Five of Swords. Three of Swords. Five of Cups. Ten of Swords.
Every card drawn feels like a tiny dagger gliding over my flesh. Her breathing shallows as if she’s struggling to keep herself composed. She draws faster and faster, to the point that I can’t even see what cards she’s flipping before another is on top.
“No.” Her chest rises and falls with shaky breaths. “No.No.”
“Arina. Stop.” I grab her wrist.
She doesn’t. She flips another card. Seven of Swords. I can’t make sense of them all. But I can read the horror on her face.
“Stop.” I pull her hand from the deck.
She finally stills, eyes swinging to mine. The color I saw when I first entered has now drained from her face. Her eyes are painfully wide.
“What did you see?”
Arina swallows thickly. She opens and closes her mouth. She shakes her head and dips her chin.
I release her and slowly, calmly, collect my cards. “It’s all right,” I say softly, trying to reassure her. “Whatever it is, I can handle it.”
She doesn’t move as I return the deck to the holster on my thigh. I replace the cards with her now-cooled mug and rest my hand on her shoulder.
“You did great,” I try to encourage. But she still doesn’t lift her head. Guilt strikes me through the heart, and I struggle to keep a brave face. I knew better. I knew it was too much. Why did I let her read? “I’ll come back soon.” I kiss her forehead and start for the door, readying my apology for Thal for the damage I did that has set back their hard work.
“Sooner than you think,” she murmurs, barely audible.
I flinch, freezing for just a second. But then I continue as if I hadn’t heard.
Chapter 71
I’m wrapping up class the next day when a knock on the door nearly startles half the students from their seats.
“Enter,” I call out calmly. Though even I’m curious as to who’s waiting on the other side. Kaelis is the last person I expect. “Headmaster.” I dip my chin, and the rest of the class follows suit.
His eyes barely flicker to me. They’re focused on Alor. And that’s when I know. I see it in his purposeful strides. The envelope he carries bearing the seal of Clan Tower.
My heart is pounding in my throat so violently I can barely take a breath. I don’t regret what I did…but then why am I cold and hot at the same time? Why do I need to rest my fingertips on the desk to steady myself as I say, “Class is dismissed”?
The students don’t move. They’re all fixed on Alor as Kaelis approaches her. She rises to her feet, her expression hardening. She knows that whatever it is, it can’t be good.
“You all may leave,” I say with authority, hoping that it’s not suspicious that I am so obviously assuming the worst. They all do, too, by now.
The other students reluctantly begin to collect their things. Every one of them staring at her from the corners of their eyes. Kaelis moves with agonizing slowness, but it’s clear to me he’s waiting until most of them clear out.
He presents the letter, and Alor takes it. She breaks the seal as Sorza lets herself out of the room with a wary look between Alor andme.
“I’m sorry.” The words from Kaelis are utterly dispassionate, and he promptly leaves.
The door to the classroom hasn’t even finished closing when Alor lets out a scream that’s part pain, part rage. She crumples the letter in her fist, spinning in place. Her eyes land on one of the practice dummies to the side of the room, and several cards fly in quick succession. The dummy is gouged with ice, lit on fire, pelted with stones pried from the walls, and quartered.
Kaelis is gone, and I am alone. I’d curse him for it if I didn’t know we both have our roles to play, and it’d seem strange if he lingered for either of our benefit. Gathering my courage and cementing my mask, I take a hesitant step forward.
“Alor?”
Her back is to me, shoulders heaving with ragged breaths.
“Alor.” My fingertips touch her shoulder, and she spins in place, batting my hand away.
“The bitch,” she snarls, then laughs, crazed. “No, that’s an insult to dogs everywhere. The fucking little rat that she is. Coward.”
