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I return her expression with a wry smile. If I am to be punished, then Kaely ought to be as well. It’s time she learns she can’t spout whatever she pleases without fear of retribution.
“And what was that reason, Eliya?” my father presses.
“Kaely insulted Reyna. Several times. She refused to leave us alone.”
Branvir turns to Kaely. “Is this true?”
“Of course it’s true,” Kaely says, her voice unshaken by Eliya’s claim. “Reyna and I had a disagreement, and it’s inevitable that during an argument, one may say words they later regret.” She steps toward me and lowers her head. “If you took offense by what I said, Reyna, then I truly am sorry. I don’t wish for ill feelings to fester between us. We have, after all, been friends for so many years.”
I grit my teeth. It’s almost impossible to hold my tongue. To prevent myself from screaming how much I hate her. How the two of us are not and will never again be friends.
Not after all the unforgivable words she has spoken.
“Such misunderstandings are not uncommon,” Archmage Gidston says. “However, this does not justify violence. Regardless of Reyna’s reasons for attacking Kaely, I believe the punishment for her offenses remains fitting. And if we are all in agreement, then this incident is also resolved.”
I can bite my tongue no longer. I loathe how Archmage Gidston dismisses the incident as petty bickering. How Kaely will emerge unscathed. While I will be punished.
“It wasn’t a simple misunderstanding,” I seethe. “I did nothing to deserve the way Kaely spoke to me. Should magi be allowed to go around, spouting whatever awful words they please without fear of retribution? Is that the city—”
“Silence!”
The room stills at my father’s shout. His attention remains on the tidy bookshelves behind the desk.He doesn’t turn to look at me as he speaks.
“Magi should act as model citizens for Nolderan,” my father asserts. “Their words should be chosen out of wisdom and not out of malice, and they should certainly not strike down others due to their ill-temper. What Archmage Gidston says is fair. There are no reasons that can justify your actions.”
“You weren’t there!” I know losing my temper will prove them right, but I can’t contain my rage. “You didn’t hear what she said! About Arluin, about Heston, about you. She claimed the reason you spared Heston from death is because of your previous friendship with him—”
“I think you remember incorrectly, Reyna,” Kaely interrupts, her lips twitching. I can’t tell whether it’s the hint of a smirk or a snarl. “I never said the Grandmage spared Heston because of their friendship.”
I wrestle with the magi still gripping my arms, but they don’t relent. If my fists were free, I would use them to shatter Kaely’s disgusting expression.
That was my ultimate mistake. I should have struck her with my fists instead of my magic. They probably wouldn’t even suspend me for that. Most likely, a stern talking to by Archmage Gidston is all I would receive.
And hitting her would be so much more satisfying.
If only I thought it all through before unleashing my magic.
“You insinuated it,” I spit. “Even if you didn’t say it outright, you mocked Arluin and my father.”
“And also she insulted you, Reyna,” Eliya adds, her nose wrinkling. “Kaely, don’t think I’ve forgotten that comment about undead fetuses—”
“That is enough!” my father booms, his voice reverberating through the small room.
It is safe to say I inherited my short-fused temper from my father, and not my mother.
Heston’s betrayal plagues his heart even to this day, and his resulting wrath is terrifying.
“Leave us!” he roars. “All of you!”
Everyone is so taken aback by his sudden outburst that no one moves.
“Leave! I will deal with my daughter myself!”
On his second shout, the room springs to life. The doors swing open, and all the adepts brought as witnesses spill out. None wish to face the fury of Grandmage Telric Ashbourne. Even the magi restraining me leave.
With my arms now free, I roll my shoulders. The motion does little to relieve the cramp.
Eliya lingers longer than the rest. Her gaze meets mine, and her brows knit with concern. I know she is reluctant to leave me at my father’s mercy, but there’s nothing more she can do. She has no choice but to follow the others through the doors.
