With that, she turns and floats back towards the Botanical Hall, the doors opening to reveal a small crowd of nosy arcanists hovering beyond.
“Don’t you all have some reading to do?” she asks.
They disperse like she might decide to spank them with her books next, and this time I have to lengthen my stride to catch up with her until we reach the Rotunda. Leo must’ve forced Jasper and Lambert to return to class, because there’s no sign of them.
“What did he mean?” I ask as she approaches the desk. “About you knowing the danger of truth?”
Kyrith groans. “Did you even pay attention last term? It’s the Arcanaeum’s motto. Well, more a warning, I suppose. It’s written across the floor in the foyer in Latin.”
“I must’ve missed that bit.” I spent most of the first few lessons so out of my depth I could barely follow what Hopkinson was saying. A fucking motto was the least of my concerns.
“Veritas Absoluta Periculosior Est Quam Potestas Absoluta. Absolute truth is more dangerous than absolute power,” Kyrith recites. “Officer Ó Rinn was merely pointing out that all of the power I just displayed was useless in the face of whatever the parriarchs might say about me.”
“He was threatening you.” My hands fist by my sides, but it’s too late to punch the wanker.
“Precisely. Though that’s not what the motto was intended to mean…” Her eyes go a little vacant as she ghosts through the desk and stares back the way we came. “It’s supposed to be a warning against zealotry. Truth never claims to be absolute. It welcomes challenge and debate and the chance to prove itself. When one’s truth is so steadfast that evidence will not change it, then one becomes an ideologue, a bigot unable to listen to reason. Without reason…” she trails off,waiting like I’ll have something insightful to say on the matter.
The disappointment in her gaze when I shrug cuts, but fuck if I have time for philosophical bullshit.
One thing is obvious, though.
“You’re worried.”
Stress leaks from her pores, giving me the oddest urge to follow Lambert’s example and hug her.
Like she’d even let me. Knowing my luck, she’d interpret the gesture as an attack, and I’d be the next person stuck in the rafters having my ass spanked by spellbooks.
Kyrith’s long, drawn-out sigh ruffles the papers scattered across her desk. She waves a hand, summoning yet more reams of the stuff from nowhere.
“Come, I’ll put together a list of materials you need to study to become a magister. I take it your father wanted you to specialise in destruction magic, given your injuries?”
I grimace, both at her calling Josef my fatheragain, and the memory of this morning when he beat me to a fucking pulp in the name of ‘training.’
“Northcliff,” her tone sharpens. “Of the four advanced schools, which one do you want to specialise in? This is important.”
My exasperation bleeds into my tone as I say, “I don’t give a shit. Whichever one gives me enough money to live and keep Eddy out of trouble.”
She looks about to press the issue, then she stops, taking a deep breath. “Whatever life you knew before, the life of a parriarch isn’t one where finances need to factor into your decision. You’re still thinking like an inept. Any material object you require can be conjured, with a few exceptions. You have the privilege of preference. If you enjoy what you’re learning, it will be easier for you.”
No. I don’t have that luxury. I never have. I don’t knowwhy I expected her to get it, but I huff out a disappointed breath anyway.
“Destruction.”
No use putting what little Josef managed to actually teach me to waste.
Those big colourless eyes pin me in place, examining me for a long minute. I wish she were physical, so they were that pretty, expressive shade of brown. As a ghost, she always seems so much more distant. Harder to read.
Eventually, she nods. “Then I shall add it to our tutoring sessions.”
“Why? That’s next year’s stuff.” I have no desire to take Josef’s place any sooner than I have to—and I might still work my way out of it. Maybe someone stronger will turn up in that time. There’s always hope, right?
Kyrith shakes her head. “You completely missed half of what just happened, didn’t you? You were just framed, North. One of the other parriarchs loosed those enforcers after you, hoping you’d be an easy target. One of them is trying to make a move to take over your house, or worse, destroy it altogether. They might even be responsible for Josef’s death. The threat Officer Ó Rinn made wasn’t just aimed at me. They’ll try to discredit you or kill you to stop you from taking your seat on the council.”
Of course they will. Fucking political wizard bullshit.
Eleven
Kyrith
