Abaddon's Gift

Chapter Thirty-One

Imagine Theon's surprise when Naena showed up the next morning at the usual time.

His expression was schooled through decades of service to the Seven, from facing horrors which mages would have turned green at the suggestion of. There was no surprise for her to play off.

Naena's eyes were down for a moment, yes. Something like fear may have passed over her features, but then she raised her head and met his eyes.

"If you ever lie to me again, we are through, do you understand?" he asked.

"Perfectly," she said.

The cold edge of her voice cut him to his very core.

His fingers twitched, but he didn't allow anything to play over his features. He refused to acknowledge the anger and unspoken threats. He would not be bullied by a young woman barely old enough to be considered a woman as far as he was concerned.

"Just so long as you understand," she said, challenge issuing in every line of her body as she placed her hands on his desk and leaned toward him. "If you ever hit me again, you'd best make damned certain I don't get up again because if I do, you will regret it."

The pair of them glowered at each other for some time before a laugh trickled out of Theon's mouth.

"More balls than any of the mages Ren has trained and sent my way. Fine, you'll do."

He sighed as he stood, tugging on his shirt to straighten it as she continued to glower at him.

"I'll do?" she asked.

"My girl, being a war mage when one calls to it is a simple matter. Our tempers are well prepared for the monsters we are shaped into by the Seven and mages and university. But to find a man willing to stand toe-to-toe with the Seven, let alone give me such challenge without being haughty about it? Impossible."

"Well, I'm no man."

"Women tend to weep," he muttered. "Hold onto that anger. You'll need it. Now. Why don't we place the squabble to the side until we are in a better place in which to discuss it without resulting in tears and bruised lips, hm?"

She frowned at him.

"I'm going to bruise you any which way, but not here," he said as he walked around his desk. "Follow me."

Theon walked out of his study and turned immediately right. He glanced back just the once to make sure Naena followed him.

He led her through the university, to one of the many hidden staircases, and slipped inside, holding it open for her. She stepped in and stared as what appeared to be a wall with a painting hung on it slid back into place.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Into the basement," Theon responded. "For reasons which have never been explained to me, the basement of the university isn't discussed. For reasons which make sense, war mages find their home in the basement. The war mage workroom has been reinforced over generations. You could literally explode down there, and nothing will happen."

"Just war mages?" she asked.

"No, the necromancers have a hall in the basement, though only Arcdon knows about it. He's training some boys, and if they can find their way down into the Hall of the Dead and back out again with the Eye of Mason, they will pass his test and be granted the title of necromancer."

"The..." Naena wavered a little as she appeared to struggle, "the Eye of Mason?"

"An old Magi relic that glows and supposedly can be used to peer into Hell itself," Theon said with a shrug. "Useless as anything but a party trick. Don't go seeking it."