Prince Reidar was flanked by Colly and Batham as usual. All three of them looked grim, but Reidar wore his defiance like a crown. There were new guards near him now besides Colly and Batham, and I wondered if they were the guards Colly had mentioned, the ones who were with the prince when Colly wasn’t there himself. Colly clearly didn’t like being tied down. He wanted his freedom to roam the castle, and he got it at night. Alone.
The Shadow attacked the successful and powerful. Colly did not have an impressive resume. I wasn’t even certain he was a part of any organization, much less the leader of one. So maybe he could walk safely, because he wasn’t a target.
Prince Reidar and his entourage had positioned themselves far away from Prince Orlando. It made sense to split up into multiple targets.
There was a quiet hum of conversation as we waited for the principal to arrive. I had only caught glimpses of him since our talk in the office after my arrival, which felt like a long time ago.
As to that, the whole plan had been silly from the start. Everybody at the academy knew I was a criminal. Everybody knew that the worst of the best of society had been infused with the worst, a combination of forces to try and save the rich and powerful at the expense of the rest of us.
I couldn’t say I was surprised. For my whole life, every possible obstacle that could be put in the way of my living a long life had been put there, so nothing had really changed. Now if I joined an organization and reached the pinnacle of academy life as a leader, that would just put my life at even greater risk than it already was.
And that’s exactly what I was supposed to do. In exchange for my freedom. Which would be of no use to me if I didn’t survive.
A bargain with no good outcome, I thought.
The principal walked in at last, flanked by Jinelle and Paddy. Paddy looked extra tired, with dark half-rings under his eyes. He was in charge of the guards and was doing a piss-poor job, if anybody asked me, which of course they hadn’t. At least they had added more guards since morning.
Jinelle went over to stand by Clouda. I wondered which of them would win in a fight. No matter what the outcome was, it would be ugly, vicious, and epic.
“Good evening,” said the principal, rubbing his hands together as he took us all in. “I wish we could be having this conversation under better circumstances, or that we didn’t need to have it at all. Unfortunately, we must.” He paused, cleared his throat, and went on.
“What happened today was a tragedy, and we’ve been discussing all afternoon what to do about it. Prince Connor was an honorable member of our student body. He will be missed. He did not deserve what happened to him. One option under discussion is to close down the academy. It no longer serves its purpose when we are losing the very students we’re trying to train. Be that as it may, closing the academy isn’t an option.
“The main reason is that borders are being attacked and the entire kingdom is under siege. It’s probably no safer for anyone anywhere else, except for the princes. We have given both princes twenty-four hours to decide whether they want to go home. We have sent word to the king that this would be the best option. We are still waiting to hear back from him. Either way, things are going to have to change. The changes will make life more difficult, but I’m sure all of you will understand that it is for the good of everyone. This isn’t a surprise. In order to survive, we must adapt.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt apologies that this killer hasn’t been caught. Last year should have been enough. There should have been enough damage and destruction. But here he is again. All I can say is that I’m sorry.”
The principal looked around the room, trying to get some idea of how the assembled students were taking his words. When he had scanned the crowd thoroughly he said, “When I’m finished, Paddy wants to say a few words. He has been working diligently and around the clock for months in order to catch this criminal, who will be brought to justice when he is caught.
“For the moment, we’re going to re-interview those who were here last year. If you are new to school this year, then you are off the hook. You’ll be free do your schoolwork as usual tonight. For the rest of you, get ready for a long evening, and be careful. We’re going to have more guards on duty from now on. It is no longer simply recommended but an order that you travel in pairs or threesomes. Bigger groups would be even better.
“We would also like to state that we will no longer have large gatherings. Even classes are going to be split into smaller sections one way or another. Any time anyone goes outside, it’s going to be in small groups. That will minimize any further casualties.
“Again, I would like to extend my personal apology for what just happened at our great academy. I do hope that through all of this we are still able to engage in the crucial learning that we have to do. The best defense is to learn all we can. Do not let this murderer win.”
He finished with a note of finality and started to walk away, but somebody called out a question that made him pause. I couldn’t quite hear the question, but the principal turned to look at whoever had asked it, and it was repeated.
“Do we think the Shadow is among us, or is he somebody from another country trying to destabilize the kingdom?”
The principal’s eyes sharpened on the crowd.
“I cannot say,” he replied, gathering papers and starting to leave.
Several of the teachers appeared to be simmering with anger, fear, and rage. When it looked as if the principal was going to walk out, the fury erupted. “I don’t think we should give in to this,” seethed Clouda.
The principal stopped dead and turned cold eyes on her, radiating power and command. He stared at her for so long that even she started to look uncertain.
“Respectfully, sir,” she said. She bowed her head for emphasis, but he kept staring. I could tell he was furious at the interruption of his planned sequence of speeches.
“Does anyone else feel as Clouda does?” he asked, his voice flat with a deadly calm.
“I do,” said Fallyan.
Fallyan was like the sort who would always do what he was told. But several students were nodding in agreement, and that gave him the courage to elaborate. “If we give up now, what else are we going to give up? We can’t leave here. We can’t stop working,” he argued.
“You’re all fools,” blustered Paddy. “Why don’t you say what you were going to say?”
Fallyan and Paddy stared at each other. There was clearly no love lost between them. Then Fallyan stepped forward. “I was going to say we all have to be vigilant. Normal measures of catching criminals have clearly not sufficed here. Even the criminals we’ve brought in haven’t been able to spot one of their own.”
Had he really just said that? Did he really think I should be able to spot whoever had committed this crime and alert everyone at the academy?
As if I knew.
I was a thief and a liar. But this killer was something else entirely.
He was a coward.
Your opponent should see you coming, is what one of the leaders of Julia’s clan had loved to say.
And then he had been cut down without warning.
Life was cheap. Several of my comrades had died trying to escape that morning, only for it to turn out that it was all a game to begin with. We were never going to escape. That was never the plan.
“We can’t stop training. If we stop training, we might as well close the school,” said Jinelle.
“I think we should close the school,” said Paddy.
“That might make everybody safer, but nobody would learn anything,” said Clouda.
“If we close the school, we’ll never find out who did this,” said Fallyan.
“But it’s a high price to pay. Princes are dying,” said Paddy.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” said Fallyan. “We have to keep fighting until the bitter end or the king orders us to close.”
At that, a new, rather high-pitched voice broke into the fray. “It isn’
t your life on the line,” said Prince Orlando.
Suddenly he was standing, but he was so short that some of his guards had to help him onto a table top to make him visible and let him see over everybody. He tried to place his hands on his hips, but it was an awkward maneuver for someone wearing armor.
His guards were looking nervous. Prince Orlando was standing above the rest of us and making himself a target when it was against his nature to do that. So far, all I had seen him do was hide.
Even with his helmet hiding his face I could see that he was glaring around at the rest of us.
“You can’t use learning as an excuse. Not anymore. We came here at the order of the king. I don’t want to die, but my life is on the line.
“The attacker didn’t lose in battle, in a fair fight. The attack on us was cowardly. Someone anonymous caused an explosion, and that was the end of it. Now there are just two princes left. You expect me to remain here and act as bait? It’s all well and good for you to say we can’t give in, but none of your lives are on the line.”
By the time he finished he was almost ranting, and a chorus of voices started talking all at once. Unsurprisingly, Clouda’s voice won out.
“That’s not what I’m saying at all. My life is on the line too. If I see an arrow coming for you, I will step between you and it. That’s my job and my training. I may not be a big target, but if we’re going to catch this killer, more of us will die, and it’s far more likely to be me than you. Besides, you say that it’s at the order of the king. We are all at the king’s mercy. He decides what happens here. We don’t get to close the school unless it’s his say-so, and there’s no guarantee that anywhere else is safer anyhow.
“I’m simply suggesting that we all have fighting hearts. Let’s train hard, let’s train fast. The better we all are, the more likely we are to ferret out who’s doing this. And to catch them.” She ground her hand into her fist and stepped back into line.
“You think no one else dies?” another voice called out. An older student named Kate stood up
“Her best friend was the best student in their class. The killer murdered her,” Vayvin whispered to me.
“It isn’t just the princes who are at risk! Don’t you dare forget it!” cried Kate. There were tears in her eyes. Prince Orlando looked anywhere but at her.
The principal watched all this in silence. I wondered if he was getting more gray hair even as the back and forth went on. He looked tired. I wondered what he would do if it were up to him instead of the king.
Paddy was shaking his head, clearly furious.
“I think that’s all for tonight,” said the principal, cutting short the bickering. “Tomorrow morning we do what we were supposed to do today. We have outdoor training. I expect everyone to be prepared unless a healer tells me you are unable to meet the physical requirements. Even then I expect you to be out there watching. I also expect everyone who hasn’t joined an organization to do so by the end of the week. If there isn’t an organization you want to join, create one. I don’t care. Simply get it done.”
He glanced at Clouda. “Will that be all, or are you going to interrupt my exit again?” he demanded.
It was clear from his tone that there was only one right answer. Clouda set her jaw and said, “My apologies. There won’t be another interruption.”
The principal gave one chopping nod and walked out. The students got up from their seats and followed him more slowly.
I looked around at some of the older students, who were a lot bigger and stronger than the rest of us. I wasn’t around them much, since their training was more advanced, so it was interesting to see how different they were from us younger ones.
I wondered how many of the older ones wanted to leave the academy with the murderer still on the loose. The only princes left were first year students, and so far it had mostly been our year that was targeted, not the upper classes. I wondered too if there would be outside help called in, beyond the guards who were standing along the walls right now.
Changes would come only by the king’s order, and he had been informed of Prince Connor’s death. Where he went from there was anybody’s guess.
“Well that wasn’t fun,” said Vayvin.
“What tipped you off?” Londa asked. She had decided we weren’t so bad after all, and had been spending more time with us recently.
I didn’t wait for the conversation to continue. Instead of going back to the dorm with the others, I excused myself and headed for the library.
There were guards everywhere, careful, vigilant. They trusted none of us.
As I walked, I glanced down at the cuffs on my wrists. I had become used to their deepening color. I rather liked them. They were scars left over from what had been done to me, but beautiful ones, not that I was willing to admit that out loud. I got to see the ones on my ankles, waist, and neck less often, usually only in the bath.
I reached the library and took a conspicuous seat. I didn’t want to hide away. I wasn’t even certain if Colly would come, given the increased security.
Plus, I imagined that the prince wanted his most trusted guards by his side, surely Colly had to be one of them.
As usual I picked up a book and pretended to read, while actually listening to snatches of conversation. Only a few students had braved the library tonight.
Or maybe those of us who had ventured out weren’t brave, but just idiots.
I waited and waited. The snatches of conversation I could hear were mostly about the explosion. Many students remembered Prince Connor as an excellent prince, the one most of them thought would be first in line to the throne. Everyone said that the king had liked him as well.
Prince Connor had a distant relative in one of the upper years named Lord Cory. I knew who they were talking about, a dark, swarthy young man I had seen a number of times around the school. He ran with the best students on campus, the type who routinely jumped off the waterfall. It was Lord Cory whom I had seen diving that first day.
The image came back to me of Cory spreading his rippling arms wide, leaping over the precipice, and tumbling in a perfect dive. I didn’t think I could ever learn to be that graceful.
He had landed in the water with barely a splash, then jumped out and given a whoop of delight, water droplets flying off him as he celebrated. Several of his friends had followed him off the cliff in their own spectacular dives.
Connor had been there that day. He had tried to jump but had lost his nerve at the last moment. But I had known that it would only be a matter of time before he managed it. Prince Connor didn’t believe in fear, and he would have been determined to conquer it.
And look where that had gotten him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Other than the desperate whispers, the library was quiet. Usually when I came in I looked for fae who were chatting about classwork so I could listen in on their conversations. Tonight everyone was subdued; I heard no conversations about topics from our classes. Mostly, the older students were talking to the younger ones, trying to find out what exactly had happened that morning.
Rumors had spread like a fire with the wind at its back, the beginnings of a change in the overall atmosphere of the place that was just starting. As it went on over the next days and weeks, I would become one of the lucky ones, all because I hadn’t been on campus the year before. Nobody suspected me as the killer, and I started to be more trusted. Everyone was more wary with students who had been around before.
I saw Kayka over in the corner and gave her a wave. Her dark hair cascaded down her back and her delicate features hid what a strong fighter she was. I hadn’t ever seen her at the top of the waterfall, but she was still one of the braver and more outspoken students at the academy. She waved back and returned to the quiet conversation she was having with another upperclassman.
“Where do you think we should go?” a voice asked. Startled, I glanced around and saw Colly standing with his hands in his pockets, unscathed by the events of the morn
ing. I hadn’t been entirely convinced he’d show up.
“The prince let you come, did he?” I asked.
“I told him I wanted to go. He told me I couldn’t. So I told him I was helping you with homework, and he let me,” he explained.
I rolled my eyes. “You didn’t tell him, did you? About, you know?”
Colly shook his head. I thought he’d make fun of me, make light of the situation, call me a poor peasant or something like that. I wouldn’t even have minded so much. I did feel like a poor peasant among the opulent wealth and stunning talents and accomplishments of my fellow students.
But no. Colly took it, and me, seriously. “Let’s find a quiet corner,” he said, leading me to a stairwell hidden behind several ranks of bookshelves.
I tried to hide my surprise. I had never even realized the library had multiple floors. My jaw hung open as we started to climb, and then kept climbing and climbing.
“How big is this library?” I demanded after a while, my voice echoing off the bare walls of the stairwell.
Colly chuckled. “It’s as tall as the castle,” he said.
“I had no idea,” I murmured.
Colly knew where he was going. I followed those broad shoulders through a doorway, on the other side of which was a quiet floor. As I learned, most students didn’t bother coming up here even on a good day, and today had not been a good day.
Colly went over to a corner next to a window where we could look outside. At night you could see the mountains driving into the stars, and this window was perfectly placed for enjoying the view.
I sank gratefully into a cushioned chair. I hadn’t realized how tense I was. My shoulders were tight and my legs and back hurt, maybe because I was keeping them up around my ears in a defensive position all the time, but also, of course, because I had in fact come in contact with stone walls a couple of times recently.
The cuffs around my wrists were hurting again as well. They felt like shackles today, in fact. But the sparkly magic dancing through me was still there, still waiting. I had found myself checking on it a lot recently, as if it might help me in a crisis.
Noble Fae Academy: Year One Page 15