Chapter 120 — The First Circle

Chapter 120: Chapter 120 — The First Circle

~ Raven ~

"Depends who’s asking."

"Adelaide Fenn." The girl inclined her head. "Second Seat."

Ah.

"These are the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Seats." She gestured toward the girls beside her. "Forgive us for arriving unannounced. You’re difficult to find between bells."

"I’ve been busy."

"So we hear."

One of the others gave a small laugh, but the girl at Fenn’s right shoulder kept staring. She was black-haired and shorter than the others, with an expression that made Raven wonder whether they had argued somewhere and she had forgotten about it.

"Rosalind Crowe," she said when Raven looked back at her. "Fourth Seat."

She paused as though expecting Raven to recognise the name. Raven nodded, unsure what else she was supposed to do, and Crowe’s lips tightened.

What? Was I supposed to know you?

She couldn’t remember ever speaking to the girl, but apparently that was another reason to be offended.

"Has anyone explained what’s expected of you now that you’re Seventh Seat?" Fenn asked.

Raven frowned. "What’s expected of me?"

"There’s an arrangement among the highest-ranked women of the Luna Court. We call it the First Circle."

"What sort of arrangement?"

"It isn’t official. We meet to discuss challenges, sponsorships and matters we want brought before the instructors." Fenn smiled. "It’s easier to get things done when we speak to one another."

"The ten highest-ranked women deciding things together?"

"You make it sound sinister."

"I haven’t called it anything yet."

The Fifth Seat, a tall girl with sandy hair, stepped in.

"A lot of it is practical. Comparing schedules, passing on information. There’s no reason we can’t help one another simply because we compete."

"And you want me involved?"

"You’re Seventh," Crowe said. "That puts you in the top ten."

Raven looked at her.

Thank you. I was struggling with that.

Fenn continued before Raven could respond.

"You’re still finding your way here. The Circle would give you people to turn to."

It all sounded very reasonable, which did nothing to improve Raven’s opinion of it. The rankings were supposed to depend on what they could do, yet the girls already at the top had apparently formed a private club to help one another stay comfortable there.

And she doubted her Seat was the only reason they had come looking for her.

Half the academy seemed to know her name. Between the Hunt, the Court and the Cardinal heirs, she could barely go anywhere without drawing attention. Surely that was worth something to people who liked getting things done.

"I don’t think—"

Crowe’s expression eased slightly.

Raven paused.

You really don’t want me here, do you?

She might have finished refusing just to spare herself the trouble, but the mention of the top ten had brought another name to mind.

Isolde Marchmont.

Cassian had directed her toward Marchmont after she discovered that Stillheart could detect Dreamwalker interference. She still needed to speak to Isolde, and these girls might have just offered her a way to do it.

"Is Isolde Marchmont part of the Circle?"

Fenn’s smile faded a little as she looked at Raven.

"She’s First Seat, Rivers. Who else would lead it?"

"Right. Of course."

Obviously. Silly of me not to know the rules of your secret little club.

Raven cleared her throat.

"When do you meet?"

Fenn raised an eyebrow. "You were saying?"

"That I don’t think anyone’s mentioned it to me before."

Crowe’s eyes narrowed.

The Fifth Seat smiled, and Fenn seemed willing to accept the answer.

"Then you’ll join us?"

"I’ll come to the next gathering."

She still disliked the idea. But if sitting through a discussion about challenges and sponsors would get her into the same room as Marchmont, she could manage it.

An hour of being agreeable. How difficult could that possibly be?

"Sixth day, after last bell," Fenn said. "The Rosery, upper gallery. Just you, please."

Raven nodded. Crowe looked considerably less pleased than the others, though she said nothing.

Seriously, what have I done to you?

"And Rivers?" Fenn glanced at her hands. "You might want to change first."

Raven looked down at the blood on her wraps.

"I wasn’t planning to wear this."

"Then we’ll see you there."

The girls headed back toward the gate, with Crowe giving Raven one last look before following them.

Raven watched them leave. She wasn’t sure what bothered her more: how easily they had approached her or how quickly she had agreed once Marchmont’s name came up.

Still, she had a reason to attend now. She could listen to their plans, find Isolde and get what she needed.

She didn’t have to like them.

By the time Raven reached her room, she was thinking about Thalia again.

She paused outside the door and took a breath.

Apologise. Don’t explain.

It had sounded simple enough on the walk back. Now she had to go inside and actually do it.

Thalia sat on the end of her bed with her knees drawn up. Her face was blotchy, and she wiped beneath her eyes as Raven entered. Brielle sat close beside her, their shoulders nearly touching, while Tessa was on the floor with a cup in her hands.

Their conversation stopped.

Tessa looked up, then glanced toward Thalia. Brielle watched Raven more carefully, and Thalia lowered her eyes to her knees.

Raven shut the door.

For a moment, she wanted to explain herself again. Grace had been cruel. She hadn’t been trying to make things worse.

But Thalia already knew that. Repeating it wouldn’t change the fact that Raven had ignored her.

She walked toward the bed, painfully aware of how fast her heart was beating.

"I’m sorry."

Thalia looked up.

"About what I said in the court," Raven continued. "To Grace. I should’ve—well, you were there. You know what I said."

Wonderful start.

She made an awkward gesture before dropping her hand.

"You asked me to stay out of it, and I didn’t. I’m sorry."

Brielle closed her eyes, and Raven could have sworn she heard a muttered idiot.

She resisted the urge to look at her.

Thalia wiped her cheek.

"I know why you did it."

Raven hesitated. "You do?"

"She said I had nothing to do with her, and you got angry." Thalia looked down at her hands. "I know you were trying to help."

"That doesn’t mean I should have—"

"Let me finish."

Raven closed her mouth.

"You don’t know what happened between us. None of you do, because I’ve never told you."

Her gaze moved briefly toward Brielle and Tessa before returning to the blanket.

"I don’t talk about home. Whenever it comes up, I change the subject or find something else to talk about."

Tessa held the cup still between her hands. Brielle remained beside Thalia without interrupting.

"I’ve been ashamed of it," Thalia admitted. "I didn’t want you to know."

Raven wanted to ask what she meant, but she kept quiet. Thalia had only just started speaking, and the last thing Raven needed to do was push her again.

"You should have listened when I asked you to leave it alone."

"I know."

"I was already upset, and then everyone was looking at me." Thalia swallowed. "I just wanted it to stop."

Raven lowered her eyes.

"I’m sorry."

Thalia nodded faintly.

"I know you weren’t trying to hurt me. I was angry, but I know that." She rubbed her thumb along a fold in the blanket. "I suppose I’ve been expecting you all to understand why I don’t want to talk about her without telling you anything. That hasn’t helped either."

"You don’t have to tell us," Brielle said quietly.

"I know."

Nobody asked another question. Raven stood beside the bed and waited while Thalia wiped the remaining tears from beneath her eyes.

Then Thalia looked between the three of them.

"I’ve never wanted anyone here to know where I come from," she said. "But if I’m going to explain what happened with Grace, I suppose I should start there."