Chapter 8 Salt in the Devil’s Eye #2
Georgia stared after him, chewing on a nail. Sylvie couldn’t help but wonder if something was going on between them. Maybe she has a crush? That would certainly explain the timid stares and anxious gnawing. Although Sylvie couldn’t imagine anyone swooning over an arrogant snake like Darius.
Madame Pelletier finished measuring Sylvie and clapped her hands. “Pips! You are now free to collect your tools. After you get your kits, take a checklist and make sure all essential items are inside. If you have everything, sign and initial the paper. I’ll call your name when your apron is ready.”
Sylvie set aside her thoughts. After all, she had more important things to think about than whether Georgia liked a boy. She grabbed her tool kit and ran through the checklist.
Allium goggles
Piping bags
Star tips
Tylose powder
Luster dust
Offset spatula
Balloon whisk
Plating tongs
Candy thermometer
Flower nail
Sylvie continued down the list. Everything was there.
“My allium goggles are missing,” said Adara, with a frown.
Kids were now emptying their boxes onto the ground.
“I can help with that,” said Flora, rummaging through the bins behind the counter.
“You’ll need those when you’re cutting Torpedo onions…
. Plus, they come in handy with the ghost peppers in the garden.
Here we go!” She pulled out a leather strap attached to a peculiar silver frame and thick, round lenses.
Sylvie signed her paper, slipped it onto the counter, and stepped carefully over the strewn contents. Her eyes settled on the knife bags hanging on the far wall.
These were for studying Sages. Colored leather and canvas rolls, in various shapes and sizes.
This was where students stored their most important tool …
their Blade. Sylvie left her classmates behind and made her way over to the knife bags.
When will I have mine? She fingered the gold clasps. Hopefully soon.
“I’m telling you, Kitty. It’s getting out of hand!”
Sylvie crouched between two giant spools of fabric as Madame Pelletier moved closer.
“Keep your voice down, Genevieve.” Kitty glanced over her shoulder. “We don’t want the kids overhearing.”
Madame Pelletier pulled out her Blade—a pink mother-of-pearl handle with a serrated edge—and sheared off several yards of fabric. “You heard that Maxwell boy! There will be more like him. Now that Bass has taken over, sides are being taken … and what about the message that appeared on the scroll?”
“That should give us some comfort. It wasn’t just our scrolls that were infiltrated,” whispered Kitty. “The notice appeared on the entire scroll system.”
Genevieve stared, goggle-eyed. “You mean, all of them … everywhere?”
“Yes,” said Kitty. “A resistance is forming!”
Resistance? Sylvie couldn’t help but think back to Jean’s words in the diner. Bass may not realize it yet, but there are Sages who share my opinion—lots of them. They’re starting to talk.
Genevieve clutched the fabric. “You mean the organization?”
Kitty nodded. “They’ve been quietly gathering followers. In fact, I suspect that is where August has gone.”
Sylvie couldn’t help but wonder, which organization? Her mom certainly hadn’t mentioned anything. Then again, maybe she didn’t know.
“It will make things more difficult, but they’ll take August in and protect him,” said Kitty with certainty.
“More difficult?” Madame Pelletier lowered her voice. “He was one of Godard’s best students … a mentor! The CCS would love to make an example out of him.”
Sylvie squeezed down, listening intently. A Brindille student. That explains why Kitty acted like she knew him.
“I am aware of August’s background. You don’t need to remind me.” Kitty pulled anxiously at a tuft of fur on her cuff. “Besides, Godard seems to think he’s innocent.”
Genevieve shook her head. “I’m not saying he’s gone bad. I’m just telling you that’s what Bass will say. They’ll blame his Scullery background… . And if the CCS finds out August was here just last week, the school’s future could be in jeopardy.”
Butterflies fluttered through Sylvie’s stomach. Last week? Her mind traveled back to the book in the library. Now, she felt more determined than ever to get to the slip of paper and uncover its secrets.
Kitty glanced around nervously. “I’m afraid that’s already happened.”
“Eek!” Madame Pelletier threw a hand over her mouth. “How did they find out?”
“It seems a codling moth has burrowed in,” said Kitty.
“You mean … a spy working for the CCS … here?”
“Yes.” Kitty lowered her voice. “Agents came this afternoon and questioned all the instructors. They knew August had been here. Which means someone tipped them off.”
“I’d put my money on Belinda Bass,” said Madame Pelletier. “That girl has no allegiance to Brindille.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that,” said Kitty. “However, it couldn’t have been Belinda… . Strange traveled here through the faculty oven, which means—”
“Only staff knew about his visit,” gasped Madame Pelletier.
“Exactly!”
“Oh, this is worse than I thought!” Madame Pelletier pulled a fistful of white granules from her pocket. She tossed them over her shoulder. “Salt in the devil’s eye. Burning fury. Curse that spy!”
“Don’t worry,” said Kitty. “Godard is already working on that. There’s a few she knows she can trust. We’re weeding out the rat.”
Madame Pelletier gathered up the piece of fabric. “Well, I certainly hope you find them soon.”
Sylvie watched the two women move back across the room. Slowly, she crept out. Her legs were numb from sitting on them, but she didn’t care. Kitty’s words echoed in her head. A codling moth has burrowed in. August’s warning, watch your back, now made sense. There’s a spy at Brindille.
Sylvie knew about codling moths from one of her mom’s botany books.
On the surface, they were harmless insects.
But in the right conditions, they could cause serious damage …
especially to apples. Once they burrowed into the core, a nasty rot crept in.
You had to trap and destroy them, quickly.
If you didn’t, they could bring down an entire orchard. Or in this case, a school.
Sylvie looked around at the other Pips, smiling and inspecting their tools. Her mind was made up. There was only one thing for her to do. Tonight, I’m sneaking into the library and getting the hidden paper from Escoffier’s book before anyone else finds it.