Chapter Thirteen: Upriver | Part 2
While Thirtyx was very much enjoying being alone with Seerla, especially when Rhea and Benn couldn’t tease him about it, that joy wouldn’t last if he kept her from something she really wanted. “I already told you—you’re welcome to go. You said yesterday you didn’t want to abandon the only person not invited, but now I have been invited, so your argument is moot.”
Seerla glowered at him. “After the way they’ve treated you, I don’t want to go!”
“Seerla, I haven’t left this room all day. I’m hungry enough to know you’re lying.”
“Okay, fine!” She buried her face in her hands. “It would be fun for me, but if it wouldn’t for you, I’m standing with you on principle alone. Besides, I couldn’t live with myself if I went out partying and something happened to you.”
“Didn’t I tell you yesterday I don’t need a bodyguard?” He tried to hold her gaze, but she stared stubbornly at the wall. “Also, how exactly might you protect me if Laera Azirenne, a sorceress once shortlisted for Grimmary’s Legion, comes after me? What’s your plan to stop her?”
She crossed her arms. “In my defense, just knowing you’d been taken helped an awful lot last time.”
“And if I’m not in my room when you come back from the party, it’s probably safe to assume I’ve been taken again.”
Seerla dropped her book on the floor with a loud thud. “How in the Twins’ name can you joke about this? We’re talking about torture and palace secrets!”
“Alright, alright. First off, if I don’t laugh about it, I’ll slide into a relentless spiral of doom and terror that certainly won’t help me study for Comps. And second, torture may be off the table if Benn and Rhea are right about her inability to hurt me physically. Trances, on the other hand…”
Thirtyx debated telling Seerla he’d been practicing his trance-breaking skills. On one hand, he’d sound more prepared to defend himself. On the other, it would reveal the genuine fear under his mask of bravado. Did she really need to know how much energy he’d spent thinking of nonsense he could funnel into a trance state or constantly evaluating his surroundings for anomalies that might indicate he’d fallen under?
A knock interrupted the pensive silence.
Thirtyx and Seerla locked eyes, but neither of them moved. Best case scenario? Nephrie was looking for Seerla or coming to extend Thirtyx an invitation in person. Worst case scenario?
“Venmagalion, I know you’re in there. You too, Devinsmeade. If you don’t open this door, I will.”
Thirtyx’s anticipation of this visit didn’t make it any easier. The headmistress sounded more weary than angry, but she could be an incredible actress if she wanted something.
“I’ve come to apologize, Venmagalion,” she continued with a note of impatience. “Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
He felt her deception, but it wasn’t strong enough to be an outright lie. He stood and crept toward the door, and as he passed Seerla, she briefly grasped his hand, eyes blazing with terrified support.
He swallowed hard and pulled the door open.
If Azirenne had come to apologize, she sure didn’t look it. Her posture was as stoic and intimidating as ever. Her tail made sharp zigzags behind her as if threatening to tear into Thirtyx’s skin again. And had she sharpened her horns?
Thirtyx folded his arms tightly across his chest. “Headmistress.”
“Venmagalion. I… I’m sorry for the way I treated you after Grimmary’s recent attack. In my concern about the prince and princess, I got carried away. Things never should have escalated the way they did.”
Thirtyx pursed his lips. It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was enough of one that he nodded his acceptance of the apology. “I assume Grimmary forced you to do this, but I appreciate the gesture nonetheless.”
Azirenne smiled through gritted teeth. She raised her right forearm, and her sleeve fell back to reveal a glowing purple circlet now disintegrating from her wrist. “I must, however, point out that things wouldn’t have escalated had you simply told me what I wanted to know.”
There it was. Thirtyx returned her tight smile. “What can I say? You were right about deciding where your loyalties lie when the chaos descends. I decided a long time ago, Headmistress.”
Calley Jones 