Page 159 of The Black Witch

Diana snorts. “That’s because most Gardnerian men are fools.”

Jarod tries to ignore his sister, his eyes focused on my Gardnerian friend. “Aislinn,” he says, his voice sincere, “I really am sorry.”

She looks away from him, her face strained.

“Sit down, Jarod.” I invite him with a sigh. “Join us. It’s all water under the bridge.”

“Thank you,” he says. He sets his meat-laden plate down and ventures a worried look in Aislinn’s direction. She picks absently at her muffin, eyes on her plate, her expression vacant.

Jarod picks up a knife and fork and begins to cut his chicken into neat little bites.

Diana stops eating and stares at him, incredulous. “Since when do you use utensils?” she asks, a note of accusation in her voice.

“Since we’ve been living in Verpacia,” he shoots back. “Unlike you, I’m trying to fit in here.”

Diana shrugs and gives the meat her full attention once more. “Suit yourself.”

Jarod turns back to Aislinn. “Is it still all right if we meet later?”

Aislinn frowns at her muffin. “Yes, Jarod,” she agrees, her voice tentative.

“Perhaps at nineteenth hour? I’ll meet you in the archives?”

Aislinn nods at her plate, still not looking at him.

“Okay, then,” Jarod says. He ventures a small smile in her direction, then goes back to cutting his chicken into tiny pieces.

CHAPTER SIX

Jarod

Later that evening I sit at my desk, alone except for the slumbering chickens, staring at a list of metal powders recently given to me by Professor Hawkkyn.

I’m passing Metallurgie now instead of barely passing, my Snake Elf professor turned into an unlikely ally, making me suddenly wonder if I’ve been told nothing but lies about his kind.

A few weeks ago Professor Hawkkyn called me aside, curious and thrown by my newly casual attire.

“You’re dressed like a Kelt,” he observed flatly as if I was plotting some dark scheme, the silvery glinting of his star eyes distracting me.

I straightened and held his silvered gaze. “Professor Kristian told me my clothes were made by Urisk slaves, so I decided not to wear them anymore.” I shrugged defensively. “Anyway, these are more comfortable.”

He stared at me for a long moment, and I was suddenly struck by how beautiful he is, each flat scale reflecting a kaleidoscope of stunning greens. “You know Jules Kristian?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied, then knit my brow in question. “You...as well?”

Professor Hawkkyn broke into a dazzling, incredulous smile, his teeth snow white in contrast to his deep green scales. “Jules is...a good friend.” He considered me for another long moment, then spit out a short laugh, shook his head and expeditiously went back to correcting papers. “I rescind your second assignment, Elloren Gardner,” he said without looking up. “Just complete the first section.” He paused from his corrections, gave me a long, appraising look, then pulled a paper out from one of his folders and handed it to me.

I glanced at the list of metal powders as I took it from him, confused. “Are these...what we’re going to test the chelating agents on?”

He narrowed his star eyes at me. “No. It’s a list of metal powders that block ice magic. I thought that might be of some interest to you.”

I gaped at the list then at him, dark delight and overwhelming gratitude bubbling up. “I...I never knew about this. Does it really work?”

“Wand magic’s not the only power,” he replied in a low voice, his teeth set in another dazzling, dangerous grin.

* * *

I stare at the list in the quiet of my room, thinking of all the ways that I can now make myself impervious to Fallon’s low-level, yet still-constant bullying.

---