The Golden Rider Book 1: The Golden Traitor

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I stood silently in front of Headmaster’s door.  My arm was raised, ready to knock on the door, but I remained still.  What was I supposed to tell him?  He was going to be really mad that I spent the night outside without any protection.  My best bet was just to admit everything; odds are he already knew what happened.  He always knows.  While I was thinking, the door opened, and Justin came hustling out.

“Valerie?” he sounded surprised.

“Is Headmaster in?” I asked.

“Um, ya,” I gently pushed him to the side and walked in.  Headmaster sat behind a desk and did not even look up as I walked in.

“Valerie, do you know how dangerous that was?” he asked.  He was intently writing something, and he only looked up when I placed the letter on his desk.

“Headmaster, something happened while I was in Landile.”

“I know.”  I frowned.

“You know what?”

“I know all about what happened to Miss. Greta, and it has been taken care of.  I am sorry that your friend died.”

“What do you mean you took care of it?  She is dead!”

“Valerie, do you trust me?” he asked.  The nature of the question shocked me.  I was not expecting it.

“Of course I trust you.”

“Then let it go.  I know why you came back early, and I would do the same thing in your place.  Greta is now in a better place, and we have already caught her killer.”

“Where is he?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about him.  We have taken care of him.  Now, you may return to class.”  I nodded, and I headed out of the office and went back to my room.  I changed into my bland school uniform before heading out to the first block.  We had a six blocks in a day, and it just so happened that I had Advanced Swords and Defense this year.  I quickly jogged to the courtyard where class would soon be starting to see a bunch of people stretching out.  I walked over to where Jacelyn was stretching.

“You’re alive!” she exclaimed and wrapped her arms around my neck.  “Headmaster didn’t skin you alive!”  People started to stare at us, and I noticed that my tormentors were not here yet.  Jacelyn must have noticed me looking around.  “Oh, Headmaster sent them to the third Academy.  He didn’t tell us why though.  They should be getting back sometime tomorrow.”

“Thank goodness.  I really was not in the mood to face them.”

“Valerie, you have to know that the Headmaster knows something.  What if he is just waiting for you to talk with him?  Then you wouldn’t have to put up with them.”

“It’s fine Jacey.  It will only be a little bit longer, and then they will stop.”

“Fine Val.  I’ll drop it for now.”  Someone clapped their hands, and I looked up to see our school’s best swordsman Viktor standing in front of a group of about ten kids.  When the five get back, there will be fifteen of the strongest sword wielders combined in this one group.

“Welcome back everyone.  I’m glad to see you are all well and have returned to continue your learning.  Oh, and congratulations on becoming a part of the hardest level of training at this Academy.  You should be proud of yourselves.”  He paused for a moment to let it sink in. 

“We haven’t actually had class during the time you were gone.  Viktor made us do all of this crazy stretching.”  Jacelyn told me, and I nodded.  It seemed exactly like the kind of stuff he would make us do.