rest of the class without another incident, and even managed to convince the law professor that, contrary to what had actually happened, the pig-keeper should have won. Those two victories didn’t live past the classroom door.
“All right, what really happened up north?” demanded Billy the moment they stepped out of the house. A dozen others were gathered around, looking eagerly at Thomas.
By the Four, how much of this will I have to talk about? “What have you heard?”
“You killed Richard Antonius with a lightning bolt.”
Thomas shook his head. The stories are already getting bigger. “Baron Goshawk killed Richard Antonius with a throwing axe to his chest.”
“The raiders used witchcraft to break into the castle,” said David, joining the group.
“They used witchcraft to kidnap the Duke’s middle son,” said another.
“You used witchcraft to find out who killed the Duke.”
“They fought with blades made of fire.”
“Enough!” said Thomas, loud enough to silence them. “Lord Richard let the raiders into the castle. No one used blades of fire.” He looked at the group. “Sorry to disappoint you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to fencing.”
Thomas was accosted four more times as he crossed the grounds to the gymnasium. He fended off the questions with a curt “late for class” even though he wasn’t. Halfway across the grounds he spotted Henry with William, Mark, James, and Wilson. He jogged over to them. “Hey! How did the morning go?”
“Well enough,” said Henry, “By which I mean no one asked about Eileen because they were too busy pestering us with questions about witchcraft.”
“Pestering is right,” said Wilson. “One of the professors even asked me if it was true about the raiders throwing fire and you throwing lighting.” He shook his head. “I thought everything was going to be about Eileen, today!”
“What did you say?” asked Thomas.
“That you threw candy and the raiders threw flowers, what did you think I said?” Wilson rolled his eyes. “The raiders used fire. You never used witchcraft. That seems to satisfy them.”
“For now,” muttered Thomas, not wanting to think what would happen when they weren’t satisfied any more. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. How long before all this blows over?”
“Depends who’s doing the blowing,” said Henry. “If it’s just the lords, that’s one thing, but after the Archbishop’s speech?”
“Where’s Eileen?” asked Thomas. “She should be here by now.”
“Professor Dodds’ lecture,” said Wilson. “Those always go long.”
“Dodds likes her,” said Thomas. “Or at least, he liked Alex.”
“Don’t suppose you remembered to bring a lunch?” said Henry.
“I didn’t,” said Thomas.
“The Green Goose has a good stew,” said Wilson. “And it’s closer than the Quill.”
“Cheap, too,” said Henry. “Shall we all meet there after your fencing class?”
“Well…” said Thomas, who was actually hoping to have lunch alone with Eileen, “I was thinking…”
“Thomas!” Graham Silvers was running across the grass, toward them. “Thomas, Come quick! They’ve got Eileen cornered!”
“Who?” demanded Thomas.
“Keith Rolston and his friends!” Graham slid to a stop on the wet grass. “There’s practically a brawl in Professor Dodds’ class!” He turned and ran back the way they had come. Thomas took off after him, and the rest followed a moment later.
“I thought you were on Keith’s side,” shouted Thomas as he chased after Graham.
“Just in the debate!” called Graham over his shoulder. “Thought I’d pay you back for the drubbing I took when we did ‘rights of the lord against rights of the people’ last year! But this is different!”
“How?” demanded Thomas, putting on a burst of speed to catch the other, taller man. Their boots dug divots in the soaking brown grass and spattered mud and water on their robes.
“I like him,”
“All right, what really happened up north?” demanded Billy the moment they stepped out of the house. A dozen others were gathered around, looking eagerly at Thomas.
By the Four, how much of this will I have to talk about? “What have you heard?”
“You killed Richard Antonius with a lightning bolt.”
Thomas shook his head. The stories are already getting bigger. “Baron Goshawk killed Richard Antonius with a throwing axe to his chest.”
“The raiders used witchcraft to break into the castle,” said David, joining the group.
“They used witchcraft to kidnap the Duke’s middle son,” said another.
“You used witchcraft to find out who killed the Duke.”
“They fought with blades made of fire.”
“Enough!” said Thomas, loud enough to silence them. “Lord Richard let the raiders into the castle. No one used blades of fire.” He looked at the group. “Sorry to disappoint you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to fencing.”
Thomas was accosted four more times as he crossed the grounds to the gymnasium. He fended off the questions with a curt “late for class” even though he wasn’t. Halfway across the grounds he spotted Henry with William, Mark, James, and Wilson. He jogged over to them. “Hey! How did the morning go?”
“Well enough,” said Henry, “By which I mean no one asked about Eileen because they were too busy pestering us with questions about witchcraft.”
“Pestering is right,” said Wilson. “One of the professors even asked me if it was true about the raiders throwing fire and you throwing lighting.” He shook his head. “I thought everything was going to be about Eileen, today!”
“What did you say?” asked Thomas.
“That you threw candy and the raiders threw flowers, what did you think I said?” Wilson rolled his eyes. “The raiders used fire. You never used witchcraft. That seems to satisfy them.”
“For now,” muttered Thomas, not wanting to think what would happen when they weren’t satisfied any more. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. How long before all this blows over?”
“Depends who’s doing the blowing,” said Henry. “If it’s just the lords, that’s one thing, but after the Archbishop’s speech?”
“Where’s Eileen?” asked Thomas. “She should be here by now.”
“Professor Dodds’ lecture,” said Wilson. “Those always go long.”
“Dodds likes her,” said Thomas. “Or at least, he liked Alex.”
“Don’t suppose you remembered to bring a lunch?” said Henry.
“I didn’t,” said Thomas.
“The Green Goose has a good stew,” said Wilson. “And it’s closer than the Quill.”
“Cheap, too,” said Henry. “Shall we all meet there after your fencing class?”
“Well…” said Thomas, who was actually hoping to have lunch alone with Eileen, “I was thinking…”
“Thomas!” Graham Silvers was running across the grass, toward them. “Thomas, Come quick! They’ve got Eileen cornered!”
“Who?” demanded Thomas.
“Keith Rolston and his friends!” Graham slid to a stop on the wet grass. “There’s practically a brawl in Professor Dodds’ class!” He turned and ran back the way they had come. Thomas took off after him, and the rest followed a moment later.
“I thought you were on Keith’s side,” shouted Thomas as he chased after Graham.
“Just in the debate!” called Graham over his shoulder. “Thought I’d pay you back for the drubbing I took when we did ‘rights of the lord against rights of the people’ last year! But this is different!”
“How?” demanded Thomas, putting on a burst of speed to catch the other, taller man. Their boots dug divots in the soaking brown grass and spattered mud and water on their robes.
“I like him,”
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