“Well, Ever is at a disadvantage, having not grown up under Aslendrix’s influence and our guidance. She?—”
“Shouldn’t be excluded,” I interrupt. “She should have every opportunity, like us, to train for the trials. Is it your intention, as is every training year, to use the trials as an evaluation tool for our potential future positions within The Court?” I ask, just to make my point.
“You know that is the case, Aten.” He directs his attention to me. “So, I am unclear as to why you are asking this.”
“You are unclear?” I scoff. “Really?”
“Do you have something to say?” He folds his arms over his chest. I get it. He’s trying to assert himself, but having Orion Ciro as your father prepares you for that particularly weak tactic. He’ll have to do better than that with me.
“I thought Raiden had already asked it. But apparently, she was meant to swallow whatever bullshit you were about to feed us.”
I sense the collective draw of breath amongst the class, including Calix’s, but I don’t back down. My stare doesn’t break, and I wait for Rowan’s answer, even if I know I’m not going to like it.
“Listen. Carefully.” He addresses me but looks over everyone else in the room. “Training and what each of you undergoes is not up for discussion. It is up to the Custodians to decide?—”
“No offence, Rowan. But I’m with Ten. What’s up with this girl, anyway? One minute she can’t run, then she can. Then she’s kicked out for the rest of the day?” Calix lays down his opinion, and I turn to look over my shoulder and give him a small nod.
“None of us are given time off. Why is she? Surely she needs more help than us if she’s got to catch up?” Raiden continues her point from earlier.
I don’t know if I like that everyone seems to be as preoccupied with Ever as I am, but I settle for beingpleased if it gets her back.
“It’s clear that you are all finding her arrival… disconcerting.”
“Again, that’s bullshit. I’m sorry, Rowan, but please, don’t treat us like fools.” I may regret pushing this hard, but hey, what are they going to do? “You’re the ones acting differently since her arrival, not us.”
“Fine. We’ve been asked to ensure that her training is gradual. She is raw and untested, her power awakening very late, and due to this, she could be a danger to herself and others. So, she is to get?—”
“Special treatment. Great.” Crimson finishes his sentence. It was only a matter of time—she can never keep her opinion to herself.
“Special treatment or not, she should be here. No more sending her off just because she’s learning. You’re teachers, right? Then teach.” Raiden’s words are to the point, and I’m glad I didn’t have to say them. Plus, it shows she’s got guts to speak to Rowan like that.
I would have said it. I want to fight for Ever. It’s a gut instinct that is hard to grasp, but it’s there. Maybe I admire her for sticking up for herself against everyone here despite never knowing this even existed. And even seeing what she’s done and what I’ve seen, that instinct to help her is there.
Rowan doesn’t look comfortable with the uprising of the ranks. I’m sure that we would be easier for him to control if we were all soldiers, given that he used to be in command of the army.
“Fine. We will welcome Ever to all training. She will not be granted any more grace from us, pending any counter order. However, the physical element of her training will only take place after the Transference. If anyone,” he levels his eyes at me, “has an issue with that, they will take it up with the Head of their Order and the Maker directly. Is that clear?”
The room fills with a few murmurs and mumbles.
“I said, is that clear?” he bellows, snapping all our attention.
“Yes, sir,” we respond as one.
“Given we’re two trainees down, and you’ve made your feelings clear, you’re dismissed. I don’t want to be accused of special treatment again. Aten, as you seem so keen to ensure Miss Hart’s position here, maybe you can give her the good news, and if you happen to come across Micah, please send him straight to me.”
I nod, surprised that I’ve got away that easily.
We all file out of the class, the trainees scattering in their respective directions, but Crimson is tapping her foot, waiting for me with her arms folded.
“You’re going to see her?”
“Yes. You heard Rowan.” I don’t stop.
“Ten, you don’t have to. She’s not your responsibility. She’s not even a friend.”
“She is a friend, even if you don’t want to make any kind of effort with her.”
“Whatever. I guess I’ll be seeing her in training.”
