I swallowed. That covered some uncomfortable territory.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Matt said, and the look he gave me sent a quiver straight through me.
Cara fixed him with her stare. “That is only part of what we are reviewing,” she stated. Then she tilted her head. “Are you sure you don’t need me to check you over? You have been through quite an ordeal.”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m bonza.”
The Watcher stared at him a moment longer. “Very well.” Her eyes strayed to where the students were filing out the door, then returned to me. “Then let’s head out, shall we?”
As Matt stood, he glanced toward the staff table, where the instructors were also dispersing. “I didn’t notice Dani this morning,” he said.
Cara narrowed her eyes as she looked at him. “She’ll be working with her student this morning. I think she preferred a nap over food. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just wanted to make sure everyone got through last night okay.”
The Watcher regarded him for a moment more. “She’s fine.”
“Oh, good,” Matt said. To me, he added, “Catch ya later, Angel,” before he moved off toward the exit.
Cara stared after him.
My heart started to pound as I rose. “There’s something different about his energy.”
Suddenly, her blue eyes were fastened on me. “Yes. It has changed.”
“Could his experience with Xumi have changed it?” I asked.
Cara fell into step beside me. Trix was delighted to be coming along, prancing between us.
“Energy does alter, but it is usually a slow evolution,” she answered. “Traumatic events can force rapid transitions, though. Our young Dire may be more affected by events than he’s letting on.”
Nothing about that was reassuring. Cara shot me another look, and this time, she smiled. “Relax, Anna. He is obviously still functioning normally, and ‘as long as the patient is eating and drinking and crapping, there is hope,’ my old mentor used to say.” She reached out to pat my arm as we descended the stairs. “We’re all a little frazzled with everything that has happened lately. I’m sure my energy is off too.”
Seeking reassurance, I reached for Matt along the link, and was surprised to find he’d blocked me. I contemplated blasting through it as we reached the ground floor and passed through the rear doors, but our progress was interrupted.
“Cara!” The word was part entreaty, and part command.
The Watcher sighed and turned. “Good morning, Amadeus.”
The headmaster appeared agitated. “Where is the Dragon?”
She regarded him calmly. “Which Dragon? We have a few.”
“You know which Dragon.” The headmaster glared from her, to me, and back—before he drew himself up to his full height. “Where is Talakai?”
Cara didn’t even blink. “I have no idea. He left again as soon as he returned.”
Amadeus’s eyes glowed. “You know he’s Guild? The council wants to question him.”
“Incarcerate him, you mean,” Cara corrected. “I believe that is why he left.”
The headmaster’s eyes narrowed. “Did you have anything to do with getting him free from Xumi? I just heard she has been killed. I have the council breathing down my neck. I told them I’d made it quite clear the academy wasn’t to get involved.”
Cara’s eyes flashed. “You can assure the council thatthe academywas not involved.”
“Don’t banter semantics with me,” Amadeus snarled.
Suddenly the air crackled with energy, and the Watcher’s braids lifted off her shoulders. “Do not forget who and what I am, Amadeus.” Her voice rang with power. “I am not the council’s plaything. And Xumi must have had her fingers in their organization to have pulled off what she did.”
