“Is this why you’ve been staying late after classes with her?” Luren asks Sorza.
“She’s been helping me.” Sorza nods. “And I’ve been helping her.”
Well, not me directly…But Gregor says she’s been vital in his search, and the Worldkeepers continue to impress me with their acceptance of those close to me.
“And here I just thought you were a teacher’s pet, when you were actually committing treason.”
“I multitask,” Sorza says.
Luren ignores the remark and turns her attention back to me. “Why reveal yourself to me now?”
“I already told you, I have a favor I need to ask…Have you already decided on what clan you want to try to join?”
Luren fidgets with the strap of the bag draped over her shoulder, focusing on the seam of the leather. “I…had been hoping for Clan Chariot.”Because of Dristin,I assume. “But I think I royally screwed that up already.”I thought so.“Knowing my luck, I’ll end up somewhere like Strength or Tower. Somewhere they’ll want me to fight monsters in the woods, or make cards to defend the northern coast and borders…because we all know how good I am at wielding,” she finishes with a bitter, sarcastic note.
“How do you feel about Clan Star?” I ask.
She looks up, startled. “It’s a bit far from home. But I hear they treat their Arcanists well. And they do specialize in reading, which would be nice.”
I nod. I’ve heard much the same. No doubt Liam did, too, and that was part of what drew him there years ago.
“I’m going to make it so that Clan Star is interested in you,” I announce. “You don’t have to select the clan as your final placement—that’s up to you, should you have more interest than just them…” That seems to put her at ease. I’m giving her options, not boxing her in. “And you might get more clans eager to know you after we get Clan Star’s focus on you. There’s nothing quite like making something desirable and exclusive to entice others. Ultimately, you can go to whatever clan you please, but I need you to go to Star during the winter break.”
“Why?” She’s skeptical. “What are you going to do to them?”
“I need you to find something for me. It’s nothing that would cause harm, and is mine to begin with.” All truths. “And I need it back; I can’t go myself, for reasons you can probably guess.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you should help her,” Sorza chimes in.
Luren considers this for a long, tense moment, and finally nods. “I suppose I’ve much to gain and very little to lose. I’m not exactly a desirable candidate for any clan.”
“They’re shortsighted and small-minded if they really believe that,” I say without missing a beat.
“You always thought that.” Luren gives me her most sincere smile yet. “But if you can secure me the invite to Clan Star, I’ll do the rest. It helps me, too. And I suppose I owe you for last year still.”
I can’t stop a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet; let’s see if we’re successful first.” She shifts, clearly steeling her resolve. It’s just like when she faced off with the Stellis. I’m not sure where this strength in her is coming from, but I’m pleased to see it manifesting more and more. “What do you need me to do to make Clan Star ‘interested’?”
“I need you to read for a man named Liam…” I start, swiftly going over the broad strokes of my plan. “…Now, we shouldn’t waste any more time. You have cards on you, Luren?”
She nods.
“Good,” I say. “I’ll go ahead first, since I left first. Then you two follow. By the time you’re back, I’ll have Liam ready.”
Without another word, I leave, heart pounding. I reenter the gathering and drift among the attendees. Swinging by the central table, Igrab two glasses. Liam is wrapping up a conversation, and I pick up my pace.
Heart in my throat and Kaelis’s eyes boring holes into my back, I slide up next to him, holding out a glass.
I plaster on my most charming smile. “It looks like you could use a refresh, my lord.”
Chapter 48
“Thank you,” he says politely, seeming to startle at my abrupt appearance but quickly recovering. “I seem to have misplaced your name.”
“I haven’t told it to you yet.” I extend my hand. “Sophie Veillgar, professor of wielding.”
“Ah, a pleasure.” He brings my knuckles to his lips with practiced ease. “Is there something I can help you with, Professor Veillgar? I don’t see you offering glasses to many here.” He’s polite, but in a trained sort of way. I can see through it to his skepticism.
