Chapter 74: Go, Or I'll Stab You

What the hell is going on?

The person in front of her, telling Dimitri to release her was one of the last people she’d expect to be doing so.

“Your Highness?” Dimitri appeared taken aback. He didn’t seem to expect Gideon to appear, and get between them, either.

Tori looked at Gideon. If she was reading him right, he also didn’t seem to expect to get between them.

“This is something you need to take up with the guild masters.” Gideon looked pained to admit it. “Lady Guevera might have been there, but it doesn’t seem as if she had anything to do with it. We can go to the guilds and confirm.”

Tori’s mouth was agape. Was the world ending? When did Gideon become so reasonable when it involved her?

Dimitri shut his eyes and seemed to try to refocus. “It isn’t just that. Didn’t you hear what she said?” He lifted his head and glared at Tori, past Gideon’s shoulder. “She accused Alessa of spreading rumors.”

Tori shot him a glare of her own. “I also asked the baking club to repeat what she said. If she was not clear in her words, then they can be interpreted differently from what she intended.”

“If she intended otherwise,” Ilyana added in a low voice. She gripped Tori’s arm tightly before looking towards Alessa. “Are you blaming Tori because you’re not able to hire carpenters and masons? That’s not her fault.”

“I...I didn’t blame her, but it has become more difficult to find suitable people.”

Tori drew her head back and scoffed. “That’s not what your friend said. He said that he could easily find carpenters and masons for you. And for much cheaper than through the guild.”

Someone let out a low hiss. “No wonder the guild masters got angry....”

“Lady Guevera, the last time I spoke to the guild masters by myself, they were unable to help me. They wouldn’t even spare time to recommend suitable workers!” Alessa almost cried out.

“How is that my fault?” Tori demanded.

“You have taken up most of the skilled labor in the city to build on the delta,” Dimitri said. “What does that leave the rest of us?”

“Do you know how many actual skilled laborers and craftsmen from Horizon I have hired?” Tori asked. “Twenty-eight, with another thirty or so coming from surrounding villages who are also registered with the guild, and the rest are from outside the area. Do you know how many carpenters are registered with the guild? Almost three hundred!”

She had pored through numerous lists when she was looking to hire carpenters. She knew how many were registered, how many were available at that time, and how many were available for semi-long-term positions in the delta.

“Not everyone is willing to move to the delta to work,” Ilyana said. “There are plenty who wish to work locally and would forgo a job at the delta in order to remain in the city.”

“Maybe she didn’t offer enough?” someone else whispered. Alessa’s face reddened.

Tori bit her lips to keep from shouting that it was likely the case. However, it wasn’t Alessa’s fault she couldn’t afford to offer more competitive salaries. It was her fault her father lost a lot of money because she took a risk gambling, but in general, her family’s financial situation wasn’t because of her.

“Miss Hart, if I recall properly, isn’t your project to arrange for the education of orphans at a Saphira Abbey outside the city gates?” Another voice cut in, and Tori looked over her shoulder and relaxed. Constantine, as well as the rest of their friends who lived in the west dorm, had arrived. Constantine looked at Alessa strangely. “Are many carpenters and masons necessary?”

“The facilities of the abbey are not suitable for a learning environment,” Alessa said in a weak voice. “I wanted to build them an actual classroom. We received a large donation of bricks and materials, but we need the manpower to use them and build a classroom.”

“What about instructors for the children?” Ilyana asked.

Alessa’s eyes crinkled up. “Finding suitable instructors has been difficult. I’ve asked around with various institutions, but very few are willing to come and teach and those who are, don’t have enough experience.”

“I fail to see how this is Tori’s problem,” Sonia said as she stood beside her and crossed her arms.

“Didn’t Lady Guevera hire instructors for the children of the delta, as well?” Gideon asked, turning towards them.

“She hired five. Seven, if you count the swim instructors, who are seasonal,” Ilyana said with a proud look.

Sonia snorted and looked at Alessa coldly. “Are there only five instructors in this entire city? There were absolutely no other instructors you could find?”

Alessa’s red face looked down and stepped back. She bumped into someone and Tori narrowed her eyes. Montan was glaring at them as he put his hands on Alessa’s shoulders to steady her.

“It’s too much of a coincidence that the instructors Miss Hart wanted were taken by Lady Guevera,” Montan said.

“Or,” Sonia replied in a sharp voice. “It’s too much of a coincidence that Miss Hart wants Tori’s instructors.”

“And carpenters and masons,” Ilyana added with a hint of defiance.

“I’m still curious as to what the baking club said.” JP stepped forward and looked around. “Let’s see who we can find...ah! Miss Fremont. You’re in the baking club.” His eyes narrowed and had a predatory glint as he singled out a young woman a few steps back. She seemed to cringe and tense up. “May I ask what Miss Hart said? Does she really blame Tori for a labor shortage?”

The young woman looked around. She paled as dozens of eyes were on her, waiting for an answer. She seemed to throw a glance at Alessa before lowering her eyes.

“Miss Hart did mention that because Lady Guevera hired so many people, other projects were having a difficult time finding people to hire for theirs.”

“That’s not true.” Albert stood up straight and looked around. “I’ve been able to secure suitable workers for my project. Has anyone else here faced problems hiring workers for their projects, if applicable?”

They all seemed to look around, waiting for someone to reply. No one lifted their hand. No one spoke out. A few people shook their heads.

Gideon looked down at the ground and squinted. “My brother said that there was a policy to hire workers from outside of Horizon so as not to create a shortage in the city. He signed off on the temporary residence documents for many of the delta’s workers....”

Tori stared at the back of his head. Her look of shock at Gideon’s words was mirrored by her friends. It almost sounded as if he were defending her.

A quiet sniffle was heard and Tori’s eyes immediately flew back to Alessa. As expected, the pretty blonde had lowered her head and was lifting her slender hands to her eyes. She wore a wounded expression, as if she were the one who was wronged.

“I didn’t mean to blame you, Lady Guevera. I was...I was just frustrated!” She choked back a sob as she turned around. “I’m sorry!”

“Alessa!” Dimitri ran after her with Montan, looking worried. The would-be Duke’s son threw Tori a withering glare before walking in the direction Alessa ran.

Ilyana let out a heavy breath. “They know that class is going to start soon, don’t they? We have midterm exams.”

Sonia shook her head. “Well, they can do whatever they want, but I have to go to class.” She looked at Tori and put her hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

“Was I too much?” Tori asked. Sonia shook her head.

“You could’ve pulled her hair and brought her to the ground, and I still wouldn’t think you were doing too much,” Sonia said with a grin.

Tori stretched her arms out and wrapped them around Sonia’s shoulders. “Thank you all for coming to my rescue.”

Her friends chuckled and cracked a few smiles. Sonia tilted her head and rested it on Tori’s for a moment before reassuringly rubbing her back with one hand.

“All right, let’s get to class,” Henrik said, glancing towards their classrooms in the distance. “We still have to get ready to go to the delta tonight.”

“Dinner from the cafe!” Ewan’s face lit up. Tori chuckled and patted their shoulders as they headed towards their classes.

She took a few steps and noticed Gideon still standing there, appearing in somewhat of a loss. Tori took a deep breath.

“Your Highness.” She stepped forward and Gideon lifted his head. He saw her and immediately frowned. He raised his arms to his chest, as if prepared to defend himself.

“What?”

She took another deep breath and tried not to grit her teeth as she spoke. “Thank you for intervening.”

Gideon looked away and moved uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “It was unlike Dimitri to get physical. If it came down to it, I’m certain you would’ve broken his arm or worse.”

The corner of her lip curled up. “So, you were trying to protect your friend?”

“I’ve seen what you’re capable of,” he said with narrowed eyes.

The smirk remained on her lips. “No,” she said as she took a step back. “You haven’t.” She chuckled and gave him a small bow of her head. “No matter the reason, thank you. I didn’t expect you to step in as you did.”

Gideon swallowed hard. “My brother wants me to think about things critically.” He stood up straight and lifted his chin as his eyes met hers. “If anything, I only intervened for my brother!” As he said that, his voice trembled.

He must still be gutted by Piers telling him he’s disappointed in him. Tori bit her lips and nodded. “I see. I think he would be pleased to hear that you spoke and acted rationally this time.”

A glimmer of hope flickered through Gideon’s eyes. He gave her an unsteady nod and turned around. Tori stared at the spot where he had been standing and smiled a bit.

I should tell Piers about this.

“I told you he is not that bad,” Piers said. There was a hint of approval and satisfaction in his voice as he said it. Tori sat in the smallest of the rooms above Cafe Fortuna. Ilyana and the others were downstairs, putting in their dinner and snack orders for their carriage ride to the Delta that evening.

Those who weren’t going with them were recovering from the last of the midterm exams that day. Tori wanted to tell Piers about his brother and went upstairs to call him. The smallest of the rooms also had a lock and Piers had told her why. He used to come there to take naps when he didn’t want to be bothered when he was in Lycée. Axton apparently made for a loud roommate.

Piers had told her where he hid the cushions, pillows, and blanket in a wall behind a bookcase and Tori had laid them out so she could get more comfortable.

“He hasn’t exactly shown his ‘not bad’ side to me often,” Tori said, swinging her legs off the edge of the daybed.

“What did Lady Hart do?”

“After I confronted her, she seemed to run off. I don’t know if Mr. Guthry went after her,” Tori said.

“She is a bad influence on Gideon,” Piers said with displeasure.

Tori silently agreed, but Gideon wasn’t her brother and she wasn’t in a position to judge who his friends were. At least, not out loud.

“She said some things to me at the guild that were upsetting, as well. I don’t like what she was implying.” Tori looked down at the boots on her feet.

“Hm?”

“Does everyone in Horizon think I’m your prospective bride?” She heard him take in a small breath. Piers was quiet for a moment.

“I’m sorry.”

Her shoulders sank. “She made it sound as if people think I’m targeting you; which I’m not. I don’t like that people see me in such a position.”

“I know.”

“Maybe we have been too close recently.”

“It bothers you.”

“You know why.” Tori said, leaning back against the daybed. “Hart also said that I should be more aware of my situation: that it appeared I was having inappropriate relations with Henrik and Ewan and the others because I’m with them often. Can you believe she said that?”

“They are your friends, too,” Piers said. “And you are affectionate with them. Especially with Miss Agafonova. People who are unfamiliar will misunderstand.”

“And they have.” She let out a heavy sigh. “Maybe I shouldn’t escort you to events for a little bit.”

There was silence over the comcry before she heard him quietly agree. “Can I still call you?”

“Of course!” Tori said, almost amused. “We still have so much to discuss. And if your brother does something, who would I report him to?”

“About him; Mother wants him to come either the next time you go to the delta or the time after that, but it should be before your final exams,” Piers said. “We do not know the exact date.”

“I’ll have the delta prepared.”

“Keep him in my tent. I will watch him.”

Tori raised a brow. “You’re going to watch him the entire time?”

“This is a necessity. Axton does not handle Gideon very well and Gideon listens to me.” He made a good point and Tori nodded.

“I’ll have a spare cot moved to one of the tents near-by.” She paused and narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure you’ll be all right with sharing a tent with him?”

Piers was quiet. “I will try.” His voice was strained.

“If you get very uncomfortable, there is another tent you can use next to it. Don’t force yourself,” Tori said. “He may be upset and even more annoying than usual.”

“I am more concerned about him asking questions,” Piers said. “He always asks me so many questions.”

“You know we have a confidentiality policy.”

“I know. I will be careful.”

“All right,” Tori told him. She heard Ewan’s voice out in the hall, saying they got their food. “I have to go. We have to get back to the school and get our things for the trip.”

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“Safe journey.”

“Don’t overwork yourself.”

She heard a low chuckle. “You should apply that to yourself.” The call ended and Tori wrinkled her nose. She slid off the daybed and went downstairs to meet her friends. Ever since Piers said they could just come to get food for their trip to the delta at Cafe Fortuna, all of them had been taking advantage of it.

Ilyana and Tori had to limit how much food they could order, as Henrik and Ewan tended to order much more than they could eat, as if unable to decide. Constantine was at least much more reserved. Still, they each had a large bag of food in their arms as they returned to Lycée after sitting around and discussing the midterm exams.

With Ilyana’s reviews, they remained confident, though expected to drop a bit as other students nearly filled a lecture hall in order to attend Ilyana’s two review sessions.

The group of students and Nanny Rey slept in the carriage on the way to the delta. The carriage could fit six people comfortably, but that still left Axton out to ride his horse. Ewan wanted to switch out with him, but Axton told him to rest, as he had conditioning in the morning.

Tori followed her usual schedule at the delta: rest upon arrival, breakfast, community meeting, followed by a half dozen smaller meetings. She also went to Anahata Island to check on the pillars and found that Instructor Ignatius had arrived late the night before, having immediately left Lycée as soon as classes were over, just to get back to his projects.

With the sun setting earlier, construction work ended a bit sooner and Tori returned to the encampment to wait for dinner.

She trudged to the supply yard and climbed up the ifana stone pile. Although the weather was colder, she had on a thick down jacket and had no problem laying down and closing her eyes. Supply yard access was restricted and no one bothered her when she was up on the stone pile.

“Tori, do you have a moment?”

Her eyes flew open and she frowned. No one bothered her up there except Axton. “Most people know to leave me alone when I’m here except you. Do you hate me?”

He snorted out a laugh and she could hear him climbing up to meet her. “No, but this is the only place I can catch you where you’re not being followed around or surrounded by people asking a hundred questions.”

“But you want to ask me a question?” she said, staring up at the darkening sky. “What is it this time?”

“Do you mind telling me why Piers is saying you won’t see him?” Tori closed her eyes and didn’t answer. “You were just talking to me. I know you’re awake.”

She let out a low grumble. “I told him that I shouldn’t escort him for a while.”

Axton sat beside her and looked surprised. “Why? You never asked for that before.”

“I knew that some people suspected I was involved with Piers, but I didn’t know that many people saw me as targeting him.” Her voice grew colder as she spoke. “Not only was that not my intention, but at most, I’ve been escorting him to dinners and lunches. When we were at the Empress’ Banquet, we were with my brother and then you. Are people so desperate for gossip? I’ve been told that all of Horizon assumes I’m his prospective bride.”

Axton seemed to wince. “I thought you were prepared for that.”

“I thought I was, too, but I didn’t expect it to become so widespread after less than a year of helping him in social situations!” Tori scowled. “I don’t want people to take this so seriously, and see and treat me as someone I’m not. That’s why I told Piers we should limit contact in public. At the very least, we shouldn’t go out to events together for a while.”

“How long is a while?”

“I don’t know. We aren’t scheduled to go to any events for the next few weeks as his escort. All we had planned is dinner next weekend with everyone, which doesn’t count....” She trailed off and furrowed her brows. “In retrospect, I don’t see Piers often this time of year, so telling him to spend time apart was probably not necessary.”

Axton snorted. “Great, then you’ve made him sad for no reason.”

“If I avoided him without telling him, that would be worse. It’s best that he knows. It’s important to communicate properly.”

“Can you at least call him?”

“I always call Piers.”

Axton narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. “...How often do you call him?”

Tori shrugged and closed her eyes, settling back into her rest. “Almost every night. You know that. Aren’t you always around him?”

Axton seemed to shift uncomfortably in his seat. “Tori...you know that Piers is very...sensitive. And he’s not all that bright in the social sense.”

“He’s brighter than you think.”

“Yes, I’m sure, but...don’t...don’t treat him so well.”

Her eyes opened wide. She felt her stomach twist. She’d heard those words before, several times in her original world and she knew where it was going. Bumps rose in her skin as she narrowed her eyes and pushed herself into a seated position.

“What did you say?” Her voice had dropped, her hand clawed into the ifana stone.

Axton seemed taken aback at her sudden change of demeanor. It took him a moment to reply, as he seemed to be choosing his words. “He’s very dependent on you and I worry that one day you may not...be on the same, uh, understanding as Piers. He may not be able to accept it and it will…negatively affect him.”

She grit her teeth. It was this conversation again. It was one thing for Sebastian to fear she was recklessly seducing other people, but it was another for Axton to suggest that she was going to hurt Piers. The same Piers she was doing her best to support and that Axton had seen her do so many times.

Her eyes narrowed. “You think I’m going to hurt him.”

Axton raised his arms as he took in a sharp breath. “I didn’t say-”

“I don’t expect everyone to understand my situation, but I do expect people I consider my friends to respect it,” she said in a sharp voice as her face darkened. “Piers knows exactly why I treat him as I do and is fully aware of my intentions towards him! He knows I wouldn’t hurt him.”

Axton shook his head. “I didn’t mean to imply that you’d hurt him on purpose. You don’t understand. Piers is different. He’s special. He may misread your signals-”

“No. Everyone else is misreading my actions. Piers is the only one who listens when I’m explaining them. You don’t understand and to insinuate that I’d hurt him after everything is so...!” Her hands were shaking and a small crack was heard.

Axton’s hand shot to his chest and seemed to feel around. He blinked, appearing confused. “I-”

“Leave me alone. Get off of my stone pile!” Tori turned her head away sharply and glared out into the horizon, refusing to look at him.

Another crack was heard, and Axton looked pained. “Tori-”

“Go, or I’ll stab you!”

He hesitated for another second before dropping his eyes. He pushed himself up and began to climb down. Tori bit her lips and closed her eyes.

She always put in an effort to be clear to those close to her. She made sure she was especially clear with Piers because he didn’t always pick up social cues and could easily misunderstand more so than most. Because of that, she was the most cautious about him.

To be accused of hurting someone she cared about, especially by another friend, told her much about what they thought of her. It was as if they told her that despite all her efforts to show them she cared, her feelings were not good enough for them.

This wasn’t the first time it happened to her in two lifetimes, and if Axton let his own preconceptions form such an opinion of her, then she didn’t think their relationship would be the same.

Antonia de Guevera wasn’t the only one who held grudges.

Tori did not speak to him the rest of the time at the delta. She didn’t greet him, approach him to discuss anything, or bid him good-bye when she stepped off the carriage and headed straight through Lycée’s gates without looking back. Everyone with them knew something happened and, judging from Miss Agafonova’s glare, they may have known what.

Axton wanted to ask, but even Ewan avoided eye contact and tried to steer the conversation towards his training instead. Training Commander Rey seemed to ignore the whole thing, but had shaken her head at him. When he tried to talk to Tori, she would just walk away and simply not respond. He’d never faced such treatment, not even from Piers.

To say it was uncomfortable was an understatement. In the year or so that he’d known Tori, he’d grown attached to her. First, as his senior’s ambitious little sister, then as a partner in supporting Piers, and to what felt like to have his own little sister who he could joke and hang around with. He was an only child as far as he was concerned. The closest he felt to having a sibling was Piers.

Then, when he returned from training and met them in the palace garden, she had grabbed her dress and shuffled to him with a bright, smiling face to welcome him back. He hadn’t felt that rush of warmth he got seeing her rush over to welcome him home since his mother was alive.

After Axton saw off the carriage back to the imperial palace, he rode back to his and Pier’s building in the Academic Quarter.

He handed Blue River off to one of the stable hands in the nearby courtyard near their building before heading over.

As he climbed the stairs to their flat, he reached beneath his shirt and pulled out the leather cord. The obsidian Tori gave him was cracked into three pieces. He’d felt the first one when he was in the supply yard. He knew obsidian was volcanic glass and could shatter easily, but Tori had wrapped it securely in copper wire. Even when he was in a fight, it came out unharmed.

For all his initial reluctance in wearing it, it did what Tori said it would. His fatigue was greatly lessened and there were times where he’d suddenly feel a rush of energy and focus that he’d never felt before after being on patrol for so long. He hadn’t told her it worked yet.

Axton couldn’t help but feel a heavy wave of disappointment and guilt as he looked at the cracked obsidian. Tori had been so excited to give it to him and insisted he wear it. She was hoping it would keep him safe. Aside from his mother, he’d never gotten a piece of jewelry from anyone. And Tori’s crude pendant was filled with hope for his protection.

Now, there was no longer any energy coming from it. His fingers wrapped around it and slid it back beneath his shirt. He didn’t think seeing it broken would unsettle him so much.

“Don’t worry so much.” He heard Piers’ voice through the small gap between his door and the frame. “Just rest. It’s good you got back safely.” Axton heard a woman’s voice reply, but couldn't hear what was said. “Goodnight.”

Axton drew in his lips and bit them. He took a deep breath and knocked on Piers’ door. “It’s late. Who are you talking to?” He already knew. Piers only talked to one person like that.

“Tori.”

“Oh.” He felt the weight on his body grow heavier. “About what?”

“Farmland allocations.” Piers didn’t turn around to look at him and just continued working.

Axton nodded. He looked at his friend carefully. “Are you all right with just talking to her? I thought she said that she wanted to spend time apart.”

Piers, who had been moving some papers around his desk, slowed to a stop. Axton watched his head lower as his pale hands gripped some notebooks. “I’m fine.”

Axton frowned. “Are you really?” Piers nodded quietly. Axton took a deep breath. “Piers...what will you do in the future, when Tori can’t spend much time with you?”

“I’ll call her.”

His answer was quick, as if he’d already considered such a possibility. Axton blinked and drew his head back. It was a stunningly simple answer. He furrowed his brows. Perhaps Piers didn’t understand what he meant.

“What if Tori can’t talk to you?”

Piers froze in his seat. He turned around with a confused look. “She will have her comcry. As long as she is on land, we can talk.”

His childhood friend was really making this talk difficult, but Axton needed to know where Piers stood. He didn’t want Piers to continue to get too attached to Tori, who in light of not wanting to be seen as a prospective bride, likely did not want to go down a route with Piers in the future.

“One day, Tori might not be here anymore.”

Piers paled. His eyes widened and he held his breath. His voice shook. “Dead?”

“No!” Axton stood up straight. He ran a hand down his face. “I mean, what if one day, Tori isn’t around you and can’t talk to you anymore for whatever reason?”

Piers shrank down in his seat and his eyes lowered. “I will miss her when she’s gone.”

Axton felt his heart ache. Piers finally found someone he was attached to, other than him, and there was a large chance it was fleeting. He wanted to offer Piers some solace; to tell him ‘there will be other girls’, but he wasn’t sure there would be and if Piers would accept such words.

“I will have to wait for her to come home. I can see her then.”

What? Axton was jarred once more. How much did Piers depend on Tori? “What do you mean?”

“Tori likes to travel.” Piers smiled all of a sudden. “After she finishes school, I will gift her the latest ship so she can travel, and come back swiftly and safely.” He paused and gave Axton a serious look. “That is a surprise. I’ve just put in the order. Don’t tell her.”

Axton stared at Piers. “You’re going to give her a ship?” We’ve been friends since we were toddlers and you won’t even buy me a meal. No, focus Axton. That’s not what’s important right now.

Piers nodded once more and returned to his papers. “Tori says she will come home and work on her projects in the delta. I can see her when she is home.”

Axton's eyes were narrowed with uncertainty. “What makes you think this is what Tori wants?”

Piers looked at him with confusion once more. “Tori told me. She said that as long as nothing bad happens, she wants to explore the world, but still come home, do crystal experiments, and see everyone. She says she will get homesick if she is gone for too long.”

“You two have talked about this?” Axton asked. He recalled Tori’s scathing voice telling him that Piers was the only one who listened and knew what was going on.

“We are friends. We talk about our plans for the future,” Piers said, as if it were obvious.

Axton’s jaw dropped. “You don’t talk to me about my plans.”

“I already know your plans.” Piers seemed to give him a dismissive wave. “Become Duke Alvere, move closer to Horizon, bring Auntie Genevieve closer, too. Then a political marriage-”

“Wait, wait!” Axton held up his hands and glared. “What do you mean by a political marriage?”

Piers stared at him. “You’re alone.”

“I don’t like where this conversation is going.”

Piers only gave him a small nod. “I support your decision. I know you will treat your spouse well. If you are looking for a godparent for your child, I accept. I will treat your child as my mother treats you.”

“Stop.” Axton closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “This isn’t about me. What about you and Tori?”

“Tori and I are friends.”

Axton ground his teeth together. “I can’t deal with you right now. I’m going to bed.” He turned on his heel and marched out the door, slamming his own bedroom door behind him.

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