Page 37 of Sonnets and Serpents
Eliza frowned, because for the first time, the word didn’t come with an understanding of what it meant.
Silas grinned, as if she’d given the exact reaction he’d hoped for. “I was curious about that one. There’s no Loegrian equivalent, since we haven’t embraced this advancement. I wondered if the Cast communicated in ideas and images, like an Affiliate bond, or in words, like a translator. Seems it truly is a translation Cast.”
“Are you actuallyenjoyingthe magic that’s stuck us together?”
“What I enjoy is any opportunity to learn something new.” He handed her the instrument at last. “I call it a pen. ‘Quill’ has no verb form, so we sometimes say we ‘pen’ a letter. ‘Pen’ derives from the archaic ‘penna,’ or feather. It seems only right it gets to be a noun again.”
Eliza stared at him in a way that seemed to drain his enjoyment. As the smile left his face and he slid his hands into his pockets, she felt a pang of guilt, which was foolish. Why should she care about killing a shapeshifter’s mood?
Unless he killed her in return.
“Say it again. The Pravish.”
He’d turned away, but he glanced back. “Palem.”
And she understood:pen.
Therewasa little wonder in that.
“I hear it now,” she said. “So I guess we both learned something new.”
He didn’t say anything in response, just tilted his head like he was evaluating her in a new way. A few strands of hair fell into his eyes, giving him that roguish look again. Eliza shifted.
Before she could tell him to go back to his snake bones, a figure appeared in the doorway. The newcomer was a well-dressed man in his late thirties, and by the confidence with which he entered, this was clearly his office.
“Good, you’re here,” he said, sparing Silas a quick glance before setting his bag on the desk and unpacking a few books. “Any trouble with the Artifacts? Some of my snakeskin might be too aged to hold the magic.”
Eliza clutched the dictionary to her chest, unsure if she should rise or not. The professor hadn’t noticed her yet.
“I haven’t finished the bones.” Silas rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed.
He’d told her not to distract him. Of course, he’d also told her to read a dictionary out loud and then insisted on correcting every word.
The professor waved him off as if it didn’t matter. He left his bag and moved to the snake den in the corner, bending slightly to evaluate the white snake. The serpent lifted its head and flicked its tongue once.
“Ether’s calmed down, I see.” Wrapping one finger around the snake’s tail, the man lifted his wire spectacles to peer closely at the scales. “She’s a ribbon snake—can you believe that? Can’t even see her stripes. I’ve never found a true albino before.”
“She told me about some trouble with a hawk,” Silas said.
“Yes, excellent luck on this one. By rights, she should havebeen dead before I found her.” The professor suddenly looked over, locking eyes with Eliza as if he’d been tracking her gaze the entire time. “Would your friend like to hold her? Ether might abide it with two Affiliates here.”
At the professor’s sudden attention and offer, Eliza blushed, jaw flapping uselessly.
“She’s terrified of snakes,” Silas deadpanned.
He was right, and yet, hearing it from him set her teeth on edge. Silas Bennett didn’t get to speak for her. With clenched fists, she climbed to her feet, nearly tripping as the cushion slid beneath her. Out of habit, she dipped a curtsy, remembering too late that she wasn’t in Loegria anymore, and Pravish people only bowed.
“I’m Eliza,” she said.
The professor looked at Silas with a raised eyebrow, but when Silas responded, it was directed at Eliza. “He only speaks Pravish, so now’s your chance to practice.”
With feigned confidence, she repeated her introduction in Pravish.
“Kerem Aytac,” the man said in return, bowing slightly. He adjusted his round spectacles. “A fear of snakes raises questions about your choice of company.”
If it hadn’t already been obvious that he knew about Silas’s condition, it was now. How could he be so calm? Yvette had been the same way, lecturing a shapeshifter like he was just another student, eventhreateninghim. As if she wasn’t at all scared about what kind of dark magic she might receive in return.
“There are, after all, three snakes in this office.” Kerem pointed at Silas, Ether, and himself.
