Page 65 of Magdalene Nox

In light of the bombshell Alden had given her a glimpse of during their meeting, Magdalene felt on somewhat shaky ground. She had to tread carefully. First of all, she didn’t know anything for certain. Second, she could be wrong about this entire parentage revelation. And third, Sam could end up being so hurt, especially if she was as clueless on this as she appeared to be, and that was anathema to Magdalene. Thus, she chose to sidestep this bit of information entirely and focus on her own issue with the oldest trustee.

Sam’s gaze was expectant, and Magdalene wanted to preempt any hint of concern that was sure to take over those expressive eyes at any moment otherwise.

“You wouldn’t believe who visited me today, Sam.”

Sam’s lips thinned. “If you tell me Stanton Alden deigned to grace you with his illustrious company, that wouldn’t be a surprise. He stopped by earlier, I know. His insouciance cloaked in concern stopped flying with me years ago, back when I was a kid. I don’t know why he expects things to have changed in the last oh... give or take fifteen years.”

So she had been right that Alden’s visit had upset Sam. Magdalene didn’t take any pleasure in her own astuteness. There must have been more to Sam’s conversation with Alden that she had missed, and Magdalene felt vindicated to have stuck to school business now. Some things were better left to rest for a while, especially if they could have rather ominous repercussions. So she took a deep breath, nodded and schooled her voice.

“Indeed. I was offered some support from the trustees in these trying times.”

Sam stared at her for a second before rolling her eyes.

“Some?”

“Well, just enough to know that, for now, my position is secure, but I should take better care of my staff. He made a very strong emphasis on me protecting and safekeeping my staff.”

“I guess as my former guardian, he’s trying to act all protective.”

“And yet, I haven’t seen much closeness between you.”

Magdalene took a step towards Sam and captured her hand. Her mind was reeling. All her protective instincts were riled up.

How could this man be so callous towards someone as wonderful as Sam?

“No, I told you about breaking Joel’s nose when I was a kid. I wasn’t invited to either of their mansions for holidays ever again. Up until now, we’ve barely exchanged greetings when he or the younger Tullinger set foot on Dragons. And they rarely have, before this summer’s upheaval.”

This was starting to tread into dangerous waters… A subject change was needed.

“Hm, I like you calling me ‘an upheaval.’” Sam smiled at Magdalene’s attempt at humor, then gasped when Magdalene began to carefully inspect her injured hand. Her own feelings now clear to her, it felt natural to reach for Sam’s hand, whether to check for injuries as she was doing now, or to simply hold it palm to palm. They fit so well here too, their fingers similarly long, perfectly suited for each other…

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Sam tried to pull away, but at Magdalene’s pointed glare, stopped trying to yank her hand out of Magdalene’s hold.

“So you keep telling people, Sam.”

At the mention of ‘people,’ Sam’s mouth dropped open. Magdalene sighed before confessing.

“Yes, George overheard you talking to him. Or well, some of your conversation before I caught her and made her stop eavesdropping.”

Technically, it was not exactly the truth, since George was the one who’d come running to her, full of giddiness at the prospect of sharing what she had overheard, but Magdalene felt it was in bad form to reveal just how big of a gossip her friend was. So this little white, harmless bending of the truth would have to do.

“Ah…” Clearly lost for words, Sam seemed to begin to relax under the delicate ministrations of Magdalene’s fingertips on her palm.

“Are you really fine though?” Magdalene gave the injured paw a long once-over and gentled her fingers further.

“I’m getting there.” Sam’s voice was hoarse, whether from exhaustion or from their proximity, Magdalene couldn't guess. And so she chose to keep talking, to see where this already surprising day would take both of them. She wanted to bask in the glory that was Sam’s company longer, to stretch out the moment as much as she could.

“I may or may not have stayed behind after shooing George away and finished the eavesdropping job she started?” Magdalene looked up at Sam, seeing some of the sparkle reflected back at her in those bright depths. “I am quite astounded by your generosity, Sam. You defended me when you could’ve told an already wavering man what he came here to hear. And we both know he wanted to hear you tell him how badly I’m affecting the school. Do you trust me then not to spell the end of Dragons? Or is this your… infatuation speaking?”

They simply gazed at each other. A tender meeting of eyes, their hands still skin to skin. What a privilege it was to just be here like this, in this room, in this peace. Hadn’t she been searching for this? Magdalene blinked, but the moment, instead of flickering out like an extinguished candle, stretched on.

In the hallway, with Sam and Alden’s voices just a few feet away, Magdalene had been so certain of Sam riding to her rescue, defending her, yet now she suddenly felt shy and in need of reassurance. Or maybe she just wanted to hear Sam say it out loud.

“I guess I’m rather transparent about that infatuation, then.” Sam, once again, tried to extract her hand and fall back on a joke, but Magdalene held on, still waiting for that reassurance, and Sam tsked before speaking, eyes serious now.

“Yeah, okay, I’m not saying you win, because I still don’t believe that half of what you’re proposing is ideal for Dragons, but I’ve looked deep enough and long enough now to see that you are an instrument of their will and you’re doing your best in a situation that is pretty rough all around and in which the ideal is ultimately unreachable. But I’m also aware that you are implementing a great number of good practices that people don’t even notice because they’re too entrenched in hating everything you propose.”

Magdalene released the breath she’d been holding. She had gotten exactly what she wanted. She did narrow her eyes slightly at Sam’s inference that she was a mere tool, but decided to let it go. Sam, brow furrowed, looked steadily at her.

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