Page 36 of Under Restless Skies

I step back. “You think?”

He sighs. “I know. It didn’t… Things are not going the way you hoped. What I can say is I tried. I did, Mayara. But it’s not the end of the world. Think of it as a stepping stone. You’ll get where you want, but you need to be patient.”

An annoyed huff escapes my lips. “Why do I need to be patient? This was not our deal. I helped you. I risked my life. You agreed that I would enter the academy as a recruit.”

“That’s not what’s in the contract, and you know it.”

“Because you tricked me. After everything. Why? You wanted the glory all for yourself, didn’t you?”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I heard today.” His laughter grates on me, pokes at my already wounded pride.

“Did you think I was ridiculous when I was snatching the eggs from the cave?”

“No, but your accusation is absurd. You’re quite observant, so I’m sure you noticed that I sailed the boat back to Dracolius City all by myself. Didn’t need you. And there’s no better place to get rid of a body than the enemy’s sea. Had I wanted all the glory for myself, you wouldn’t be here.”

His words and his stare make me tremble. “So you would have killed me?”

He shrugs. “I don’t think I’d need to bother, frankly. You were saying, ‘Let’s jump.’ I’d say, ‘Go, I’ll be right after you.’ Then you’d be alone in the riders’ sea. I wouldn’t even need to soil my hands with your blood. It would be that easy. But no. You’re here, breathing. It means I obviously had no intention of claiming all the glory for myself.”

My body stiffens. “I see. I should be thankful you didn’t kill me.”

“You should be thankful I’m being honest with you. If I’m telling you the worst of me, it’s because I trust you. Truly, Mayara. I need allies. Extraordinary allies. Like you.”

I snort. “Extraordinary cleaning crew?”

“For now, yes. It’s the best I could get, and instead of complaining, you should appreciate your opportunity. Let me tell you something. When I was growing up in the streets of Cainara, I often had nothing to eat. My belly growled. My head hurt. Then, sometimes, I found a piece of moldy bread. What do you think I did? Complained that the bread was moldy? No. I said, ‘Thank you, Foros. Now give me some more.’ That’s what you do when luck graces you. You seize it.”

He fists his hand and gives me an intense look that slowly turns soft, so soft that it melts my anger, even more so when I consider his difficult past.

But it doesn’t change the fact that he didn’t uphold our agreement. “I’m sorry you had a tough childhood.” I try to appeal to his conscience. “Still, you told me I’d get into the academy, and never mentioned joining the cleaning crew. Isn’t your word worth something?”

“It was not my fault, Mayara, but I do have good news for you.”

“What news?”

“I couldn’t make you a recruit, no, but I found the person who schedules the academy’s cleaning crew. You won’t have to work.”

Something about it feels wrong. “That’s dishonorable. I’ve always earned my keep.”

He rolls his eyes. “When Foros sends you a gift, you take it. Most of the population of Dracolius would love to trade places with you. No need to work. So be thankful. You can also attend theory classes. It means that once we find a way to revert the decision, you won’t be behind.”

His words soothe my worry, appease most of my anger. “I can attend classes?”

“Yes. And I have a gift for you.”

We head back to the bedroom, and he opens a small coffret from which he takes a black key with a thin gold chain holding it. “People would kill for this.”

“What is it?”

He puts the chain around my neck, his fingers lingering, sending a jolt of energy through my body.

“A master key,” he says, his voice husky. “The master key, I should say. To the entire castle.” He places a hand on his chest. “More than just the castle.”

His heart? No, he can’t mean that. “Why are you giving it to me?”

“It’s a secret, and you can’t tell anyone. Keep it hidden under your clothes. I have a copy too. I borrowed the original and replicated it. Now, I can’t really do much with it. If people see me in a room where I don’t belong, they’ll ask questions. But you? Wearing that uniform? You’ll be invisible. You can go anywhere you want. This is your chance to unearth some precious secrets.”

That door near the auditorium comes to mind. I shake away the thought and ask, “Like what?”