Nanette's Tale

Nanette’s Tale

In hindsight, the memories mocked her.

Nanette had been sixteen — barely sixteen — when she’d met Aurelius for the first time. The Administrator rarely had time for first-year students, particularly those of no good family. It wasn’t until she found herself in his office, staring expulsion right in the face, that she’d had a chance to study him for the first time. He was a man of power, a man so sure in his own power that he had no need to play dominance games with anyone. And part of her wanted that for herself.

And so she squared her shoulders, looked him right in the eye, and told him the truth.

“She treated me badly, sir,” she said, when Aurelius pointed out that her former mistress was currently in the infirmary. “And I wanted to get her off my back.”

Aurelius raised his eyebrows. “And how did you do it?”

Nanette stumbled through a complex explanation. Ophelia — the girl who’d been supposed to mentor Nanette, in exchange for service — had been fond of pinching her at the slightest excuse. Nanette had put together a spell that not only transferred the pain to the older girl, but magnified it. Ophelia had pinched Nanette’s upper arm, hard enough to leave bruises. Ophelia must have felt as if her arm had been caught in a pressure spell.

“Fascinating,” Aurelius said, when she had finished. “And where did you learn to cast such a complex spell?”

“The library,” Nanette said. The spell had really been a mixture of charms and potions. It had been the only way she’d been able to attach it to the older girl. “I put it together.”

“I see.” Aurelius said nothing for a long moment. “Can you give me any reason why you should not be expelled?”

“We were told the system was meant to teach us the skills we needed for later life,” Nanette said. She was tempted to plead, but her instincts told her she’d get nowhere. “I’d say it succeeded.”

“Indeed,” Aurelius said. He cocked his head. “I will take you as my ward. You will work for me as you learn from me.”

Nanette had wondered, even then, if he’d wanted something more. She was no sheltered flower, no well-connected girl whose family would protect her if an unsuitable suitor came calling. And Aurelius was a powerful man, used to taking whatever he wanted. But — to her early surprise — he’d kept his word. He’d taken her under his wing, he’d spent the summers teaching her everything from etiquette to spells that would have upset many older magicians if they’d realised she knew them… he’d been, in many ways, the paternal figure she’d wanted since her father had died. Not, she admitted, that he’d gone easy on her. He was a stern tutor, quick to correct her when she made mistakes. But he was fair.

She’d grown to trust him. She’d even grown to love him. And then…

The memories rose up within her, mocking her. She’d gone to Whitehall, posing as a transfer student. It had been easy. She knew how to remain unnoticed, how to hide within the shadows and social conventions; she knew how to ensure she remained unsuspected, even as she collected the intelligence she’d been ordered to obtain. And she’d found it easy to watch Whitehall’s most famous student from a distance. She’d almost been unhappy when her cover had finally been blown and she’d been forced to flee.

She felt hatred curling around her heart as the memories flowed through her mind. Aurelius had wanted to bring Emily to Mountaintop, explaining that she could be converted to their cause. And he’d taken her as a protégé… Nanette had been angry, hating the younger girl for taking her place. She’d followed orders, even as matters started to spiral out of control; she’d held her tongue, even when she could have put a knife in the Child of Destiny’s back. And, when she’d finally stood revealed in front of the younger girl, Emily had thrown a Death Viper at her. Nanette still couldn’t believe it. If she hadn’t touched the snake…

The memories of pain were too strong. She cringed, trying not to remember the tendrils of ice and fire burning through her veins. Her hand was gone, and her arm was going, and she was doomed… Emily, the girl who’d killed her, had saved her by cutting off her arm before hurrying onwards to meet her destiny. Nanette wasn’t sure quite what had happened then, as she’d stumbled out of the school. She hadn’t realised Aurelius was dead — and the school was no longer a safe haven — until it was far too late. She’d turned her back and fled, knowing she had nowhere to go. She’d staked everything on her tutor…

… And now she was crippled, broken, on the run and alone.