Understanding the unspoken order, Icarus took the chair closest to him, biting back a sigh. Sidonia rested her hand on the table, her gold and amethyst augere snug around her thumb.
“I survived because I betrayed my family,” Icarus answered, bitterly. “They have no means of defending themselves. Everything after the treaty was designed to mitigate their power.”
Sidonia slammed her hand down on the table. “Enough of the self-pity, Icarus. I’ve known you your whole life and your self-demonization doesn’t work on me. You saved countless lives and your skill with magic at only fourteen won us victories.” She sighed and when she spoke again, her voice was soft. “I know old wounds won’t die, Icarus, but spending your free time agonizing over the fate of our charges is destroying you. There isn’t even a war.”
“You know as well as I do what’s coming.”
“Did you become a seer overnight?” she teased.
“Sidonia.” He was losing patience with his mentor and friend.
“Yes. I know whatcould beon the horizon. That is why we are taking precautions now. The main hall will be ready in time for the Solstice Ball in case unrest breaks out. Cyrus has assured me that he will keep the wizards in line. Which brings me to the reason for my visit.”
Icarus should have known Sidonia was watching him. She was a woman who left nothing up to chance. He knew better than to overlook her tenacity and yet he found himself increasingly distracted and making mistakes.
“I needed to speak with Cyrus in regard to my brother,” said Icarus, guessing her meaning.
“Calder.”
“Yes.” There was a fine line here and he would need to choose his words very carefully. If Sidonia knew about Calder’s recent use of magic and how involved the Marudas sisters were she would intervene for better or for worse. “I’m worried about him staying at Mistral Hall with the coming storm.”
Sidonia raised a single eyebrow. “So you marched over to Mistral Hall and told your uncle to send Calder away.”
“I did.” Icarus bit out.
All patience and amusement evaporated. “Reckless, Icarus.”
Icarus knew it had been and yet Calder was still at Mistral Hall. If he didn’t start thinking with logic and clarity soon, he would make worse mistakes. Mistakes that were irredeemable.
A quiet breath broke the tension building in the room.
“Icarus. I know you are worried, and I know these past few weeks and coming days are hard on you, but I have always gone to battle for you, and I always will. Don’t make my job harder than it is. You know not all the faculty appreciate your presence here.” She raised a hand to stop the words she knew he would say. “You know I don’t care a wizard’s boot what they say, but we have to maintain unity where we can right now.”
Icarus settled back into his chair, properly chastised. She was right. She was always right. Yet even as he acknowledged the truth of it he knew he still held secrets that she should know. She should know about the grimoire, about Arabella’s new magic, and the connection she seemed to share with Calder. She should know the extent of–
He bit off the thought. Seren’s magic was volatile and Sidonia was wary enough as it was.
“How has it been training Seren Marudas?”
Her name on Sidonia’s lips made him want to wipe her from Sidonia’s memory. He pushed the irrational thought down and made himself focus on his mentor.
“Well, she has shown significantly more control with the use of her augere.” He was grateful his tone was conversational and less hostile than he felt.
Sidonia considered him, tapping a finger to her lips before settling it back down on the table. “That’s reassuring. You know I’m still surprised you offered to take her under your wing.”
Of course, she was because she knew him, and it was out of character for him. “Her magic is both unique and, I believe, important.”
Sidonia nodded, and he hated himself. Hated reminding her that Seren’s magic could be used if war broke out, but that had been the logic he’d used to convince Sidonia to let him tutor her. She needed a teacher, and he’d be damned if he let it be anyone else in this incompetent faculty.
“What are your thoughts on the other Marudas sister’s recent displays?” Sidonia asked, watching him carefully.
Icarus allowed himself the sigh that came from deep within his chest. “It’s a significant change from last year. It could be that she removed a mental block that was inhibiting her that we were not aware of.”
Sidonia shook her head, eyes slightly narrowed. “It’s possible, but it seems unlikely. One of the staff would have picked up on a block.”
“She was already powerful before so none of us likely thought to look.” Icarus supplied.
He hated himself for lying to his friend. There was no way to tell her the truth without risking what was left of his family or her.
