Becoming Magical [2]

C H A P T E R - 1 2

"Why not?"

It took Sophie a second to realize the question had come from her, and another after that to decide she wasn't sorry for asking.

Grady shook his head, his eyes pleading with her to drop it. But she wasn't letting him off that easy.

"Why don't you want to help the Council?"

"It's not that I don't want to help them, Sophie. It's just . . . complicated."

"Doesn't seem complicated to me," she grumbled.

Bronte laughed—a harsh, crackly sound. "For once Miss Foster and I are in agreement. I would very much like to understand what's so complicated about using your talents to serve our world. Isn't that the obligation of those gifted with special abilities? To use them to aid the greater good?"

"Grady does a tremendous service for us here at Havenfield," Meredith defended, when Grady didn't respond. "Need I remind you of how many creatures he and Edaline have successfully rehabilitated?"

Bronte rolled his eyes. "Please—that's a job even someone Talentless could do."

"And yet, not five minutes ago you were arguing that the complexities of caring for Silveny required special expertise, were you not? So which is it?" Alden's voice was calm, but thin lines had crept across his face, betraying his frustration.

Or was it worry?

"Successfully rehabilitating the rarest creature in our world is quite different from training a T. rex to eat salad. Not only that, it's an honor and a privilege that should be given to someone worthy. I'm sure Timkin Heks wouldn't hesitate to enlist as an Emissary if we called upon him to do so."

"No, I rather suspect that's his entire motivation for offering his services in the first place," Alden said with a rueful smile. "His quest for prominence is hardly a secret."

"His motivation for volunteering is no more selfish than Grady's refusal to be reinstated," Bronte snapped back.

"Selfish? You dare to claim my reasoning is selfish?"

Silveny whinnied at Grady's outburst, and Sophie rushed to her side to calm her. Sophie noticed Meredith flinched and Oralie grabbed her hand. She wasn't surprised. Meredith was tortured for information and her reactions were expected.

Grady stalked toward Bronte, standing so close their noses practically touched. "You know full well why I resigned—and given recent events, you should understand my objections even more. Havenfield is the best place to house Silveny, and Sophie is the most capable person for the job. If you're too afraid of public scorn to accept that decision, then you deserve every bit of the criticism you're receiving. Transfer the alicorn to the Hekses if you wish—but I will not let you bully me into submission."

"Grady, please," Alden called as Grady stormed away, leaving Sophie behind with the twelve stunned Councillors.

"Insolent fool," Bronte grumbled. "I vote we relocate the alicorn immediately."

Several of the Councillors murmured their agreement and Sophie's heart sank. Silveny may be driving her crazy, but the stubborn horse didn't deserve to be at the mercy of the Hekses. She could remember all too well the feel of Silveny's terror as they jerked her around in that miserable harness.

She reached up and rubbed Silveny's nose, right where the straps had cut in.

"Let's not be hasty," Councillor Emery said, waiting for everyone to quiet before he continued. "Can we really discount Miss Foster's connection to this creature?"