Page 63 of Great Falls Cadet
Beside me, air catches in Arisha’s throat.
Shooting Arisha a quick glance, Katita returns her attention to River. “The unnatural effect Leralynn appeared to have on Tyelor of Blair further bothered me, sir. In retrospect, I believe Leralynn may have used fae craft to coerce him into associating himself with the disk as well as making other choices that are of benefit to Leralynn to Tyelor’s detriment. However, that was only the seed of my suspicion. The proof came just moments ago, when I caught Leralynn’s roommate carrying fae craft documents. If left unchecked, I fear she will summon the beasts depicted.”
Katita gestures to Arisha’s papers, which River retrieves from my friend’s hands. For a few moments, no one says a word, the sketches laid out on Sage’s desk speaking for themselves. Finally, River taps his finger on one of the sclice drawings, dark brows drawn in thought. “This is a likeness of the hog beasts Leralynn of Osprey assisted us in putting down a few days back, sir,” says River. “I agree the creatures are not of this world and question Leralynn’s judgment in describing them to her artistic roommate, but she certainly isn’t trying to summon the things.”
Thank you, River.The wave of relief hitting me is so strong that I nearly sway.
Katita’s chin rises. “You mean these hog things have already appeared near here?”
“Yes,” says River.
“No,” says Sage, before pursing his lips at the obvious conflict of words. “What I mean is that there is no longer a problem, Your Highness. The situation was handled swiftly, leaving no danger to the students. King Zenith can be assured of that.”
“With due respect, sirs, then this is thesecondconfirmed incident of fae craft that is tied directly to Leralynn of Osprey,” says Katita. “After two centuries of no problems, we have two within a week of her arrival.”
“The second?” Sage asks, taking the bait.
“I make a habit of visiting injured guards, sir,” says Katita, the stark similarity to what River and Autumn do back in Slait slicing deep into my gut, though I imagine Katita’s motives may be somewhat more calculating. “This morning, I spoke to the young man named Rusty who lost his arm. It appears that several days ago, Rusty scratched his arm on patrol. Upon returning to the stable, Rusty ran into Leralynn, who was mucking stalls as per her punishment detail. Rusty admitted to acting in a manner not befitting a gentleman, making crude comments regarding Leralynn’s body. In retaliation, Leralynn insisted on meddling with the small injury he sustained—which started growing worse before the guard’s very eyes. Unnaturally worse. The spread of magic-rooted corruption continued until the boy lost his arm late yesterday evening. Tyelor was in the stable at the time. I imagine he can vouch for the account—unless he played a larger part than witness in the events.”
“No.” My blood simmers, my hands curling into fists. “Rusty was hurt, and his partner was pressuring the boy to downplay the injury.” My voice rises with each word, and it’s an effort of will to rein in my tone. “I looked at the wound. I didn’t cause it. And Tye helped ensure the boy went to the infirmary.”
Sage coughed into his handkerchief, shifting through the paper laid out before him. “And yet your roommate carries images of the wound, along with predictions of its spread and notes on the magic that causes the blight.” He holds up his hand. “Commander River, did you not issue a decree that not so much as the wordfaewas to be uttered in my Academy?”
“I did, sir,” says River.
Sage sighs, rubbing his face. “Then it is safe to presume that this isn’t an accidental bit of research.”
Bile rises up my throat.
Katita nods, a shawl of triumph settling over her shoulders as she sweeps the room with regal gaze before focusing her attention right back on the small man sitting behind the large desk. “With all that, Headmaster Sage, I request Leralynn of Osprey be taken before a magistrate for further investigation and trial immediately. I believe Arisha and Tyelor are likely victims of her wiles and not true accomplices, but that is for the court to determine.” Katita raises her delicate chin, standing tall despite her pallor. Her voice drops. “To be clear, my lords. I speak now not as an Academy cadet, but the heir to the Ckridel throne, which you all have pledged your lives to.”
“None of this is true,” I hear myself saying. What the bloody hell am I supposed to say? My breath halts, the tension in the room vibrating like the string of a violin. The males—mymales—are silent. Willing to protect me no more than I was willing to protect the mortal realm.
No. Something. I have to be able to do something to save Arisha and Tye at least. I will do something.
Beside me, Arisha grips my hands, hers damp with sweat. “You can’t do anything, Lera,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “Katita is the heir to the throne. She can do as she wishes.”
“Lieutenant Coal,” Sage says, his nasally voice filling the chamber. “Take them into custody. We are an academic body, not a court. The magistrate can work this out.”
Coal steps forward, his ice-filled blue eyes meeting mine. I wonder what he makes of having bedded me in the cave. Whether he regrets the entanglement now. Whether he feels anything at all. Coal’s hand reaches for my wrist.
The roar that sounds from the back of the chamber has nothing human about it. My heart stops, the room in a momentary silence. Then Arisha, Katita, and Sage all scream in unison as a large gray wolf pounces on Coal’s chest, knocking the male away.
17
Lera
Coal stumbles back, drawing his sword in a single motion as a new terror rushes through me. Voices rise in explanation. Katita screaming, Sage gasping, River barking orders for everyone to stay still. The amulet against my chest grows hot trying to force an explanation into my foggy mind.
Shade left for medical supplies. The wolf rushed in just now through an open door.
Shade’s wolf snaps his teeth, his yellow eyes flashing at Coal. Circling him. Nipping at his sword arm and ankles.
Coal swings his steel with one precise motion, not a dull practice blade, but a razor-sharp edge aimed for Shade’s jugular.
“No!” With a scream, I launch myself in the middle of the pair, burying my fingers in Shade’s warm fur. Beneath my hold, the animal’s sides vibrate with flesh-shuddering growls. “Don’t fight.”
Coal’s gaze snaps toward me, penetrating my eyes as if seeking answers.
