Read Online Forgotten Sea by Virginia Kantra - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Virginia Kantra
Ads: Link
the settlement’s glassworks factory. Rockhaven Glass had been in operation for a hundred and thirty years, providing exquisite stained and textured art glass for designers all over the world and a steady income for the nephilim.
Lacking any other skills, Lara had expected to put her business education to work in the distribution center. But Simon had found a place for her in his own office. She’d always liked to imagine that the headmaster took a special interest in her, in her future.
“I can look after him and still do my job.”
“You are mistaken,” Simon said with icy calm. “From now on, you cannot see him, cannot speak to him, cannot visit him, is that clear?”
A direct order this time, Lara thought dully. He was taking no chances on her disobeying him again.
“Until I can trust your judgment, you cannot work for me,”
Simon continued. “Tomorrow morning, report to the raptor house. For the time being, you may assist Keeper Moon.”
Crazy Moon, the mews mistress, who preferred her injured birds to people.
Lara’s hands shook. Her throat constricted. “You’re banishing me to the birdcages?”
“By your own actions, you have endangered the community we are sworn to preserve. You leave me no choice.”
“But I’m wasted in the mews. At least . . .” She floundered for a compromise that would leave her pride intact. “Send me to the glassworks.”
“You are not an artist.”
“No,” Lara admitted. Maybe once she’d dreamed . . . But she wasn’t Gifted like the rest of her kind with an artist’s creativity. She couldn’t sing or play, spin or weave, paint or draw. She had a head for figures and a knack for organization. That was all.
“Your chemistry marks were never high enough to consider you for the lab side,” Simon continued with dispassionate brutality. “You have neither the strength nor the training that might qualify you for the furnace.”
His assessment was no more than she expected. Maybe what she deserved. But she winced, all the same.
“I can still answer phones. Track orders. I’ve got computer skills . . .”
“I think . . . Something quieter. More contemplative,”
Simon said. “The Rule calls us to self-knowledge and obedience. You have proven yourself sadly lacking in both. This is an opportunity for you to reflect on your true place in the community.”
Her true place? she wondered bitterly. Reporting to Misfit Moon? Cleaning up bird shit?
Her eyes stung. Her heart burned. All the reflection in the world wouldn’t make her see this as an opportunity. This was punishment.
She blinked, her gaze flitting to the bed. The worst part was, she wasn’t the only one suffering for her insubordination. Justin was being punished, too.
The chilled, small room pressed in on them. She and Simon stood face-to-face, toe-to-toe, like fighters, like lovers. She raised her chin again, a gesture of defiance. She had never defied him before. Another first, she thought, trembling with exhaustion and daring. It was a night for them.
“Can I at least say good-bye?”
Simon’s eyes flickered. “He won’t hear you.”
“Then it shouldn’t matter to you. But it does to me.”
His face was cool and impervious as marble. “As you wish.”
A tiny victory. She would make the most of it.
She approached the bunk. Even spell bound and unconscious, Justin looked messy and attractive and vibrantly, painfully alive. She knelt beside his bed like a girl at prayer, hands in front, resting on the rough wool of his blanket.
Awareness traced down her spine like a bead of perspiration. She looked over her shoulder. Simon stood in the center of the room, his eyes gleaming silver in the mage fire.
“Do you mind?” she asked pointedly.
His jaw set. “Not at all ,” he said politely and turned his back.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned over Justin’s pillow and pressed her lips to his. Her hands fumbled in her skirt. Her heart drummed wildly in her chest, in her ears.
Lacking any other skills, Lara had expected to put her business education to work in the distribution center. But Simon had found a place for her in his own office. She’d always liked to imagine that the headmaster took a special interest in her, in her future.
“I can look after him and still do my job.”
“You are mistaken,” Simon said with icy calm. “From now on, you cannot see him, cannot speak to him, cannot visit him, is that clear?”
A direct order this time, Lara thought dully. He was taking no chances on her disobeying him again.
“Until I can trust your judgment, you cannot work for me,”
Simon continued. “Tomorrow morning, report to the raptor house. For the time being, you may assist Keeper Moon.”
Crazy Moon, the mews mistress, who preferred her injured birds to people.
Lara’s hands shook. Her throat constricted. “You’re banishing me to the birdcages?”
“By your own actions, you have endangered the community we are sworn to preserve. You leave me no choice.”
“But I’m wasted in the mews. At least . . .” She floundered for a compromise that would leave her pride intact. “Send me to the glassworks.”
“You are not an artist.”
“No,” Lara admitted. Maybe once she’d dreamed . . . But she wasn’t Gifted like the rest of her kind with an artist’s creativity. She couldn’t sing or play, spin or weave, paint or draw. She had a head for figures and a knack for organization. That was all.
“Your chemistry marks were never high enough to consider you for the lab side,” Simon continued with dispassionate brutality. “You have neither the strength nor the training that might qualify you for the furnace.”
His assessment was no more than she expected. Maybe what she deserved. But she winced, all the same.
“I can still answer phones. Track orders. I’ve got computer skills . . .”
“I think . . . Something quieter. More contemplative,”
Simon said. “The Rule calls us to self-knowledge and obedience. You have proven yourself sadly lacking in both. This is an opportunity for you to reflect on your true place in the community.”
Her true place? she wondered bitterly. Reporting to Misfit Moon? Cleaning up bird shit?
Her eyes stung. Her heart burned. All the reflection in the world wouldn’t make her see this as an opportunity. This was punishment.
She blinked, her gaze flitting to the bed. The worst part was, she wasn’t the only one suffering for her insubordination. Justin was being punished, too.
The chilled, small room pressed in on them. She and Simon stood face-to-face, toe-to-toe, like fighters, like lovers. She raised her chin again, a gesture of defiance. She had never defied him before. Another first, she thought, trembling with exhaustion and daring. It was a night for them.
“Can I at least say good-bye?”
Simon’s eyes flickered. “He won’t hear you.”
“Then it shouldn’t matter to you. But it does to me.”
His face was cool and impervious as marble. “As you wish.”
A tiny victory. She would make the most of it.
She approached the bunk. Even spell bound and unconscious, Justin looked messy and attractive and vibrantly, painfully alive. She knelt beside his bed like a girl at prayer, hands in front, resting on the rough wool of his blanket.
Awareness traced down her spine like a bead of perspiration. She looked over her shoulder. Simon stood in the center of the room, his eyes gleaming silver in the mage fire.
“Do you mind?” she asked pointedly.
His jaw set. “Not at all ,” he said politely and turned his back.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned over Justin’s pillow and pressed her lips to his. Her hands fumbled in her skirt. Her heart drummed wildly in her chest, in her ears.
Similar Books
