Page 99 of Avalon Tower
“Being a Sentinel is about more than disrupting the veil, Nia. MI-13 Sentinels were always in charge of watching. Keeping everyone safe. Disrupting the veil is just a tiny aspect of that. And when we needed to raise the alarm, it was Alix’s job to persuade the knights. I’m not good with politics, and Wrythe bloody hates me. When I tried to warn him about this, he didn’t listen.”
“Raphael would listen.”
“Raphael isn’t here right now, and he doesn’t always listen, either. Anyway, Wrythe is a stubborn arsehole.” Nivene purses her lips. “The time for convincing is over. You and I are Sentinels, and we need to act. I can’t stop this on my own. In a few minutes, the trial will start, and all these cadets will spread out, becoming targets. The veil mage will begin to strike.”
I swallow. “What do you need me to do?”
“Our powers will help us track him down.”
I recall the hum when the previous veil mage struck at me and nod.
“We should split up and find him. You check out the steam fair. I’ll cover as much ground as possible north of here. If you spot him, do not engage. If he’s cornered, he’ll summon the veil to cause a diversion. In the middle of London, that would be a disaster. Hundreds of deaths. Take this.” She hands me a tiny conch shell.
“What’s that?”
“Do you remember microphones and earbuds before the war? This is the Fey equivalent. It’ll let us communicate. Put it in your ear.”
I remember Bluetooth earbuds. They were quite comfortable. This is the exact opposite. It scratches my ear when I put it in, and I have to shove it hard for it to stay. “Argh. Couldn’t the Fey put rubber around it? Seriously.”
“It’ll do,” she says, and as she speaks, I hear her voice from the conch as well, a strange echo in my ear. “Go. Start the trial. Look for the veil mage as you go. And if you spot him, let me know. We’ll figure it out from there.”
“Okay.”
She pivots and strides through the peaked tower doorway and into the shadows. Her voice whispers through the magical conch shell in my ear. “Good luck, Nia.”
CHAPTER 34
No matter what Nivene said, I must try to stop the trial from taking place. If Avalon Tower postpones the trial by even one day, Auberon’s operation will fail tonight.
As I march straight to Wrythe, the night breeze rushes over me. Wrythe is staring at his pocket watch, standing alone on the dark grass. His bored expression quickly changes to annoyance when he notices me.
“You have three more minutes, Ms. Melisende. I realize that your chances of passing are minimal, but surely you want to appear to be making an effort.”
I lean in close. “Nivene, the other Sentinel, believes there might be an enemy assassin here,” I tell him. “Auberon’s forces know that the trial is taking place, and they’re using the opportunity to pick off the cadets.”
He stares at me, and a line forms between his eyebrows.
“You must know that one of their veil mages already tried to take me out in Avalon Tower,” I continue. “They’re on the attack. Surely the word of an experienced Sentinel is worth checking out?”
“Something is worth checking out,” he finally says.
I exhale in relief. “Good.”
“It’s worth checking how you’ve come so far, seeing that you’re so desperate to avoid this trial that you’re willing to invent a ridiculous threat. Do you realize how dangerous it is to spread disinformation like this?”
Irritation flares. “I just spoke to Nivene—”
“Nonsense!” he barks. “I am the Seneschal, and I should fail you right now for this attempt to disrupt the trial. I will give you one more chance, but don’t come to me with this codswallop again.”
“I know I’m just a cadet, but Nivene isn’t. Are you really going to risk the lives of all these cadets just because you’re too arrogant to listen?” I blurt.
A second later, I realize how loudly I’ve spoken. Silence settles around us. Serana and Tana both look at me, mouth ajar in horror.
“Oh, Ms. Melisende,” Wrythe whispers. “You’ll regret saying that. You are done. Participate or not, it’s all the same to me. Tonight, after this trial, I will see to it that you’re expelled.”
My jaw drops, and I back away. I can hardly breathe.
Wrythe turns to the rest of the cadets. “What are you staring at?” he snaps. “The trial has begun. Get going.”