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Her Triad looked at Claire who smiled and accepted. “We would love to.”
Helene smiled and turned to the Headmaster. “Dorian, are you able to join us?”
Claire held her breath, hoping he would decline. If he came to dinner, she would have to wait longer to fill everyone in. She had some things she would need to talk to Andy and Helene about before she shared anything with them. It was bad enough her friends were here and were risking more scrutiny and possible threats from the Council. The circle of people around Claire kept growing. It was a far cry from where she had started out at the orphanage and Claire was determined not to lose any of them.
“No, unfortunately I can’t this evening,” Headmaster Dorian declined. “Even with the lack of students, the paperwork is endless. I need to have a few more meetings this afternoon and then need to field some letters from parents.”
“We will leave you to it then,” Andy nodded. “The rest of you are invited back to our cottage for dinner.”
Malcolm placed a gentle hand on Claire’s back as they began to file out of the office. Her steps faltered slightly when she saw who sat in the chair next to Gwen waiting on the Headmaster. Professor Storm. She smiled briefly and broke eye contact quickly but it felt like his eyes lingered on her. Maybe she was just imagining it as she hadn’t expected to see him again so quickly after she ran into him. Everett’s body blocked Professor Storm’s line of sight to her. Claire looked up to see Everett frowning softly down at her. She smiled at him and her smile grew when he returned it. She shook off the strange interaction with the professor. She had bigger things to worry about.
27
“Before we discuss anything further, there’s something I need to know.”
Claire’s words had the crowded cottage falling deathly silent.
“Well, don’t leave us in suspense all night,” Bethany said. “It’ll give Cody indigestion.”
“Hey!” Cody snapped out and Claire laughed.
“I’ll put you out of your misery,” she teased before taking a breath and becoming serious again.
“I did find something more. I found proof that the Council was heavily involved in instigating and keeping the war going. That they directly ordered at least one individual to…”
Claire bit her lip and looked away. She needed to offer each of them a choice before she shared the details. She shook her head. “I won’t give you details, not yet. Not before you make a choice.”
“What choice are you asking us to make?” Zack asked quietly, leaning against the small fireplace on the other side of the room, his glasses reflecting the dancing flames where a large pot bubbled with a savory smelling stew.
“Whether you want to proceed any further down this path. It’s… dangerous seems too light of a word to describe it. The Council will most likely come after you and your families if they figured out you knew. You could lose your jobs,” she looked at Andy and Helene, “And possibly your coven’s and pack’s protections. I don’t know the specifics but this is the type of information I think they would kill to keep silent.”
The crackle of flames followed her words as everyone absorbed what she had said. Claire was glad they didn’t speak quickly. Every word of what she had said was true. The journal that was still in the satchel clutched to her side felt like a heavy weight. If they could identify this person and… somehow ask them. They could prove that the Council or at least part of it was not only responsible for the Great War but so many other acts of violence and betrayals of the Realm.
“We are all in,” Desmond promised. “You know this.”
“So am I,” Holly said resolutely. “Always.”
“Wasn’t even a question,” Bethany said, rubbing her hands together. “I was getting bored at the pride anyways.”
Cody rolled his eyes. “Well someone has to keep an eye on you so count me in as well.”
“I can take care of myself, thank you very much!” Bethany said indignantly.
“I’m in too,” Zack’s quiet sureness settled the argument that was going to break out.
Andy and Helene shared a long look before Andy spoke, tucking her arm around Helene’s waist and pulling the Dryad in closer. “We are too. We love teaching and part of that is protecting our students. Tell us what the Council had this person do.”
Warmth filled Claire’s chest just as worry warred in her stomach. She had expected nothing less from her friends although she wished they would have taken the safer option. Even if only to protect them better.
She loosened her grip on the satchel and reached in to withdraw the journal. Her fingers brushed the folded paper of her mother’s letter and her heart jumped. She pulled out the journal and held it in both hands, staring down at it. It was such an uninteresting book from the outside, just a plain brown leather. There was nothing remarkable about it which Claire guessed was part of the appeal.
“I found this journal in the Postulationem room,” Claire said softly.
Andy and Helene shared a look.
“What’s the Postulationem room?” Cody asked, butchering the pronunciation.
“It’s somewhat of a legend,” Andy explained. “While the Academy was being built, the Fae and Elves either knowingly or unknowingly imbued magic into the stone. The stone was particularly receptive to this as it was hewn from the Dragon Mountains and the wood came from the witches’ trees. Because of the imbued magic, the Academy took on a sentient-like intelligence and ran most of the school, including helping the Headmaster with admissions.”
