Page 71

On a good day, it’s hard for me to focus on what Professor Las has to say about reading in her breathy, dreamy tones. Today is even worse. As soon as the bells toll, I’m gathering my things.

When Luren asks about lunch together, I make it a point to say loudly that the headmaster—“I mean, my betrothed!”—needs me this afternoon. “ All afternoon. Don’t expect me for dinner.” I throw in a wink for good measure.

More than one student in the halls makes some kind of noise, gesture, or expression of disgust. I pay them no mind. Silas’s words—warnings—still burn in my ears. They don’t buy it. I can’t let up now by missing any opportunity to stress our deep “love” for each other.

Back in Kaelis’s apartments, I ultimately find him in his study, hunched over his desk.

“You look like a woman with a purpose.”

“You haven’t even looked up.” I put a hand on my hip.

“I can hear it in the way you walk. Your gait’s different when you have a goal.”

“I’m not sure how that’s possible, since I always have a goal.” I cross to Priss, who’s curled up on the settee, and crouch down to give her my obligatory offering of chin scratches.

Kaelis’s eyes dart our way, landing on his fuzzy companion. “Traitor.”

Priss extends her chin out farther, as if to spite him. He rolls his eyes.

“Can we go to wherever this place where we can find our special supplies is?” I stand.

“Eager much?”

“Yes.” And I am—there’s no point in hiding it. I cross to his desk. “What’re you working on?”

“How to get the Star.” Kaelis closes the ledger he was inspecting before I can get a look at its contents.

He puts it back in his desk and locks the drawer.

“Since you’re close to finishing your forgeries, it’s about time I begin focusing on getting the last Major.

Things should move quickly after. I need to secure the World before my father realizes what’s happened. ”

“You said you knew where the Star is?” I recall his wording being something along the lines of not to worry and leave it to him .

“I do. But knowing where something—or someone—is and getting to that place are two vastly different puzzles to be solved.”

“Where is it? Maybe I can help.”

“Not with this one.” He shakes his head and stands. “It’s a problem for the future. For now, better to keep the Star in place than raise suspicion by moving too quickly and risk them being moved. Now, followme.”

I don’t budge, even as he steps around me. “I can help.”

“Clara—”

“You want me to trust you, right? You said we were in this together.”

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

Kaelis doesn’t meet my eyes when he says, “I have reason to think the Star is either in or has been through Halazar. I don’t know which yet.

But I’m going to find out.” He brings his attention to me now.

Sincerity overflows from his gaze, flooding his words.

“Either way, I swore you would not go back there, and I’m keeping that promise. ”

I swallow thickly.

He scrutinizes me, not missing a moment of my hesitation. “Unless you would want—”

“No, you’re right, I’ve enough on my plate.” Maybe I’m a coward. But… I can’t go back there. Kaelis can figure this one out.

“If I think you can help, I will let you know.” His gaze has softened as he stares down at me. I can’t meet it for long. I don’t want his pity…even if it’s not misplaced.

“If the Star is in Halazar, you can’t let them rot there.” I force myself to hold his eyes. “Even if it means you ultimately need my help. You must get them out sooner over later.”

“I will get them as soon as I’m able.” He sounds serious enough. But…

“How long have they been there already?” I wonder if I would’ve sensed another Major during my time there. Though, the other Majors in the academy have felt much the same to me as any other Arcanist.

“I don’t know.”

“You sound so nonchalant.” A harsh edge overtakes my words.

“Clara, if I cannot safely make a movement, then I risk myself, the Star, and our entire plan.” Our plan, not just his.

That stills me. “It’s not always pretty, or nice, but I’m doing what must be done.

” Still, the sentiment is lacking the compassion I’d want when dealing with someone in Halazar.

I glance away. Kaelis takes a half step closer.

“Soon. Soon enough I’ll retrieve the Star, the vessel, and we will summon the World.

Once it is in my hands, everything will be better, I promise. ”

“Thank you.” I leave it at that, for now, hoping he hears every layer of what I’m thanking him for. Kaelis nods and stretches out a hand. I take it.

He guides me from the study, through his bedroom, and into the passageway that connects to his closet.

We descend, almost like we are heading to the World, and then we deviate onto a path that I’ve somehow not noticed before.

The staircase narrows and becomes decrepit.

The walls close in as if trying to squeeze us out.

This is the second time I’ve felt this unnatural sensation.

Except, this time, I have a lifeline in our interlaced fingers.

As if it is by his will alone that I am permitted to be here.

With every step I take, an irrational fear roots in me that, were I to let go, the shadows would consume him.

And me. And that I’d be lost in these depths forever.

All light vanishes. The chill in the air has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end and my teeth chattering.

But Kaelis has no hesitation. Even in complete darkness, he navigates at the same steady pace.

He shows no signs of the frantic energy I had the first time I came here, or that I’m feeling now.

With a snap of his fingers, cold flames illuminate the forgotten torches that burn without scent or smoke.

The light dances off the carved surface of a familiar door.

I can’t stop my attention from flicking to the floor where Silas originally dropped me after saving my life.

The blood is gone. Did he clean it? Or did the magic of this place make it disappear?

“How are you managing?” Kaelis pauses to ask. “This whole place is warded to keep people out.”

“That explains this uncomfortable feeling,” I murmur, glancing back at the complete darkness that blots out the path we emerged from.

Now that I’m out of it, warmth is returning to my toes.

I wonder if the only reason I could make it through on my own the first time was because of my innate abilities as a Major.

“The Fool liked to work in solitude…and keep his discoveries to himself.” Kaelis speaks with admiration.

“The Fool?” I repeat, certain I misheard.

He nods with a grin. “If only you could see your expression.”

“You’re telling me the Fool was… here ?”

“The academy’s foundations are that of the Fool’s first castle.”

“I thought the academy was in a fortress built by the Revisan Kingdom?” Now that I think about it, the structure has always looked quite good—far more modern than a kingdom that fell over a thousand years ago could have built. But the Fool existed well before even that. Something isn’t adding up.

“Before it was theirs, it was his. Everything is built on the past. Renamed and reused. Rebuilt anew on long-forgotten histories…” Kaelis looks to the door.

The light dancing off his face gives it an otherworldly quality.

His cheeks seem more sunken, his nose sharper, his eyes…

his eyes shine with a hunger that curls a strand of terror in my gut that I haven’t felt around Kaelis in months.

“Stay close, Clara. This path is treacherous…but if anyone else could learn it, it’d be you. ”

“And you’ll show me?” I take a half step closer, aware that this is the closest we’ve been physically since that night following All Coins Day.

My heart begins to gallop. I can’t let him know I was here before.

Something in me whispers that Kaelis wouldn’t take kindly to the revelation…

I barely resist the urge to massage my neck where the light last clipped me.

“Yes. You, and only ever you,” he whispers.

Before the sentiment has a chance to linger long enough to elicit a response from me, he turns to face the door.

Kaelis brings a hand to his chest and draws it away with a flourish.

Three cards lift from the deck he keeps in the inner pocket of his coat and hover in the air.

With a flick of his wrist, he slams the cards against the door.

Light illuminates hidden patterns in the seeming chaos of all the symbols.

Just like before, the door silently swings inward, opening to yet more darkness.

“Follow exactly in my footsteps.” Kaelis holds my hand even tighter.

“Understood.” I take a deep breath, and we step through the living wall of shadow and into the dimly lit room with a floor of smooth sand. The same ten razor-thin beams line the walls. I can almost feel them sinking into my flesh, but I keep my face and movements steady.

Kaelis moves with his usual almost unnatural grace.

But here, it’s heightened even further as he sweeps his feet and arcs his body under and around the beams. I work to imitate his movements across the light-lined sand as best I’m able.

Somehow, he knows exactly where every beam will be before it appears, always staying one step ahead.

He manages to navigate himself and guide me effortlessly.

On the other side of the room, Kaelis lets out a slow exhale. His shoulders were so tense they were almost up to his ears.

“What was that room?” I carefully phrase my question so it’s not obvious I’ve been here before.

“How fond are you of that coat?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“Not very fond of it, I hope?” He keeps ignoring my questions and holds a hand out expectantly.

“I assume you can get me a new one?” I shrug my coat off, already knowing what’s about to happen but playing along.