She cuts me off. “I know how Ansaldo operates. Not only have you been here too long for them to let you leave without it, enough members have spoken to him in concern about your presence here. Whether or not you’ve taken the blood oath. They allow anyone under sixteen to remain oathless, but, beyond that, it’s expected almost the moment you pass over the seal.”
“Well.” I sigh, right as we stop inside the threshold of the great hall. “You hit the nail on the head. Ansaldo told me I’ll be initiated a week from now.”
Which I plan to sidestep by proving myself capable without it.
I’m not sure if Bes has asked her to do reconnaissance for us yet, so I don’t mention anything about the secret mission.
Her eyes widen. “I’m surprised.” She glances around covertly, and I do too, marking a few people close by who are hopefully out of earshot. “If it were up to anyone else, you would’ve been initiated the first night you came here.”
I swallow at the second-hand threat. “Then it’s a good thing the order is a monarchy and not a democracy.”
She smiles wide. “I knew I would like you.” She nods in the direction of the great hall. “Hungry?”
My stomach gurgles in agreement. “Famished.”
Alas, I’m not meant to eat. Right before we pass into the great hall, where Mara waits for Kali at the threshold, someone down the hall calls out to me.
“Miss Hawkins.” Bes’s gaze on me is hard and unyielding once I turn toward it. His next words are much lower, though both Kali and Mara can hear him.He must’ve already spoken to them while I was talking to Ansaldo.“You’re supposed to be getting fitted for weapons. Not cavorting with other order members.”
Mara takes a step toward us and glares at him. “Believe me, Bes: you’ll be the last to know if there’s anycavortinggoing on.”
Her hands tremble and the ice in her blue eyes sharpen.I wonder if there’s a history between them.A small sting of jealousy pierces my chest.
Bes chooses to ignore her, staring me down instead.
I shrug an apology at Kali, more than anything pissed that I’m being forced to skip breakfast because Bes is in a mood. She looks to Bes, who gives her a loaded nod.
“We’ll see you later, Hawkins,” Kali calls after me. I don’t answer, my focus entirely on Bes now.
“Did you already speak to them?” I ask
He’s not looking at me, though, not really. His gaze is pinned at the center of my forehead—a tactic I’ve witnessed professors use in class to make their less attentive students feel awkward. I have to admit, it’s working. The reason behind it, too, lingers like the stench of cooked fish.
“I convinced them that Ansaldo is testing your loyalty to the order by sending you out with an experienced member—me.”
Pivoting before I can respond, he leads me away from the great hall, leaving only our footsteps to keep us company.
He guides me down half a dozen passageways in silence, until we finally pass through a high-arched threshold into a room of metal and wood and war.
The order’s weapons cache lives in a hold about the size of the first edition room, which, again, is impressive. Armaments from all over the world hang on its walls, or sit inside wooden shelves snaking across its stone floor.
“So many different ways to kill someone,” I mutter.
Bes taps the sharp point of an arrow with his right thumb absentmindedly. “Everyone has their specialty. Normally, we’d have more time to suss out which weapon fits you best.”
“I’m perfectly fine with my own weapon, thanks.” I reach inside my pocket for my father’s switchblade, knowing I’d never trade it for any of the weapons in this room.Not even the miniature crossbow hanging in the corner…
He shakes his head. “There were too many instances in the past week where a gun proved more useful.”
My chest aches at the memory of stabbing the Blackshirt with my switchblade. “I’ll remember that the next time I’m saving your life.”
He sucks in a long breath. “I never did thank you for that. For what you did in the desert and at the club.”
“You’ve saved my life enough times now,” I admit, concluding to both him and myself. “We’re even.”
He clears his throat, hands clenched at his side. “Right then, let’s get this over with.”
For the next hour, Bes goes over all the discreet weaponry the order keeps stocked in its arsenal and their origins. While it’s truly fascinating, it’s also a lot of information. Especially since I’m having trouble focusing from a lack of sleep.
