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CHAPTER THREE
I stare at the sachet of pain powder Kallum gave me suspiciously for all of five seconds before I say, ‘fuck it’, and pour it down my gullet without bothering to wait for the chance to add it to a tea. Even if it’s poison, at least it’ll put me out of my misery.
But the agony I’m in starts to lessen within minutes; I know he’s given me the real stuff, and by tenth chime that night, I also know that it’s the only thing that’s kept me on my feet.
I hate that I owe the prick a debt because, despite what he said about payment not being required, he didn’t mean it. His kind never does.
I mop the floor and leave by way of the kitchen. When I go out into the darkness, I can’t help but think about the night before, and my steps falter, then quicken.
I make it to my room without incident, though, and I fall straight into my bed, not even taking the bracelet off in case I’m visited at my door again tomorrow morning.
* * *
I wake with a jerk to the realization that I vaguely heard the fifth-hour bells ages ago, and the sixth-hour ones are going to ring at any moment.
I’m going to be late!
I jump out of bed and find the pain that was so acute yesterday is much more manageable this morning. I don’t bother with anything except putting on my shoes as I run from my room and out into the courtyard. Rain has turned the middle of it into a mire, though, and I wrinkle my nose in distaste as I walk along the sides of the buildings to the kitchens.
I can tell it’s almost time to begin work as soon as I get inside. It’s much busier this morning, and there’s no more bread or cheese in the bowls.
I sigh as I grab a mug and fill it with tea, nodding at the servants I know well enough to greet and ignoring the ones I don’t.
I sit down and find myself thinking back to what Kallum said yesterday about being able to use me. Those words have haunted me since he said them. They don’t even recognize me, and yet they’re still falling into Varrik’s habits where I’m concerned.
I can’t let them use me.
‘Thalia?’
I look up from my cup at the housekeeper’s impatient voice.
‘The City Guard wants a word with you. They await you in the Gatehouse.’
Shit.
I nod and stand up, finishing my drink quickly and trying not to think about why the City Guard wants to speak to me. I know why. Of course I do. They found Yeith’s body downstream, and they’ve been informed of our very public altercation. I just have to hope The Cunt Trio have kept their word and not said anything.
Eyes watch me curiously, and I shrug at the ones whose eyes catch mine, pretending I have no idea why they’ve called for me.
I brave the outdoors again, the rain lashing against me as I walk over the boards that have been laid across the square to keep most of the mud off the students, but the sensation is strangely muffled as if not all of the elements get through the troll disguise conjure.
I dwell on thoughts of how the bracelet works and what sort of magick it must be imbued with instead of the fact that I may be walking to my doom. I need to keep my nerve. I’ve spent seven years here, and no one has ever found out anything. I need it to stay that way.
At the guard house, I knock lightly, and the door opens to reveal a sinister-looking orc with a patch over his left eye and silver-plated tusks protruding upwards from his lower jaw.
‘Are you Thalia?’ he growls.
I nod, trying to look friendly and innocent and not scared shitless.
‘I’m Captain Pikerd.’
He moves away from the door a little so I can enter. Inside, there are two other guardsmen, including Kallum, who I ignore as I’m invited to sit at a table in the middle of the room.
I do it and look expectantly at the captain.
‘Do you know why you’ve been called here?’ he asks, sitting down heavily in the seat opposite me.
I shake my head, my gaze not leaving his.
