Chapter 4 #3
“I might have been caught in the restricted section in the library without a pass,” Trisha said.
“Why?” Lesya asked, her curiosity piqued.
“All the other students had gotten their hands on the Aeternumancy theory books,” Trisha said. “I guess you must’ve been really busy today that you didn’t notice.”
“That assignment isn’t for another week.”
“And we’re talking about House Balthazar students.
We go the extra length. Get a good grade, sure, but make sure others can’t,” Trisha said, frowning.
“All the other students had gotten their hands on all the theory books. The Aeternumancy Theory section was entirely empty. I figured there must be a book or two in the restricted section. I’m pretty sure I found one, but then Armen happened, and here I am. ”
“Fucking hell,” Lesya said.
“What’s Professor Veilmonte doing sending us to the library to find books on the one branch of magic on which there’s little to no books?” Sid Vercliff sneered. “Is he an idiot?”
Lesya knew not to bite.
“It’s not like we’re going to learn Aeternumancy or anything,” Sid continued.
“Eat shit, Vercliff,” Trisha said, turning around. “I saw you checking out of the library with six books under your arm. You’re the reason I got busted, motherfucker.”
Sid scowled at her and looked away, but there was a bit of a satisfactory smile on his face as he did so.
“Right, then. Today’s line is, There’s no reward for rulebreakers.”
Lesya groaned internally as she watched the discipline manager write the line on the blackboard.
There was an empty parchment in front of her, along with a quill dipped in an inkpot.
There was something stifling about the way Umbrveyl stuck to tradition.
The world outside used fountain pens, not these quills.
You couldn’t write as fast with these. She already knew that magic was supposed to be a patient craft, but quills?
While she was still ruminating, there came an explosive sound from outside. Armen cocked his head and looked at the door. The whole auditorium had quaked.
Another explosion.
This is it, Lesya thought wildly as she got to her feet. The Deathless have attacked Umbrveyl and I don’t even have my channeling device on me.
“Everyone, stay where you are!” Armen roared as he strode toward the door. “No one’s allowed to leave just yet.”
“Are you crazy, man?!” Miles Farrow, gaunt-faced, tall, stood up. “We could be in danger!”
“Stay inside!” Armen roared and closed the door behind him.
“What do you reckon that was?” Rheannon asked. “Was it one of you trying to get us out of detention?”
“By setting off explosives and getting us into even bigger trouble?” Sara laughed, but there was an undertone of anxiety in her laugh. “Who’d be that reckless?”
Everyone shook their heads at the same time.
“All right. Let’s not panic—” Trisha began, but Sid cut her off.
“Who died and left you in charge?” Sid hissed.
Another distant explosion. Why wasn’t anyone coming to their help? Why wasn’t anyone alerting them?
Cass, she reached out.
I see we’re on talking terms again, he responded after a second.
Is something happening in the castle? There’s explosions, she said.
I…I’m not at the castle, he said.
Fuck.
Where are you?
I’m not at liberty to say.
Are you safe?
I’m not at liberty to say.
Her heart beat painfully, and before she could say anything, the door to the auditorium opened, and in walked Elias Solwyn, Theo Cohen, and the third member of their group, a tall, black-haired girl named Freya Drummond. They each had smirks on their face.
“Looks like we’ve got them all,” Elias said, taking his spellblade out. Theo Cohen also wielded his spellblade. Freya pointed her ring containing a single rock—an emerald.
“What’s this about, sunfucker?” Miles Farrow growled. Even without his channeling device, he was a menace. He clenched his fists and walked down the steps to stand between his housemates and the Solaris trio.
“It’s about you, and how your father was a good for nothing Deathless!
” Elias spat, pointing his spellblade at Miles.
“It’s about all of you, one and all. You come from dishonorable houses, and now that the Grath Nomad’s coming to reclaim power, you’re going to rally to him. I can’t let that happen.”
“And what are you going to do about it?” Miles asked.
“Kill you, of course, so you don’t get to join the Deathless,” Elias said, pointing his spellblade at Miles.
It was nigh impossible to cast magic without one’s channeling device, but Lesya had read accounts where mages had done that. In fact, Mortandagh could cast magic without using any channeling device, believing that there was no better channeling device than the human body.
She did not want to see Miles Farrow die. He was not a friend, but he had never wronged her.
And so, not knowing what she was doing and that it would change things forever, she raised her hand and did something she’d never thought she could do.
Lesya, Cassian reached out. Are you safe?
I’m not at liberty to say, she said, and then cast a spell with her bare hand.