Page 28 of On Wings of Blood

I nodded in between a mouth stuffed with two pieces of bacon.

Had Regan Pansera actually apologized to me? The girl really had changed overnight. Either she was genuine or she wanted to stay in Viktor Drakharrow’s good graces.

“Only too happy to oblige, dear Miss Pansera.” Theo gave a mock salute.

When Regan was gone, I looked at Theo expectantly. “Four houses?”

“Once more, I have been cast in a pivotal role,” Theo mused. “Is it the historian I am to be? What a weight lies upon my shoulders.” He tapped a finger to his chin. “Where to begin?”

Before I could say anything, he leaped to his feet, jumped onto the bench, and cleared his throat.

“The four royal houses of Sangratha,” he intoned loudly. “A historical summary delivered by Theo Drakharrow to Medra Pendragon, this first day of Autumntide term.”

Some of the students at the other tables looked up, startled.

“Quiet down, Theo,” Quinn hissed. “You’re not in a lecture hall! You’re embarrassing us. Again.”

Theo put a finger to his lips and whispered down to me, “Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we, Medra?”

I couldn’t help it. I smirked back at him. Theo Drakharrow was incorrigible and I was loving every moment of it. “Nope.”

“False alarm,” Theo called, waving his hands. “This tutoring session is only meant for one. Exclusive session. Back to your breakfasts, you cads, you knaves. Away with you.”

The other students seemed to be used to Theo’s outbursts. They were already doing as he suggested and going back to their own conversations.

I reached for a muffin covered with chunks of cinnamon and brown sugar and studied Theo. “You’re really a Drakharrow?”

Theo puffed up. “Who says I’m a bastard?”

“I didn’t...” I said quickly. Though I’d already noticed he had hair a shade or two darker than the other students at the table.

“A bastard I may be,” he said. “But I was born on the right side of the blankets.” He grinned. “Aye, a Drakharrow I am and proudly so. Why do you ask?”

“You’re nothing like your cousin,” I said bluntly. Abruptly I thought of something and my eyes widened. “Are you Viktor’s son?”

Theo shook his head. “No, no. My mother is our esteemable uncle’s youngest sister. Marcus and Blake’s father takes precedence in the family order. Dear Uncle Viktor has no progeny. None that we know of.”

“Marcus?” I inquired. “Who is he?”

“Blake’s elder brother. You probably saw him yesterday, standing at Viktor’s shoulder in the great hall yesterday. The kindest term for him is lackey.” He shook his head. “Ah, what a merry time that impromptu soiree was.”

I grimaced. “Merry. Indeed.”

“Marcus graduated Bloodwing last spring,” Theo explained.

“And now Blake is... house leader?”

“Not quite.” Coregon’s quiet voice interrupted. “House leaders must fight for their place. It has to be earned. It’s not an inherited spot.”

“That’s right,” Theo said. “As it stands, House Drakharrow has no leader at Bloodwing yet. One will be chosen by the end of the Autumntide Term. Everyone assumes Blake will get it, of course. But there are a few students within House Drakharrow who may decide to compete for the spot.” He winked at Coregon. “Like yourself, old chap.”

Coregon shook his head. “Blake can have it. Too much trouble managing this lot.”

Theo pouted. “No duels? How dull.” He looked around the table. “None of the others who might just have it in them to challenge Blake are at our table. Regan probably made sure of that when she did the inviting.”

“What about the other houses?” I asked.

Theo nodded towards a table across the aisle from ours. “There’s a house leader right there. Kage Tanaka. He’s the leader of House Avari.”

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