Page 61 of Insolence (Eisha’s Hidden Codices #1)

Elodie

“ O nly a little further!” Maida calls over her shoulder.

Our charges groan in protest.

At last, the Observatory’s domed roof comes into view at the top of the steep trail. Once inside, the girls exclaim over the impressive brass telescope. The instrument is nearly two floors tall. It was prepped ahead of our arrival.

Tonight it points downriver instead of at the stars.

Maida explains how to adjust the focus before surveying the room. “Well? Who’s first?”

Cordelia steps onto the raised platform. Presses one eye to the viewing lens and says, breathless, “Oh! I wasn’t expecting that!” Bright yellow excitement halos the dark coils piled atop her head.

Maida grins. “And what do you see, pray tell?”

“Are those lanterns? On the river?”

“It’s a First Night tradition in this part of the realm,” I say, guessing she’s not from around here. That, or this small pocket of common knowledge was too entangled with what got erased for whatever reason.

“That’s not all, is it?” Maida prompts.

“No,” Cordelia chuckles.

Tiss looks on, the red and black humming in her aura belying the curiosity on her face. Sadrie’s browsing the tall cubby unit crammed full of star charts. Ghisele leans against a bookcase and waits, swaying between boredom and impatience—and I don’t need her aura to read that on her.

“It’s almost as if…” Still peering through the lens, Cordelia searches for words. “It’s as if I’m transported there myself. Standing right on the water. I could nearly reach out and touch the lanterns.” Beaming, she peeks over her shoulder. “It’s incredible.”

Maida gives a girlish laugh, clasping her hands beneath her chin. Ghisele rolls her eyes.

“May I see?” Tiss steps onto the platform.

She waits for Cordelia to cede the instrument, then gasps when she peers through the viewing lens.

Her aura flashes a brief yellow-green from the hazy mix of anger and fear that’s been clinging to her since around midnight.

“I feel like I’m standing right on the water. ”

“Can I see?” Sadrie puts her eye to the instrument once Tiss steps aside. A delighted squeal follows. “Goddess, it’s like I’m right there . How does it work?”

“Go on.” I glance at Maida. “ I know you’re dying to tell them.”

“Alchemical enhancement.” She strolls to the telescope.

“I was curious if I could Alter the beastly thing and turn it into an illusion projection tool. Mind you, this was nearly half a decade ago. I had Kael fashion these out of Signet Silver.” She trails her hands over the filigree embellishments wrapping the instrument’s lower half.

“While the prioress is responsible for making your tokens, she did train me in enough Alchemy to project simple illusions. I did it right over there.” Beaming, Maida motions to her small alchemy table tucked in its alcove on the near wall.

I’m leaning against the heavy desk that sits across from it.

Sadrie and Cordelia make appreciative noises. Tiss presses her eye to the lens once more, humming in awe.

“I’m nowhere near Mother Deirdre’s proficiency, but combined with your tokens, it accomplishes what I set out to do.”

“If we remove our tokens,” Cordelia asks, “will it operate as a normal telescope?”

“It will!” Maida swells with an endearing sort of pride. “Although it’s spectacular to experience the illusion when studying the stars, if I do say so myself.”

“This is your favorite part of First Night, isn’t it?” I smile at her.

“Of course it is, Elodie,” she huffs as if I’m daft to have asked. But she’s glowing anyway.

“ Wowee ,” Ghisele mutters. She heard this all last year, of course.

“Articulate as always,” I say to her.

My apprentice swings her head toward Maida. “I suppose you needed to fill your time somehow , being stuck on this mountain for so long.” She shifts her acerbic gaze to me. “Is that more to your liking?”

“What’s the matter, Ghisele?” Tiss glowers, stepping off the platform. “Can’t bear not being the center of attention for once?”

Hand around her bracelet, Cordelia scans the air around both girls’ heads while Sadrie gives a low whistle.

“I could say the same to you,” Ghisele snaps, her own aura flaring red. “Nobody enjoys a teacher’s pet—aside from the teacher.”

“Ghisele, that’s enough,” Maida says.

“ Jealous ?” Tiss sings sweetly.

Sadrie snorts, shoulders shaking with quiet laughter.

“Tiss,” Cordelia murmurs, eyes darting between them.

“That goes for you too, Tiss,” says Maida. “What’s gotten into you girls? We were having a nice night!”

“We were trying,” Tiss deadpans.

“Everyone seems a bit tense,” I say.

Tiss motions at Ghisele. “When is she not tense?”

“When are you not exhausting ?” Ghisele replies.

Both women’s auras flare a brilliant crimson. Cordelia’s eyes stretch even wider than they already were.

“That’s uncalled for,” Maida barks, no doubt feeling the intrusion herself.

“ Enough ,” I snap simultaneously. Their emotions are so strong, they’re brushing up against my own aura in a way that feels invasive and far too intimate. “Stop being a red head for two seconds and watch your mouth, Ghisele. You need to get that red- hot temper under control.”

“Why do you keep saying red?” Cordelia asks.

“And why are you saying it like that ?” Sadrie guffaws, elbow propped on the otherwise forgotten telescope.

Ghisele’s arm shoots toward Tiss. “ She’s acting just as bad.”

“ All of you,” Maida croaks. “Stop this at once! This is supposed to be a sacred day. A holy day!”

I yank the heavy wooden banker’s chair out from the desk. Drop into it. “Why are you at each other’s throats tonight? What happened?” Having my aura invaded by both of their raging emotions, on top of what’s gushing at me through my bond with Tiss, is overpowering.

Ghisele sneers. “It’s amazing what you miss when you’re constantly whispering back and forth, isn’t it?”

“That’s actually an interesting point. It seems you and Lady Maida are keeping secrets . ” Tiss’s attention claws through me with searing intensity. “Something about a certain Thrall and her Suc —”

“Red, Tiss.” I stand so quickly the chair spins round, one arm striking the desk with a bang .

“Oh?” She cocks her pretty head. “Touched a nerve?”

Maida splutters. “That’s it. I’m done with this nonsense.” Lips pale, arm shaking, she motions at the door. “Everybody out, now .”

I snap my fingers and point. “Not you, Tiss.”

“Wait. Will someone please tell me what ‘red’ is?” Sadrie whines.

Hands on hips, Cordelia turns to Maida. “Why all of us?”

“And what is a ‘Thrall’?” Sadrie looks defeated.

Ghisele snickers, musing to herself, “Actually, the night’s turning out all right, now that I think about it.”

“That’s because you’re spoiling it for the rest of us,” Tiss growls.

“Don’t be bitter because you didn’t beat me to it,” Ghisele shrugs.

Meanwhile, a pinch-lipped Maida ushers everyone toward the exit. Giving a testy jerk of her chin, she holds the door open as our charges file through.

“Night, Tiss,” Sadrie says before following the others out.

Tiss doesn’t acknowledge the farewell. Blue eyes trained on me, uninhibited wrath burns within their depths. Anger throbs around her like a fever. Buzzes along our bond, piercing me like a bolt to the heart.

The heavy door slams shut on squealing hinges. At long last, we’re alone.