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After leaving the Records Department, Thessa escorted Leora through the main doors. Townsfolk usually come through this entrance to purchase a carriage ticket, visit the Solarium, visit a cadet, or for other city services.
Thessa almost cried when gravel crunched beneath her boots, but the sky cried for her.
Throwing her hood on, Leora asked, “But what of the males?”
“What do you mean, what of the males?”
“We can’t just leave them.”
Thessa wondered if Leora had gone mad. “Come on, we have a couple hours until the carriages depart.”
“Where are we going?” Leora asked.
“Somewhere we can talk.”
20
LECTURE NOTES FROM THE ART OF BLACKSMITHING III:
A dagger must undergo the “true test.” Professor Shovak will stab the blade into a wooden surface and expect it to stand. If it doesn’t, that’s anautomatic fail. “A useless blade is a useless fight.”
The rain let up, giving way to mist as she and Leora approached the gates of Central Secondary Academy. The school stood on a field bordered by trees the size of mountains, which was a welcomed contrast to the gravel-ridden streets behind her.
Thessa recognized the two CSA guards, who halted them.
She lied, sort of. “I’m here to pick up my final project. Professor Shovak said he left it in the workshop.”
And just like that, the gates opened.
School grounds were open year-round for boarding students. Thessa had spent the last four summers strollingthrough this campus. Most days she preferred the library, but only because the forge was fireless between terms.
Instead of taking the gravel path towards the school’s main entrance, she led Leora around the back of the building. “We can talk now, there’s no guards this way.”
“Tess, that was horrific. Are you okay?”
Thessa shook her head. “I know. I’m not sure, honestly. I’m really sorry.”
“But none of what happened is your fault. Well, all last night I kept thinking it had to be about your magic, but this morning everything changed. I don’t care about the serpents anymore. I want to know if the Supremes know how violent their guards are.” Leora paused, exhaling. “What are they going to do to them? To Emiel?”
Thessa wasn’t sure how to say they would likely never be released. She wasn’t sure if Soren had been hoping for incineration over imprisonment, but it’d seemed like it.
She said, “I wish I could say I was surprised. Emiel should be okay if he continues to cooperate. He seems to understand the ways here better than Soren does.”
Leora went quiet.
Thessa lowered her head and apologized again.
“Stop apologizing for this continent and their senselessness.”
She still didn’t feel good about it.
Leora asked, “Where are we going?”
She pointed to the stone-clad workshop with a long metal pipe jutting out the top. The door was painted green, with the lettering CSA chiseled into the wood. Thessa’s smile was small, but it was there. “My favorite place in Gravenport.”
As they approached, Leora cocked a brow. “Are you taking me to another dungeon?”
Thessa swung the door open. “Not funny.”