A Thorne in Time by Lorel Clayton

Author:Lorel Clayton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: LC Books

4 | FOUND OUT

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CLASSES THAT AFTERNOON WERE AWASH in whispers. I missed Fencing and was stuck with Knitting and Rhetoric. Rhetoric might have been interesting, if the instructor had wanted to discuss current issues and hadn’t, instead, been reviewing tired arguments for the matriarchy that were centuries old. Gypsum was in all my classes, so I knew she’d pulled strings to be there. She wanted to ask what I’d been up to, I could tell, but there was no opportunity with every whisper squashed by watchful teachers. Gypsum and I never did sneak out for some time on the town, because the gates were locked.

They were locked the next day too, and the one after that. Gypsum forgot to ask me anything, and I forgot to move the necklace. It hadn’t been found, and I didn’t have any place better to hide it.

At dinner, on the third day after all the excitement, Madam Hale led prayers to the dwarven gods of hearth, home and education. Madam Jaspar was there, and she stood to speak too. She was pale and trembled, the bandage around her midriff plain for all to see. Why hadn’t they paid a mage to heal her? I would have thought a fancy school like this would take care of its own. Many of the other teachers attempted to offer a helping hand, but she waved them off.

Karolyne sat beside me and Gypsum across from me. One nudged me in the ribs and the other kicked my shin to make sure I was paying attention, but I already was. I was hanging on every facial expression to see who she would accuse as her attacker. Would it be a Solhan?

I hadn’t spotted Hazel lately and wondered if she was in hiding. Someone had told me she’d gone home, but I didn’t believe that for a second. Her home was worse than mine, her birthright a taint. That kind of thing could weigh on a person, make them depressed or angry. I knew from experience, and I usually went for angry. Had Hazel done something? Had she attacked the teacher?

Or would Madam Jaspar blame me, knowing full well I was innocent, if only to expunge a filthy Solhan from her presence?

Madam Jaspar looked at no one as she spoke, her gaze distant. “I have only recently recovered from a fever that set in from my wound. Many of you may know I blamed a student for the attack, but it was a fever dream. My...apologies.” The word seemed difficult for her to utter. “I’m unsure who attacked me. A thief perhaps. Nevertheless, I am looking for a necklace that was stolen from me. It is silver, featuring a rare variety of green jasper, and is a dear family heirloom. The thief may have absconded with it, but if anyone has knowledge of its whereabouts or how to find it, I will provide a generous reward.” She sat back down again, and quiet reigned.

I didn’t think anyone had expected her to claim the cursed necklace or show such single-minded concern for it.

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