Page 31 of Grave Situation

“I thought it best.”

Sudden dread curls in my stomach, making me wish I hadn’t already eaten half of the sandwich.

“Who is it?”

I can almost feel my master mentally bracing himself.“Jaimin Kahwyn.”

No.

No.

No no no nono.

No fucking way.

If you can hear me right now, I think furiously in the direction of the stone, know that you are a sadistic lump of…I founder. How do I insult a rock?…of clay, and Iwillget my revenge one day.

The pulse of condescending amusement I feel in return only stokes my rage. Stupid rock with a superiority complex.

“Talon?”Master’s mental voice is sharp.“You’re not doing anything foolish, are you?”

That depends on whether threatening the source of all creation can be considered foolish. Personally, I think it lands solidly in themaybecolumn.

So of course I lie.“No. Just… thinking.”

“I know you don’t like Master Kahwyn,”he continues.“But the stone was completely certain he’s the third in your traveling triumvirate… well, fourth, if we count Leicht.”

Yeah. I just bet it was.

“He said he’d expect you this afternoon. He made it quite clear that he understands you’re the expedition leader, despite his senior rank.”Master pauses.“I’m not certain what you have against him, Talon, but you willnotembarrass me. Is that understood?”

The heat that floods my face is born of shame and humiliation. Master Samoine gives me a lot of freedom when it comes to self-expression. We both know a lot of my fellow mages dislike me because I’ve told them exactly what I think of them. He’s the same, so he doesn’t care. But there are some lines I won’t cross, and insulting a superior to his face—mage, healer, or dragon rider—would reflect very poorly on my master. I’ve never done it… with the exception of my outburst yesterday. That Master thinks I might do so now…

“Understood. I’ll treat Master Kahwyn with the respect he’s due.”It’s not as if I actually dislike him, anyway. I’m just… embarrassed by my own behavior and don’t want to deal with the consequences.“And I’ll go see him now.”I’m not going to be able to eat the rest of my lunch until I do. A thought occurs.“Does Tia know yet?”I doubt it. She’s the only one aside from me and Jaimin who knows everything that happened. If she’d already been told, I’d have had her laughing in my head all morning.

“No. As the expedition leader, that’s your job.”

It’s the second time he’s called me that, and I must admit, it makes me nervous. I’m not really the leader type. I’m more the “ignore instructions and do what I want” member of any group. The fact that Tia and Jaimin will be deferring to me on this journey is… unsettling.

“I’ll take care of it. I’m going to finish packing this afternoon, but I’ll come to your chamber this evening.”

Master sends back a wordless acknowledgment and then breaks contact.

I stare at what’s left of my sandwich and then wrap it in a napkin and shove it in my pocket, ignoring the scullery maid who’s sliding me wary sidelong glances. Since I’m wearing trousers, it’ll be a bit squished, but it will still taste good… later. When I’ve finished swallowing crow.

Seizing on one last chance to delay, I reach out to Tia.“What are you doing?”

“Packing your things.”

Er… what?

“What? I was going to do that. Don’t touch my things!”

Her mental scoff is just as annoying as when she does it out loud.“Please, Talon, be serious. You have no idea how to pack for a horseback journey.”

There’s a special way? Can’t I just shove what I need in my trunk and…

Oh. Where would I put a trunk on a horse? Shit. I hate when she’s right.

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