“We’re only—” Valeria began.
“I know exactly what you’re doing,” Jalend cut her off, his tone glacial. “Move, or I will move you.”
Something heavy slammed against the door — a shoulder, perhaps. The wood groaned but held. Another impact, and I heard the crack of splintering wood.
Varin’s eyes darted toward the door, then back to me. “This isn’t over,” he hissed.
I smiled coldly. “It was over the moment you mistook me for prey rather than predator.”
The door burst open with a crash of broken wood. Jalend stood in the doorway, his normally composed features tight with anger. He froze at the sight before him — me pressing Varin against the floor, knife at his throat.
“Lady Cantius,” Jalend said finally, his voice carefully neutral. “Are you in need of assistance?”
“Not particularly,” I replied, not taking my eyes off Varin. “Lord Varin and I were just concluding our... discussion.”
Jalend’s gaze flicked to the knife at Varin’s throat, then to Varin’s own blade. Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed by something that might have been grudging respect.
“I see.” He stepped fully into the room, his movement deliberate. “Perhaps it’s time Lord Varin returned to his quarters. Unless he wishes to continue this conversation before witnesses?”
Varin’s jaw clenched, humiliation and rage warring on his features. “This isn’t over,” he repeated, this time loud enough for Jalend to hear.
“It is for today,” I said, finally moving back and lowering my knife, though I kept it ready in my hand.
Varin pushed himself up, straightening his torn shirt with trembling fingers and tucking his pathetic excuse for a cock back into his trousers. “You’ve made a grave mistake, Cantius. Both of you.” His gaze encompassed Jalend as well. “My family—”
“Your family would be deeply interested to learn of your activities today,” Jalend interrupted, his tone conversational but with an edge of steel beneath. “As would the academy council. Entering the women’s changing area uninvited, drawinga weapon on a fellow cadet... quite the scandal, wouldn’t you agree?”
Varin’s face paled slightly. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would,” Jalend replied simply. “Test me, if you wish.”
Varin looked between us, calculation replacing rage in his eyes. Finally, he sheathed his blade with a sharp movement. “This matter isn’t concluded,” he said, voice tight with suppressed fury.
“It is,” Jalend said, stepping aside to allow Varin passage to the door. “Unless you prefer I escort you directly to Commander Ferris to discuss it further?”
Varin brushed past him without another word, shoving roughly through the cluster of wide-eyed girls still hovering in the corridor. They scattered before his anger like startled birds.
As soon as he was gone, Jalend turned to me, his expression unreadable. “Are you injured?”
I shook my head, finally allowing myself to exhale fully. His eyes dropped lower for a moment, then flashed back up to my face and he cleared his throat. Now that the immediate danger had passed, I became acutely aware of my state of undress, and turned to grab my stola, pulling it over myself quickly. To my annoyance, I realised I was shaking.
Jalend seemed to realize it at the same moment. He unfastened his cloak with efficient movements and held it out to me. “Here.”
I hesitated, then accepted the offering, wrapping the heavy fabric around my shoulders. It carried his scent — clean linen and subtle spice. “Thank you.”
He nodded once, his gaze dropping to the knife I still held. “An interesting accessory for an academy cadet.”
I slipped the blade back into its sheath without comment and gathered the rest of my things.
Jalend moved to the broken door, checking the corridor. “The vultures have scattered. We should go before they return with reinforcements.”
I followed him out into the empty hallway, the familiar weight of my knife once again strapped to my thigh. We walked in silence for several moments, our footsteps echoing on the stone floor.
“They were guarding the door for him,” Jalend said finally, breaking the silence. “Valeria and her sycophants. I happened to be passing by and heard them turning away another cadet who needed to change.”
“I suspected as much.” My voice sounded calmer than I felt. The cold fury that had sustained me during the confrontation was fading, leaving in its wake a bone-deep weariness. Not physical exhaustion, but the familiar emotional toll of violence and its aftermath.
“You should keep your distance from them,” Jalend continued. “Valeria has influence beyond her own family connections. Her cousin is married to the academy’s chief benefactor.”
