Page 27 of Muse

“I don’t want apologies, Isadore. I want to know how this happened. You’ve been practicing so much, and you claimed that the lucenition with Herve went well.”

I twisted my hands together and shook my head. “I don’t know. I did my best.”

Adora stood up and came over to me. Her arms were folded across her chest, and she was imposing as she stared down at me with her probing eyes. “Walk me through it. What exactly happened when you were with Herve?”

"I arrived at his house on time and was led to a performing room," I said. "When Herve came in, I greeted him politely and performed my routine."

“Which routine?” she asked quickly, nearly speaking over me.

“The one from Ashoralida that we talked about. That was the one you told me to do,” I reminded her before she could blame me for the poor choice.

“And he loved it?”

“He … he liked it, I think, but not quite love,” I replied carefully.

“What did he say?” she pressed.

Because I was a terrible liar, I finally confessed, “He needed to see my magik, and so he wanted to draw it out.”

“So you let him drink of your magik until he had his fill?”

I nodded once. “For a while, yes, but not until he had his fill.”

“You cut him off?Isadore!” Adora shrieked my name in rage. “Why would you do such a thing?”

I floundered to find an excuse because the fact that it made me feel gross and uncomfortable was not reason enough. "I have been tired from practicing, and I didn't have the magik to waste."

“It isnota waste! You're giving it to a warlock so that you can ensure your future! It's the least wasteful thing you can do. This is not what I taught you, Isadore," she growled at me. "You do whatever you must to get where you want to be."

“I know, but …” I licked my lips and tried to summon the courage to defend myself. “When I have gone to lucenitions for other enchanters and warlocks, they didn’t do that. I thought it wasn’t something I had to do anymore.”

“Oh, Isadore,” she said with such disappointment, it felt like a slap across the face. “You can be such a foolish idealist. Herve Chaunter is the Warlock to the Queen, meaning he’s the one who rules over the entire kingdom of Calida. Overseeing the placements for muses is such a small part of what he does. He advises the Queen, sits on councils with all the most important people in the land, and wields magik beyond any other enchanter. Do you understand how powerful he truly is? And what he must have done to achieve that level of power?"

“He worked hard?” I answered uncertainly.

“Maybe, but many people work incredibly hard and don’t accomplish half as much as he has. He takes what he needs to amass his power. His magik didn’t grow on his own – he got it from muses like you.” She pointed at me then, her long nails painted pale pink and sharpened to a point.

"In turn, you get a better placement, and with that comes more prestige and gold coins and jewels," she went on. "Eventually, you may even be able to land yourself a wealthy duke like Briar's muse father did. But a little bit of magik here and there in exchange for all your dreams coming true, that's hardly anything to give. He wasn't asking for too much, Isadore. You have become spoiled and selfish, and I certainly didn't raise you to be this way."

"I'm sorry, Adora," I said again because that was all I could say, the only thing that might not anger her more. "I was only trying to do what was right, and… and I never meant to ruin everything."

She sneered at me. “You nevermeanto do anything, Isadore. You are like a newborn foal, stumbling about with no real purpose. As if you haven’t been handed all the tools you’d ever need and been pointed in a clear direction.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying, and a guilt washed over me so thick, I could hardly breathe.

The bell rang at the front door, and Heloise went to answer it, leaving my mother and I standing alone in a tense silence.

“Who was that?” Adora asked when the housekeeper returned.

“It was the postman.” Heloise walked slowly, holding a pale envelope in her hands. “An invitation has arrived for Miss Isadore.”

Adora brushed past me and took it from the housekeeper, and before I even had a chance to say anything, she tore it open. I stayed behind her, trying to peer over her shoulder as she read it silently.

"Good news," Adora said, her voice dripping so venom that I instinctively cringed back from her. "You've secured your next placement in the Kingdom ofLamida. Their sniveling King Asmond has some bumpkin cousins from the country visiting for three weeks, and he needs a few muses to entertain them.”

She looked back over her shoulder at me with a bitter smile. “You traded in a role in thegreatestkingdom’s autumn festival, and now you get to entertain uncouth hicks while missing out onweeksof well-paying opportunities. Oh, did I forget to mention that? You won’t be paid for this. The Warlock to the Queen is sending three of his muses as a ‘gift’ to a friendly ally.”

“I’m so sorry, Adora.”

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