| |
Two uneventful days at the Academy passed, two days of silent stress and nerves. Grandmamma hadn’t written back to me, which could mean two things. Either she hadn’t read my letter yet or she didn’t think it was necessary to reply.
I’d find out which one it was when I arrived home. My bags were packed, my plants were watered. I was theoretically ready for the journey, but mentally? I was all over the place.
I waited at the entrance gates for my ride to arrive, watching the other students in the courtyard. They were talking and chattering, living their own lives just the way they wanted to. A luxury I didn’t have.
Two male Guardians were showing off their flying sneakers to a group of girls, but they didn’t seem too impressed. A bunch of Dragons were playing some kind of board game in the corner and three Elves were polishing their scythes.
No courses were mingling or mixing. They were barely acknowledging each other’s presence.
That was how the Academy had always been and it had never looked strange to me, until today. Why the separation? Why couldn’t we all just get along? If that was the norm, then I would’ve been able to learn my sign language. I wouldn’t have had to hide my budding friendship with Thea. Everything would’ve been so much simpler, but that was not how things were. Maybe one day, someone would come along that could change all that.
My eye was drawn by two students arriving at the courtyard. I couldn’t tell what they were from their clothing or their appearance, but it was the sign language they were using that gave them away.
They were fully immersed in their conversation, not caring about anything else in the world. The guy signed something that made the girl giggle. Speaking wasn’t allowed, but there clearly were no rules about laughing.
She signed her own reply. It was too complicated for me to understand, but I could tell from their body language that they were having a good time. Their hands danced, mostly separate, sometimes together, like butterflies joining in the sky.
They were talking fast, every sentence reduced to the key words, yet the meaning never got lost. Finally, the girl reached out to take his hand and the two Banshees walked off with grins on their faces. It was harder for them to sign with only one hand, but they didn’t care. They were connected, together, and that was all that mattered.
A pang of jealousy shot through me, but I ignored it. I didn’t have time to pine, I was on a mission.
My ride arrived and with one last look at the Afterlife Academy, I was ready.
***
THE LAST TIME I ARRIVED in the East village, I feared I would be disowned. This time I walked in with my head held high, ready to conquer the world. I would make Grandmamma listen to me and this time, she wouldn’t be able to dismiss my accusations. I had Doctor Wagner and the truth on my side.
I strode into the Mansion, my shoes clicking on the marble floor. My hands were trembling from the nerves, but I balled them into tight fists. There was no way Grandmamma would’ve ignored a letter from me with a seal. If she objected, she would have written back to me.
Yet, all the reasonings and logic in the world couldn’t stop me from worrying. Had I been too bold? Did I overstep? Had I—
“Brynhild.”
I turned to the sound, facing Grandmamma. Her dark eyes were spitting fire and some of the wind marks in her face were glowing. She was furious, that much was clear.
Carefully, I bowed my head. “Matriarch.”
“You’ve got some nerve,” she hissed. “I should have you whipped in the streets.”
“Yet instead you’re greeting me.” I didn’t know where the courage to stand up to her was coming from, but I sounded a lot more confident than I felt.
Her eyes hardened. “What do you want?”
“To talk about Stina and the headmaster. We need to do some—”
“Are you serious, Brynhild?” she interrupted with rolling eyes.
Her disappointed tone cut right through me and just like that, I was a child again. I felt my back weaken and my resolve slipping away. She just had to glare at me and that was usually enough to shut me up.
Not this time.
“I’m dead serious,” I replied, my voice wavering slightly. That didn’t stop me from continuing. “I have spoken to Heike’s doctor. He will testify that she was poisoned after her accident by Stina. Now, you may not believe the storm was her fault, but this proves that she’s not trustworthy. She’s hurting someone from our clan. Isn’t it our duty to stop it?”
“Duty?!” Grandmamma screeched, all her face markings lighting up. The blue glow highlighted the rage in her eyes and the spittle flying my way. “Don’t you dare speak about duty to me! All these years, I’ve been trying to get you to take on more responsibilities, but you’re too selfish. As a child, you were always whining about things you wanted to do. I thought you’d grown up, but you’re still just as weak as ever!”
Her words cut through my heart until it was a raw, bleeding mess. I knew as a Matriarch, she was disappointed in me. I hadn’t realised she thought just as lowly of me as my Grandmamma.
I wanted to run away and hide in the nook under the stairs, just like I used to when I was small. Grandmamma didn’t allow tears, so I would always hide myself away to cry. The urge to do so again was overwhelming, but I couldn’t allow myself to flee. I came here with a mission and I was far too big to fit under the stairs anymore. I had to see this through.
Despite everything, I straightened my back again. “I have grown up. I’m no longer a child you can easily dismiss. I’m coming to you as a child of the East and you’re obligated to listen to me.” I drew a deep breath, steadying my shaking voice. "I, Brynhild Beryldottir, accuse Stina Senadottir of slander and harming another member of our clan. I call as my witness Doctor Wagner, stationed at the Afterlife Academy.”
Grandmamma’s lips pulled into a sour line. “I, Matriarch of the East, have heard your statement and will be the deliverer of justice.”
That was all I wanted. She would go on to summon everyone and a trial would take place.
I bowed my head ever so slightly. “Matriarch.”
She glared at me. “Heir.”
Without saying anything else, I turned away to leave. My hands were still shaking, but I was buzzing with adrenaline. I’d done it. I stood up to her and made her listen to me. I’d done it!
Just before I reached the exit, she spoke again.
“Brynhild.”
The power rushing through my veins quickly disappeared as I turned around. If I thought she was furious before, it was nothing compared to the silent rage in her eyes.
She raised one hand, her markings glowing brighter than I’d ever seen. “You’ve got some nerve. Don’t you ever dare do that again.”
There were many things I wanted to tell her, but I knew it wouldn’t make a difference. Instead, I turned away, dismissing her with the very same silence I learned from her.