I polish off my dessert and wait for Cynthia and Chancellor Zade to finish. And wait. And wait.
“We must make good use of the gardens. It might be cool for the fall, but the trees will be lovely colors. If only more flowers would be in bloom.”
“We could spell them to bloom for the night,” the Chancellor suggests.
“You can do that? That's wonderful. Don't you think, Serena?”
“Yes, it will be. If you'll forgive me, I must excuse myself.” Jumping at the chance, I stand.
“I've got to leave, too,” Chancellor Zade says, already on his feet.
His dessert is untouched. Come to think of it, he didn't eat much at dinner. And why is he leaving at the same time as me?
“Goodnight, Cynthia,” he says.
“Goodnight,” she says. “I have more ideas we can discuss in the morning.”
Zade leads me through the halls. The farther we go, the more my nerves jitter inside me. It seems to take longer than usual. What could he want? Is he going to punish me for something? When we stop at the foot of the stairs leading to my room, he pulls both of my hands into his. I'm sure he can feel me shaking, but whether it's from worrying or the contact, I don't know.
He says, “If you have any issues with Waverly, will you tell me?”
Why's he so concerned? Is it for me or her? It must be for her. He's never been this way with me before. “If you wish.”
“Thank you. Please be nice to her. It's difficult being in a new country with unfamiliar people.”
“Is that how it is for you?”
His lips turn up in an almost smile. “It was. Sometimes it still is. A lot of times, I guess. Notably when I attend council meetings. I'm growing more comfortable with it, though it hasn't been long. I'm sure Waverly will adjust quickly.”
The way he says her name, it's different. Protective. Fellow countrymen have to stick together. Still, it's weird for him to care so much about a servant girl, even if they're from the same country. Maybe there's something else. Not just the way he says her name, but how he acted around her. Almost like caring. There has to be more to it. Maybe she's running away from the law and he's trying to help her escape. We're housing a fugitive!
“Is she supposed to be tarnished?”
He drops my hands. “What?”
“I don't mean to be rude, it's just, if you're going to break the law, the punishment will come down on me, as well. I've a right to know about it.” Really, I don't, but I want to know, and he's been more forthcoming than any other warlock.
He folds his arms. “What if I am breaking the law?”
I am being too forward. But, he didn't indicate a punishment with the question. And if it's to help someone like Katherine, I understand, maybe even agree with it. If he's not really breaking the law though, saying I support it could wind up with me being punished. Or turned into a tarnished myself. There's not an easy way to answer.
He stares at me, his face growing harder as time passes.
“I'm sure a Chancellor does what's right,” I say.
“She's not on a tarnished list. We don't have tarnished in Envado.”
It's my turn to stare at him. Once I'm recovered enough to speak, I say, “What do you do with non-magics or those who break rules then?”
“They're punished according to what fits their crime. Sometimes imprisonment, sometimes they have to fix something or help with the community. It depends.”
“What about Waverly then?”
“What about her?”
“Why's she a servant?”
“She chose to become a servant.”
“Oh.” She chose it? How does a girl choose something? I have fifteen reasons for wanting to know. And counting. A few more months and mother will probably announce another pregnancy. “How can she do that?”
He huffs. “She just decided she wanted to do it and did.” He shifts away from me. “Council meeting tomorrow, so I won't see you until the day after.”
Tension moves between us with intangible waves. The line must have been crossed somewhere. He's acting so odd, but I can't say I regret asking. Despite his behavior, I know more than before, and without getting punished for it. “Goodnight then.”
“Night.” He heads down the hall away from me.
I head up the stairs. I said too much. When will I learn to hold my tongue? Punishment would have been dealt at home. At least a knock on the head. But Chancellor Zade didn't do that. He didn't do anything. My steps slow until I come to a halt. He never does anything.
The only spells he's ever cast on me were part of the engagement ceremony. And he's never lifted a fist at me. Perhaps he's trying to lull me into state of ease so the punishment feels harsher when finally dealt. But those kisses. If that is how he's going to treat me, will society have a problem with it? They always accept that men punish us. And how would it be for me? I resume my ascent, but continue wondering about his actions, and what will happen because of them.
Chapter Nineteen