Blood and Prophets by Elin Macsen

Author:Elin Macsen [Macsen, Elin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Snowdon Publishing
Published: 2021-06-13T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

THE TROUBLE WITH LAND

The Gant Estate

West Hall, Brampton

Cumbria, England

Impera under Imperium

July 10th, 1943

Books did not thrill the soul of Victor Gant.

“Textbooks?” he repeated incredulously, pulling a thick, entrancingly engraved volume from the folds of Immolatory paper. He held it off at a distance as though it might grow fangs and attack his arm. “Thanks, I… I finished my exams two months ago. I’m a lower mage now.”

“You can learn almost anything from a book. Besides, these aren’t just any books. These are the books prospective Sentinels use to prepare for their magisterial exams in order to be admitted to the Guard. You’d be lucky to find some of these spells anywhere else under Imperium,” Lavinia scoffed.

She snatched the heavy textbook out of her pupil’s hands and shoved it in the general direction of Philip’s chest. Evelyn craned her neck, trying to read the title, but it was quickly obscured by the mage’s thin hands. “What do you think that prophecy meant, Mr. Gant? Really.”

They were in the dining room. Lavinia had settled in at once at the head of the table, while Philip took one look around, sniffed, and gingerly stood behind the witch as if he couldn’t bear to sit on the Gant household’s worn chairs.

Evelyn returned to her book. She was reading historical fiction set fifty years earlier and her mind was in the fantastical heights and hovels of that world—or so it would appear to an outsider. Though she briskly turned through the pages of the novel, her mind was focused on her brother’s predicament and the contents of his package.

Victor was aghast. “If you’re here to teach me spells, we’ll train with wands out when I’m done with my work on the farm. My father needs me here, so we’d better be efficient. Give the books to Evelyn. She’ll read anything.”

The Felidae Sentinel looked at the girl, seemingly considering this option. Evelyn kept her face half-shrouded in a curtain of red curls. It was almost too good to be true. She held her breath.

It was Philip who spoke.

“She’s not allowed to.”

Victor sighed. “I have no intention of becoming a Sentinel like yourself, but I’m not completely heartless. I’ll study and train with you, but you have to understand that the farm comes first. It’s been in our family for generations and my father can’t manage it all on his own.”

Evelyn looked up long enough to see the reluctance in his eyes. She had dreamed of Cambridge, but Victor had dreamed far beyond it. Whatever failure had occurred surrounding the land’s finances must be grave indeed if he was willing to set his aspirations aside and devote himself to the estate. Either that, or it was a feint to throw the other man off his guard, which seemed abundantly in order.

Lavinia turned to glower at each of them in turn, excepting only Evelyn from this snub.

“Don’t you feel any sense of responsibility, Victor?” she hissed. “Everyone in our world knows how fragile magic is, and how much we have to lose if it vanishes completely.

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