Page 172 of Fortress of Ambrose
Jordan’s lips thinned.
“You have our support,” Quell said. “But do you not see my point about magic?”
“I also want magic safe,” Nore said. “My House is relying on me for that. But my brother is the biggest problem at the moment.”
“Hardly,” Quell said. “What use will Houses be in a world with no magic? We need to divide and conquer.”
The clock was ticking, Quell wasn’t wrong. Thiswasa conundrum. The others stared at her, waiting for her to speak.
“Well?” Yagrin pushed, eyeing his brother, expecting an answer from him. “Are we still on the same team, or are we not?”
Nore’s head swam at the question because she knew Yagrin’s intentions. But Jordan didn’t respond. He wasn’t in charge.
“Of course we are,” Quell said.
“It sounds like we are outnumbered,” Maezre Tutom said.
“How many dead are there?” Yagrin asked. “The brotherhood was a disaster, but we knew how to rally.”
Nore’s mind noodled. It was never clear to her which dead Ambrosers came back as spirits and which did not. Some of them simply appeared. But one thing was for sure—there were over two thousand graves on their estate, and only a hundred or so had ever wandered the grounds. Much fewer now.
“Respectfully, Headmistress Ambrose, we must focus on protecting our House above all else,” Tutom said, and several others nodded.
Quell sat up. “Ellery issignificantly weakerwithout the Dragunhead backing him. The numbers don’t matter if we cut off the snake’s head.”
Ellery, the Dragunhead, the Pact, ormagic.
Which did they prioritize first? Picking one could mean sacrificing another.
Nore had an idea.
She’d made her decision. She gulped down her nerves. “The only sure thing that will bring my brother across the gates of Dlaminaugh is my death. We will announce I’ve died and my funeral is being held. Alongwith a coronation for Ellery. We will invite everyone and follow all social protocol. A program, a formal reception, all the things.” It was the most convincing plan she could think of. “Quell, write to the Dragunhead and tell him you will be attending and you’d like to meetbeforethe ceremony. We will focus our efforts on trapping the Dragunhead—”
“Killing him,” Quell says. “Using me as bait.”
She nodded. “If you agree.”
“It’s brilliant.”
Nore exhaled. They had a plan. “We will deal with my brother after that. I see the logic in getting rid of the Dragunhead first.”
“A mistake!” The shout erupted into chatter.
“Magic could be of use here. We haven’t explored those options.”
“Well, the girl doesn’t have magic. She doesn’t think in that way.”
“True, very true.”
Nore burned with embarrassment. But it was Isla who slapped the table.
“Your Headmistress has spoken,” she said. “And she is clever and doesn’t need magic.”
A jolt of joy fluttered through her vacant chest.
She was. And she didn’t. This would show everyone.
As the crowd dispersed, Nore looked for Quell to thank her for showing up and being willing to help. But Quell was flipping through the papers again, concern fusing her brows. Guilt twisted in Nore’s stomach at the way Yagrin planned to betray them.
