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Though Wilder was loath to admit it, Audra had a point.
The alchemist watched on in silence, blinking at her warden, as though she couldn’t quite believe what was happening. Wilder wasn’t sure he believed it either, because from where he was standing, it looked like Audra was winning this battle.
The librarian seemed to share a silent exchange with the Guild Master. ‘Good,’ she said. ‘So it’s settled.’
‘Settled?’ Wilder echoed, clenching his fists at his sides.
It was the alchemist who addressed him, her voice cutting through the tension. ‘What exactly is your issue with me? This has no bearing on you.’
‘No bearing on me? You mean besides the fact you stole a sacred blade and put the midrealms at risk?’ he snapped. It wasn’t just because of a blade, buttheblade. Though, the truthwas, ever since the fall of Naarva all those years ago, he’d taken issue with a lot of things. It was one of the reasons he was barely stationed at the fortress. He took his simmering rage and scars with him wherever he went, the same rage that rippled off him now.
But the young woman folded her arms over her chest, the set of her jaw fierce. ‘Yes.’
Wilder restrained himself from closing the space between them and shaking her by the shoulders. The alchemist had courage, of that he was sure, but courage alone couldn’t face the darkness descending on the midrealms. A dagger-wielding girl was no match for the festering creatures from beyond the Veil.
Instead, Wilder fought against his rising aggravation and looked at Osiris, grinding his teeth. ‘You’re going to add this to your list of mistakes as Guild Master, then?’ he asked, voice low.
Shock rippled through the room as Osiris’ head jerked up, his eyes bulging. ‘What did you just say?’
Wilder’s pulse raced. ‘You heard, Osiris. You’ve got quite the tally so far —’
‘Hawthorne…’ Torj cautioned.
‘If we’re done with the theatrics,’ he growled, stalking towards the door, his patience thinning. ‘I need a drink.’
‘Your disrespect of the guild knows no bounds, Warsword…’ Osiris said.
‘Disrespect?’ Wilder spat, his blood boiling. ‘You thinkIdisrespect Thezmarr?’
Vernich shifted, an eager gleam in his gaze. Wilder knew he relished any dressing down of his fellow warriors.
Wilder’s gaze fell to the young woman again and he clenched his jaw, the muscles there beginning to ache as those celadon eyes pierced him. He had to admire her spirit, but it didn’t stop the fury surging through him. ‘She’s going to be more trouble than she’s worth.’
Torj, as always, begged reason. ‘Walk away, Wilder,’ he murmured.
‘With pleasure.’ And with that, Wilder threw the door open and stormed out, leaving Audra to her games and the alchemist to her fate.
CHAPTER SIX
Althea Zoltaire had been instructed to return to her room and pack a bag… not for banishment from Thezmarr, but for the ride to Harenth, where she would petition the kings and queens of the midrealms for her right to train as a shieldbearer.
It had beenAudra’sidea. It had beenAudrawho had fought tooth and nail for her. For once the librarian’s severity had been wielded not against her, but for her…And despite the objections of the silver-eyed Warsword, the Guild Master himself had relented.
Thea felt lightheaded.
It wasn’t until she was being dragged into her quarters by the arm that she realised she must have paused outside in her bewilderment.
‘Where have you been?’ Wren half-shouted, peering into her face worriedly.
‘I…’ But Thea couldn’t get the words out.
‘Oh gods, what have you done now? You’ve been kicked out, haven’t you?’
There was a blur of movement at the door as Sam and Ida burst in.
Sam, her freshly chopped red hair swaying, grabbed her by the shoulders. ‘We just heard! Is it true?’
‘Iswhattrue?’ Wren demanded, her expression tight with concern.
