“Why are you all not reporting with us to inspect the carriage?”
“If something doesn’t check out, I’d rather us not waste time inspecting it twice. After your judgment and approval of it, the rest of us will go and see it. If you find something not to your liking, I’d prefer to wait and see it when thoseissues are corrected,” Amick answers diplomatically and the High Chancellor eats the shit up as he always does.
“I will thoroughly check everything over. With the importance of this quest and seeing as you only have a few days until your departure, I expect Chancellor Ellian and his Plentifuls to have everything perfect. After this, I want a full, finalized report on your travel plans.”
“I have that ready.”
“Very good. Shall we then,” he says, not actually offering for anyone to lead the way but him.
His robes flare behind him as he turns the corner from the nook in the Athenaeum with a chuckling Riven, stoic Creed, and a suspicious but going-with-the-flow Ellian on his heels.
Thayla, Amick, Lambrit, Rose, Yemi, and I wait a moment before following out as well.
Wordlessly, Lambrit and Rose turn off, heading down rows of books that will lead them to the table closest to Amick’s closed office.
Once we approach the Athenaeum doors, my power wraps around us. I spare a glance over my shoulder when we step out, watching as my brothers escort Harriseen in the opposite direction.
Our bodies are nothing but blurs as we move across the Assembly to the Sanctum. No one recognizes anything but the gust of wind we produce as we move past them.
As usual, the Sanctum is quiet, void of any excitement or personalities that don’t closely match those of the Beginning Gods.
I slow my power back down to our normal speed as we approach the Chancellors’ hallway, and my hand wraps around Thayla’s elbow.
Her worried face scans Amick’s very serious one. She has nothing to be concerned about, though. His silence isn’t apprehension. It’s pure concentration. The carriage inspection won’t take long, and from what he explained, this book is thick. Which means every second is going to count if he wants to copy the whole thing.
He’ll be a little tired and need some time to relax, no matter if he wants that or not.
He’ll have to lie around and read at a normal pace like everyone else.
“Remember what I said. If anyone comes down this hall and starts asking what you’re doing, just say you were looking for my office and got lost.”
“Got it.”
“Only minutes will pass.”
She nods, but it’s unconvincing. “I know.”
I lean in and give her a kiss, hoping it takes the edge off her nerves. Amick lays a fast, unfocused kiss right above her eyebrow, then turns to march down the hallway.
I can’t linger any longer or try to reassure her more than we already have. V’s ready to pass any messages or warnings we need back and forth between all of us. No matter. She’s going to worry until we leave.
I catch up to Amick in a split second and jerk my head at the sigh that leaves his lips as his fingers wrap around the doorknob.
“What’s wrong? Is it locked?”
“No.”
“Why do you seem so disappointed about that?”
“I’m disappointed in his ego. He has no sense of self-preservation because he believes he’s untouchable. If it’s this easy for us to intrude into his office, anyone with a half-thought-out plan could do the same.”
He ignores the grin on my face, and we don’t share any more words as he pushes open the door for us to slip inside. I shut it gently, then freeze when I take in the office.
It’s obviously my first time in here and it’s both exactly as I expected it to be but also completely different.
Yes, it’s glittering with marble, gold, three statues of himself, and rows of knowledge, but it’s an absolute mess.
There is no sense of organization among the piles and piles of parchments, scattered books, and rolled scrolls. The only spot somewhat clean is the cabinet behind the desk.
