Chapter 37
“Excuse me?” Kaelis strides around the table and then practically launches himself forward. “You have no authority here.”
“I do, in fact.” Emilia remains calm, producing a letter.
I’m reminded of the letter Ravin had at the start of the year.
It’s a missive from the king himself. My heart pounds, and the only thing that keeps my ass in my chair, cards in my deck, and expression calm is knowing that no one—other than Sorza—has recognized me.
“By order of the king, Arcana Academy will be under the control of Emilia Ventall for the purpose of finding the traitor Clara Graysword, until her investigation has concluded.”
The whole room is abuzz with murmurs and wary glances. If looks could kill, Kaelis would’ve already ended them all.
Ravin’s heels click with an ominous echo as he crosses the vast hall.
He pats his brother’s shoulder in a way that looks just encouraging enough to conceal the condescension.
“Emilia’s been rummaging through my city for weeks, this should only be a few days.
We need to make sure that rat hasn’t retreated back to its former nest.”
Emilia addresses the room. “Those who are loyal to Oricalis have nothing to fear. Return to your rooms now and await further instruction.”
Heart pounding, I shepherd my students away. As I pass Emilia, I force myself to breathe and keep my gaze forward, posture composed, and strides even.
If she’s here, does that mean the Hierophant is, too?
The second years follow me, along with a handful of Stellis.
Sorza lingers near me, as do Dristin and Luren, since they tend to stay close to Sorza.
No one says a word as we pass even more of the knights searching the halls.
A cold sweat dots my brow. Gregor had mentioned things were becoming increasingly restless in the city.
Did something happen that pushed them here?
I should go and check on Arina. But there’s no way I can. She’ll be fine until I can find a chance to sneak away. Gregor is there.
Just as we’re about to arrive at the main common area of the students’ dormitories, one of the Stellis blocks our path.
“I need Sorza Sprigspark.” The demand is flat and formal, but I don’t like the way his hand lingers on the hilt of his sword with the promise of violence.
Sorza doesn’t move immediately. Instead, her gaze flicks to me. I give a slight nod. I can’t stop this.
“What do you want with her?” Luren asks out of nowhere, bolder than I ever thought the woman could be.
“She will be interrogated, just as the rest of you will be, too.” The Stellis’s voice remains calm, but his grip tightens.
“The students of this academy are under the headmaster’s care. You can’t just pull us aside to do who knows what to us. We are students, Arcanists; we are not traitors.” Luren doesn’t flinch. What happened between the academic years to make her so bold?
“You heard the king’s orders. The academy, for the time being, is under Captain Emilia’s control.” The Stellis takes a step forward. “Sorza, now.”
Sorza gives Luren’s hand an encouraging squeeze. “I’ll be fine,” she whispers.
“Move.” The knight grabs Sorza’s other arm, yanking her forward.
“Do not manhandle my students,” I say firmly. He looks at me warily. “She is complying.”
“I can do what pleases me.” The man smiles—no, more like sneers—and oh, how I loathe his words. He shoves Sorza toward the other knights, who catch her with firm grips. They are far too delighted to have this power—to come into the territory Kaelis has carved out from Oricalis for years.
“I said, do not manhandle my students.” I step forward.
This is way too risky. Clara, you are being an idiot, I scold myself with every movement I make.
But not doing this would feel more disingenuous to my persona as Sophie Veillgar, the teacher who cares for her students.
And it’s too ingrained in me to stand up to fucks like these to stop now.
“Or what?” The Stellis before me moves between me and Sorza. Without warning, he grabs my face, squeezing. He loosens his sword in its sheath. My mind is sorting through the cards in my deck. “What will you do?”
“She won’t do anything.” Kaelis’s voice is cold fury.
There’s a flash of light that’s engulfed by shadow right in front of my nose. A breeze blows my hair. At once, the pressure disappears from my face.
I blink as the man’s hand falls. Not lowers. Not moves.
Falls.
With a clang.
Severed at the wrist. Magic cutting through armor, skin, and bone.
The Stellis stares at the stump that is his wrist before letting out a bloodcurdling scream. He staggers back. I can feel Kaelis moving forward, the weight of his presence causing the students to part for him. He stares over my shoulder and down at the man.
“Lay a hand on one of mine again, and you’ll lose a lot more than that,” Kaelis vows.
The Stellis can’t form a response. He’s in too much shock. Blood pools on the floor. His comrades are shuffling their decks, magic stopping the bleeding. The man grabs up his severed appendage and runs off.
I’m honestly not sure if a wound like that will be able to be mended.
“Run, tattle on me to my brother like we’re children,” Kaelis says under his breath with a dramatic sigh.
Then he turns to face the Stellis who remain—those holding Sorza—who have gone very, very still.
“You might be here with my father’s blessing.
But do remember that this is only temporarily a place open to you.
This is my academy, where I train the king’s Arcanists.
To bring harm to them is to threaten or damage property of the crown. ”
No one says anything. No one moves. Most jaws have gone completely slack.
“Students, return to your rooms,” Kaelis commands. The Stellis take their opportunity to leave as well. The prince glances my way. “Professor.”
Students go one way, he and I go another. It’s the path toward the professors’ wing. No one should be suspicious at all. Yet my heart is pounding.
The moment we’re out of sight, he slows and steps closer to me, pushing us into an alcove, lightly caressing my face, as if his touch could smooth away the remnants of the Stellis’s. Like it’s a stain that Kaelis now needs to smudge away.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“You shouldn’t have stepped in,” he murmurs.
“Neither should you,” I reply, just as quiet. “I told you not to protect me so brazenly.”
“I will die before I let someone treat you like that.” He snorts softly. “Besides…this time it’s not just about you. I am ready to boil each of them alive in their armor for this transgression. Fuck my father’s orders. I wouldn’t be shocked if Ravin forged the damn thing.”
Never have I seen Kaelis so enraged. So…on edge. His anger, while justified, is also unnerving. He’s afraid. I touch his forearm lightly.
“Don’t worry about me.” I drop my voice, looking up at him. “I can take care of myself.”
My reassurances do nothing to ease his nerves. “He’s here.” Two words have me reliving every choice I’ve made in the past few weeks. He’s here. The Hierophant. Kaelis’s voice drops even lower. “You’re sure? This might be your last chance to change your mind about your decision.”
I know what he’s asking: Am I sure I can trust the Hierophant? No. There are so very few people I’m sure I can trust. But I can trust he has reasons to hate the king, too. That those reasons would be enough for him to ally himself with me. I hope.
“I’m sure.” Let the cards fall as they may.
Let me reap the reward or punishment of my faith.
Let it be a test of what I get when I trust. He nods.
I stand a bit taller and swallow down the fear that sours the back of my tongue.
“Do what you need to do to manage your brother. I’ll look after the students, too. ”
His gaze finally softens some. “Thank you.” This prince, for all his sharp edges, does care about the students he’s sworn to protect. “I can only assume your research has been what’s keeping you from me. Given the number of times I’ve seen you in the library at odd hours.”
“You’ve been watching me?” I should be unnerved. Yet I’m fighting a blush. It’s Kaelis, after all. The man who just cut off a Stellis’s hand to defend me.
He completely ignores the question. “Have you made progress?”
I know what he’s asking, and a lump forms in my throat. “Not really.”
“The sooner we can undo all of this, the better.”
“You don’t think I know that?” The frustration in my words isn’t with him. “I am trying.”
“Let me help. Come to me.”
“I needed to exhaust all options first.”
“Like I’m some last resort?” He plays it off with a scoff, but I can tell he’s wounded.
“No,” I say hastily, gripping his hand with both of mine. The movement has me leaning in, our noses nearly touching. We breathe in sync. “I…It’s been a lot, Kaelis. I’m trying to get my bearings.”
“It has been. But that’s the thing, you don’t have to do this alone.” His hand shifts, fingers lacing with mine. “I know it is your way—your instinct. You are strong and self-sufficient; none of that must change. But you don’t need it with me. I will be on your side until the end of time.”
I sigh softly. “I know.”
He nods. “After this ordeal with Emilia is over…come to me. Please.”
As always, it’s the “please” that does it. “Yes.”
“Thank you.” He sighs relief, but his grip doesn’t ease. He stares as though drinking me in for a final long moment. “Until then, stay safe.”
“You, too.”
Kaelis releases my hand and moves first. I’m left standing in the alcove, just out of sight, palm burning where he held it.
I return to my room, but I don’t sit. Instead, I pace for the first few hours, breath catching every time I hear the clank of armor or the gruff command of a Stellis in the hall outside my door.
I try to ink as the day wanes, but I can’t.
Waiting has utterly consumed me and my nerves won’t abate.
Any second, the Hierophant could change his mind. Any second, I could be exposed. Even if he doesn’t know my new face, he doesn’t have to.
The next morning, at last, I’m summoned.