A flicker of guilt flared in her stomach at the thought of the one Gargoyle she’d come to love like a brother, and emptiness gaped in her chest as she thought Aiden’s name.
“I’m sorry, Brycon.” Because she was, and her heart felt lighter as the words left her mouth.
A small nod was all Brycon gave her before he turned on his heels, slouching back toward the door. He was about to open it when he paused, glancing back over his shoulder. “I am sorry, too.”
Twenty-Three
Lory
There wasno party for the ashlings, but Tabi and Thal greeted her with a bottle of spiced wine when she arrived at her bedroom. Anees was still out on the training parcours with Hadrian, the two of them working things out by jumping over obstacles rather than between the sheets, the way Lory had expected they’d do. That left the bedroom a safe space to talk about everything she didn’t want the two phantoms knowing about, and with the Triad still busy assigning hands and phantoms to individual students, Lenya was bound to not have his attention anywherenear Lory for once.
It was a lightheaded sensation, a moment suspended in time, before the Triad would speak their verdict about her interference with Jarek’s fate, and her next mission, and Lory swore to herself to make the most of it while she could.
Cross-legged on Lory’s bed, Tabi was nursing her wine, chatting with Thal about the exciting combat moves they’d used to get out of the final part of the parcours, where Hand Sil had waited with a group of tested to check their fighting skills.
“The Knowledge test was nothing in comparison,” Thal groaned, rubbing his sore shoulder. One of the older students had landed a pretty hard blow with a not-so-dull blade, and Tabi kept repeating that he was lucky to be alive.
“If I never have to take another Knowledge test, that will be soon enough,” Lory agreed. “However, my interest in Brestolyan history has exponentially grown since the most recent execution.”
Tabi looked up from her glass, swirling the crimson contents with a slightly uncoordinated movement of her hand. Guardians, how much of that wine had they had before Lory arrived?
A sideways glance at the three bottles on the nightstand confirmed that one of them was already empty, and a second one almost.
“You mean Andromeda?” Tabi prompted.
Lory didn’t need to confirm; Thal was already jumping right into the topic. “I mean, what’s up with the breakfast kills? Ever since Narica’s verbal pamphlet, it seems the deaths are particularly well chosen. And bywell chosen, I mean purely intentional.”
A slightly drunk giggle came out of Tabi. “You can’t say that out loud, or you’ll be next, Thal. You heard Ycken: Don’t repeat what Narica said.”
Thal emphatically shook his head, picking up the bottle from the nightstand and draining the rest of it before handing it to Lory, who merely placed it on the floor beside the bed and pulled her legs to her chin, where she sat next to Tabi.
“I neverrepeatedwhat she said, just questioned whether the most recent executions have been more than just punishment for tardiness.” Thal wiggled a finger at Tabi as she opened her mouth to stop him. “Let me finish, master of the flesh.” Pointedly ignoring Lory’s inquisitive glance, he rolled on, “I wonder how many of the ashlings executed this year shared Narica’s opinions.”
In her chest, Lory’s heart was beating double-time. They couldn’t possibly know the truth, unless?—
“Have you talked to Maes about it? She knew both Narica and Andromeda.”
“Of course not,” Thal objected. “We don’t want to be found guilty by association.”
Staring at her almost empty glass, Tabi nodded, though her features twisted into a sad mask. “All my life, I’ve thought Ashthorn was an honorable place. You know, cruel but fair. Harsh but advancing. A place where I could make a name for myself, like my father.”
“It’s still the king’s favorite part of the military we’re training for,” Thal offered, but Tabi shook her head even harder, pouting her lower lip like a little girl.
Her words were slurred as she told him, “This place isn’t honorable or reputable. It’s secretive for a reason, and that has little to do with the fact that Ulder pretends to hate magic wielders. Something more is going on here.”
They couldn’t find out the truth about the rebels and sympathizers being executed, or they’d be at risk of getting eliminated just like Narica and Andromeda. Perhaps no longer at breakfast, but Lory was certain the Triad had ways of getting people killed in different ways that no one would ever get suspicious of.
She nudged her friend with her elbow, making the woman almost spill the rest of her wine on Lory’s bed. “You’re drunk, Tabi.”
“No.” Tabi held up one finger. “I’m seeing the world clearly for the first time in months. We are at the heart of a conspiracy.”
No-no-no.
“Maybe Narica didn’t like her training at Ashthorn and decided to call our exceptional program alie,” Thal offered before Lory could jump in. “You know—” He hiccupped so loudly Lory and Tabi both broke out in a giggle.
“Not funny,” Thal complained with anotherhiccup, clutching his stomach with one hand and flapping the other over his mouth. “Not funny.” His words came out muffled this time, but he couldn’t stop hiccupping.
Tabi was now lying on her side, laughing, her wineglass slipping from her hand. In the last second, Lory caught it and placed it on the nightstand beside the second bottle, while Tabi sighed a laugh.
