The frankness of his answer surprised me. “You can’t say such things openly in the academy. You’d be expelled.”
“Which is precisely why these conversations happen in empty swimming pools before dawn,” he said with a wry smile. “But tell me, Lady Cantius, what do you think? If the Talfen are people rather than monsters, what does that mean for the Empire’s policies?”
I’d spent so long concealing my true thoughts that speaking them aloud felt like stepping onto thin ice. “It would mean,” I said carefully, “that the Empire’s claims of bringing civilization to savage lands are a lie. That we’ve been the aggressors all along.”
His expression grew serious. “A bold conclusion.”
“You asked for my honest opinion,” I countered.
“So I did. And what about the half-bloods? Those of mixed human and Talfen heritage? Where do they fit in this worldview of yours?”
My throat tightened as I thought of Tarshi. “They belong nowhere,” I said, the truth of it aching in my chest. “Reviled by both sides, trusted by neither.”
“You speak as if you know such people personally,” Jalend observed.
I realized my mistake too late. “I’ve observed how they’re treated,” I said, trying to recover. “In the border regions. It’s... inhumane.”
He studied me so intently I feared he could see through every one of my lies. “I agree,” he said finally. “The treatment of half-bloods is one of the Empire’s greatest shames. Neither fully human nor fully Talfen, they’re denied the protections of either society.”
“You seem unusually well-informed on Talfen matters for someone who’s spent his life in the capital,” I noted, attempting to shift the focus from myself.
A shadow crossed his face. “I’ve made it my business to look beyond official accounts. The truth is rarely found in Imperial proclamations.”
“A cynic as well as a scholar,” I teased, trying to lighten the increasingly dangerous conversation.
“A realist,” he corrected with a smile. “Though I admit, finding someone who shares these views is... unexpected. Especially among the academy’s elite.”
I couldn’t help but smile back. “Perhaps we’re both better at keeping secrets than we appear.”
“Perhaps,” he agreed. “We should conclude for today,” he said, glancing toward the eastern windows where morning light now streamed into the chamber. “The regular swimming classes will begin soon.”
I realized with surprise how quickly the time had passed. “Same time tomorrow?” I asked, then immediately wondered why I’d suggested it. Another lesson meant another opportunity for him to notice inconsistencies in my story.
“I’d like that,” he said, getting to his feet and offering me his hand. “You’re a fast learner, Lady Cantius. I have a feeling the next water trial is going to prove no hardship for you.”
I took his hand, allowing him to pull me from the pool. Water cascaded down my body, my thin tunic clinging to every curve. I felt his eyes linger for a heartbeat before he handed me a towel. This time, it was my eyes that dropped lower. A droplet traced its way down his chest, following the contours of muscle before disappearing into the waistband of his loincloth. A wet loincloth that clung closely to the contours of his body. I swallowed, and dragged my eyes up to his.
“You flatter me, Lord Jalend,” I said, wrapping the towel around my shoulders. “I’m not sure one lesson transforms me into a capable swimmer, but thank you. For the lesson... and the conversation.”
He nodded, reaching for his own robe. “It’s refreshing to speak openly with someone. Even if only briefly. You’re different than I expected.”
“Is that good or bad?” I asked, busying myself with drying my arms to avoid his gaze.
“Interesting,” he replied. “Which is better than good in a place where most nobles are tediously predictable.”
I laughed despite myself. “Such disdain for your own class, my lord.”
“Not disdain. Disappointment. Most of them will inherit positions of power without ever questioning the systems that granted them those privileges.”
“Like you do?” I challenged.
His grey eyes caught mine. “I try. Though I’m sure I fail more often than I realize.”
As he gathered his things to leave, a question formed in my mind. “Lord Jalend?”
He paused, looking back at me. “Yes?”
“If you believe the war with the Talfen is unjust, what would you do about it? If you had the power to change things?”
