2 - Tales of the Nameless World by Christopher G. Nuttall

Author:Christopher G. Nuttall [Nuttall, Christopher G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Tales of the Nameless World#2
Publisher: Christopher G. Nuttall, T.O.
Published: 2024-10-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

“Is this some kind of joke?”

I did my best to hide my amusement, even though it wasn’t funny. “It’s a story about what happened at the game,” I said. “Wasn’t that what you wanted?”

Juliet flattened her hand, as if she were about to slap me like a particularly stupid maid before thinking better of it. I was surprised she had that much self-control. Most aristos thought nothing of striking their servants and then acted all surprised when their servants became my father’s best sources, taking what revenge they could on their masters. Perhaps she thought she couldn’t get away with it. She wasn’t my year’s advisor any longer. Or ... who knew what was going through her head?

“I told you to write about the game,” Juliet snarled. “Not ... the fight afterwards.”

I shrugged. “The Magis beat the Redhawks,” I said. “Or was it the other way around? Does it matter?”

Juliet reddened. “Just because you don’t care who won and who lost doesn’t mean there aren’t people who do.”

That was a good point. I elected to ignore it. “You told me to write about the game,” I said, “and I did. I noted the winner and the loser and the fight afterwards and all the little details that turn a bland recitation of facts into something someone actually wants to read.”

“I told you to write about the game,” Juliet repeated. “How many times do I have to say it?”

I met her eyes. “Do you want the broadsheet to be nothing but mindless praise?”

Juliet took a breath. “I don’t think you understand how important it is for the school to re-enter the league tables at the top,” she said. “If we fail now, no one will ever take us seriously again.”

I tried not to laugh. Really, I tried. Really.

“It seems to me that, no matter how good the various schools and teams are, there will always be someone who is objectively on the bottom of the tables,” I managed. “They might be pretty damn good, but ...”

“No.” Juliet cut me off. “That might be true for other schools, but not for us.”

“Really?” I slipped into reporter mode. “And why might that be true?”

Juliet eyed me, like a teacher who’d just seen me add two and two together and get five. “We moved out of the league years ago, when Grandmaster Hasdrubal decided it was more important to concentrate on other things,” she said, with icy patience. “Our detractors claim we moved out because we couldn’t compete. And if we enter at the bottom of the tables, they’ll have all the proof they need to dismiss us.”

You mean, dismiss you, I thought. Juliet wouldn’t have a second chance to enter the professional leagues. It was this year or never. The school teams can work their way up to the top, but it will be too late for you.

“You make it sound important,” I said. “There is a looming threat to the south.”

“Be quiet.” Juliet cast a spell. My mouth snapped closed and locked.

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