Page 77 of The Ordeals
She tenses and shakes her head as Greg resumes his grumbling about confinement and potions and the over-the-top precautions Tessa’s taking. ‘They said they can’t assist during the Ordeals, not after the initial infusions after he changed. Until he’s a scholar … he’s on his own with this.’
‘So they’re happy to stop him from harming others—’
‘But not myself,’ Greg says quietly. ‘An extra little bonus Ordeal I suppose. T, did you bring a book to read at least? And snacks? I really think this is going to get very boring.’
‘Oh yes, I brought a choice of three. Plus a flask of tea and your favourite biscuits.’
‘Really?’
‘No!’ she snaps. ‘For fuck’s sake, this isn’t a midnight feast, Greg! You could literally transform into a bloody werewolf, lose all traces of humanity and go on a murderous rampage!’
Greg sighs, turning to me. ‘Don’t worry, she’s not always this dramatic.’
I cough, hiding my grin as they continue their bickering and we clatter down a winding flagstone staircase into the lower levels. It’s cold down here, the bone-deep, aching cold of winter, and I’m glad of the wool coat and scarf I shrugged on at the last minute.
‘Grant said it was the third door on the left …’ Tessa says, pulling a heavy iron key from her pocket. She fits it in the lock, pulling back the thick oak door on protesting hinges. ‘She also said we can shift a couple of chairs into the corridor from the lab.’
‘Do I get a chair?’ Greg asks hopefully, ducking his head into the room and scrunching his nose. ‘It’s like a bloody torture chamber! What is that? Is that astraw bed? You know I get a rash from any plant in the hay family. Seriously …’
‘Oh, I’m sorry you don’t have your home comforts whilst turning into a fanged monster,’ Tessa says, crossing her arms. ‘You are such a—’
‘Handsome monster?’ Greg winks, dipping to give her a quick kiss on the cheek before dancing backwards into the room, avoiding her hand swipe. ‘Can’t wait for snuggles tomorrow!’
‘Urgh, men …’ Tessa groans, slamming the door closed and locking it. ‘All they do is complain.’
‘And ask for affection! Horrible!’ Greg’s voice comes from behind the locked door.
I snort, quickly turning away as Tessa stalks into the lab next door to find the chairs. ‘He’s lucky I care. The professors would have chained him to a wall or sent him home. Snuggles my damn foot …’
We get settled and Tessa pulls the pack from her back, drawing out a Thermos and two mugs. ‘Tea? Biccie?’
I can’t help chuckling as she passes me a mug and we clink, settling in for a long, uncomfortable night. She passes me an oat biscuit smothered in caramel, and I dunk it in my tea, enjoying the hot crumbliness as it melts in my mouth. There’s something that’s been nagging at me, the words Knox said right before I dashed the cup from his hand. ‘So, earlier in Gantry …’
‘The near murder of Frances?’
‘Yes, that.’ I nod, swirling a second biscuit around in my tea. ‘How did Knox work with Alden to stop the poison? I know he’s an alchemist, but …’
Tessa leans back, taking a gulp of her tea. ‘Well, it comes down to the essential principles of the magic he wields, and his particular skill with it. Knox is powerful. But it’s raw power, he hasn’t honed it enough to learn control, which I suspect is what he’s hoping to learn from Hess at Killmarth. And I would bet anything that he andAlden have worked together before in that way. You really weren’t taught much before you came here, were you?’ Tessa says curiously. ‘Did you haveanyformal education?’
‘Let’s say I was homeschooled.’ I shrug, taking a sip of tea. ‘And magic wasn’t part of the syllabus. Anything I’ve gleaned, it’s been in my own time.’
‘Well, alchemy is the magic of transformation, as you know. A magic wielder can, to varying degrees, take a tangible or even an intangible object and change it into something else. But nothing living, that’s the catch. If a wielder could do that, that would make it botany. The manipulation oflivingmatter. Plant usually, but also person and creature.’
I think back to the Collector and his map and nod. ‘All right, so what Knox did … ?’
‘He transformed his magic into something malleable that Alden could channel and wield. He essentially created raw power and forced it into his veins, binding with Alden’s own.’
‘Alden, or rather his blood, was the conduit.’
Tessa nods. ‘We’ve certainly got an interesting cohort. But then I’ve heard you have to be pretty strong or different in some way to get through the final Ordeal.’
‘Initiation,’ I say quietly.
Tessa shuffles around in her seat and tops up her mug from the Thermos. ‘Another drop?’
‘I’m good thanks,’ I reply.
‘One thing’s for sure, I’m glad I’m not the murderer. Alden is loyal to Knox and the Locke family have a reputation for retribution.’
