Abaddon's Call

Chapter Fifty-Three

Everyone seemed to forget about Alena. Studying hard, trying to dig up Naena's spell. Kaulu said it was nothing, not worth even her time. They wanted her focused on war mages and hell magic.

Trild told her that, laughed, and informed her that Kaulu also said their wives couldn't even read so they would get nothing from her, then commanded her to direct all follow up inquiries to himself.

It was painfully slow.

Alena had found a loophole that allowed anyone who carried a Seven name access to the reading lists of any student. Then she had to determine what was in the books, which was impossible with the original indexing, but she had made friends with the second year, Selifer, and he told her she could ask the librarians to write it in the new indexing style and that made things a lot clearer.

And then not so clear, because Alena couldn't understand most of the indexing. She had no idea what matrilineal magic was or puzzle box magic. Shields didn't use terms like that. Normally they used terms like, 'slapped that fucker in the tits with something I like to call, boom, dead, bitch.'

Shields generations later would explain what the spell was, but little of Naena's reading list made sense to her.

But no one else cared.

Except Trild, who listened to her rant every time she found something new. His interest appeared very much that which she thought a husband might devote to his wife going on about new stitches she had learned, but at least he listened.

And then he forgot her at the winter formal. She sat like a lump beside him, even after his half-hearted attempt to apologize.

When the engagement was announced, Alena turned to Naena and Graydon Pan. She hadn't quite been aware that she had been tracking them through the room, but when it was announced, she knew immediately where to look. When she turned, he stood by himself, appearing pleased. She stood deeper in the room, wooden and still, staring as if just stabbed.

Naena's eyes immediately darted to Jasor Salord, Trathor Mikent, a scan for motion locking on Lord Lethe—he'd gab about dropping a pastry—then Lord Kaulu, Trild, Alena, Kal, Lord Lugh, Jasor, Trathor, Jasor again, and a scan over the others of the Seven families, but that was all, a scan.

Alena turned to Trild, who stared at her as she jerked her head toward Naena slightly. Trild spoke kindly to her as if allaying her fears, rather than seeing that moment when Naena checked Lord Salord three times as if she knew something no one else did.

After they returned home and Trild said his bit, he took Kal off to tuck him in.

Alena was certain tuck Kal in meant sex. She went to the library because she hadn't brought any books with her. She hadn't felt it appropriate to remove a book from the school's campus. When they visited on the weekends, her days had been filled with appointments and sleep.

Returning for winter break, she decided to walk through the Kaulu library.

When she walked in, the librarian stood, both hands coming up.

"I'm allowed," she said. "It's in my contract."

And she kept walking because that's exactly what Trild told her to say. She drifted among the stacks, familiarizing herself with the indexing of the Kaulu library which appeared outdated and simplified, but more detailed that Amos's current indexing. When she walked back up to the desk, she motioned to the librarian.

"When was your indexing last updated?" she asked.

As she realized that Lord Kaulu and her husband stood there as if in active argument only a moment before but were suddenly focused on her. Alena stiffened as her father-in-law glowered at her.