Riddle Of The Owl - YA Fantasy

Chapter Seven

"There he is, Alleria, your intended," Gertrud Noberdink said and the group of women that was just exiting the seminary burst out in a chorus of giggles.

Alleria really couldn't understand what was so funny. A few of these women were married and besides – Cassel wasn't her intended.

He stood there shivering under the low roof at the top of the stairs, wearing an orange jumper and tan-coloured trousers.

"Why're you dressed like that?" she asked. "Where's your jacket?"

"It was sunny this morning."

"You didn't notice it was cold when you left the house?"

"It wasn't cold in the car."

"You come here by car?" Over the past five months, Cassel came to see her on most days and yet she had never once wondered how he got there. She always assumed he rode the bus, but of course, even step children of rich men wouldn't use public transportation or just walk.

"I hate walking." He shrugged. "But I know you like it."

She sighed and unravelled her woolly green muffler from around her neck, handing it to him. For a moment he looked confused, his green eyes locked on the muffler, when suddenly they widened and his whole face lit up.

He made a show of taking it from her and exclaiming how warm it felt and that it had her smell. His cheeks grew pink and she had a sneaking suspicion that hers were too. "Could you return it tomorrow? I like that muffler."

"All the more reason for me to keep it forever," he said. She could count on him never to miss a chance to tease her.

He reached out and took the long umbrella she was carrying, opening it to reveal a cheerful violet floral pattern. Rain was angrily slapping the pavement and men in tailored suits and black umbrellas rushed by. This was spring in Callivar, grey, wet and miserable.

She walked shoulder to shoulder with Cassel so the umbrella would cover them both and pulled out a book.

"What are you reading today?" he asked.

She always pretended to read on their walks home, just so that she wouldn't feel as if his presence distracted her more than it should. Sometimes he had the ability to startle her — at least, she assumed she got startled since her heart beat very fast whenever he smiled.

"It's a study by a Scholar named Germond Kartforn of Ballberry that was written in the year 4.Quatus. He proved two mathematical models, one of which was Asomott numbers."

"That's one of the subjects for the exam?" he asked in a whisper. Maybe it was foolish to let Cassel know another one of her secrets, but he was the only one whom she could confide in about how the decision weighed on her heart. Studying had become a painful process ever since that day Malluri had come to her with that blasted envelope. She resented what she was doing, and resented that in the end, it was all due to Malluri's lack of belief that what she was attempting was even possible for her.

She felt the dark drone of guilt lodged in her throat. "Asomott numbers are also the basis of the formulae for the Calendrical Algorithm." She wanted to change the subject.

"Ick, don't talk about the Calendrical Algorithm, it makes me nervous whenever someone brings it up."

"Why?"

"Honestly, 'Leria, how could it not make you nervous?"

Sometimes – a lot of times – Cassel spoke nonsense for the sake of speaking nonsense. But in this he actually had a point. "You mean, the thought it might fail frightens you?"