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“I saw them threatening Feremir at the library,” Aislinn said.
Her words warmed my soul. She had a determined look on her face as she met Master Leo’s gaze. Hogan glared at her. I knew she would be in danger from him for telling on them like this.
“We did not,” Hogan said. “Master Leo, sir. Feremir said the queen favors him. He said he could do anything, and no one would punish him. He said he has the queen in his palm and...”
“Enough!” Master Leo shouted. “I do not care who started this. This will end now. You will not touch each other ever again. If I see any of you picking a fight with each other or anyone else, you will all be expelled from the guild and kicked off the palace.”
“He said the queen wouldn’t allow that,” Hogan said. “I told him that fighting was...”
“I said enough!” Master Leo spat the words. “If you need healing, go to the healers. If not, go to your rooms and be silent!”
“I’m okay,” I said to Aislinn. She let go of my arm, but I saw her hesitate. “I’ll go to the dorm now.”
“No, you’re not,” Master Leo said. “You will come with me. You too, Aislinn.”
Hogan’s lips twitched with a smile, but he hid it when Master Leo’s looked at him again. I wanted to punch his stupid face so bad that I did not even care that Master Leo was right beside me, watching.
Aislinn put her hand on my arm.
“Come,” she said. “Let’s go.”
Master Leo led us away from the boys. Aislinn and I followed, and she never let go of my arm.
I did not look at Hogan again. Master Leo led us away from the great hall and into the western quarters of the palace, where their rooms were. I thought he would scold me on the way, but he remained silent until we reached his study.
He had locked the door. I thought that was strange. As Aislinn and I turned the corner, he pulled a key from his robe pocket and unlocked the door. We followed him inside.
His room was messy. Scrolls and books were scattered on his desk, which faced away from the two large windows behind it. Master Leo quickly paced the room and lit the oil lamp on his desk.
“Aislinn,” he said, his voice low and tired. “Could you start the fire?”
“Yes, master,” she replied, letting go of my arm and quickly walking toward the stacked logs near the hearth.
Master Leo looked at me over his shoulder. “Sit.”
I appreciated it. The shadows from the oil lamp made the room look like a scary place, but I knew it would warm up once there was more light and heat. I sat on the chair placed in front of his desk.
“I did not start the fight,” I said. My lip hurt when I spoke, but Master Leo needed to believe me. “They were waiting for me outside the great hall. Hogan said I was a coward and that I would run away. I could not let him...”
“Sometimes, it is not cowardice to flee from violence,” Master Leo interrupted me as he sat on the chair behind his desk. “Sometimes, it is the nobler way.”
“But...”
He interrupted me with a gesture of his hand. Aislinn kept working behind us. I could hear her stacking the logs to prepare the fire.
“The queen recruited you,” Master Leo said, meeting my gaze to make sure I listened. “That means you represent her. Violence is not our way, son. Even if your opponent asks for violence, you should try finding another way.”
“I did!” I blurted out. “I’ve been trying to find another way since I came to the palace. Hogan and the others have threatened me countless times and I did my best to ignore them.”
“And what would have happened if you had fled when they confronted you today?” Master Leo asked, his voice taking the usual tone whenever he instructed us.
“They would never stop,” I replied defensively. “If they thought I was afraid of them, they would keep taunting me.”
“With words?” He asked.
“For now,” I replied. “But they would surely escalate if I hadn’t done anything about it. They...”
“Who started the fight?” Master Leo asked, leaning against his chair.
