One
Avalon
The First Day Of The Revolution
“My name is Lierick Hanovan, and I’m here to surrender.”
My visceral response to the man in front of me was incandescent rage, which made no sense. I didn’t know him. Maybe there was even a little attraction, but only because he was objectively handsome, with hair so golden that it didn’t seem real, and dark eyes like two sinkholes that lured you in, holding you tightly as you fell into their abyss.
Shaking my head, I refocused. “The armada at your back would say otherwise. I don’t need to be the Librarian to know the name Hanovan and deduce you aren’t here to kneel to the First Line.”
The smile Lierick gave me was almost proud. “I should have been more specific. I’m here to surrender to you specifically, Daughter of the Ninth Line.”
I looked between Vox and Hayle, like they might have any idea what the fuck was going on right now. “My name is Avalon. Avalon Halhed.”
He smiled. “I know.”
Throwing my hands in the air, I looked back at Vox for answers. He watched our—my?—prisoner with hard eyes. “The Second Line is dead.”
The first sign of anything but congeniality flashed across Lierick’s face, as animosity clouded his expression. “Obviously, we aren’t, despite the hard work of the First Line. I’m sure they broke quite a sweat while killing women and children, murdering babies in their cribs and the elderly in their beds.” He spat the words like venom. “Despite what was obviously a well-planned exercise, we survived.” He turned back to me, dismissing Vox entirely. “I would request an audience with you, Avalon. I feel like there are a lot of things you don’t know yet, truths that would definitely make everything seem clearer.”
I looked around the courtyard, searching for some hint about what was happening. Svenna, who seemed almost dazed, was no help. Enora, the Librarian, was watching the whole interaction like she couldn’t wait to get a pen and paper and scribe it down. But there were no other instructors out here, nor were there any other students. In fact, it was strangely quiet.
I was inclined to believe what the man in front was who he said he was, with his gold-and-black uniform that I’d never seen before—not in all those long Battle Strategy lectures, not even in the history books.
Behind Lierick was another man, clad in the same uniform, his hand on his sword and his eyes constantly moving, looking for threats. Definitely a soldier.
“Who’s that?”
Lierick looked over his shoulder. “My cousin and self-imposed bodyguard, Iker.”
Iker appeared to be around a decade older than the rest of us, and he appraised Boellium with a barely concealed look of contempt. He oozed menace, but held himself like a warrior.
Hayle’s eyes tracked him, and I didn’t miss Braxus edging to the left, protecting his master. Or protecting me. I adored that hound.
“How is he holding everyone else back?” Hayle asked softly, though his tone was all grit.
Lierick gave him a smirk. “Third Line, you said? I bet the First Line treats you like you’re nothing but dumb animals. We know that you were once the spymasters of Ebrus, and perhaps we know a few more secrets that have gotten lost in your histories.” He tapped his temple, then looked at Iker. “Iker is just using a little persuasion to keep things calm. Everyone sees what they want to see, and no one’s overly stressed about what’s happening out here.”
Calm lambs to slaughter.
Vox let out a growl that probably would’ve been more at home in the Third Line. “Enough with the fucking word games. What do you want?”
The remaining good humor melted from Lierick’s face as he looked at the man who held my heart in his hands. Vox was giving his best nonchalant Heir face, like he found this whole thing tedious. Like he could squash the men in front of us like bugs.
I wasn’t sure that was true. There was a reason his ancestors had the Second Line wiped out. They’d been a real threat to the First Line’s position of power, which meant they were strong in magic.
Lierick’s eyes moved around the courtyard, and even over at the horizon, like he was expecting the Dawn Army to appear. “That is a conversation for somewhere more private, once Avalon is in possession of a lot more information. Librarian? Would it be possible to use your library? Perhaps see those books that are no doubt the reason you’re standing out here, rather than safely in the stacks.”
“Librarians were once warriors too. We were also on the front lines of battles,” she snapped, sounding pissy. When Lierick raised a hand appeasingly, she huffed an annoyed sound, but eventually nodded. “This way. We’ll go through the rear entrance.”
I didn’t want to expose myself as being clueless, but since when did the library have a back entrance?
However, I seemed to be the only one confused. No one stopped us as we walked down the small, winding path between the atrium and the exterior wall, stopping at a large wooden door with no handle. No keyhole. Nothing. But when the Librarian pushed it, it swung open on silent hinges.
“Your friend will need to stay outside.” Enora’s tone was firm, and when Iker went to protest, Lierick gave a quick shake of his head.
“Of course, Librarian.” The two intruders seemed to have a silent conversation, before Iker huffed, taking up position against the stone wall.
