Read Online Iron Kin: A Novel of the Half-Light City by M.J. Scott - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: M.J. Scott
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calm composure. “You may go in now.”
I nodded, not daring to speak in case the curses still boiling in my head spilled out. My hands clenched in the folds of my skirts as I entered the Master’s office.
Master Aquinas was slipping a book back into place in the ceiling-high rows of shelves that covered one wall. He no longer wore the Master’s chain but that did little to alter the authority he wielded. The Guild Master’s office was large and the metalwork that formed the decorations and furnishings was both beautiful and elaborate, designed to display the power of the Guild. Yet Master Aquinas was the thing that drew the gaze in this place.
His gray eyes were calm as he acknowledged me with a gesture toward the chairs by the fireplace.
“Prentice DuCaine, would you like to sit down?”
“Not particularly.” I snapped my mouth shut before I could say anything worse.
“Then perhaps you would do so to indulge me?” Master Aquinas said. “There are things to discuss.”
“Things called Simon and Guy?” I said, staying where I was.
Master Aquinas sighed. “Sit down, Saskia.”
Despite the sigh, it was a command. I sat.
“You’re upset,” he said as he seated himself in the chair opposite mine.
“Why, Guild Master, whatever reason would I have to be upset? You just announced publicly that Sara Ledbetter is a better mage than I am. What could possibly upset me in that?”
His mouth quirked. “Would you like to swear at me a little?”
“No, sir,” I said. “I believe I’ll save that for my brothers.”
Master Aquinas’ face turned serious. “It wasn’t your brothers, Saskia.”
“Oh really?” I said, letting my disbelief color my words.
“No,” he said firmly. “It was me.”
For the second time that morning my mouth dropped open and the rage drained away, to be replaced by stark cold fear. Him? Master Aquinas had made the decision to exclude me himself? Sainted earth, did that mean I really wasn’t good enough?
“What do you mean?” I stared at Master Aquinas, not sure I believed what I was hearing. “I’ve worked hard for this. You know I’m the best in my year.”
He nodded. “Yes. I do. You’re also the only one in your year with an affinity for iron. We need that skill, Saskia. It will be more important than ever if the negotiations don’t go the way we want them to.”
“You’re saying I’m
too
good to go?” I was still struggling to take it in. I’d worked so hard and now that apparently was the reason they weren’t going to let me reach my goal.
“I’m saying that we need to keep you safe.”
“The negotiations are held under Haven laws. With the Veiled Queen present to enforce them. I’m hardly going to be at risk.” I tried to keep the snap out of my voice and only partly succeeded. I bit my lip, twisted my fingers through my prentice chain before I made things worse.
Master Aquinas leaned forward, setting his chains chiming softly against each other. “That’s not strictly true. This is not a normal treaty negotiation. Not with the way things lie in the City. Anything could happen. The negotiations may well be disrupted. I want you here safe at the Academy.”
“You think someone is going to attack the Treaty Hall?” Really, I couldn’t have been any more startled if Master Aquinas had announced he had decided he was now attracted to women and wanted to marry me.
“I’m saying that we don’t know and I’m not taking any risks. Your skills are more valuable to me here.”
I frowned. “You think the supply of iron is going to be reduced?”
“It could be. Which means we will need the best mages to work what we have. And to keep looking for substitutes.” He nodded at me. “Your experiments have been promising.”
“Mine and those of half the other mages in the Guild,” I said. “Promising isn’t the same thing as successful.” None of us had hit the perfect combination of alloys that might mimic the strength and power of iron
I nodded, not daring to speak in case the curses still boiling in my head spilled out. My hands clenched in the folds of my skirts as I entered the Master’s office.
Master Aquinas was slipping a book back into place in the ceiling-high rows of shelves that covered one wall. He no longer wore the Master’s chain but that did little to alter the authority he wielded. The Guild Master’s office was large and the metalwork that formed the decorations and furnishings was both beautiful and elaborate, designed to display the power of the Guild. Yet Master Aquinas was the thing that drew the gaze in this place.
His gray eyes were calm as he acknowledged me with a gesture toward the chairs by the fireplace.
“Prentice DuCaine, would you like to sit down?”
“Not particularly.” I snapped my mouth shut before I could say anything worse.
“Then perhaps you would do so to indulge me?” Master Aquinas said. “There are things to discuss.”
“Things called Simon and Guy?” I said, staying where I was.
Master Aquinas sighed. “Sit down, Saskia.”
Despite the sigh, it was a command. I sat.
“You’re upset,” he said as he seated himself in the chair opposite mine.
“Why, Guild Master, whatever reason would I have to be upset? You just announced publicly that Sara Ledbetter is a better mage than I am. What could possibly upset me in that?”
His mouth quirked. “Would you like to swear at me a little?”
“No, sir,” I said. “I believe I’ll save that for my brothers.”
Master Aquinas’ face turned serious. “It wasn’t your brothers, Saskia.”
“Oh really?” I said, letting my disbelief color my words.
“No,” he said firmly. “It was me.”
For the second time that morning my mouth dropped open and the rage drained away, to be replaced by stark cold fear. Him? Master Aquinas had made the decision to exclude me himself? Sainted earth, did that mean I really wasn’t good enough?
“What do you mean?” I stared at Master Aquinas, not sure I believed what I was hearing. “I’ve worked hard for this. You know I’m the best in my year.”
He nodded. “Yes. I do. You’re also the only one in your year with an affinity for iron. We need that skill, Saskia. It will be more important than ever if the negotiations don’t go the way we want them to.”
“You’re saying I’m
too
good to go?” I was still struggling to take it in. I’d worked so hard and now that apparently was the reason they weren’t going to let me reach my goal.
“I’m saying that we need to keep you safe.”
“The negotiations are held under Haven laws. With the Veiled Queen present to enforce them. I’m hardly going to be at risk.” I tried to keep the snap out of my voice and only partly succeeded. I bit my lip, twisted my fingers through my prentice chain before I made things worse.
Master Aquinas leaned forward, setting his chains chiming softly against each other. “That’s not strictly true. This is not a normal treaty negotiation. Not with the way things lie in the City. Anything could happen. The negotiations may well be disrupted. I want you here safe at the Academy.”
“You think someone is going to attack the Treaty Hall?” Really, I couldn’t have been any more startled if Master Aquinas had announced he had decided he was now attracted to women and wanted to marry me.
“I’m saying that we don’t know and I’m not taking any risks. Your skills are more valuable to me here.”
I frowned. “You think the supply of iron is going to be reduced?”
“It could be. Which means we will need the best mages to work what we have. And to keep looking for substitutes.” He nodded at me. “Your experiments have been promising.”
“Mine and those of half the other mages in the Guild,” I said. “Promising isn’t the same thing as successful.” None of us had hit the perfect combination of alloys that might mimic the strength and power of iron
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