Chapter 24 #3
Oz and I both sat with our mouths gaping open as Iona rose steadfast from her seat. “Until then, boys.” She sauntered off, with a spring in her step like she was just given the best news of her life.
“Hey man, you okay?” Oz said, placing his hand on my forearm. In a swift motion, he pulled his arm back, shaking his hand.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re burning up.” Oz said
I put my hand to my arm, but I couldn’t feel it. To me, I felt fine.
“Why didn’t you mention this project the two of you are working on?”
“What?” I muttered, half paying attention to what he was saying.
“This project, you and Iona.” He used his hand to gesture to where she had been seated.
I sighed, not entirely knowing how to respond.
Despite everything in me wanting to scream at him, deep down, he knew something was wrong, too.
That Azmeer wasn’t as it seemed, that Addie and Alvar had been murdered, that Lil and Brida had both been taken, and that I was desperately searching for answers, I knew it was pointless.
“It was something that was asked of me when I received my post in the library. Sort of a job for the newcomers. I didn’t have much say in the matter, you know, court business.
” I said, trying to brush it off as if it were a menial job, one I hadn’t given a second thought, even though it couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“What are you working on anyway?” I attempted to shift the conversation from me to Oz.
We had done well to avoid much court and house discussions.
Our fraternizing was already discouraged.
It was why all of our rooms had been moved to our respective houses.
It means no one from another court can come in in the middle of the night.
No external fraternizing. I missed the late nights in our rooms, in Lil’s, playing cards, talking, spending time with one another.
But even if they had been here, we would have been apart.
“I’m sorting through the documents that have been recovered from Hadash and the Eternal Court.
We are attempting to re-catalogue everything that was damaged.
A Stonekeeper would be beyond helpful these days.
But no one even knows who the last one was.
Many of them don’t tell anyone. In addition to, you know, the notes. ”
Hopefully his notes had turned out better than mine.
“So, when are you going to take me on a shadow ride?” Oz asked, practically jumping in his seat. As if he were a child desperate for his parents’ attention.
“If you want to get stuck in a sandstorm, we could go right now.” I looked over to the timepiece on the wall, we were expected in our courts before the next bell.
Oz nodded and rose, striding side by side to the exit. “An odd thing, sand and shadow. I’ll look into it. Not sure I’ll be able to find anything. Not like they’ve given me much access to anything beyond what I’m doing, but,” he smiled, “I pride myself on sneaking around well.”
The halls were busy with morning chatter that made its way through Azmeer. Snippets of the comings and goings, the upcoming events of the day, events that could potentially require the courts to have to endure each other’s company for more than a few minutes at a time.
Turning a corner, we passed an exit. More guards had been placed on duty—Wind Walkers stood in front of doorway, creating a barrier as they whispered something. Their words formed a shimmering barricade. Was this Rai’s doing? Thalius’?
“Out of my way. Move!” A familiar voice cracked like a whip behind me. I moved to the side to see Magister Illerium. His face was pallid, lines visible for the first time. This was a man who appeared to be in his last days. Not a member of the Magisters.
“What in the Gods’ name are you doing?” Illerium grimaced while forcing himself to stand taller.
“Here,” I said, offering Illerium my hand to balance himself.
“Get away from me, boy.” He swatted my hand away while directing his attention to the Wind Walkers. “As I said, what do you think you are doing? This is the main entrance to the palace. To the Center Court!”
“We are following orders.” A violet-haired Wind Walker in a purple suit responded without gazing back at him. The barrier shimmered from the light of the sun. It was beautiful, endearing, dangerous. Something, I had a feeling that if I touched it, I would regret it.
“And what orders might that be? To lock us inside?” Illerium pressed, pushing his finger into the back of the taller of the two.
The Walker’s purple cloak wafted in a phantom breeze, and he slowly turned to face Illerium, staring down at him.
“We are following the orders of the king, and his advisors.”
“THE KING!” Illerium bellowed, almost fainting in disbelief.
“And advisors? What advisors? To my knowledge, there has been no formal introduction of our king. No one has even seen him since that…” Illerium paused, choosing his words carefully, “ceremony. Besides, these matters are discussed at the Vitality Council, and no such decree was ordered.”
One of the guards stepped forward, offering Illerium a parchment held together by a wax seal. Illerium yanked it from the man’s hands, tearing it open before scoffing. “This is preposterous. How is trade, relations between the courts, non-Azmeerians meant to…”
“That is the point, Magister.” One of the Walkers said as he strode toward him, “The king is of the belief that Azmeer should remain quiet until his festival in a few weeks’ time.”
The other Walker turned once the barrier appeared to be in place. It swayed as the breeze from outside the palace wafted towards it, a ripple in water, leaves in the wind. It moved, but nothing would cross its barrier.
“Again,” Illerium questioned, “who advised the king on this matter?”
“Thalius Towler,” the first said before sneering, “and Reed Marsh.”
“Reed Marsh! My pupil, an advisor!”
The shorter of the two Walkers looked around, understanding that this altercation had garnered an audience. “Nothing to see here, everyone. Time to carry on.” When no one moved, a gust of wind appeared from nowhere, causing everyone to scatter.
Gazing back at Illerium, his head hung low, swaying in disbelief as he made his way to his office.
“Well, it seems like there is something going on,” Oz said before placing his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll see you tonight.”
As we parted ways, I couldn’t help but wonder what we’d just seen. And what Illerium possibly remembered.