The Bronze Key (Magisterium #3)(42)

“It’s not me you need to apologize to,” said Rufus. “Assemblywoman Tarquin has considered your punishment and decided that you must all pay a visit to her room and apologize to her personally.” He held up a hand, forestalling any comment. “I’d suggest you do it tonight. You are lucky to be getting off so very lightly.”

Too lightly, Call thought, and not because of luck.



When Call, Aaron, and Tamara entered the Refectory, a hush fell over the room. Apprentices who had been lined up to fill their bowls with lichen and mushrooms and spicy yellow cave tea froze in place, staring.

“What’s going on?” Tamara whispered as they hurried to their usual table. “Is it me or is everyone acting bizarre?”

Call glanced around. Alex was looking at them from a table full of Gold Years. He gave a short wave and then looked down at his plate. Kai, Rafe, and Gwenda were staring — Gwenda was pointing at Celia and then at Aaron, which didn’t make any sense. As for Celia herself, she was settled at a table with Jasper, holding hands with him over a plate of what looked like wet leaves. They seemed to only have eyes for each other.

“I don’t think I even know what normal is anymore,” Aaron said under his breath. “Do you think they know about last night? That we broke into the elementals’ prison?”

“I don’t know,” said Call. Under regular circumstances he might have gone and asked Jasper, but lovestruck Jasper seemed incapable of doing anything but staring at Celia, saying stupid things to Celia, and drooling a little.

Call wondered how long Jasper was going to be a lovestruck idiot. He wondered if whatever was happening to Jasper would have happened to him if he’d gone on the date instead.

“Let’s just sit down,” Tamara said, but her voice wasn’t steady. She was obviously shaken, in a way Call hadn’t seen since the day she’d discovered who he really was. He wished they were somewhere they could talk about her sister. He wished that everyone would stop staring at them.

“Tamara.” It was Kimiya, standing over their table with her arms crossed. “Why don’t you come and sit with me?”

Tamara looked up sharply, her big dark eyes widening. She seemed stricken speechless at the sight of her sister. “I — but why?”

“Come on, Tamara,” Kimiya said. “Don’t make me do this in front of everyone.”

“Do what?” said Call, suddenly angry. Kimiya was acting like he and Aaron didn’t exist.

“I don’t want to move,” Tamara said. “I want to sit with my friends.”

Kimiya jerked her chin toward Aaron. “He’s not your friend. He’s dangerous.”

Aaron looked shocked. “What are you talking about?”

“Your dad’s in jail,” Kimiya said bluntly. Aaron recoiled as if she’d smacked him. “Which is bad enough, but then you lied about it. To everyone.”

“So what?” said Call. “You’re not entitled to know private things about Aaron.”

“I am if he’s staying at my house!” Kimiya snapped. “My parents deserved to know, at least.” She glared at Aaron. “After everything they did for you —”

Rage went through Call, white-hot; some of it was for Aaron, and some of it was at Aaron. Because he couldn’t quite shut up the nagging voice inside him that said What if, what if, what if, and he hated everything about not trusting Aaron. Including Aaron himself. He pushed himself to his feet, glaring at Kimiya.

“Your parents sucked up to Aaron because he was the Makar,” he snarled. “And now you’re acting like that means he owes you something? He doesn’t owe you anything!”

“Stop it! Both of you, stop it!” Tamara whirled on her sister. “Did you tell Mom and Dad?”

Kimiya looked offended. “Of course I did. They have a right to know what kind of person the Makar is.”

Aaron dropped his face into his hands.

“Tattletale,” Tamara snapped at Kimiya, her face reddening. “Who told you about Aaron’s dad? Who?”

“I told only three people,” said Aaron, his voice muffled. “Call and Jasper and you.”

“Well, I didn’t hear it from any of them,” said Kimiya irritably. “Look —”

“Jasper told Celia.” It was Alex, appearing behind Kimiya and putting a hand on her arm. “And Celia told everyone. Sorry, Aaron.”

Aaron lifted his head. His green eyes were darkly shadowed. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“Everyone’s wound up,” Alex said. “After what happened to Jen, and the elemental attack on you guys. They want someone to blame, and, well, you’re a Makar. It makes you potentially scary.”

“I didn’t hurt Jen! And I’d never hurt Call,” Aaron protested. “Or anyone.”

Alex looked sympathetic. “Just stick it out,” he said. “People will find something else to talk about. They always do. Come on, Kimiya.”

With a reluctant sigh, Kimiya let him lead her back to the Gold Years’ table.

Tamara lifted her chin. “We go get food,” she said, “and if anyone says anything to our faces, we set them straight. If they whisper behind our backs, they don’t deserve our attention. Okay?”