Chapter 31 In Harm’s Way
“What is the meaning of this?” Headmaster Acanthia asked as she tightened a robe around her waist. Her hair was in a loose braid, and she wore a pale-blue nightgown beneath her white silk robe. The light colors and messy hairstyle made her look much younger than her usual more severe attire.
“We’ve discovered and detained the murderers,” Castien stated plainly.
Wren said nothing, letting him handle the situation. He was more equipped to, given her emotional state. The headmaster’s gaze fell on Wren, and she tried not to shrink beneath it.
“Detained? Elaborate.” Her tone was clipped.
Castien stood tall. His posture was regal in every sense of the word. Wren wondered if one day she’d get to see him in his crown. She imagined it would be a wonderful sight to behold.
“Soren Galestrom and Ambrose Bannington are in the gallery. They have been confirmed as the murderers. We should not delay, if you wish to contain them.”
The headmaster’s shock made Wren have to grip Castien’s hand tighter. He hadn’t stopped holding it, even in her presence. Wren could not bring herself to let go either, drawing on his steadiness to keep her on her feet.
“What makes you so sure of their guilt? And who are you to have determined such a thing rather than the academy’s investigation team?” The headmaster crossed her arms over her chest.
“They confessed,” Castien intoned. “I would not call into question my aid, Headmaster. There are three students dead, two because of your failed investigation. Now, shall we venture to the gallery to put an end to the bloodshed, or would you like to risk the killers’ escape?”
Wren fought to keep her expression neutral.
In her conversations with Headmaster Acanthia, she’d been careful to posture herself as subservient in order to lower suspicion and remain in the headmaster’s good graces.
Any challenging Wren did was done in subtle ways.
Castien might as well have ordered the headmaster to bow before him with how confrontational he was.
The headmaster smoothed her hair and cleared her throat.
“Allow me to change, then I will meet you there. Alert the guards at the assembly entrance in the meantime.”
Castien dipped his chin. “Thank you.”
The headmaster shut the door. Castien immediately turned and tugged Wren down the hall.
They were high up in the Obsidian Assembly, in the same tower Wren had visited the headmaster in on her first day.
She hadn’t known then that the headmaster also resided there, so as to appear ever vigilant and available to her students.
“I cannot believe you spoke to her that way,” Wren commented as they winded down the tower stairs.
“Time is a luxury we do not possess. I could not pander to her delusions about her position without risking someone getting hurt,” Castien explained.
Wren was silent as she recalled the way Soren and Ambrose had both fought their restraints.
Castien and Wren’s shadows melted together on the stone walls as they passed beneath lanterns.
She was glad for her coat because though she was warm during the stressful interrogation, the cold was setting in again.
As was the fear that her brother’s killers would wake up and attack again.
“Finn and Eindar are capable of defending themselves.” Castien spoke to the thoughts she did not voice. “It is more Soren and Ambrose I am worried about. If they tried anything, the headmaster might have to dispose of another body, or two.”
Wren swallowed. Finn had been quite intense during the interrogation. She did not doubt that he would jump at the chance to take their life the way they took her brother’s. And Eindar seemed like the kind of man who would not hesitate to run a man through with his blade.
“Do you think it’s strange that Soren wouldn’t confess to the other murders?” Wren asked as they neared the bottom of the staircase.
“Strange, perhaps, but not entirely unexpected. Killing one man is a lot different than killing a man and two women. He might be attempting to lessen his sentence by shifting some of the guilt over to Ambrose. Or, there is just as much of a chance that Ambrose killed the others. We did not continue our interrogation with him after speaking to Soren, so we don’t know if he would have broken.
I hope the headmaster will discover the remaining details in her investigation. ”
Wren nodded. That made sense.
Once they made it down all the stairs, they walked to the academy entrance hand in hand. Castien opened the door and called out to the guards.
“The headmaster requests your assistance in the gallery. It’s an urgent matter.”
After he spoke, chaos descended on the academy. The guards rushed in to find Soren and Ambrose bound and lying on the floor unconscious with Eindar standing watch. Finn was nowhere in sight, but Wren knew he was hidden belowground, escorting Calypsia to her chambers as Castien had commanded.
The guards were confused as to what to do given that they had little idea of who to trust. Castien quickly stepped up to control the situation before the headmaster appeared and took over.
She instructed the guards to watch over Soren and Ambrose, then took Castien and Wren to Westover’s office where he was waiting with Ivanhild.
Both of whom had questions to be answered.
They pelted Castien and Wren with such inquiries in quick succession.
Castien answered each one with careful words laced with authority.
Wren sat beside him on the sofa, clutching his hand and trying to stay afloat in the sea of emotion she was dropped into.
Panic, relief, curiosity, anger. Each a wave crashing over her head.
She watched Ivanhild glare at her and Castien’s interlocked hands on multiple occasions but had no energy to care what he thought.
Tiny black dots peppered her vision, and she had to blink them away every few seconds to stay conscious.
The ticking of the clocks on the walls made her ears ring.
“We’ve given you all the information we have,” Castien said in a calm, cool tone.
“You have no further reason to detain us. We will be leaving.” He tugged Wren to her feet.
She swayed slightly but managed to keep her balance.
Between the emotions of everyone and the weight of her earlier verdict, along with her lack of sleep, she was desperate for rest.
“You do not get to decide when you leave,” Ivanhild said in a low voice. “You assaulted and bound two students. As far as I’m concerned, you are just as much a suspect as they are.”
Wren reared back as if she had been slapped. Ivanhild’s accusation was a bucket of cold water on her senses.
“I would be careful with your words, Professor,” Wren said, giving him a hard look.
“I was present for the entirety of this investigation and participated in all that was spoken of. I did not kill my brother, nor did Prince Valengard. Soren and Ambrose both confessed. Perhaps instead of berating a grieving woman and her friend, you could question the actual killers.”
Ivanhild’s cold expression faltered. She felt his guilt rise up but did not feel any sympathy for him. He was letting his prejudice against Castien cloud his mind.
“I apologize for any hurt this has caused you, Lady Kalyxi, but you must understand that neither of you was meant to investigate the murders in the first place. The academy was handling everything.”
Castien scoffed. “Ambassador Westover assigned us to the case. He can try to claim his words were meant to be taken in the hypothetical sense, but he told the entire Giftings class to use their Gifts to search for the murderer. We did. As such, we should be rewarded with a high mark and perhaps further recognition for saving the academy from more death.”
Ambassador Westover tilted his head to the right and smiled, unbothered.
While Ivanhild chose to stand and tower over Wren and Castien, the ambassador lounged in his chair as though their discussion was casual.
Behind him, the headmaster watched with narrowed eyes, one hand gripping the back of his chair.
“Once you complete your essay on how you used your Gifts to do so, I will be happy to grant you the mark you deserve. I am proud of your growth as partners. I knew you would work well together, but your relationship has progressed even further.”
Ivanhild gaped at the man. Wren blinked, unable to fully take in his words. Her energy was beginning to wane again.
“You actually encouraged students to put themselves in harm’s way?” Ivanhild sounded bewildered.
Westover sighed. “They were already in harm’s way.
They might as well have been productive about it.
” He gestured to Wren and Castien. “And they were. Much more than us. Now, are you going to stop being a boar, or am I going to have to watch Lady Kalyxi faint in my office? Students have done so before, and it is a rather unpleasant sight.”
Ivanhild’s gaze snapped to Wren, then softened.
“Forgive me. If the headmaster approves, you are welcome to leave.”
Wren turned her attention to the headmaster.
Castien let go of Wren’s hand to wrap his arm around her instead.
She leaned against him. The headmaster was silent.
Time stretched between them. The ticking of the clocks made Wren feel as though she had fainted and was in some other realm.
She was unsure if it was more dream or nightmare.
“You may leave. If we have further questions, we will call on you,” the headmaster said.
“Thank you, Headmaster,” Castien replied, sounding much gentler than he had previously.
Wren mumbled a similar sentiment, then let Castien lead her from the room. As soon as they were alone in the hallway, Castien drew her even closer.
“Come on, dearest, let’s get you to bed.”