Prince Noralv- Edge of Shadows Page 10

  Release me…

  My heart raced, and I clutched my chest. I stopped walking. Quentin grabbed my shoulders as a sudden dizziness caused my knees to buckle. I squeezed my eyes shut.

  “What were you doing that may have triggered this?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. There were kids arguing. The hawk…” I was out of breath.

  “Quentin! Is he alright?” I heard Luella say.

  “Go,” Quentin ordered.

  “Quentin?” Luella said.

  “Go, Luella!” said Quentin.

  Footsteps quickly retreated.

  A vision struck me. My wrists were bound behind my back. Rope cut into my wrists, burning. Feeling helpless while my sister was taken away by the Mielonders. Struggling and muffled screams. Guilt and shame filled me. Eyes open, I took a sharp breath.

  Release me…

  “Thayne, you need to center yourself.” Quentin gave me a quick shake. “This is why you need training.” He gripped my arms and frowned.

  “I hate this,” I said.

  “Can you feel the wild, uncontrollable energy?”

  Gulping, I looked into his wild eyes. “Stop it.”

  Release me…

  “Can you feel the panic rising? The fear?”

  “Make it stop,” I said.

  “The desire to run and hide? Like you’re about to explode?”

  Release me…

  My body began to shake. Anger crept in. “I know you can make it stop.”

  “Not yet. You can control yourself, but you need training, Thayne. Accept it. It is the only way you can regain control of your life.”

  “I’m nobility, Quentin!” I shouted. “Do you remember my relations?”

  “I don’t care! You want safety? This is the path to it!” he shouted back.

  Release me. Release me…

  I grabbed my head. “I’m not running away.” Desperation for the energy to be calmed climbed inside my chest.

  Quentin tapped sharply in my solar plexus. The energy relaxed, and I was tired and out of breath. “I wasn’t leaving,” I said. “And don’t you dare do that to me again.”

  “You needed a push in the right direction.”

  “No. I didn’t,” I said. “I needed time. I’m fifteen, Quentin. I’m a fifteen-year-old, who has a lot of duties and family honor to uphold. A lot has happened to me in the last few days…” My voice cracked. I swallowed. “I am not one of your criminals that you hunt. Now, I’m tired and hungry...”

  Quentin was quiet a moment. “Follow me.”

  I barely hung up my cloak before I ran into the busy kitchen.

  “Luella, where have you been?” asked Frans.

  “The barn,” I said. Frans crossed his arms. “I had another encounter with Elec and his two friends.” I grabbed at any sympathy I could get as I realized I was to help in the kitchen tonight.

  “I see.” He nodded. “Can you please help Tam set the tables?” Frans sounded impatient.

  “Okay.” I shuffled past Frans then joined up with Tam.

  “What happened to you?” Tam asked with a furrowed brow.

  “Don’t give me that look, Tam,” I said. “You won’t believe who I saw.”

  “You mean Quentin?”

  “Yes. How did you know?”

  “He was in the sugian earlier. There was some pretty heavy eavesdropping and spying going on.”

  We pulled some tables out from against the wall and lined up the benches for seating.

  “Why is he here? Did you find out why?”

  “Not too much. Master Quentin and some noble kid were in your mother’s office. There was some shouting. Something like the kid not wanting to be here and Master Quentin giving him heck for wanting to leave.”

  We grabbed stacks of bowls and placed them on to the trays. Payton slid up beside me.

  “Are you talking about our newly arrived guests?” she said plainly.

  “Apparently, everyone is,” I said. “Payton, I could have used you earlier.”

  Payton followed Tam and me to the back of the dining hall.

  “Really?” She cocked her head inquisitively.

  “Elec and his goons cornered me and Celcia in the barn,” I said.

  Payton brightened. She lived for confrontation. Sparring was in her blood, and any excuse to protect us students of the beaulecraft art, she wanted to be a part of.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  “No.” I placed two bowls down on the table. “The noble boy came inside the barn before it escalated.”

  “I missed it.” She placed spoons down next to the bowls I placed. “Tell me everything.”

  “I managed to get Celcia out before the boys saw her, but then I was caught in the barn with no way out except through confrontation.”

  I told her what happened.

  “I bet our noble guest is only here temporarily,” said Tam. “Master Quentin has probably caught the kid doing illegal training in the arts and is bringing him to the Order of Hremm head branch.”

  “Why would you say that?” I asked.

  “Did you feel the ki in that kid?” said Tam.

  “We all did. So?” said Payton.

  “Everyone has ki,” I pointed out.

  “But who do you know who has that level of ki running through them? Only Masters can handle that level of ki. The kid has been doing something illegal.” Tam placed cups down.

  “If he was a prisoner, wouldn’t they be keeping him confined in a room somewhere?” I countered.

  Tam sighed. “I don’t trust that boy.”

  “Master Quentin never stays long. He’s always on the move,” I said.

  “Yeah. On the move catching criminals,” said Tam.

  “I know, but...”

  Maybe Tam was right. The noble boy, Thayne, could be a criminal. I wondered what kind of criminal act he would’ve done to attract Master Quentin’s attention. I wondered if he was from north of Wulfhli Village. Perhaps he could tell me what was going on. Anything could help my investigation. I could hope.

  “Alright. Enough chatter,” said Frans. “Find seats. It’s time for dinner. Tam, it’s your turn tonight to help with serving. Go join your brother, Brant, in the kitchen.”

  “Yes, Frans.”

  Tam left, and we all sat down in our respective seats.

  Everyone was seated, masters and students alike. The students were all chatting about light topics such as the weather or what we were learning in class. We dare not bring attention to ourselves by gossiping about our latest guests that were on academy property somewhere. We were all thinking about it, of course. Just trying not to be obvious. Though our talk was rigid and forced, the smiles and giggles were still genuine and chipper. The energy level of dinner was much higher than usual. There was something new in the air this evening.

  My mother had addressed us and said her thank-you speech of the night.

  Tam, Brant, and Frans were bringing out the stew when Quentin and the noble kid, Thayne, walked into the dining hall. The whole dining room fell into a quiet mutter.

  We all watched in curiosity as Frans ushered Quentin and Thayne to sit with us for dinner. Thayne sat next to Quentin at the head table with the other beaulecraft masters.

  Thayne sat with his back straight and ate with a refined grace. His ki had settled down since the barn incident, but there was a different air about him. Something about him that was so vastly different than the nobles that were here. His energy was still filling the room but the difference was like water to air to when we were in the barn together. There was a shift. I was positive I wasn’t the only one who could feel his ki.

  He kept his attention on his food or the table in front of him with the occasional glance around the room.

  “Do you think he’s a high noble or low noble?” Celcia whispered to me.

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  “Does it matter?” said Tam.

  Celcia elbowed her older brother in the arm. “We are just curiou
s.”

  “He’s noble. Enough said.”

  Everyone was almost ready to start clearing the tables when the Headmaster walked into the middle of the dining hall. The room went silent. I didn’t even notice that he wasn’t in the room before.

  “Isa Hatherine,” said Headmaster Aldrich. The Masters all stood, including Quentin and Thayne. “Is it true that some of your students attacked some of mine—again?”

  My face flushed. I had forgotten about the Elec confrontation.

  “What in the name of all the gods are you teaching your students?”

  “Aldrich, I don’t know what you are talking about, but let us discuss it in my office.”

  “No. Here is perfectly fine.” He glared at us students then landed on me. “That unruly daughter of yours was dallying in the barn today when my son and his friends were out going for a walk, and she attacked them with a shovel.”

  “Aldrich, I insist that you and I discuss it elsewhere.”

  “This is my academy and I will talk where ever I please.”

  Payton nearly jumped out of her seat, but I held her arm.

  “Aldrich,” Master Quentin said in a level tone while gripping Thayne’s arm. Thayne’s jaw was tense. “You are gravely mistaken in your accusations.”

  “Hunter Quentin, when did you get here?” demanded Headmaster Aldrich.

  “That’s Hremm business. Not yours.” Quentin’s face looked devoid of any emotion.

  “I doubt that my source is false. Is that the mystery boy who helped this devious girl?”

  He indicated Thayne. Thayne just looked straight ahead as if staring right through everything. I felt bad for Thayne. He didn’t deserve to be lectured by our Headmaster. Thayne was a guest and didn’t know of our delicate situation with the regulars of the academy. Even though he was noble, I felt as though he was different. I almost felt guilty for getting him caught up in our troubles.

  “If you wish to accuse anyone in this room, I suggest that you bring the actual accusers here. If they can tell me their story and convince me their facts are true, then and only then will you be able to bring your case before the Heardnebbian court,” said Quentin.

  “Heardnebbian court?” Headmaster Aldrich was exacerbated. “This isn’t Heardnebbian business. This is disobedient behavior, and I will not have my academy’s name driven into the ground like this.”

  “It became Heardnebbian business when you came into this room before a panel of Hremm Masters, accusing a Hremm student of assault,” said Quentin. “I, as an agent of Heardnebba, complete this panel of masters, and because The Order of Heardnebba is the mother branch, I assume charge of the court. Master Isa Hatherine, Agent of Hremm Outpost Three of the Order of Hremm, gave you two chances to talk in private, and you refused.

  “Now, I will be lenient, this one time, and will close proceedings without further action or you will bring the accusers to me no later than tomorrow at dawn where I will reconvene court and it shall be resolved.” Quentin paused. “What will it be?”

  The Headmaster stood still for a moment, looking from one master to the next. The masters all looked displeased.

  “Keep your students under control and do your duties. This matter is closed.” The Headmaster didn’t wait for any reply. He turned and stormed out of the room.

  “Consider the matter closed,” said Quentin.

  “Please carry on,” my mother said to everyone.

  Still stunned, everyone went about their final chores of the day. She then indicated to me to follow her to her office. Quentin and Thayne followed, too.

  She shut the door.

  “What just happened out there?” she said.

  “Elec, Braithe, and Ren cornered me in the barn.” I pointed to Thayne. “He helped me get out without injury. They attacked first.”

  “My lady,” said Thayne. “Uh…”

  He looked at me with his brow raised.

  “Luella,” I whispered, pointing to myself.

  “Luella is right. One of the boys did lay hands on her first, and I provoked him to chase me out of the barn. I tripped the other two with the handle of a shovel, and then everything is kind of fuzzy after that.”

  I noticed a leather-bound book lying open on my mother’s desk. One I remembered seeing as a child. I did my best to seem as though I was paying attention to what was being said, but my eyes looked past my mother to try to see what she was reading.

  It was my father’s notebook. His research. My mother was looking into it. It was on her desk. There was definitely something going on. The earthquake had stirred questions in her, and in me. I needed to read that notebook.

  “I can gather what happened after.”

  My mother waved her hand in the air.

  “I apologize for my temper, and for bringing dishonor to your hall.” Thayne bowed.

  “You don’t need to bow, Thayne,” my mother said.

  Thayne raised his head and looked at my mother, curiously.

  “Elec is a thorn at the academy, and his parents are the rose bush. He and his friends are always causing havoc. I believe my daughter, Luella, and every sugian student here when they say they had a bad encounter with Elec. It’s far too common,” said my mother.

  “Luella, for the rest of this week, you should stick to the sugian. I’ll rearrange your chore list. You need some distance from the academic side. Aldrich will need some time to cool off.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  “Go. Finish your chores with your friends.”

  Glancing briefly at Thayne and Quentin, I slid the door closed.

  I stood next to Quentin while Hatherine talked to us. Luella had left, and the room felt smaller and definitely quieter. Her personality reminded me of Daria, and it pained me.

  “You look sore, Thayne. Are you alright?” Hatherine asked.

  “I’m fine,” I said.

  I lied. I hurt everywhere. My ribs ached more than the night I was beaten by Averill and Barnett. I could barely breathe without my ribs screaming in agony. I was so caught up with trying to get Luella away from the boys that I didn't notice my own pain.

  “I’m assuming you are trained not to show me any emotion other than poised,” said Hatherine.

  “In a matter of speaking, ma’am,” I said.

  She was right, but I was lousy at it. My short temper most always got the better of me. I was allowed to show my true self to my family and close friends, but in the presence of anyone else, especially those from beyond the inner berg wall, I was to behave myself. Be composed. It sucked, but I did the best I could. For the most part, I did okay. Then the rest of the time, I would be removed from the situation the moment my temper reared its head. Now, everything was beyond the wall and I could barely contain my temper, but not from a lack of trying. I would do my best to be silent and composed.

  “The nobles here do not seem to follow the traditional rules, so I’d say you’re safe to be yourself,” said Hatherine.

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  I wasn’t even sure what myself was.

  “I will take him to Vanya before we turn in, then we will talk again in the morning.” Quentin put his hand on my shoulder. I shifted away as I was still feeling sour toward him. He didn’t need to test me the way he did out by the barn.

  Quentin opened the door, and I followed him out. I was too tired to protest. He led me down the corridor, through the plain, sugian hall, and down another corridor. I could tell the moment we entered the academic side of the academy. It was more ornate than the simple side of the sugian.

  Quentin knocked on a wide door. A moment later, the door swished open with force. A short woman with black hair swept up in a bun stood looking up at Quentin. She blinked then a smile filled her oval face. Like most of the adult aelves in Theotania, she too had an ageless look to her. Only those who had a hard life would begin to show their age on their faces. Quentin had texture to him plainly showing he lead a strenuous life.

  “Hunter Quentin.” Her sien
na eyes were warm and welcoming as she spoke.

  “Vanya, I have brought a patient for you.”

  Quentin urged me inside.

  “Sure. Come.”

  Vanya stepped aside for us to enter the room. She gestured for me to sit on a raised bed used as an examining table. I sat while holding a groan at my lips, but winced instead as I settled on the bed.

  The room was extremely tidy. It was the complete opposite of Lillin’s healer hut from the inner berg. Lillin’s was always overrun with plants and some kind of concoction being made on her large table. Vanya’s room … there wasn’t a speck of dust that I could see. No strange concoction being brewed. No books or scrolls lying on the table. It was plain clean.

  From floor to ceiling, there were large shelves with square baskets lining them. I could assume all her healing supplies were held in those baskets.

  “Who have you brought for me this evening?” she asked Quentin.

  “This is Thayne Dwennon. Some dangerous men laid him out. Long story shortened, quite a bit, he is in Heardnebbian care until issues can be resolved.”

  “I’m guessing details are withheld?” She raised an eyebrow.

  Quentin pressed his lips together then he walked in front of one of her large shelves with his hands folded behind his back. “Do you have a salve for bruising?”

  “Don’t worry, Hunter Quentin. I won’t press the details. And I do have a salve.” She looked at me. “First, I need you to relax.”

  I settled my shoulders and slowed by breathing as if I were to start meditating.

  She hovered her hands over my chest and down each arm individually then up my back.

  “I’ll need you to take off your tunic,” she said.

  Taking off my tunic meant more prodding and I was getting tired of people I didn’t know touch me. It was tiresome. After a moment, I pulled my sash off then carefully slid my tunic off. The black, blue, and purple bruises across my stomach and ribs were a deeper shade and more pronounced.

  She rested her hands on my bruises, and, after a moment, she gave me a look of concern. “Your ribs are cracked.”

  I didn’t know how to respond to that. Averill and Barnett sure kicked hard enough, and it didn’t surprise me that they fractured bones.