Chapter 65: Errand Boys
Almost every student at Wyrmwood Academy already knew by the time morning classes ended that Reynold Starweaver was being released from the Ironhold today.
The cadets were already murmuring among themselves.
"He did not even last a full month in there," one boy murmured to his friend. "What kind of punishment is that?"
"It did not even reach three weeks," his friend replied, shaking his head.
"Meanwhile if it was someone else, they will be suffering through double sessions in the rain."
"They should have kept him in longer if you ask me."
Nobody wad giving their own opinion on the matter.
Near the stone benches by the courtyard archway, a group of third-year cadets were staring at the main path that led from the Ironhold.
Normally, students did not usually gather to watch someone who was released from the Ironhold.
But then again, most students released from the Ironhold were not bonded to three dragons. But Reynold was.
"Look, the Starweaver boy is out.."
A voice shouted. The voice came from somewhere near the front and many heads turned immediately, with their necks craning and their bodies shifting to get a better view.
Reynold walked out through the archway with his bag slung over one shoulder..
"He does not even look like he was locked up," someone muttered near the back of the gathering crowd.
"Right? He looks fresh."
"You think Briar is now stranger than him?" The boy paused and quickly added, "Briar has been on the training grounds before sunrise every single morning since the challenge. His footwork is better now than it is before. His dragon riding is almost perfect now.."
"Let’s see how fresh he looks when Briar’s done with him."
Meanwhile, the highborn students already gathered separately, as they always did. None of them had forgotten what happened at the challenge. And how Reynold had broken the rules of the floor and kept channeling only the highborns, and had beat them up in front of everyone.
They were never going to let this go.
At a corner, Gwyn was mid-sentence when she heard the whispers.
She has been standing with Nyx near the stone fountain, both of them leaning against the edge of it. Both were deep in whatever conversation they had been having before the commotion started.
Gwyn turned and looked and then she straightened up.
Seeing Reynold, she turned to Nyx, leaned in, pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and said, "Give me one second."
Then she was already walking away before Nyx could say anything..
Seeing Gwyn rushing towards him, Reynold let out a chuckle.
"Miss me that much?" he said.
Gwyn rolled her eyes with her whole face. "Do not flatter yourself, Starweaver. You are not that special."
Reynold let out a short laugh. "Sure. That is a great way of saying you missed me."
"I did not say.." She stopped. "You know what, it does not matter. You need to hear what happened while you were locked up."
Gwyn voice suddenly shifted and Reynold caught the change.
"Silla is dead," Gwyn said, quietly now.
Reynold went still for half while as he act like he has not heard it from Nymeria before.
"They are saying she was murdered." Gwyn kept her voice low, as she glance at the crowd around them without making it obvious she was looking. "Nothing confirmed yet, but that is the word going around."
Reynold did not say anything immediately.
"And there is more," Gwyn added. "There are students here from Noble-High Academy. They came for some kind of research visit."
Reynold knew Noble-High Academy. Everyone at Wyrmwood did. Noble-High Academy was just like Wyrmwood academy but they are located at the West side. Noble-High was also Wyrmwood rivalry.
"Hmmm... how many of them?" Reynold asked.
"I have counted four. May be they are more than four."
Reynold nodded. He really did not care if Noble-High students were here or not.
Around them, Many girls were staring at Gwyn with a Jealous look. They were jealous on how close Gwyn and Reynold is.
Who wouldn’t? Reynold is the boy that is bonded to three dragons, A Two and also the only known Stormcaller in centuries and he is chatting freely with Gwyn like it was nothing.
Meanwhile, most boys, especially the highborns, were throwing death stare at Gwyn.
From the corner, a boy eyes shifted from the highborns death stare and then to Gwyn. The boy cleared his throat and shouted.
"Gwyn."
Gwyn’s head turned hearing the voice. Her expression shifted from focused to surprised seeing who it was.
Reynold followed her gaze.
Leaning against the far pillar with his arms crossed and his eyes on Gwyn was a young man Reynold did not recognize at all.
"Gwyn." His voice sounded again. "I got you something. Come here."
Gwyn blinked. Then she looked at the young man with a small, puzzled crease between her brows.
"Aye... That is strange," she said, almost to herself.
She then turned back to Reynold and pointed in the young man’s direction.
"That is my cousin. Pell." She said. "He is the heir to the Kaidaron mineral empire, which means he is usually somewhere quiet, alone, and reviewing contracts or whatever it is he does. I have not seen him outside before. " she paused, "..actually I cannot remember the last time he came outside."
She glanced at Pell again and then back at Reynold. "He must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed."
Reynold said nothing as he just looked at Pell.
Pell was looking at Gwyn with his eyes not moving.
"Go," Reynold said.
Gwyn gave Reynold a look that says I’ will see you later... and then she turned and was already walking toward her cousin, calling back over her shoulder. "I’ll find you later."
Reynold watched her go for a moment.
Then he turned.
And his eyes landed on Nymeria who was maybe twelve feet away, standing with a book held loosely at her side. Their eyes met for a moment.
Reynold’s mind instantly went to the dream this morning.
The tavern. The music. The hem of her skirt turning outward when she spun. Her eyes landing directly on him without her expression changing.
Shit!!
Nymeria look back at him for exactly one more second. Then she turned and walked away.
Reynold just stood there.
"look, Kael is moving. He is leading the highborns straight toward the Starweaver."
"You think Briar sent them?"
Reynold suddenly heard the voices behind him and he turned.
Kael was walking toward him with four other boy spread loosely behind him.
They stopped in front of Reynold.
Kael stared at Reynold from head to toe like he was inspecting something that is worth his time.
Then he raised his hand dramatically.
"Finally," Kael said. "The Starweaver is out of the Ironhold." He clicked his tongue and licked his lips. "Don’t think for a second that anyone forgot what you pulled at that challenge.." He pause. "Briar Coldwater is inviting you to come finish what you started."
Reynold looked at Kael and then at the four boys beside Kael. Reynold shocked his head and then he turned and started walking.
"Wait... where do you think you are going?"
Two of the boys moved fast, stepping forward and grabbing Reynold’s arms from both sides, and the one on the left said, "Wait, wait, wait. Who does he think he is to just walk away like that"
Kael’s voice sounded. "Who the hell gave you so much power that you think you can act however you want?"
Reynold’s eyes dropped as he looked at the hands on his arms.
Then he moved.
His head snapped sideways and hit the nose of the boy on his left. His nose made a short, sharp crack that made the boy’s grip on Reynold drop immediately.
Also immediately, Reynold turned into the boy on his right, pivoting with his shoulder, and put enough force into it that the boy stumbled back and hit the stone wall behind him.
Seeing this, Kael surged forward and threw a punch at Reynold.
Reynold leaned back just enough, and caught Kael’s wrist.. He hold Kael there as he locked, the two of Kael wrist close enough.
"I do not take instructions from errand boys," Reynold said.. "If Briar Coldwater has something to say to me, he can come say it himself and to my face." He pause. "Tell him I said that."
Reynold let go of Kael’s wrist and pushed him at the same time.
Kael went down and hit the ground hard enough that people nearby took a step back, and then Reynold turned and walked away without looking at any of them.
The crowd was very quiet for a moment.
Then they started murmuring.
"Did you see that?"
"He just pushKael to the ground"
"What do you think Briar is going to do now? He can not ignore this."
"This is going to be a war. This is going to be an actual war between them."
"Who do you think wins?"
Author’s Note:
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