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Vernie was the first one of the group to seek me out that afternoon, already half-informed of the day’s antics. She didn’t bother to knock at my door; she pushed it open confidently as if she knew I hadn’t locked it.
“You kicked her right in the face?” she asked excitedly by way of greeting. “And then you hauled her to her feet by the hair?”
I looked up from my customary seat at the table, abandoning my scribbled doodle in progress. “What? No! I kicked her in the back, and then I helped her up! Goddess above, where did that story come from?”
Vernie sighed, slumping into the chair next to me. “Then the part about needing three priests to put her back together…”
“Nonsense. Absolute nonsense,” I replied, closing my journal before she could peek into it. “The important part is who convinced her to put on the act in the first place.”
Vernie’s disappointment faded as she straightened. “Oh?”
“She said Procul was backing her.”
Vernie whistled shrilly. “You need to tell Re—”
“She’s going to tell him all the details herself tomorrow,” I added quickly. “So there’s no need to bring it up with him now.”
Vernie’s eyes narrowed, and a calculated glint appeared near her left iris. “What’s really going on between you two?”
“You mean other than the fact that I’m trapped here until further notice?” I asked to avoid answering directly.
She kicked her feet up on the table. “Yeah. You’ve already decided we’re sneaking out for a bit regardless, so that’s probably not the root of your continued anger.”
“It’s nothing important,” I muttered. “When I’m ready, I’ll talk to him about it.”
She shrugged and settled back in her chair, adjusting herself into a comfortable slouch. “I’m only asking because no matter how good we are at getting out, we’re going to be caught eventually. You know that, right?”
“I know. So what’s the point of apologizing now when I’m going to make him even more irritated?”
“Ho… Is it something you think you should apologize for?”
“No, no! Never mind.” I folded my arms. "I’m not the one at fault, and I have nothing more to say on the matter.”
“Alright, alright. As long as you know and are prepared for the consequences.”
I cleared my throat, hoping I didn’t sound too nervous. “I know I called it a girl’s day out, but I have something important to do out in the Periphery.”
Vernie’s gaze was slightly disbelieving. “And what would that be, exactly?”
Right. It was time for the best excuse I could find for justifying my upcoming defiance of Relias’s orders to stay put. “The crystals. When we were coming into Chairo—”
“I overheard the discussion, too,” she said with a slow nod. "They’re rotating too slowly, but no one in charge seemed to care.”
“I had asked Mother Liora about them, but she said the General Assembly only handles their budget and replacement,” I explained quickly. “Daily operations like maintenance fall under the Periphery’s governance, and there’s no one in the temple to talk to about it. So we need to find one of the teams monitoring them.”
Vernie continued to frown as if she wanted to object, but she ultimately nodded slowly. “Sounds important.”
I continued my shaky rationale to justify my actions, hoping she wouldn't suggest I simply ask Relias to handle it. “It’s already apparent the barrier isn’t functioning as it should. Otherwise, that demon would have never been here in the first place! If the three of us could figure out a way to meet with the people in charge of monitoring sometime tomorrow—”
She scrambled to stand. “Tomorrow?!”
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“Mmm… Relias is going to be busy… and so is Mother Liora, well, for a little while at least.” I then briefed her on my back and forth with my designated spy, including the part about her serving as a chaperone during Emmy’s private discussion with Relias.
Vernie groaned. “You know, the phrase ‘lure of chaos’ doesn’t even begin to describe the things you find yourself getting into…” Her tone, however, was quite amused.
“I had initially hoped to use Emmy to distract the crowds in the Forums,” I admitted. “But I’m not sure that’s a good idea anymore, given the gossip you shared. She might get hurt if we do that, even if we could somehow get her away from Captain Corwin…”
“Why do you care what happens to an imposter?”
“Well… I mean, I got to know her a little and…”
She sighed. “You ended up liking her, didn’t you?”
Why do I feel so flushed? “She’s Prince Mito’s friend! And… She’s… kind of cool…”
Vernie smiled somewhat sadly. “I’d lecture you on trusting strangers, but you put that same trust in me once, so…” After a pause, her voice took on that tone that older sisters everywhere invoke when they’ve given up on talking you out of your stubbornness. “I know you wouldn’t listen anyway!”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. So… do you think we can pull off something else instead, maybe?”
Vernie crossed her arms and shook out her hair. “Did you forget who you’re talking to? If you think that woman is cool, then you better see me as the frozen north!”
I giggled, knowing what she meant, even if she herself really didn’t. “Yes’m. I know that—”
“An essay! How in Speranza is writing an essay going to teach me anything about dark magic?!” Nora howled as she stormed into my room. “Oh. Hey,” she greeted Vernie abruptly after she realized I wasn’t alone. “Did you find out if Rae is rich yet?”
Vernie’s eyes flashed dangerously. “I’m having a little trouble figuring out where the funds are being held.”
Nora sniffed. “So why are you just hanging around here, then?”
Sensing a high probability of a needless escalation ensuing, I redirected back to the subject Nora really wanted to talk about. “Master Landon assigned you homework?”
“Five thousand words!” she shouted. “Do you know how many pages that is?”
“Um… a lot, I’m sure… What’s it supposed to be about?”
“I’m supposed to define the ‘ideal form’ and then argue whether or not it can ever exist in the material world, whether it’s just an abstract concept, and why! Oh, and get this: I’m supposed to discuss how said ideal form influences the use of amity and animus!”
I glanced at Vernie to see if she had any insight, but she was clearly unsympathetic to Nora’s plight.
“Er, when’s it due?”
Nora flopped on my bed. “That’s the best part. Whenever it’s done. And don’t bother him until I’m ready to turn it in! Some teacher he is.” She rolled over noisily. “All he did was give me a key to the temple’s library. Except there’s not one book on animus in there. The Fundamentals of Amity? Sure, copies by the dozen. But you ask about animus, and you’d think you just cussed out the librarian!”
“So… it’s not due tomorrow then?” I asked for clarification. “And you’re not scheduled for any lessons?”
“That’s what I just said, isn’t it?”
“Uh, sure. So… I’m guessing you didn’t hear about my day?”
I was pretty sure Nora was about to snap again, but she must have thought better of it. “No, I just got out of the lecture leading up to my punishment.”
I started to fill her in, and Vernie eventually joined as well, more than a little smug that she had been better informed. After our conclusion, Nora just scowled harder. “I always miss the fun!”
“Well, tomorrow should promise to be full of chaos, too,” I said rather ruefully.
“Yeah, I guess,” she muttered. “But still, I’d have paid to see that fight.”
“It… wasn’t much of a fight,” I admitted. “You’d be demanding your money back.”
There was a single knock at my door, and I started forward, but Vernie beat me to it.
A young girl wearing an oversized, winged wimple on her head entered, pushing a food cart. “It is my sincere pleasure to present you with dinner, Captain Lightbringer,” she declared with a low bow, her hat flapping slightly. “On behalf of the entire kitchen, we thank you for the opportunity to serve our Purpose.”
“Uh… Right….” I mumbled, trying not to stare at her modest and concealing garments. “Thank you for your service. But isn’t Mother Liora the one who usually brings the food in?”
The girl bowed again. “She sincerely apologizes for her absence, but she is feeling under the weather. She asked that the kitchen staff take over delivering your meals for the time being.”
“I see…”
The girl straightened and smiled shyly. “The shortbread cookies you received the other day… did you like them?”
Food! My favorite subject! “Oh, with the coffee? Yeah, they were extra buttery!”
“I made them myself!” she grinned widely before flinching slightly. “Uh… I mean, I am humbled by your praise!”
“No need to be humble; they were the best I ever had.”
She looked around shyly. “You know, you can ask for food from us anytime.”
“Don’t tell her that!” Nora gasped playfully, finally forgetting about her irritation over her mandatory assignment. “She’ll be hitting you up for a midnight snack!”
The girl shrugged. “We’re always open. With all the guards on duty, we feed everyone in shifts.”
“Midnight snack, you say…” Vernie murmured to herself.
“What, you get hungry late at night too?” I asked, feeling a certain kinship.
“Mmm, something like that,” she nodded absently.
“I’ll come by later for the cart,” the girl explained as she started to take her leave. “Please enjoy your dinner.”
“Hey, Rae-Rae?” Vernie asked after we had unloaded the cart around the table. “What did you think of her hat?”
“Uh… Ostentatious?” I replied. “Unwieldy?”
“I think it would look good on you. On all of us, actually.” She grabbed a few rolls and wrapped them up in a cloth napkin.
“You’re kidding, right?”
Vernie grinned, heading for the door. “Think I’ll pick out some nice new outfits for our upcoming outing, and that hair-hiding hat is the perfect piece to pull them all together!”
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