Page 23 of Phixmery

Ashbluff is one of the only commanders at Phixmery who challenges us, in a good way. We respect him, and he has become one of our trusted allies—although not yet brought into the fold—but it doesn’t mean we don’t piss him off most of the time, because fates know we do.

I ignore his question about lessons, knowing that missing a strategy course won’t affect me—Talyn handles all that anyway. “I heard you picked up a fae with a familiar in an outlier village. I think she’s paired with my wing in the morning Physical Training lesson.” He crosses his arms and waits for me to continue with a blank, stoic face that could rival Talyn’s. “What do you know about her?”

“Is this for military reasons or curiosity?” His deep orange eyes search my face.

I shrug, smiling. There’s no way I’m telling him which, at least not right now. Especially if it gets back to the others, considering I was supposed to leave this alone—but I need to know more. Something about the small, pathetic female calls to me, reminds me of something, and I literally can’t sleep. Whenever I’m around her I feel like I’m crawling out of my skin. I know I won’t be able to focus until I get answers.

“Is this going to get you into trouble?” he asks succinctly, giving me a glorious deadpan expression.

“Me? Trouble? No, not at all. But it is important,” I state as calmly as I can.

He places another bow on the rack and sighs. “She was in bad shape when we got there. I had to send word for a healer, because theirs were useless. I hate going to those small villages; it reminds me of how bad things have actually gotten in Damorleia. They have resorted back to the old ways much quicker than the major cities, and it makes me sick.” He fully faces me. “No one knew she had any magick, didn’t even notice that her raven was her familiar. The ground near the whipping post in the village center was still coated in her blood when we arrived. If you’re wondering if she’s a spy, I can assure you that she isn’t. Just an unlucky female.”

I tilt my head to the side as a primal instinct ravages through me at his words—to protect the small female—but I make myself snap out of it. The last thing I’m doing is protecting her. I have enough on my plate with this whole stalking thing without adding some protection detail for her. It wouldn’t help, anyway. She needs to stand up for herself here.

Before the war, Damorleia was at peace and things were moving forward; lessers and nulls were gaining rights. It was great what the recent and now late Queen was able to accomplish during her reign. But certain nobles didn’t like this, and since the Gallalaus bloodline has fallen, things have reverted back to how they used to be generations ago, at least in the smaller villages where bloodlines, power, and social standing matter more than anything else.

But it still begs the question, why didn’t she put a stop to it? Why let them continue to treat her like that when she has power, and clearly enough of it to keep me out of her head?

Fuck, I’m intrigued and suspicious all at once.

It’s exhilarating.

I thank him and spin away to head back inside the castle. Dinner should be almost done. Maybe I’ll see if I can find the Little Mouse and see what she’s up to. But before I can escape from the training yard, I hear Talyn bellow my name.

With a sigh, I turn back to him. I guess I won’t be gathering information on her tonight. At least I’ll be seeing her in the morning for our lesson.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

TO SAY I DIDN'T SLEEP well is an understatement. Between feeling like I’m being watched and not used to sleeping around so many others, I haven’t been getting much rest, and it’s starting to take a bit of a toll. Especially because every morning I rise before the others to make use of the showers before everyone else begins their day, preferring to keep my scars to myself and not risk others catching me when I’m vulnerable. Most of them prefer to shower at night, opting to sleep in as much as they can instead. Today is just the same as the other days but I’m determined to make sure my friendship with Rozen and Ember stays superficial. I’ll accept their help for combat training, but if I’m going to be leaving at the end of the year, successfully making myself a traitor, then I can’t compromise them.

With soft steps, I quickly grab my things and the bar of soap I’ve kept stashed away, and make my way down to the showers. By the time I get back to my chambers, Nero is keeping a watchful eye out from atop his perch. The only fae he trusts in this room are Rozen and Ember, and even that’s tenuous.

Evera checks my shoulder and I drop the threadbare tunic and cotton pants I’ve been using to sleep in, and the soap I stole skitters across the floor.

“Watch where you’re going, null,” she seethes, kicking my soap under Bracken’s bed.

I swiftly pick up my things as she exits the room, Cadet Spade, Amos and Hayes following her out, laughing. So much for squads working together through this shit-show. Nero flies over to the bed and waddles underneath to push out my soap for me.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

He hops forward. “You don’t need to thank me for that. That bitch has it coming. Please tell me we can take her out before we leave? Cresida too?”

A chuckle escapes me. “Well, we are going to be public enemy number one of Phixmery and possibly all of Damorleia anyway. I don’t see why not.”

His excitement through our bond is contagious, and I can’t help another little giggle.

“What’s so funny?” A deep voice asks from behind me.

I jump to my feet and spin around to see Cadet Adair staring at me with narrowed neon-blue eyes. His long pale hair with blue tips is tied back, making his face more severe, sharper. He crosses his arms, glancing between Nero, who flutters up onto my shoulder, and me.

“Just having a conversation with Nero,” I state. It’s strange not having to hide the fact that I can communicate with him, but even despite that, they are still wary of him.

He scoffs. “Sure you are. Evera said you were delusional, I just didn’t believe it until now. You mean to tell me that you and the bird actually have conversations?”

Rozen jumps across the bed and comes to my rescue. His arm perches across my shoulders, being careful not to touch Nero. “Hell yeah she does. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I would take what Evera and her group say with a grain of salt, or just don’t listen at all.” He leans in and whispers. “Nero has been known to threaten to scratch out eyeballs if they piss off his fae, so I’d be careful if I were you.”

Adair takes a step back. “Noted, well… I’ll see you in the dining hall for breakfast.” He spins on his heel and heads for the door, but not before throwing Nero and I a strange look.

---