A large window consumed most of the curved wall. Shining light on the room’s fine furniture. Intricate metal objects glinted from their shelves.

A desk dominated the room’s far side. Governor Lancet’s bright blue eyes bore into Two, from a mountain of paperwork. She rarely tasted such potent relief.

“Welcome,” the governor stood sharply and gestured to a nearby table. Two sat, the governor elegantly collapsed into her chair. A long sigh escaped her.

Two was confused. She’d expected the woman who responded to Butch’s death with mild annoyance to be more, biting. Daisy had said the dragons viewed snakes as toys. Two saw no disdain in the imperial’s eyes.

She took a slow breath. Boredom and restrained excitement were all she found smell. Any nuance was lost beneath the cultivator’s defining emotions.

“You called for me governor.” Her tone was low and deferential. Testing.

The woman smiled. Two waited for a response that never came. Two held their gaze, content to let silence stretch. She didn’t know the governor’s game or its stakes. She gained nothing by scrambling.

Lancet’s grin grew until it was all teeth. Her excitement turned into physical pressure. A palpable wight settled on her shoulders. Two held her calm, with slow measured breaths. It was nothing Daisy hadn’t done. Unseen hands touched her skin. Two’s breath hitched. She was being examined, like an expensive vase.

The objectification, the trivializing of her being. It anchored her. Made the magic mundane, expected. Two relaxed, and let the governor’s examination continue.

Lancet clapped the hands vanished. “Wonderful, you’re quite the strange one.”

“Governor?”

She chuckled. “None of that, your mother told me you had a sharp tongue and sharper senses.”

Two froze. Was it spite that made her give away Two’s most important and probably only advantage? Leandra’s wrathful visage forced the rest of her thoughts still. “Is she well,”

Lancet smiled, slowly nodding to herself. She looked increasingly pleased with herself. Two found her smiles, increasingly irksome. “She’s not dead, though I can’t say much beyond that,” Two relaxed. “though it’s unlikely she’s being tortured.”

Two’s relief curdled, Lancet’s lips quirked up. She was playing with Two, Daisy’s words rang true. If they wanted her discomfort she’d have to earn it.

She painted a smile on her face and sighed in relief. She slumped into her chair. “Thank you, governor, that a worry of my chest.”

“No worries, I can’t have you distracted from your tasks.” Their tone sobered.

Uncertainty rankled her. She showed none of it on her face. Confusion took its place. “What tasks Ma’am, I’ve only guided Igni as you instructed.”

“Precisely, now why would I place you with an angel when I have dozens who could do better.” She chuckled to herself her eyes grew distant. Overwhelming amusement swallowed the room, excitement slipped its shackles. “It’s not like I’m playing matchmaker.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Two’s face couldn’t decide whether to pale in terror or blush in horror. Her and Igni? If the astonishing amount of wealthy people that happened upon them meant anything. She’d be dead in a day.

“I don’t presume,” she said in a small voice and shrugged.

Lancet’s lip twitched, “I’d like to hear your thoughts.” Their emotions settled.

Two scoured for a suitably inane non-answer. She glanced at the swamped desk. “Staff shortages? You seem quite pressed and everyone on the first floor seemed busy.” Lancet followed her gaze. She frowned, the expression oozed bottomless distaste. “Perhaps those better guides are occupied.”

“No”, The governor met her with tired eyes. They turned their gaze to the city outside the windows. Two wanted in silence. She’d stepped on something. She hoped it didn’t snap.

Minutes dragged, and Abery walked in. A tray of fragrant tea in his hands. He placed it on the table and then departed.

The governor took a cup and held it beneath her nose. She closed her eyes and drank. Her piercing eyes opened.

“Politics, Two politics.” A smile flit onto her face. “And you are going to help me solve it.”

Two’s trepidation slipped through. “How.”

Her gin widened, “There is something you must understand about the Salens. They are very intense.”

Two blankly stared.

Lancet continued as if her gaze meant nothing. “They almost exclusively cultivate passion. The main line focuses on love in its various forms, especially familial. So to say they hold grudges would be a tremendous understatement.”

“So I’m still a target.”

Lancet chuckled, “Yes, though their young miss’s decree will stop you from being stabbed in the street.” She sipped her tea. “During the day.”

Two fought back a glared and took her cup. It smelled like a slow summer day. A sip unwound her. The warm fluid melted her caution. “Where do I come in and why are you needling me.” She realized the effect but declined resistance. If Lancet expected formality she wouldn’t have given her the drink.

The governor reclined cup in hand. “You will draw their ire from the Eberwith. While I ease tensions.”

Bait, in fewer words. Her role as guide made sense now. “Why tell me.”

“In a few week the angels will depart the city for the wandering academy. Members of Salen and Eberwith will be attending. Including the sister of that poor girl you kidnapped. You will join Igni as a servant. Your job will be to draw her ire from the deers in attendance.”

Two closed her eyes and sighed. She took another drink. “In short, to be better bait.”

The Wandering Academy premiere institute for noble scions and if the pamphlets were anything to go by talented commoners. It would be wonderful for the short time before she mysteriously disappeared.

An opportunity that cost more than she could afford. Out the slums, but things stayed the same. She sipped her tea. “I have conditions.”

“Oh, what makes you think you have a choice.”

Two sipped slowly, her thoughts needed to be ordered. The tea helped. Without it, ideas would bounce in her head like a frantic mob. Instead, they came in an ordered procession. She looked at the governor.

The woman’s eyes shone with amusement. To her two was a fun distraction. A convenient tool at best. Like Daisy, without the love and flair that blunted her sharp edges.

Push but not too much, audacity mixed with quiet desperate deferral. She had to be fun. “Because you lose nothing from listening and I sincerely hope our city isn’t run by the kind of woman who discards good ideas out of pride”

Her grin grew. “Go on. Let me hear your good ideas”

“I’ll go as a student.”

Lancet laughed, almost spilling her tea as she curled. Straightening she wiped her eye. “Girl I have needed that.” Another wave rocked her shoulder. “You are tainted Two, Tainted don’t cultivate.”

“I know.” She said flatly. Daisy had reminded her plenty.

“Do you know why?” the laugh hadn’t quite left her smile.

“Cultivation strengthens the heart, but the taint is strengthened with it. Driving the cultivator mad.”

“So you know something, but do you know what taint is.”

“…”

“Taint, is a cancer, in the spirit, slowly growing. You are young so the effect is weak. In time it will consume your heart, and leave you with nothing but the tainted emotion. Cultivation will quicken this. From decades to year.” Her smile had flattened. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” She hadn’t known it would be that bad, what worth were decades, spent in fear? Waiting till the next day threw her in a fire. Till she died in one of the flames. “I refuse to do nothing.”

Lancet’s smile bloomed. “My aren’t you delightful.”