Not Inept

Chapter Seven: Man of the Hour | Part 7

“I’ve gotten complacent,” Seerla continued. “I haven’t had to fight like that in a while to just be who I am. But watching you do it for yourself… it reminded me why I want to go into law. Why I’m busting my trollish ass to pass this Comp.”

“Trollish ass?” Thirtyx repeated with a smirk. “I can’t say I ever needed to know in that amount of detail which parts of you were which.”

His amusement was reflected in Seerla’s expression. “There are a few scales back there, but I’d have really loved a tail. Good for smacking people when they make rude comments.”

Thirtyx snickered. “Okay, so since you don’t have a tail, you want to smack them with the law?”

“Well… sort of.” She rested her elbows on her knees and propped her chin up with her palms. “I don’t want to punish people, though. I want to protect people… people like me. And you. I want to support the sort of legislation that allowed me to exist. I want to bring my unique perspective into legal circles to challenge discrimination and inter-species prejudice, because it’s really the first time in our history that’s been possible. Before Grimmary, siding with another species made you a traitor, because you might be helping them get closer to the throne. That ingrained a lot of stupid notions into people’s heads. But I can use my status and my training and my literal genetics to build on Grimmary’s work bringing everyone together.”

She blinked at him like she was coming out of a trance. “Sorry. That was a lot of weird rambling.”

Thirtyx had to remind himself to retract his fallen jaw. “Seerla, It’s not weird at all! It’s admirable, really, and—”

A familiar itch in the back of Thirtyx’s mind derailed his train of thought. Could it really be?

Seerla’s eyebrows drew together. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine just… hold on a minute.” He didn’t want to get his hopes up unnecessarily or open his mind to a trap, so he waited. Sure enough, the itch came again, more insistently.

He accepted the intrusion.

Oh, thank the Twins, you survived. Benn, look! He’s still alive!

He’s not inept, Rhea. Of course he’s still alive.

I wasn’t worried about him being inept! I was worried about the rampaging imbeciles we call classmates.

Thirtyx couldn’t keep the grin off his face, nor could he suppress the laughter that arose from a profound sense of relief. Seerla blinked at him like he was crazy, but he ignored her. No rampaging imbeciles to report. In fact, I got pretty popular while you guys were gone. It’s crazy how knowing the royal family’s secrets can make people want to hang out with you.

He tried to inflect his thoughts with enough amusement to make it clear he was exaggerating but leave them wondering to what extent. The matching tone of Benn’s response indicated he’d done a decent job. You seem like you’re in a good mood. Did you even miss us?

I suppose. Although moving your bed back where it goes sounds like a giant chore. I prefer it next to mine to make one giant mattress.

Rhea made the mental equivalent of rolling her eyes. I hate to interrupt the exercise of your limited sarcasm abilities, but if you want to see us, we do need your help. It doesn’t seem wise to draw attention to our return this close to curfew. Can you meet us down by the gates? Help us sneak back in?

His gut prickled with mingled nervousness and excitement. It sounded dangerous, but it also sounded like the perfect reunion after over a week apart.

Yeah, okay. I can be down there in half a bar or so. But no promises I’m going to be of much use.

A thick air of sarcasm preceded Rhea’s response. We just said you weren’t inept. Don’t make us take it back.

The connection faded, and Thirtyx became startlingly aware of the contrast between his stupid grin and Seerla’s mounting concern. He cleared his throat. “Uh… sorry about that. Little mental conversation. I, uh… I have to go.”

Seerla eyed him carefully for a moment before her mouth stretched into a smirk. “Alright. Give Benn and Rhea my best, then.”

“How did—” Thirtyx shook his head. Perhaps it wasn’t difficult to realize the monarchs were the only ones who would contact him that way, much less make him grin like that when they did. Nevertheless, he was still impressed by her insights.

Insights she likely had on everyone else and where they might be tonight.

Insights that would help him get the twins back to the dorm without being noticed.

Thirtyx tapped his chin with a conspiratorial expression. “Hey, what were you planning on doing after this?”

“Probably studying for Comps… why?”

“Do you want to help sneak a prince and princess back onto campus instead?”