Valen's fist snapped out in a sharp jab at Seth's nose. Instead of stumbling away as he once would have, the thin boy moved into the blow, sapping it of any strength. His knee ca up into Valen's ribs, but Valen blocked with a palm before leaning forward and throwing his shoulder into Seth's chest, sending him reeling backwards.
A spinning sweep at Seth's legs—already poorly positioned for balance—sent Seth crashing hard to the mat.
"Well done you two," Aphene was saying, and I turned my attention back to the papers in front of with a sigh.
Each attending professor had been provided with docunts explaining the Victoriad. Due to the nature of the event, adherence to tradition and protocol was of extre importance, and so the information provided was thorough to the point of tedium. I knew it was necessary to commit this to mory, but my mind kept wandering back to my own plans for the event.
I was stronger now than I had been as a white core Lance, even if I'd lost so of the weapons in my arsenal. Still, I wanted to use this event to gauge my strength against that of my enemies—without giving away my identity if at all possible.
With the reputation that I'd built here as both a professor and ascender, I wanted to test my strength—if not against a Scythe, then at least against a retainer. Both Caera and Kayden ntioned that it was uncommon for even retainers to receive a challenge, but after reading this docunt, it beca increasingly clear just how rare it was.
Nevermind challenging a Scythe, even requesting a duel from a retainer required the consent of their Scythe beforehand. Caera had ntioned that since there were two open retainer positions this ti, people speculated there would be many more prospects than normal.
And since both Scythes and retainers could refuse a challenger if they found such a contest to be beneath them, it would be difficult for to even fight against a retainer.
Worst case, if none of the retainers accepted my challenge, I'd have to watch the duels from afar.
Normally, this is where Regis would have interjected with so blunt but annoyingly accurate assessnt of this situation, but no such response ca.
It was quiet in my head without the sardonic flaming wolf. Although I could still feel him, connected to by a thin thread that stretched high up the slope of the closest mountain range, his thoughts were shielded from , his focus entirely on himself. But brief pulses of excitent or frustration that weren't my own flared up occasionally, and I knew he was growing. I could sense his strength.
I had gotten used to having my mind to myself, but that didn't an it was peaceful. I had forgotten how much my brain spun without Regis to cut short.
Realizing I had completely lost the thread of what I had been reading, I set down the parchnt to watch the next training bout.
Aphene had brought two more students up to spar while Briar led the rest of the class in a series of exercises. Marcus and Sloane were exchanging a brutal series of punches and kicks as the classroom doors opened and several armored n stepped inside.
Sloane saw them first and missed a block, taking an elbow into his chin that laid him out flat. This drew the rest of the class's attention, and the students burst into a round of surprised chatter. Briar and Aphene were quick to stamp it out, their eyes turning questioningly in my direction.
"Can I help you?" I said, standing from my seat at the training platform control panel and ascending halfway up the stairs toward the intruders. "We're in the middle of class."
A familiar figure strode forward, scratching his trimd beard and giving an awkward smile. "Sorry, Grey, but I'm afraid you're going to have to co with us."
I scowled at Sulla, head of the Ascenders Association in Cargidan. "Can this wait until—"
"I'm afraid not," he said firmly.
My mind began to race as I considered what they could be there for.
Sulla's grim expression made it clear his visit wasn't social in nature. But since this was the Ascenders Association and not academy guards or local law enforcent, I wasn't sure what the issue could be. If my identity had been compromised—a possibility I was always conscious of—then it would have been Nico or Cadell knocking down my door.
So what, then?
I turned and t Briar's eye. "You and Aphene finish class. I won't be gone long."
Ascending the stairs, I watched the group's hands and eyes for any sign they were prepared to attack. The n were tense and watchful, maybe even a little nervous, but I also sensed a mutinous kind of frustration in their matching frowns. "Sorry about this," one of them muttered, quieting imdiately when Sulla shot him a warning glare.
The head ascender himself had the stiff, awkward look of a man doing sothing against his will. Whatever was going on, these ascenders weren't thrilled about it.
And so I didn't resist, but let them march out of the building and across campus. They took up positions around , but no one drew a weapon or prepared any spells—at least that I could detect. Most of the students were in class, but we still passed many dozens of people on our way out of campus, and I could already sense my na at the heart of a hundred whispered conversations behind .
Thankfully, the Ascenders Association Hall was close by.
I followed Sulla up into his office, which overlooked the building's main floor. The other ascenders posted up outside the doors, which Sulla closed behind us.
I took a seat without being invited to do so, then waited. Sulla picked up a leather satchel from behind his desk, watching carefully. Then, with a sudden surge of frustrated anger, he slamd the satchel on his desk and slumped into his chair.
"Damn it, Grey, do you even understand how close to death you've co?"
I turned my head slightly to the side and made a show of looking around the office. "I don't seem to have a knife to my neck, so no, I really don't."
Sulla gave a humorless scoff. "It seems unlikely you worry about little things like knives." Grabbing the bottom of the satchel, he upended it, spilling a stack of parchnt out across his desk. "Do you know what these are?"
Still watching Sulla, I picked up a loose page that had fluttered across the desk toward . It contained a bracket with each of my own students paired up against an unfamiliar na. The Victoriad tournant, I realized.
"I don't understand the problem," I said, feigning nonchalance and tossing the page back into the pile on Sulla's desk.
His left eye twitched. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Then please allow to educate you, Professor." He had to take a mont before continuing, during which he riffled through the pages. When he found what he was looking for, he held it up for to see. "This is a report on the Victoriad combatants from Bloodrock Academy in Vechor—or at least, those who will be competing specifically in the non-magical, unard duels." He set it down hard and picked up another page. "This provides so very specific details on one of Bloodrock's top fighters. Lists of runes, type of mage, prefered combat styles…Vritra's horns, Grey, it even nas which mbers of her blood could be threatened or bribed to influence her performance."
He proceeded to go through a handful more pages, which all contained similar details regarding other top performing fighters from a variety of academies.
"Great, this seems like so very thorough research," I said finally, interrupting him as he started explaining yet another page. "But what does it have to do with ? This stuff isn't mine."
Sulla sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Then why has a reliable witness co forward and asserted that you are attempting to cheat in the Victoriad, using these docunts as proof."
I stared at the pile of papers for a mont, then let out a surprised laugh. "You're kidding, right?"
Sulla sat back in his chair and stared at like a horn had sprouted from the middle of my forehead. "Do you deny that you are leading an effort to give your students unfair advantage in the Victoriad?"
"If my students have an advantage, it'll be because they've worked for it, not because I bullied so teenage girl's mom," I snapped, irritated to have been bothered with this nonsense. "No, I really do have more important things to do—"
Sulla placed both hands on his desk, knocking a few pieces of parnt to the floor, and leaned toward . "Then soone is trying to get you killed, Grey."
I eyed the veteran ascender curiously, waiting for him to continue.
"Cheating at, tampering with, or otherwise disrupting the events of the Victoriad will result in your execution as part of the Victoriad 'entertainnt'," he proclaid ominously. "So if you didn't order all this information collected—information which makes it clear you intend to threaten harm to several mbers of important highbloods—then soone else did, and purely to get you accused of a cri that could end your life."
I was listening more seriously now, but sothing about what Sulla was saying didn't make sense. "You said you had a witness? Soone who claid they were working with or for or sothing?"
He squinted thoughtfully before replying. "Yes. They ca to us of their own accord, claiming they were forced to make several contacts between you and academy staff all over Alacrya. When they intercepted this satchel of docunts—supposedly intended for you—they realized what you were up to and felt compelled to turn in the evidence."
Sulla paused. "You should know, a handful of people are corroborating this statent, confirming that they received threatening letters from you to provide all this." He gestured at the papers. "The best case scenario is that you are banned from attending the Victoriad. The worse, well, I've already told you."
Even from the mont Sulla and his enforcers had arrived in my classroom, he had seed uncomfortable. Now the reason was clear. "Why are you so certain I didn't do it?"
He scoffed again. "Anyone who'd actually t you would know you wouldn't need to cheat. I've heard about your students' bestowals, too. No, this slled like a setup from the beginning."
Nodding, I rested my elbows on my knees and leaned forward. "Then tell who the 'witness' is."
Sulla hesitated, looking uncomfortable. "I could—but if you kill him, this will be out of my hands. Right now, it's only been reported to the Ascenders Association. If Central Academy or any of these highbloods get involved…"
"I won't kill him, but I will figure out—"
I was interrupted by a device on Sulla's desk lighting up and beginning to hum softly.
He stared at it like it was a demon leech for several seconds, then reached out and touched it.
A familiar voice bood out of the device: "This is Corbett of Highblood Denoir, contacting Sulla of Blood Drusus. Sulla?"
The dark-haired ascender's eyes went wide at the ntion of Corbett's na, and he looked at with sothing akin to panic. "Y-yes, Highlord Denoir, this is—"
"You've just apprehended a Central Academy professor nad Grey. The foolish charges against him are false, and I have information that will help to prove it." Corbett's voice echoed with a slight distortion from the communication artifact, but it still effectively conveyed the weight of his authority. "I demand he be released imdiately."
I couldn't help the surprised smirk that crept onto my face listening to the highlord speak. Though he maintained a noble air, there was a subtle threat to his words as well.
Did Caera put him up to this? I asked myself. Or did our conversation make more of an impression than I thought…
Sulla quickly regained his composure. Although the Denoirs must have outranked Blood Drusus by several tis over, he didn't seem like a man to be cowed by the nobility. "You say you have information pertinent to this investigation?" he asked, his tone all business.
"The Granbehls are behind it," Corbett said firmly. "They've made false claims against Grey before, and they are at it again. I believe a thorough interrogation of Janusz of Blood Grae, currently a professor at Center Academy, will reveal that he was paid—and very well—to deliver false evidence against Grey. Now, confirm that Grey will be released imdiately, or I will be forced to personally visit the Ascenders Association."
Sulla glowered at the communication artifact, his face reddening slightly. "There will be no need for that, Highlord Denoir. I am equally assured of Grey's innocence, and will not be charging him. He is here with now, as a matter of fact, to discuss how best to deal with this situation."
"Oh," Corbett said, his noble mannerisms slipping for just an instant. "Very well then. I've heard good things about your fairness and wisdom, and it seems these rumors are not unfounded. Grey, et at Goldeberry's Throne on High Street in two hours. Good day then."
"Good day, Highlord…" Sulla said, his expression caught sowhere between frustration and relief.
When the artifact dimd, his attention turned back to . "So, you really do have friends in high places…"
"A recent acquaintance," I said with a shrug. "So, Professor Grae…"
Sulla winced. "Like I said—"
"Oh, don't worry. I won't kill him." Standing, I gave him a questioning look. "Am I free to leave?"
"For the mont, yes," he said with a humorless smile. "But this situation will need to be dealt with, Grey."
I nodded, a certain drunk uncle coming to mind. "Then could you get in contact with soone for ?"
***
Two hours later, I was walking briskly along High Street, ho to many ostentatious businesses that catered to the highbloods.
Various scenarios whirled in my mind like clips from different movies as I thought about what I had learned. If what Professor Grae had so kindly inford was true, then it changed everything.
My thoughts were interrupted as I was forced to step out of the way for a pair of young highbloods walking side by side down the middle of the path, but before I could spare them a second thought, I was brought up short by the sight of the place I was supposed to be eting Corbett, a highblood cafe nad Goldberry's Throne.
The building looked more like a temple than a cafe. Gold-capped marble pillars wrapped around an open air gallery at the front of the building and around one side, and the carved entablatures that rested atop the pillars glead with inlaid gold and a dozen colors of gemstones, making the roof glitter like a crown. Multi-colored flas rose from ever-burning braziers affixed to the pillars, giving the place a distinct mystical quality and giving off a mixture of sweet scents that made my mouth water and stomach rumble.
Several sets of eyes followed as I entered the cafe, likely because my attire was not up to the standards at Goldberry's. Inside, the warm aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread mixed with a dozen different colognes and perfus to make the air uncomfortably heavy.
A matronly woman dressed in black with a maroon vest was working behind a short bar carved of so kind of opaque crystal. She dipped at her waist into a respectful bow as I approached, her expression flawlessly masked aside from the quick twitch of her eyes as she scanned from head to toe.
"I'm here to et Highlord Denoir," I said, feeling the attention of a handful of the cafe's patrons turn in my direction. "Has he arrived yet?"
The woman motioned to her right, her gaze still lowered. "Highlord Denoir's private room is located around the corner there, third door."
I nodded and turned my back on her, just catching it as the patrons—many of whom had been staring at my back only a second before—looked away and pretended to mind their own business.
The indicated door was cracked, and swung slowly open when I knocked lightly on it. Corbett looked up from a leatherbound journal full of cramped writing. "Close the door behind you," he said as he stashed the journal.
I did, and a series of wards that ran along the edge of the door lit up briefly. "Sound proofing?" I mused aloud.
"Among other things. Goldberry's is not successful with the highbloods simply for the pretentious decor," he said, gesturing to a seat across from him.
The room wasn't large, but it's high ceiling gave it a sense of grandeur. A low table made of so dark wood and engraved with a realistic depiction of the Basilisk Fang Mountains took up the center, with a wraparound couch on one side and two lounge chairs on the other. I sat in one of these, sinking into the soft cushioning.
A low fire burned in a small fireplace in the corner behind , and a window let in diffused light behind Corbett. I frowned at the window, unsure why it seed so out of place, then realized there couldn't be a window in this room, which was in the center of the cafe with no outside-facing walls. Looking more closely, I realized it was a pane-shaped light artifact that acted as a faux window.
"Nice place," I comnted.
"Good for thinking, or having a conversation that should not be overheard," he said aningfully. "Were you able to locate Professor Grae?"
"Grae is still alive, though I can't say the sa for his dignity," I answered nonchalantly. "But that's beside the point."
The highlord nodded. "I figured as much, which is why I wished for us to et here."
"I need to know what kind of retaliation I can get away with," I said without preamble. "What kind of trouble could I be in if I go after the Granbehls?"
He eyed critically, clearly weighing his words. "Well, if you were a highblood—or even a nad blood equal to the Granbehls in stature—you would be entirely within your right to strike back." He put on a knowing smile. "But as an unblooded, you are without recourse outside of the court, and you already know well how just the halls of justice truly are."
A 'feature' implented by highbloods like yourself, I wanted to say.
"The Granbehls understand and manipulate the system like a true highblood," he continued. "They have launched an all out assault on several rival nad bloods, but so far have not crossed any lines that would see them stripped of their titles or executed—at least not in broad daylight. Their enemies seem to die under suspicious and convenient circumstances, including a recent fire that killed both the lord and lady of Nad Blood Rothkeller."
"Why do you think these rivals haven't struck back?"
Corbett tapped the side of his nose. "That is the question, isn't it? But not every question cos with an answer. In this case, I have only speculation based on rumor. However, it appears that they have sohow acquired the patronage of a powerful benefactor, soone whose protection has allowed them to maneuver more or less uninhibited."
When a person like Corbett Denoir called soone powerful, it really shortened the list of suspects. Only another ranking highblood could offer that kind of protection—or even soone above the normal constructs of Alacryan society, like a Scythe.
"That doesn't change what I need to do," I replied, my expression hidden from Corbett.
"Do you have so plan in mind, then?" he asked. His hand moved to the couch cushion beside him, and I noticed a velvet bag that was half hidden in his shadow.
My lips twitched. "Yes, but it's not very subtle."
"I thought as much," he said, lifting the bag and reaching inside it. He pulled out a tal emblem and set it on the table between us.
The black tal was stained, and when I bent down over it I realized it had been scorched by fire. The emblem itself appeared to be a grapevine set before a rising sun, once brightly colored but now blackened and robbed of the small details.
"Nad Blood Rothkeller?" I asked.
Corbett nodded. "If one of the few remaining mbers of that blood sought retribution for the burning of their estate—"
"No one would bat an eye," I finished, lifting the emblem and turning it over in my hand. With my thumb, I rubbed the soot off the sun, revealing a cracked and faded red coloring. "Would the Rothkeller blood be likely to deny it?"
Corbetts eyes glead with cold calculation. "If their emblem was planted like a flag of victory in the wreckage of their enemy's estate? What would you do in their place?"
"Fair point," I conceded before putting the emblem back down on the table. "My only question is why are you willing to do all of this for ?"
They gained nothing from helping aside from my own compliance in the future, but if things went poorly with the Denoirs, I couldn't exactly kill them all, considering their relation to Caera. Allowing Corbett to have such a dangerous secret was certainly a problem, but with no proof, it would only be his word against mine.
"Curiosity? Intrigue?" Corbett mused. "You're a man with many layers, Grey. And these circumstances allow to uncover so of them."
"Well, whatever I choose to do, I wouldn't have been able to do it without your help," I said, holding the emblem like I was making a toast. "So here's to a lasting bond built from mutually assured destruction, Corbett."
The highlord sat up a little straighter, but a smile slipped through his guarded deanor. "Of course. After all, there is still this mysterious benefactor to be concerned about."
My thoughts cycled through everything Professor Grae had told yet again, but I didn't confirm anything else with Corbett. Instead, I asked, "Is it possible whoever is backing the Granbehls would go after the remaining Rothkellers?"
He nodded, his expression unchanged. "Entirely, but even if they die, they would do so with pride knowing that their blood has been avenged. You offer their blood redemption, while avoiding any personal entanglent, legal or otherwise."
I didn't agree with the highblood view on pride over life, but empathizing wasn't hard. In the face of gods as rulers, sotis, pride was the only thing left in their control.
With a plan in place and all of the pieces in my head now coming together, I bid him farewell and made my way out onto High Street.
A frigid smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I stretched my neck. Regis, get back here. It's ti for a little reunion with the Granbehls.
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