Unbelievable. He’s deduced the exact timeline. “How? I mean—” I’m a mess. And I can’t be a mess right now. “How do you know that? You’d barely said five sentences to me until I saved your life.”
His stare is piercing. “Just because I’m quiet doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention.”
His eyes have always shouted their scrutiny. I simply thought I had done a good job pretending. I had hunkered down and only worked and acted like a copper.
Oh.
Like a copper, which I had never acted like before. Unlike many of my classmates, I always strove for more. My dream of getting into Revers Academy could only manifest by studying and training harder than anyone else. I know how early James arrives at school because I arrive early too.
Our school forbids crafting anything but your designated metal while in session. However, they set out hunks of raw metal for us to practice on during our free time. For years James and I would occupy opposite ends of those crafting fields, sometimes for a full hour before first bell. But last fall I stopped going for two months. And when I came back, I never touched bronze or silver again. I didn’t realize anyone would even notice.
James Murphy did, though. I mean, of course he noticed. But I didn’t think he’d care or think twice about it.
A rush of different emotions engulfs me. Fear and guilt and anger. I had counted on my invisibility, on being the odd Forsen country girl who would rather work with her dad after school than spend time with friends.
Before I carried this secret, I always wanted someone to notice me, to have close friends. However, right now, Murphy’s observation makes my heart skip.
I can’t fail at this. Not after everything I’ve sacrificed.
I march up to Murphy so fast he backsteps. Good, he’s off-balance.
“You promise? All you want to know is why?”
“Yes,” he says, breathless.
“Alright.” I nod and put everything I have into the next statement. “The truth is, I advanced too quickly.”
“Okay…?”
“I advanced too quickly, and then I realized how that would look.” I take a breath. “Today, you said I should register. But have you really thoughtabout what would happen if I did? Name one silver family who would be pleased, who’d accept me?”
From James’s face, he knows the answer. None.
Perfect.
“Last year I learned the world we live in is fickle. They don’t like crafting advancement unless like-minded silvers deem it acceptable. My father and I would be questioned, assumed to have stolen bronze and silver off clients. He’d lose business. And without business, we could lose the sanctuary. Worst-case? We’re arrested.”
“But you didn’t steal silver from your clients,” James states.
“Of course not.”
“You gained a silver dragon’s trust. Formed a bond like how it should be.”
Something like that. “We have a lot of clients. I’ve been around enough bronze and silver and…”
“And you picked it up naturally.” He’s nodding, filling in parts of the story for me. Thank god. This actually sounds legitimate. I might get away with this.
“Yes,” I say. Now, I just have to swear him to secrecy. “There is your answer. You’ll promise not to tell anyone? Ever?”
He’s thinking. I can clearly see him thinking.
“Murphy?”
He only stares. Mulling over my explanation as if my life doesn’t depend on it. Yet, it does.
“James?” I implore.
“I won’t tell anyone.”
