Writing was painful; it required all her concentration to keep a steady hand.
Someone was shuffling their feet nearby. It was a small but irritatingly persistent sound that cut right through her.
Someone was looking to be gutted like a fish.
“Sister Asenath,” a reedy voice finally piped up. “The Exarch requires your presence in his study.”
Asenath looked up sharply at the youth. Summoning people to see the Exarch was her job, not the purview of a fresh-faced probationer.
She glared.
The probationer withered under her gaze.
“He, he… he told me…”
“Of course he did,” Asenath snapped. “Take your courage point and get out of my sight.”
The probationer dismissed, Sister Asenath stared at her unfinished letter.
“Well,” she muttered to herself, “it’s not like you are going to read it any time soon, if at all.”’
She folded the letter carefully, placed it in her bag and set off for Cyrus’ study.
***
“Sit,” the Exarch said firmly.
“Must I?”
He gave her a long hard stare.
“Fine! I’m sitting. Now, what is it?”
“You are going to Varushka.”
Asenath’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Loyalty.”
“What is my mission?”
“You are going for your own safety.”
Asenath burst out laughing. Cyrus didn’t.
“No, really,” she chuckled. “Why are you…”
“Because it is my will,” he interrupted.
That stopped her in her tracks. She blinked hard and tilted her head to one side questioningly. “What is going on, Cyrus?”
“You, Gabriel and Cayleb, I want you away from the Chapter until Autumn. It’s a precaution.”
“A precaution against what?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
“Against the influence of the ghost.”
“What ghost?!” she asked in disbelief
He raised his eyebrows slightly and waited for the ring to drop.
“You can’t mean… you are fucking kidding me? The little murdering shit has been dead for over a decade! How can there be a ghost now?!”
“That is something we will find out when the mine gallery is stabilised,” Cyrus replied calmly. “But for now, especially given your experience at the Chapter of the Frozen Oak, I don’t want you anywhere close to an angry spirit that wants you dead.”
“Let him try and come for me!” she exclaimed angrily. “See how that whole ‘killing Asenath’ thing works out for him second time round.”
“No.”
She clenched her jaw. “Do I get Vigilance points if I agree?” she muttered darkly.
“No. You get ‘obeying the Exarch’ points.”
“Fucking brilliant.”
“I am sure Grand Master Gregor will keep you busy.”
She pursed her lips. “I’m sure he will.”