Page 69 of First Ritual
“Every day. Well,” I scowled, “Most days.” Wild ruined my streak. Creepy portal fucker.
Rooke hummed. “Interesting. Mind if I join you one time?”
“Not at all. So, Caves. What’s the go today?”
She waggled her brows. “Both teams get between breakfast and midafternoon to make their moves. The ploys are already underway.”
“They are? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Because you’re not looking.”
True.
Peering around, I caught sight of Delta entering to whisper with a table of Fertim magus. They got up and followed her out.
A table close by—of magus I expected were in Vero—stood to trail them.
Huh. The ploys were underway. I remembered that one from the list.
Nearer the middle of the chamber, Huxley patted Wild’s shoulder, then left too. Two magus peeled from the west wall to follow.
Corentin, in the Vero team, left via the east exit. Wild shadowed him.
To think all this was happening last Thursday, and I’d had no idea. I still wouldn’t have this morning if Rooke hadn’t pointed it out.
For the first time, I felt a stir of interest. “And aside from the ploys, what else is going on?”
“Most of us go about our day, which is a ploy in itself, I suppose. The defense and attack teams will be in their designated areas. It’ll feel like there are fewer magus in the learning centers for that reason.”
I’d been assigned to shadow the boring group. On purpose, no doubt, so I didn’t see how the attack and defense teams worked in case I ended up with Vero.
Rooke set her bowl of cereal to her lips and drank the milk. “All right, I’m going to divination. You coming?”
“I will actually,” I answered, finishing my juice.
“Why do you say it like that?”
“Not a fan.”
She slid me a look as we entered the tunnel. We weren’t alone. The magus walked in twos and threes on their way to the learning centers. “I wouldn’t have picked that. You’re old-school. I assumed you had a strong respect for your ancestors.”
The words weren’t a judgment, but I felt the natural implication of them. Deep down, spurning divination was disrespectful to those who’d gone before me. And the mother. “My ancestors are always in my heart and mind, trust me.”
“What’s the block then?” Rooke weaved around a trio of other women our age who whispered as they threw looks my way.
The weight on my chest was heavy, so damn heavy, and it had nothing to do with their whispers. “I was only born with two affinities. I inherited the third when my family died.”
Rooke’s crestfallen expression was quickly followed by her tucking her hand into mine. “Divination. Bronte, I’m so sorry.”
Feeling moisture building in my eyes, I shook my head and squeezed her hand back. “Don’t be sorry. That’s the block though. Or a series of blocks. I understand that avoiding the affinity only adds to the problem. It’s just where I’m at.”
“Literally me with apothecary.” She linked her arm with mine. “If there’s an affinity I understand, it’s divination. Girl, you got me in apothecary, and if you want my help, then I’ve got you in divination.”
The very idea of delving into divination made my insides quiver. “Thank you for the offer.”
“No problem. Take me up on it whenever you like. Until then, want to tail me?”
My coiled muscles unwound in a rush. Relief flooded me. “Yes, I’d appreciate that.” I’d half-dreaded going to divination and attempting to look busy while an esteemed breathed down my neck and asked all kinds of questions.