Redeemed - Heather Fledderus (accelerated reader books TXT) 📗

“What has she done this time?”

“That’s not the point, Clarke, and you know it. This school is forced to turn away applicants from prominent wizard families because we don’t have the room. And don’t feed me the line about that it’s because we take in students from non-magical families because I know she’s a Repeller.”

“And that’s why she’s here.”

“And that’s why she shouldn’t be. She’s is nothing but a nuisance to the other students, and refuses to participate in nearly all of her classes. I don’t care if she’s the former Chancellor of the Repellers. They kicked her out, and I can’t say that I blame them.”

“They didn’t kick her out,” Clarke replied quietly.

“What do you mean? Of course they did. The only Repellers that we ever come across are the ones that have been banished.”

“Or have had their entire clan wiped out.”

Ben’s mouth snapped shut at that. He sat back and took a long sip of his cup. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice quieter. “It’s been confirmed?”

Clarke nodded. “Beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

“Why wouldn’t another clan have taken her in? Repellers consider life amongst us to be the cruelest of punishments, worse than death itself. Why hasn’t she been adopted into another clan?”

“I don’t know. we know nothing about Repellers. Anyone who is banished gives a solemn, Unbreakable vow that they will not tell anyone anything about their former clan. A pure Unbreakable vow can never be revoked, not even by a Repeller.”

“Still, even with those circumstances, her behaviour is inexcusable. She doesn’t belong here.”

“Fortuneately, that’s not your call.”

“I think that too much faith has been placed in you, Clarke. Sometimes I wonder what the higher-ups are thinking, allowing you the latitude they do.”

Clarke carefully set his cup back on its saucer with a small ‘clink’, and placed it on the tray. Then he pried the cup out of Ben’s with a thought, sending it tumbling to the carpet where it shattered into four large pieces. “It is not your place to question, nor mine,” he said calmly.

Ben noticed that his hand was still open and in the air. He closed it and brought it to rest on his lap. Clarke picked up his own cup and took a delicate sip, hardly swallowing. “So, did you have her do the assignment?”

“Of course. She destroyed it, but I remember every word of it if you’ve a mind.”

“Give me the high-lights.”

“She spoke of a third side to the war, a guild called the Seraph’s Hand. She colourfully explained her view of them, which was less than complimentary. She said that they were the ones who truly won a war that had no victor. She mentioned something about seven different types of magic, but rolled her eyes when she said it, as if she didn’t believe it.”

“She rolls her eyes at nearly everything.”

“Maybe it’s a magical disorder.”

“It’s a disorder alright, but there’s nothing magical about it. It’s called teenageritis, and it lasts for about seven years. We get stuck with them during the first five years of the infection.”

“This isn’t the time to be cute, Clarke. If we won’t expel her, then at least advance her past preliminary detention. She and first year Miss Julian were actually joking about including detention as an extracurricular. The fact is that neither of them are actually involved in any. At least secondary detention would teach them something.”

Clarke shook his head. “I can’t allow Zen to meet Griswold. It’s one of my orders. I don’t know the details, but someone higher up has a fear that something might happen if the two of them met.”

“So her wandering the school at night is probably going to be an issue.”

“Nah, during the night she keeps to her hideaway in the Forest.”

“Oh, because that so much safer for her than if she met Griswold.”

‘She can take care of herself. Griswold’s desire for privacy will keep the two from meeting. He cares for her section of the Forest during the day. He stays awake longer, but aside from the occasional complaint I don’t hear much about it. And her status as a Repeller seems to be a deterrent as well.”

“I sure hope you know what you’re doing, Clarke. Don’t forget what’s at stake.”

Clarke lifted an eyebrow. “I never do.”

Publication Date: 11-23-2014

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