“Cease that humming. Soon studies will resume. Let us have a proper period of mourning, at least.”
Ebon stifled a grin. “All good things end, Theren.”
She pushed him, nearly making him stumble into the snow. “Yet you need not remind me. Do you know how my mind grows numb, studying my lessons when my skills are so far advanced?”
“And doubtless your humility troubles you greatly, as well,” said Kalem, wide-eyed and innocent. Quickly he ducked Theren’s swinging fist.
They made for Leven’s tavern, the place where they had first met, and one of their favorite haunts on the island. It was far enough removed that there were rarely other students about—but this time Ebon ran into Isra at the door. He did not see her coming out as he entered, and their shoulders struck each other. She glared at him, and he ducked to avoid her dark, intense eyes.
“My apologies,” he said.
She did not answer him for a moment. Then at last she said, “Well? May I pass?”
Ebon blushed, for he had not realized he was still blocking the door. “Of course, of course,” he said, stepping aside. She made to move past him, but he spoke quickly before she could go. “How is Astrea?”
Isra met his gaze, now with softer eyes. “Well enough. I am taking care of her.”
“Thank you,” said Ebon. “I will try to spend more time with her once classes resume, to help ease her mind.”
To his surprise, Isra’s face hardened. “I hardly think that would help.”
Ebon frowned. “What? I—”
“Everyone knows you have been meddling about the Academy. Who is to say you did not provoke Lilith? She is another goldbag, after all, just like you.”
“You speak strong words about something you do not understand,” said Theren, giving the girl a scowl. “Ebon is nothing like Lilith.”
Isra snorted. “Easy words for you, who may dip your hand into his pocket to pay for fine food and drink. A goldbag’s friends defending a goldbag. Yet you, too, will suffer in their war.”
She turned and left them. Theren made to follow, but Ebon seized her arm. “Let her be. We are all distraught after events of late. Some show it differently than others.”
“I would like to show her something, certainly,” Theren growled. But she let Ebon bring her inside.
Leven hailed them the moment they entered the bar, and they waved back from the doorway. Their table was empty, and they made their way towards it. But then Ebon noticed that at one table sat Oren and Nella, Lilith’s companions. They were together in a corner, shoulders hunched over their drinks, neither of them speaking. Their eyes wandered, and Ebon could not help feeling that they looked somewhat lost.
“Give me a moment,” he said, letting Theren and Kalem go on without him. He crossed the room until he stood by Oren and Nella’s table. Nella gave him a courteous nod, but Oren only glowered up at him.
“My condolences for what happened to Lilith,” Ebon said softly. “That cannot be easy.”
Oren’s brow furrowed deeper. “Get away from us, you sniveling little—”
“Oren!” Nella cut him off. They matched glares until Oren relented, taking a sip from his cup. Nella looked back up to Ebon. “Thank you. But I do not believe Lilith could do this.”
“Times are strange indeed,” said Ebon. “Many have revealed in themselves things we can scarce imagine.”
“You mistake me,” said Nella, frowning. “I mean I do not believe Lilith could do it. She is no monster. I know it. I—” Her voice broke, and she looked away.
Ebon stood uncomfortably for a moment. Then he tossed a gold weight upon the table. “Have yourselves a fine bottle tonight.”
Oren glared. “We do not need your coin, Drayden.”
“I know you do not need it. But I wish to give it. You may choose not to believe me, but her fate brought me no joy. Good evening.”
He backed away. For a moment he thought Oren would throw the coin at his face. But Nella picked it up, nodding her thanks, and then waved down a barman. Ebon crossed the room and joined his friends at their table.
“And why did you feel the need to take your life into your hands?” said Kalem, looking across the room in fear.
“They have lost a friend,” said Ebon quietly. “If you think they do not feel the pain of that, just as we would, you misunderstand them.”
“Their friend is a murderer,” said Theren, glaring into her cup of wine.
“I think there is more to it than that,” said Ebon. “That is why I want to talk to her.”
He spoke the words without thinking, and caught himself too late. His eyes widened. Theren’s look sharpened at once, though it took her a moment to understand. When she did, she leaned in to whisper.
“You mean to speak to Lilith? What madness has taken you, Ebon?”
“I need both of us to speak to her. We know, though no one else wants to admit it, that Lilith could not have worked alone. I could still have traitors in my family, and they must be exposed.”
“You want me to come with you?” Theren leaned back and folded her arms. “Never. Not though my life depended on it. I have no wish to lay eyes upon her again.”
“Not even if it might save more lives? Even now the artifacts may be on their way across Underrealm. The criminals behind the theft are at large, and no one is yet safe.”
Theren glared, but Ebon met her gaze and did not waver. Kalem looked uncomfortably between them. “Theren, it could help,” he said. “And besides, if you are so angry with her, you will never get a better opportunity to say so.”
“You will never have another opportunity at all,” said Ebon. “Once they find the artifacts, Lilith will be put to death.”
Theren blinked and looked away. “Very well. If only to help you, and because of my failures to do so in the past.”
“Thank you.” Ebon put a hand on Theren’s. “I will not forget this.”
“You had better not,” she said, sighing. Then her eyes slid past him, and brightened. “But forget all of that now. Someone has arrived.”
Ebon looked over his shoulder to see Adara stepping through the front door. She wore new clothes, or at least ones he had not yet seen, colored violet and trimmed in black. Ebon and Kalem stood to greet her, Kalem blushing furiously.
“Good evening, Theren, and to you, Kalem,” said Adara. She smiled, and then drew Ebon in for a kiss. “And good evening to you, my love.”
He grinned back at her. “A good evening it is, now. Please, sit. We have ordered a fine bottle for ourselves, and Leven knows to bring you some mead.”
“Thank you,” she said, sliding down the bench. He took his place beside her. Leven soon came with the mead, and together they raised a glass.
“To Yearsend,” said Ebon. “A more eventful year I have never seen.”
“To Yearsend,” they said, and drank. Kalem’s eyes kept darting to Adara and then away again, his fingers fidgeting with his cup.
Theren raised an eyebrow. “What has you so anxious?”
Adara laughed lightly. “It seems I have made the son of Konnel uncomfortable again. I chose to wear his family’s colors tonight.”
“Aha,” said Ebon. “Kalem, you did not tell me.”
“It is only that I was surprised,” said Kalem, his eyes on the table. “And it has … er … well, it has made me think of someone else.”
“Oh?” said Adara. “Has the young lord at last found a spark to ignite a flame within his heart?”
“Nothing so grand,” said Kalem, but his cheeks had gone bright red.
Ebon frowned, but Theren laughed. “We visited Ebon’s family only a few days ago. His sister Albi took quite a liking to our little noble-born friend.”
Adara looked to Ebon, and when she saw the look of annoyance on his face, she giggled. “Look at the dutiful brother, holding back such stern words.”
“I have no words,” said Ebon, hiding his face behind his goblet. “Albi’s doings are none of my concern.”
<
br /> Theren snorted, while Adara hid a smile. But then she leaned forwards, and in a low voice said, “When you sent your letter this morning, Ebon, I was most glad. I have heard something more from the other lovers. It seems many Academy instructors and other faculty have been seen along the east end of the Seat, though no one knows quite what they are doing.”
Ebon nodded slowly. “We saw something of this already. The new dean, Xain, has moved into a dwelling there, and it seems the High King has placed a guard around his house—though I know not why.”
Adara frowned. “That hardly seems to account for it. There have been many goings-on—far more than could be explained by one man taking residence in a new home.”
“We were there,” said Theren, shrugging. “We saw them bringing in his possessions.”
“Well, that is not all,” Adara went on. “That Academy student has been seen about again, the one I spoke of before. Only this time they were spotted to the east, in the same area as the dwelling you speak of.”
Ebon shook his head. “That does not matter now. Lilith has been caught, and is in the care of the Mystics. You will not see her skulking around again.”
“The student was seen only last night.”
They all went very still. Ebon, Kalem, and Adara shared a look. “Last night?” said Ebon. “But Lilith was captured four days ago.”
“Then it is not Lilith lurking about,” said Adara.
Theren stared down at her hands. But Kalem shook his head. “And we never had any reason to believe it was, if you think about it. Likely it is someone causing harmless mischief—mayhap going to see a lover, as you do, Ebon.”
“Yet I always return before curfew,” Ebon muttered. All this talk of Xain’s home and the skulking student had brought it back: the itch in his mind he had felt in his family’s courtyard, like something heard and then forgotten. And now the image of Xain’s home joined his scattered thoughts.
He started in his seat as he suddenly felt someone at his elbow. Looking up, he found Oren standing over their table. The boy’s dour expression had gone, and he smiled down at them magnanimously.
“Greetings, Ebon and Kalem. Ebon, I am sorry for speaking angrily before. My mind is much preoccupied these days.”
Ebon looked to Theren uncertainly. She broke off from glaring at Oren just long enough to give Ebon a steely look. “Worry not overmuch,” said Ebon carefully. “These are strange times.”
“Indeed. That is why I have come. I thought you and Kalem might wish to join me in the library. A number of us gather there in the evenings to share wine and conversation. We call ourselves the Goldbag Society.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Every merchant’s child. Every son and daughter of royalty.”
A chill crept down Ebon’s spine. He looked past Oren for Nella, but the girl was nowhere to be seen. “That … that was Lilith’s gathering,” he stammered. “But she is gone.”
Oren shook his head. “I have taken her duties in running the group. Your company would be most welcome—as would yours, son of Konnel.”
Ebon could see that Theren was about to do something foolish, so he quickly cut her off. “I thank you, Oren, but I will decline. I have friends to spend my evenings with already.”
But Oren frowned at Theren. “She is no merchant’s child. No son or daughter of royalty.”
Theren shot to her feet. “I have had enough of this, and more besides. Leave us. You were not invited here, and they have already said they do not want to join your goldshitter club.”
Oren did not move. Instead he glared at her, planting both fists on the table. “They must join.”
“We must do nothing,” said Ebon, growing irritated. “Leave us be, or—”
Light flooded Oren’s eyes as he reached for his magic. But Theren struck first, not with a spell but with her fists. One hand chopped hard at Oren’s throat, and the other struck him between the eyes. He fell back with a cry, his head striking a table on the way to the floor. He rolled over onto his stomach, groaning, while Kalem shouted and gripped Theren’s arm to keep her from going after him.
Ebon was standing, unsure of what to do. But when Oren turned back to them, the glow had gone from his eyes. Instead they were wild and wide, turning in all directions. At last he focused on Ebon, mouth twisting in hate.
“I know not what I was thinking,” he spat. “To have you and this whelp of a boy would shame us all.”
“I am glad you have seen reason,” said Theren, her voice filled with steel. “Now begone, or next I will use my spells.”
Oren fought to his feet and swept away, weaving between tables and bursting through the tavern’s door. What few curious eyes had found them slowly drifted away. Ebon took his seat, as did Theren, who was still fuming.
“That was most odd,” said Adara, still looking in the direction Oren had gone.
“Mayhap you can tell your lover friends about it,” said Theren. “More whispers to slither across the Seat.”
“Theren,” said Ebon, frowning.
“It is all right, Ebon.” Adara put a calming hand on his arm. “He was beastly. I am sorry it tarnished what was a most pleasant evening.”
Ebon smiled at her. But Theren snorted and stood from the table. “The night is still young. I shall see you back at the Academy. Just now I find I need something more than wine to soothe me.”
She flung the tavern’s door open and left. Kalem frowned. “Do you think she will seek Oren, and try to finish their fight?”
Ebon shook his head. “Theren is hot-headed, but even she is not so foolish. I believe she makes for a house of lovers.”
Kalem blinked and sank back on his bench. “Ah. I see.”
“Speaking of which,” said Adara, her hand sliding onto Ebon’s leg. “Theren was right about one thing: the night is yet young.”
Ebon smiled, but then he paused. He looked at Kalem, raising his eyebrows. Kalem rolled his eyes.
“Oh, go on. It is the eve of the new year, after all. I shall go spend mine alone, in the library. Only do not leave me to pay for the drinks. My allowance is late, and it has been scant besides.”
Ebon threw a gold weight onto the table, and then he and Adara stole off into the night, making for the blue door to the west.
CLASS BEGAN THE NEXT DAY, and it seemed everyone in the Academy was all too eager to throw themselves into the business of learning once again. Ebon hoped that Yearsend had been a healing time for them all: a time to reflect upon their tragedy, to wrestle with their feelings, and then to put sorrow behind them. Now life could go on as it had before, and everyone seemed eager to embrace it.
But three days later, Ebon received a sobering reminder of the Academy’s losses, though he did not recognize it when first it came. A messenger in dark grey robes came to the door—one of the Academy faculty, bearing a scrap of parchment that bore only a few words:
Please come and speak with me. You are still not in trouble.
Jia
That made him smile. He showed the note to Perrin, and she waved him off before resuming her lessons with Astrea, who these days barely looked up from her desk.
When he reached Jia’s study, Ebon was confused to find Theren already waiting. Jia waved him towards an empty chair, and he sat.
“I have spoken with Dasko since you made your request, and also with an old friend in the Mystics. She has secured their agreement to let the two of you see Lilith.”
Theren had been scowling since before Jia began speaking. Now she opened her mouth to speak, but Ebon saw the fury in her eyes, and interrupted her.
“Thank you, Instructor. It will do us good, I think, to see her.”
Jia looked bemused, knowing something of his feud with Lilith. And she was no fool—she likely knew something of Theren’s feelings towards Lilith as well. Yet for some reason, she had arranged the meeting anyway. He would not squander this chance, for he might never have another opportunity to learn the truth of Lilith’s motives.
But before
she answered him, Jia grew solemn once more. “You must understand something before you go to see her. Lilith has been put to the question since she left us—more than half a week ago, now. Do you understand what that means?”
Ebon understood only too well. He swallowed hard. “Yes, Instructor.” Theren nodded grimly.
“She will look much the worse for wear, to say the least, for still she withholds the location of the artifacts she stole. You have been allowed to see her on one condition: you must make an attempt, at least, to draw that information out of her. Those artifacts cannot remain outside the Academy’s control.”
“We understand, Instructor.”
She softened. “And one more thing. When you see her … you must understand that the Mystics’ questioners take no pleasure in what they have put Lilith through, nor in the further action they must take if you fail. It is their duty. And it is in the service of the Academy’s safety—as well as the safety of all the nine lands.”
Ebon bowed. “Yes, Instructor.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Theren hesitate.
“Lilith will die, then? It is certain?”
Jia’s lips twitched, and for a moment it seemed to Ebon that her eyes shone. But she blinked, and the moment was gone. “Yes,” she said flatly. “She killed another student. We all witnessed it.”
Theren’s throat worked, eyes wandering as though she had not heard Jia’s words. She nodded, but would not meet the instructor’s gaze.
Jia stood to lead them out of the Academy and into the streets, making her way towards a tall stone building a few blocks distant. Ebon had passed the building a few times, but had never learned its purpose. As they came to a stop before its doors, he realized it must be a station for constables, for two of them stood in their red leather armor before the door.
Inside, the broad front room held more of the lawmen. But in the back corner were a pair of Mystics, both of their cloaks drawn about them. One, the taller of the two, had his hood down. The other had their hood raised, covering their eyes, and what little Ebon could see of the face was covered by still more red cloth, like a mask drawn over their features. He felt a little thrill of fear as Jia led them forwards.
The Academy Journals Volume One_A Book of Underrealm Page 43
