How many times had we been alone like this when we’d been young, chatting and laughing about other books?
I reached into the bag at my side, then hesitated. “First, let’s trade these back before we forget.” I handed her the broach.
“Oh, right. Of course.” She returned my sigil. “I didn’t mean… I hope I didn’t offend….”
“You’re fine, Cecily. But before I confirm if I have the book with me, I need to know how you know about it in the first place. How involved are you in all this?”
Cecily winced. “Not very?” She glanced from side to side, much like I had moments before. “I’m sorry. I don’t know much about all this. I just heard recently that your brother was alive. And I was so glad. I know how much he meant to Yunika…and, to you, of course.”
I nodded. “Did he approach you somehow? In the spire?”
“Him? No. I haven’t seen Tristan. Have you?”
I shook my head. “No, not in person.”
“I think Yunika has.” Cecily shook her head. “Maybe. She won’t tell me much. She just told me that I needed to get you to read the book, and to heed his warning.”
“Warning?”
Cecily gave me a sad look. “Can we…just leave the party? Then you can read the book, and we can just catch up on all this. Come home with me?”
I shook my head. “I need to know more about what’s going on before I can make any decisions about that.”
“Then…” She glanced downward toward my bag.
It occurred to me that there was a possibility, however slight, that this was some sort of attempt by an outside party to determine if I really had the book.
Or, perhaps, even to steal it.
But with what Cecily had demonstrated she already knew?
And Yunika…Cecily’s sister?
She’d been Tristan’s fiancée, before he disappeared.
We’d talked as children about marrying the two sisters together. It was the same story that Tristan had sent to me to verify who he was.
Had that been a hint that he’d been talking to Yunika?
I made a decision on instinct. It was a careless one, far from my usual style.
I chose to trust someone.
I reached into my bag and flipped open the lid of the Jaden Box.
“Retrieve: Trials of Judgment.”
The book appeared.
Cecily stared. “W…wow. What is that? I’ve seen storage items, but something that can recall something specific? Is it linked to some kind of—”
“That’s a discussion for another time, Cecily. Sorry. Let me take a look at this.”
Cecily nodded. “Can I see?”
I paused, then shrugged.
You know what? If I’m in halfway, might as well go the rest.
“Yeah, come closer.”
She took a couple steps closer, then turned so she could read with me.
I flipped the book open, all the way to the last thing I’d sent to Tristan, then past it.
I found a new reply.
Corin,
Do not, under any circumstances, attend the winter ball.
If for some reason you find yourself at the ball, leave as soon as possible without making a scene.
Certain matters have gotten beyond my control. I would advise you to head to Dalenos as quickly as possible. There’s someone you need to talk to there. By now, I suspect you know who I mean.
I’ll say this one last time: Do not attend the winter ball. You will be in extreme danger if you are present.
Do not attempt to warn others.
You cannot stop what is coming.
Neither could I.
I am sorry.
-Tristan Cadence
I glanced at Cecily.
She looked up from the page, frowning. “…Well, that’s foreboding.”
I nodded slowly. “No one told you what it was going to say?”
“No. Yunika just told me to find you and give you that message. She…” Cecily frowned. “…implied that I should leave right afterward.”
I closed the book and set it inside the box. “Store: Trials of Judgment.” The book vanished.
“That’s amazing! Can I see…”
I shook my head. “Not right this minute. Maybe later.”
Cecily frowned. “I suppose you’re right. After reading that? We really should be leaving.”
I raised a hand to my chin. “He was tremendously vague about what was going on. Do you have any idea about why he would be so concerned?”
“No. Yunika was clear that they had enemies, though. She said someone very dangerous was looking for Tristan, but she wouldn’t tell me why.”
“I might be able to share something about that later.”
A loud voice interrupted us, sounding like it was coming from everywhere at once. “All guests, please proceed to the main ballroom. The chancellor’s speech is about to begin.”
I glanced at Cecily. “If there’s going to be something happening, that sounds like it could be a good time.”
She reached out and grabbed my hand. “We should leave, Corin. Your brother’s note was abundantly clear. It’s not safe to stay.”
I nodded. “You’re right. But it wasn’t clear on if it was just dangerous for me, or if it’s something that could hurt everyone else.”
“Corin. ‘You cannot stop what’s coming’,” Cecily quoted from the book.
I shrugged a shoulder. “He’s been wrong before.” I started to head back toward the main ballroom, still holding Cecily’s hand.
She followed. “This is a mistake, Corin. We should be leaving.”
“At least let me warn Sera and Patrick. They can leave with us. We don’t have any indication of what this threat is. If it’s an individual that may be looking to attack me, I’m already here, and having numbers with us may help.”
Cecily stopped walking, pulling her hand free from mine. “You’re going to be stubborn about this, aren’t you?”
I turned my head toward her. “Yep.” She didn’t look like she was reaching for a weapon or anything, at least.
She just looked sad.
Cecily shook her head. “Fine. I’m going with you to warn the others. But we are leaving after that, even if it’s as a group.”
A second announcement went out, mirroring the first. The speech would be happening in a few moments.
That gave me just a precious few moments to consider. “Okay. We’ll get our friends, then leave. Deal.”
Cecily’s expression hardened to one of resolve. “Good.”
She took my hand again, and together, we made our way back to the ballroom.
I felt like someone was watching us as we walked back in, but as soon as my mind noted it, the thought seemed to fade away.
It wasn’t important.
We headed toward the table with Sera and the others.
The chancellor was standing in the center of the room, a handful of officials and a few professors standing with her.
Behind us, guards closed the doors to the room.
Cecily’s hand tightened around mine.
We continued to the table, sitting down just as the chancellor began her speech.
“Today, I am proud to greet the graduating class of four-twelve!”
Students cheered, while the faculty clapped politely.
“I’d also like to congratulate all of our students who just finished their first year. When we first began this year, I told you…” the chancellor began.