Page 83 of Wicked Warlock
“So, this is the only reason you come home. For my help. Wasted. That school is a waste for you.” She motioned to the stacks of books. “When all the knowledge you want is right here.”
Adrienne reached her hand out toward me. “Astrid, the scroll, please.”
I handed it to her, unable to take my eyes off Athena. Adrienne unfurled it and laid it on the table in front of her mother. “Can you translate this for us?”
Athena rolled her eyes. “Of course, I can.”
“But will you?” Adrienne paused, waiting for her mother to respond.
Beckett cleared his throat. “Please, Athena, the fate of the world relies on these words.”
“The fate of the world always rests on words,” she snapped. “You’re lucky I’m speaking to you. Roberta is a good friend of mine. Terrible business of flipping her over like that.”
“Hey, Roberta tried to bite my leg.” Beckett crossed his arms over his chest.
“Mom!” Adrienne pointed to the scroll. “Please, we are running out of time.”
Athena gave a heavy sigh. “I’ll translate it… if you stay.”
“Come on, we’ve been over this. I need to do my own thing, live my own life.”
“And you can live that life here, with me and the knowledge of the world.” Athena motioned to the stacks of books all around her.
“One month out of the year.” Adrienne arched her eyebrow at her mother.
“Nine,” Athena countered.
“Two.”
“Ten.”
Adrienne laughed. “One.”
“Negotiation doesn’t work like that.” Athena waved her hand between the two of them. “You compromise, I compromise. You see, that’s how that works.”
“It’s called hardball, Mom. And I’ll give you this. I will come home every summer for the whole summer for the next three years. But I am staying in school. There’s way too much to be learned there. Aside from you Niche is the most knowledgeable mind I’ve ever met.”
Athena lifted her chin and tapped her finger on her lip. “Four years.”
“Deal.” Adrienne offered her hand to her mother.
Her mom took her hand and shook it. “I would’ve done it for one year.”
“I would’ve done it for a six.” Adrienne chuckled and they both shared a smile.
Athena leaned over the scroll and read the words, translating them from whatever language Alataris had used into words I understood.
“To build the wall around the realm,
Join all as one at the helm.
For lives apart still share their breath
So pact of power or straight to death.
By the vein of the ruling hand,
Seize the blood of royal brand.
