Shards of Glass by Michelle Sagara

Author:Michelle Sagara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2023-09-14T15:49:20+00:00

16

“The law—as you call it—has no jurisdiction over the Academia,” the chancellor said. “An’Teela is here as a personal favor; she is consulting, not arresting.”

“So you only have to be terrified of the angry Dragon sitting behind the chancellor’s desk,” the Hawk added, her grin returning. Her eyes, however, remained blue.

Robin then explained what he had seen, starting with Raven’s sour attempt to find—and destroy—hiding places, Killian in tow, and ending with events that occurred after the window had either exploded, melted, or been deserted by glass that Raven had indicated was possibly sentient.

“Sentient?” the chancellor said before Robin could finish the sentence that contained that word.

“I didn’t understand it, either, and Raven’s recovering—she doesn’t spend a lot of time with other people, and after the window fell apart, Starrante—” As the chancellor cleared his throat, Robin backtracked. “—Arbiter Starrante preserved what Raven calls metal bits. He seemed to think they were at least as important as preserving Terrano.

“Before you ask, I have no idea what Terrano was doing. I only know he thinks he was trying to protect Killian. You’re going to have to ask him, but I don’t think he’ll be able to come to the office anytime soon.”

“Oh, he won’t,” Teela said. “Sedarias was terrified that we’d lose him, and he forgot the cardinal Sedarias rule: do not make her worry. I’d be surprised if he’s back at the Academia before the week is out—but Terrano’s hard to cage. And to be fair, given the two Barrani deaths, Terrano is worried about Serralyn and Valliant; he’s not just loitering on the grounds because he’s bored.”

“For which I am grateful,” the chancellor added. “My imagination is not up to the consequences of bored Terrano.”

“It really isn’t, and we’re getting sidetracked. I’d like to return to sentience. And to one other comment you said Raven made—which Serralyn did hear.”

“Which one?”

“Don’t let the glass shards get in your eyes.”

Robin nodded. “That would be common sense for any glass, though.”

“Yes. Is that why she said it?”

“No. No, I don’t think so.” He exhaled. “This isn’t the first time she’s found glass.”

Teela nodded. “No. Serralyn saw her pick up a piece of glass—a larger piece—from beneath the arms of a dead Barrani student. Until she did, no one could see it; after, it was simple glass.”

“Not simple,” Robin said. “Killian couldn’t touch it. His Avatar tried—it didn’t go well. But—” He frowned. “It’s hard to think of it as a problem that only affects the Academia. It’s the same with hiding places. Raven found them for us in the warrens, which have nothing to do with the Academia. She also found glass and some metal bits outside of the campus—she’d never been on the campus before Giselle led her here.

“So whatever the problem is, it’s not just Academia related. I mean—of course Killian wouldn’t be aware of hiding places outside of the Academia, but they still existed.”

“What did Raven feel you were hiding from?”

“Gangs? Thugs? People who’d sell us into slavery in the fiefs?” He paused, and then added, “Cold.

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