her Gift of forgery could be to the Order.
While meetings and dealings were absent given the circumstances, Castien had faith that the regular operations would return.
And when they did, he would welcome new members.
He simply had to scope out the traitor first.
“Now that everyone is settled, please listen closely, as I loathe to repeat myself,” the ambassador said with a theatric flourish of his hand.
Castien barely contained the urge to roll his eyes. Beside him, Wren let out a short huff to show her agreement with his sentiment.
“Your previous project is no longer required of you. I have come up with something far more valuable.” There was something in the ambassador’s tone that made the hairs on the back of Castien’s neck stand up. “You and your partner will solve the mystery of who has killed your fellow peers.”
Silence sucked the air out of the room. Castien’s Gift started writing theories about Westover’s involvement, though none of them seemed to connect in a meaningful way.
Adalin raised her hand. Westover heaved a sigh, then gestured for her to speak.
“You are asking us to investigate the murders?” she questioned. “Isn’t that in opposition to the headmaster’s wish for everyone to move forward as usual?”
Westover chuckled, though no humor lit his manic gaze.
“I could never ask you to do something so dangerous as actually investigate. It is merely a hypothetical experiment of sorts. You will detail how your Gifts aid in your discovery. And if you happen to unearth new evidence or a lead … then I am happy to bring it to the headmaster on your behalf.”
Adalin nodded slowly. Castien kept his eyes on the ambassador, searching for any detail that might prove him malicious. He came away with nothing.
“He has thrown his common sense into the Tides,” Wren murmured.
“I’m afraid he never possessed any to throw away in the first place,” Castien replied in a similar tone. He was rewarded with a soft huff of a laugh.
“You may traipse about the island as per usual, though do be aware that there are many guards about to stop anything nefarious. In any case, it is best to stay in public with your partner.” He spread his arms wide as if he were welcoming them home. “Happy hunting!”