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“I am?” Cord considered him. “Who isshe?”
“What?” Salem looked at him as he took a step closer.
“Who is in the woods, Salem? Tell me,” Cord asked carefully.
“You know who I mean!” Salem snapped irritably.
“I really do not. I need you to tell me her name,” Cord pressed.
“You and your filthy Castor games!” Salem snarled at him.
“Filthy? Well, I will remind you of this when you are cleansed.” Cord shook his head in irritation. He left them for a few hours—hours—and the two of them go and get spelled. He dipped his fingers into his pocket for a small pouch and flung a pale green powder at the Principal, murmuring the incantation under his breath. Salem sneezed as the powder danced around his head. Cord looked to his brother and saw that Sloane was shaking his head as if trying to clear a fog. After a few moments, they both looked at him, and he scowled at them both. “Spelled?” he barked incredulously. “You were bothspelled?”
“I feel like a fool,” Salem admitted as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Youarea fool!” Cord bit out. “By the grace of Arflyn, you should both know better. You especially, Principal.”
“You could always be gracious and pretend it didn’t happen,” Sloane grumbled at his brother.
“I could, but I am not.” Cord flung his hands in the air. “Who was last in here?”
“Everyone,” Salem admitted.
“Castor Jameis is in my room,” Cord started.
“Yourroom?” Salem’s mouth twitched, but Cord chose to ignore him.
“Has he been here since you started your pity party?” Cord asked.
“You really need to get over your dislike for Jameis,” Sloane rebuked his brother. “He’s a nice guy.”
“If you say so.” Cord stalked to the seat across from Salem.
“Who all was here?”
“It could have been”—Salem wet his lips as he hesitated—“my mother.”
“Ugh, everywhere I turn today, I find manipulative family members!” Cord stood abruptly. “I need to cleanse this whole building. Sloane, go fetch Jameis. I think he is sleeping. Make sure you are extra loud.”
“Why me?”
“Because you got spelled like a novice, and I taught you better than this.” Cord gave his brother a hard stare. “Then get the Commander’s daughter. I thought you were supposed to be on a mission with her?”
“I do not recall seeing her,” Sloane said softly as he thought about it.
“Useless, absolutely useless.” Cord dismissed his younger brother. “Out! Go get Jameis and then find the female.”
Sloane hesitated in the doorway. “Um...”
“Do notumme. Move!” Cord growled impatiently. “I have work to do.” He heard Sloane make his way out of the room.
“You are hard on him,” Salem said quietly. “I felt nothing either. I am more to blame than he is.”
“You are,” Cord agreed tersely. “But he grew up with me. He knows how to detect these spells in his sleep.”
“Not everyone is you, Cord,” Salem reminded him.
“More is the pity.” Cord walked around the room, touching and muttering under his breath. “Six spells.Six.” He glared at the Principal. “You need to redo your training.”
