“Lessons will resume immediately,” he informs us. “Trials will continue as normal. You are dismissed.”
Several people begin to rise from their benches, but he lifts his hand, and everyone freezes.
“Beaufort Lincoln. Dray Eros. Thorne Cadieux. Briony Storm. Please remain behind.”
Several people swivel in their seats to gape at me. I keep my gaze fixed ahead. This man not only gives me the creeps, hemakes me nervous and I wonder what the hell he’s going to say to me.
As I wait for the other students to file out of the hall, I catch sight of Fly glancing at me anxiously. I manage a little smile, hoping it conveys confidence.
When finally everyone’s left, I make my way through the vacated benches and join the Princes at the front of the hall, at the edge of the stage.
Chancellor Sterling remains in his elevated position, peering down his long, crooked nose at the four of us.
“Where is the dragon?” he asks, not missing a beat.
I open my mouth to answer, but Thorne answers for me.
“Out by the caves at the edge of the forest. It’s where his den is,” Thorne explains.
The man strokes his pointed chin. “You have been ordered, by command of the Empress, to report to the palace immediately. You are to take the dragon with you.”
“N-now?” I say.
“Immediately.”
“Briony’s not well enough to travel,” Beaufort tells the Chancellor.
The Chancellor examines me. “She looks perfectly well to me.”
“She was struck by lightning,” Beaufort tells him. “I healed her myself.”
“Healed her yourself?” The Chancellor all but spits the words. “Why wasn’t she taken to the commoner clinic?”
“There was no need,” Beaufort says. “I’m a skilled healer.”
“Most irregular.” The Chancellor snorts. “But this is irrelevant. The order came from the Empress. You are to leave the academy and make your way to the palace by the end of the day. I suggest, Miss Storm, you spend that time recuperating.You have my permission to miss your subsequent lessons today.”
I don’t know whether to argue or not. I don’t want to go to the palace – what if Fox comes back to the academy? What if he doesn’t? It’s just another delay in finding him.
Sensing I’m about to start arguing and get myself in a whole load of trouble, Beaufort says, “Yes, Sir,” takes hold of my elbow, and drags me from the Great Hall, where we find Clare and Fly waiting for us.
As soon as we’re out of earshot of the Chancellor, Beaufort hisses in my ear, “This is a good thing, Briony. We’ve been discussing it, and if we’re to go out into the demon wastelands, we’re going to need help. We’re going to need my mother’s elite guard. This gives me an opportunity to ask her for permission to leave the realm and to take those soldiers with me.”
“Do you think she’ll let us? Do you think she’ll give them to us?”
“I don’t know,” he says, dropping his hold on me. “But I’m going to try my darnedest to persuade her.”
“Great. Then let’s go now.”
“Go where?” Fly asks.
“The Empress has commanded us to present at the palace,” Thorne tells him.
“You heard the Chancellor,” Beaufort says to me. “We don’t have to leave until this evening. You have time to rest.”
“Beaufort, I’m healed. I feel fine.”
“You want to go now?” Fly says.
