Chapter 34
Wren trudged through the fog to the House of Adira.
Exhaustion followed her as close as her shadow.
She had almost fallen asleep during her history class, which would not do, considering she told Professor Ultarian of her prior apprenticeship in order to endear herself to him.
If he saw her less than alert, he would be offended.
It had taken every ounce of her energy to keep her eyes open during his monotone lecture.
Every emotion her peers and professors emulated felt like a weight on her shoulders.
It was a wonder she was not crawling to her chambers.
The only measure of peace in her day was when she sat across from Castien.
What a conundrum that was. She shouldn’t want to be in his presence for anything other than the purpose of uncovering his secrets.
And yet, she found herself lingering in that shadowed alcove with him.
She put away her belongings slowly and asked him what class he had next as if they were the types to engage in casual conversation.
It had nothing to do with him as a person, Wren reassured herself.
Her longing to be near him was simply because he was the only one around whom her Curse was quiet.
That was all. But then she thought of his dark eyes in the glowing lamplight.
How for a brief moment, she had stared into him and felt this stirring within her chest. As if he knew her, somehow.
And she, him. They were strangers, classmates at best, but his eyes… they made her feel utterly transparent.
The tip of her slipper caught on a tree root, and she stumbled.
The misstep shook her awake. Castien was not her friend.
He was a suspect. Wren pressed onward with renewed determination.
She would call for a cup of everleaf tea as soon as she got in, and then she would set to work decoding more of Heron’s journal.
Surely now that she had gotten a feel for the grounds, she would be able to discern some of his maps that had confused her before.
She nodded to the guard posted outside the house as she passed.
He gave her a smile that was much too bright, given the sober reasons for his presence.
Kierana told Wren in her exposition of what she had missed that it was disturbingly easy to get past the guard.
Though they were trained and capable, should someone attack them, there was only one per building, and each building had a multitude of exits. One man could not watch all of them.
Even if they had more guards, though, there was little way to protect everyone with how close quarters were.
No one knew who the killer was or why they were doing this.
It could be anyone, from the servant staff to professors to a student to the headmaster herself.
That lack of knowledge, combined with the fact that they were all trapped on the island until the next Eventide, made security impossible.
Wren pulled her cloak off her head as she entered the house.
The door to the drawing room was open straight ahead, and Wren heard tinkling laughter.
She had yet to return to the room after the episode she had experienced, but she knew she could not stay away forever.
That was one of the few communal spaces.
She would need to enter to gather information and find possible allies.
But today was not the day to try her hand at that. Her energy was waning fast.
A woman with all the grace of a dancer and the snarling bite of a dyrekin floated out of the drawing room before Wren could turn off down the hall to her chambers.
“Lady Wren,” Princess Calypsia said in a silken voice.
Wren had made her acquaintance briefly in the days since coming to the academy. She knew little about her, though Kierana was sure to warn Wren of the princess’s conniving nature.
“Princess Calypsia,” Wren greeted with a curtsy.
The use or lack of formality was something Wren was still learning.
Some students seemed to cling to their titles, while others scoffed at them and insisted upon first names.
Wren suspected that her current companion was likely one who relished in her title.
“How lovely it is to see you recovered from your illness. You had many worried for you.” Calypsia toyed with a large ruby hanging from her neck. The jewel was the same shade as the sash around her waist and the rouge on her lips.
“I am sorry to have troubled you, but I do appreciate the concern.”
Calypsia laughed. It was a short, bitter sound.
“I did not say that I was worried.” She drew closer. Wren resisted the urge to back away. “I know your aim in being here. You are as transparent as glass. Your little stunt proved that.”
Wren’s heart pounded against her rib cage. Surely Calypsia did not know the truth. Had she stolen Wren’s journal? It would not be surprising, considering she hailed from Grimhaven and was raised to do whatever it took to get ahead.
“I am not sure of your meaning, Princess Calypsia, but I can assure you I have no aim other than to carry on my family legacy.”
Calypsia’s eyes flashed. Her anger was like a smack to the face. Wren almost stumbled at the impact.
“Do you mistake me for a fool? I have clawed my way to this position, and I will not have my greatest prize snatched from me by a sniveling nobody from an inconsequential family,” she hissed.
“I apologize, but I cannot make sense of what you’re referring to,” Wren replied honestly.
“I have seen you with each of the Valengard men,” Calypsia growled as her rage burned. “And I have seen Castien’s butler at your chamber door. You aim to make yourself an empress consort.”
Wren blinked at her in shock. Calypsia’s perception was the furthest thing from the truth, but she appeared certain of her theories.
Was this how her interactions with Castien and Finn were being perceived by everyone?
Or was it simply unbridled jealousy from Calypsia?
Wren leaned toward the latter, given the venom the woman was spewing.
“Princess Calypsia, I harbor no desire for either of the Valengard men. I’m sure you know that Lord Finnick has never met a stranger, and speaks to me the same as any other student.
As for Prince Castien, we are partners in the Giftings class, you may recall.
Any letters exchanged on our part were in relation to that.
You may rest assured that I have no such aims as you have accused me. ”
Wren made sure to use Finn and Castien’s titles in order to present a level of formality between them. She almost smiled at the idea of Finn overhearing them. He’d loathe her use of his name and title.
Calypsia’s anger abated, but only partially. Enough to allow Wren some relief.
“I hope for your sake all of that is true. If you have lied to me, there will be repercussions. Do not forget the place I call home. I am no stranger to meting out punishment.”
Wren’s stomach turned at the threat. Grimhaven was infamous for several aspects of its brutal culture, but the most prominent was the Grimhaven Games.
The worst criminals from all the Seven Havens were sent there to compete in the games.
They fought for their lives in vicious competitions while Grimhaven citizens gleefully watched.
Wren held no sympathy for the criminals themselves, but she still didn’t think it was right to take pleasure in watching someone die.
Fear crept up her spine, but she steeled herself. She could not let this vindictive woman get the best of her.
“I have not lied. But I would be careful with your words, Princess Calypsia. For in times like these, they could be seen as a threat. And if that were the case, I would have to report them to the headmaster. It would be a shame if your reputation was tarnished in such a way,” Wren said every word with a smile.
Calypsia’s jaw clenched. Wren dug her heels in against the woman’s fiery emotions.
“Forgive me, Lady Wren. I was mistaken about your character,” she gritted out.
Wren’s smile widened. “It is no trouble at all. I am merely glad we were able to sort it out. I will be on my way now, but I do hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Lady Calypsia’s smile was more of a baring of teeth than anything else. Wren left without offering another curtsy. She kept her back straight and chin high as she walked to her chambers. It was not until she was inside that she allowed her shoulders to droop.
“Lady Kalyxi!” Blossom cheered upon Wren’s arrival. The maid smiled at her from where she was arranging a bouquet on Wren’s night table. “How was your class?”
“It was informative,” Wren said in a tired voice. “But I am afraid my energy has waned. Could you fetch me a cup of everleaf tea?”
“Of course, my lady, but do you not think that a nap would be more beneficial?” Blossom asked the question with caution.
“I have much to study and I should like to take dinner in the dining hall this evening, so I do not want to sleep the afternoon away. Thank you for the suggestion, dear Blossom, but I will take the tea.”
Blossom dipped into a curtsy. “As you wish. I will return shortly.” She gestured to Wren’s desk. “A letter came while you were away. I have left it just there by your quill stand.”
“Thank you, Blossom.”
Wren crossed the room to her desk with anticipation making her hands tingle.
She knew as soon as she saw the red wax who the writer was.
Heron’s journal could wait while she read Castien’s letter.
She couldn’t very well see him in the dining hall and not know what he had written.
Then she might lose in their verbal joust.
Wren set her school bag down and snatched the letter up. Deep down, she knew it was dangerous to find excitement in these exchanges, but she had so few lighthearted moments that she couldn’t resist. So she opened the letter while telling herself she wouldn’t encourage this behavior anymore.
She had gotten so good at lying that she had done it to herself.