Page 10 of The Mentor
Kya peered over. “Ahh, my pillows. Wonderful, just leave them in the boxes until we’ve unpacked the rugs for the cozy corner.”
Magni’s eyebrows snapped together when he turned to me and asked: “What the hell is a cozy corner?”
But I was as clueless as him.
“We use the cushions for the morning ritual of gathering and having quiet reading time,” Kya explained.
“The kids can read in their chairs,” I pointed out and stuffed the soft cushions down in the box again.
“Yes, if they prefer that, but the cushions are popular; and besides,” she continued, “the students also need them when they meditate and when they massage each other.”
Magni and I went quiet for a second before I asked, “When you say massage, what exactly do you mean?”
“Well, typically it’s a gentle back, neck, or foot rub.”
“What the fuck for?” I asked, completely taken aback by the idiocy of what she was saying. “This is a school, not a damn spa.”
“I’ll be over there.” Magni pointed to a stack of chairs and tables. “You two figure this out.”
We didn’t even look at him. The flirtatious looks between us from yesterday had been replaced by challenging stares and building tension.
“Look,” I said and held up my palms. “Clearly we do things differently, so why don’t you just tell me what the Momsi kids are used to and I’ll work it into my curriculum as much as I can.”
“Donotrefer to the children as Momsi kids. They are Motlanders. And it’s notyourcurriculum, it’smine.” Her pleasant voice lost its magic when it turned a bit shrill.
“It kind of isminesince I’ll be the mentor in charge here,” I informed her calmly.
“Will you?” Kya said with a sharp tone. “I’m pretty sure thatIwas chosen to be in charge.”
“You’re both in charge,” Magni called to us from the corner and we turned to him.
“Nooo,” I said, slowly and drawn out. “I was told I would have assistants and that a Momsi… sorry, a Motlander… would help with the curriculum.” I pointed to her. “That would be you.”
Kya was tapping her foot. “You were misinformed then, because I’m not just here for the week, I’m here to teach the children.I’mtheir teacher!”
Sucking in a deep breath, I took a step back. “All right, that’s fine,” I said. “I don’t mind a second assistant, as long asI’min charge of the school.”
“Huh!” She sat down on a table as if to signal that she wasn’t going anywhere. “Is that all that matters to you? To be on top?”
I swallowed a smug smile. “That depends on what we’re discussing,” I said and felt Magni’s disapproving glance burn my neck. “But yeah, I want to be the boss, that’s for damn sure.”
“If a title is all you care about, then call yourself the boss of that broom closet.” She pointed to a small door. “I won’t challenge you for it and I’ll even put a big golden name tag on the door as long as you leave me to focus on what really matters: the kids.”
Rolling my eyes, I crossed my arms. “There’s no need to be hysterical.”
“Hysterical?” Kya said incredulously. “That’s rude. And to think that I actually kissed you.” I watched her zigzag to Magni between the tables that he was spreading around the room. “Magni, I want to speak to Christina and Boulder. Surely there’s been a mistake. Christina would have told me if I had to share the responsibility.”
Magni had stopped working. “Boulder is here, so talk to him,” Magni said and turned his attention on me with a menacing glare. “While I have a few words with Archer.”
Kya didn’t seem to realize what a bomb she had dropped, but I did. Not only had I betrayed Boulder’s trust yesterday, but I had violated one of the most fundamental laws in our society. With only around one hundred women to a million men, the offense of touching one of them without the permission of their protector was among the greatest in our country. One that could cost me my life.
“What did she mean about kissing?” he asked in a low growl.
“Nothing,” I said and tried to hide the panic I felt inside. Magni was a big motherfucker but I wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Magni raised an eyebrow and moved closer. “Don’t fucking lie to me. Did something happen between you two yesterday? If you touched her, I’ll break every bone in your body before I kill you.”
I swallowed hard and tensed my jaw. “Cool down, does she look broken or harmed to you?”
