Page 59 of Frostforge: Passage Two

"These three have confessed to stealing weapons from the Howling Forge and other academy armories," Maven announced, her voice cutting through the hall like a blade through flesh."They have admitted to replacing quality ores with inferior materials, endangering their fellow students and compromising the integrity of your training."

The white-haired girl swayed slightly on her feet, and Thalia felt an unexpected pang of pity.She remembered how fiercely the girl had fought.

Maven's single eye flashed as she turned to face the assembled students."Frostforge stands as the last unified institution on our continent.While our kingdoms and tribes battle for supremacy, we train warriors from all territories, side by side.This academy survives only through the balance of power and mutual respect."

Thalia fought the urge to roll her eyes.Maven’s talk of unity rang particularly hollow coming from the instructor with the most disdain for Southern students.

Maven gestured to the prisoners with a contemptuous flick of her wrist."These three sought to destroy that balance for their own gain.The punishment for such treason is clear."

The hall grew so quiet that Thalia could hear the distant howl of wind against the stone walls of the academy, a mournful counterpoint to Maven's next words.

"Nash Ironhall, Brice Rimestone, and Kara Frostmane are hereby exiled from the continent.They will be transported to the fjord's mouth and set adrift on a raft with basic provisions.What lies beyond our shores — be it the Isle Wardens, the storm-wracked seas, or whatever other powers linger beyond our knowledge — will determine their fate."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.Exile beyond the shores was a sentence few could hope to survive.The seas surrounding the continent were treacherous enough, but the rumors of what waited beyond — the Isle Wardens with their storm magic, dangerous ocean beasts, the unforgiving lands of the archipelago — made such punishment effectively a death sentence, only slower and more terrifying than a simple execution.

The Northern students around Thalia reacted most strongly.Some nodded with grim satisfaction, tribal justice demanding that traitors face the harshest possible fate.Others looked troubled, perhaps recognizing that the line between loyalty to their people and loyalty to Frostforge was thinner than they'd realized.A few openly wept — friends of the condemned, Thalia guessed, struggling to reconcile the people they knew with the criminals now bound before them.

Nash raised his head, his one good eye searching the crowd until it locked onto Roran.Even from a distance, Thalia could see the hatred burning there, undiminished by defeat.Nash's lips moved, forming words too quiet to hear, but Thalia didn't need to hear them to know they were a promise of vengeance.Roran met his gaze steadily, refusing to look away until Nash was forced to break the contact first.

"The second matter at hand," Maven continued after allowing the significance of the punishment to settle over the assembly, "is the conclusion of the second-year Forge Gauntlet."

Thalia's attention snapped back to Maven.She'd almost forgotten about the tournament in the chaos of the past few days.

"Brynn Firstborn has been declared the victor of this year's trial."

A polite ripple of applause spread through the hall.Brynn stood at the edge of the second-year section, her posture radiating satisfaction.Her gaze found Thalia's across the crowd, one eyebrow arched in smug triumph.She lifted her chin in silent challenge:I won.You forfeited.

Thalia met her look with a calm she didn't entirely feel.Yes, technically she had forfeited her match against Brynn by leaving the tournament to track down the stolen blade.Her class rank would suffer for it.But she had accomplished something far more important — clearing Roran's name, exposing a conspiracy that threatened the academy itself.

Still, a small, proud part of her couldn't help but think that if she'd stayed, her golem would have bested Brynn's.The pure alloys she'd used in her creation, the connection she'd forged with the metal heart — together they had formed something special, something that even Brynn's technical precision couldn't have overcome.

"—and finally," Maven was saying as Thalia's focus returned to her words, "the fourth-year Command Challenge will commence next week.All other years are expected to observe the trial's opening ceremony, though attendance at individual challenges is optional."

With that, Maven gestured sharply, dismissing the assembly.The hall erupted into movement and sound as hundreds of students began filing toward the exits, voices rising in a wave of commentary on the punishments and announcements.

Thalia pushed against the flow of bodies, moving purposefully toward the section where the third-years were gathered.She caught glimpses of Senna's straight black hair as the older girl made her way toward one of the side exits.Breaking into a half-jog, Thalia cut through a group of startled first-years and intercepted Senna just before she reached the door.

"Senna," Thalia called, loud enough to be heard over the clamor of departing students."Wait."

Senna turned, her silver-gray eyes narrowing when she spotted Thalia.

"What do you want, Greenspire?"Her voice was cold, the brief camaraderie of their shared battle apparently forgotten.

Thalia stepped closer, lowering her voice."I wanted to thank you.For helping in the fight.We wouldn't have survived without you."

Senna's expression hardened."I was fulfilling my duty to Frostforge.Nothing more."She glanced over Thalia's shoulder, as if checking to see who might be observing their conversation.

“We fought well together.That means something."

"It means we had a common enemy."Senna's silver eyes locked onto Thalia's with uncomfortable intensity."My annual trials are complete, and I won't be here for the remainder of the term."Her chin lifted slightly."I volunteered to help deliver the traitors to their fate."

The statement caught Thalia off guard."You're leaving Frostforge?"

"Temporarily."A cold smile touched Senna's lips."I'll accompany the escort ship to the fjord's mouth.It's a privilege Maven has granted me."

Thalia wondered if Senna had volunteered to escape the discomfort of remaining at the academy after all that had happened.The proud Northerner would rather face the danger of open seas than acknowledge that she had fought alongside a Southerner — and worse, that it had been Thalia.

Senna leaned forward suddenly, her voice dropping to a whisper edged with threat."While I'm gone, remember your place, Greenspire.Stay away from him."

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