Guardians Inc.:Thundersword (Guardians Incorporated #2) by Julian Rosado-Machain Page A

now free to spend all my time with you.”
          “My brother has moved up the ladder,” Cuthbert said. “He's setting the example.” He paused, and then said, “The Doctor is ready for you now, Bolswaithe.”
          “Don't worry, Thomas.” Bolswaithe said. “It's a good plan; we'll get a green light for it.” He entered the office and shut the door behind him.
          “I can prepare a meal for you while you wait for news,” Cuthbert told them. “Anyone up for it?”
          “I am.” Elise said.
    Cuthbert bowed again, extending his arm for her to take. “My lady, please.” Elise let out another giddy laugh while taking his arm, and they walked away through the corridor.
          Tony stopped Thomas. “Can we talk?” he asked.
    Thomas knew exactly what Tony wanted to talk about, so he spoke first. “There's no need, Tony.”
          “Of course there's need. I'm sorry.”
          “No, Tony.” Thomas turned toward him, anger swelling. “I’m the one who’s sorry. You're right. No matter how much I don’t want it, Grandpa and I will become enemies. We are already on different sides; it's just a matter of time before we have to fight each other, and I’m really scared of what will happen then.”
          “ If it comes to that…and let’s hope it doesn’t.” Tony said. “You know you can count on us.”
          “I know,” Thomas said. “Thanks.” He had finally accepted that it wasn’t a question of if but when.
     
    ***
     
          A couple of hours later, Bolswaithe found everyone in Thomas's room watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Cuthbert had supplied them with popcorn and a huge tray of nachos. Elise was sitting by herself on a sofa grasping a blanket just below her eyes, while Thomas and Tony shared the other sofa. It was really funny how Elise could face off against the Wraith and still be scared by a slasher film, although The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was as scary as they came.
          Bolswaithe waited until Elise screamed and Leatherface pulled the door shut to his chamber of horrors before pausing the movie. Then he walked in front of the TV.
          “So?” Tony asked when Bolswaithe kept quiet.
          “We are on,” he announced with a smile, “in about two weeks.”

The League of Nations
     
     
          Usually a week seemed to fly by for Thomas in Pervagus Mansion, but this one crawled, between the extended hours of weapons training with Killjoy and the new courses Mrs. Pianova had assigned before visiting Mneme, his days became long, boring, and usually ended with bruises, a headache, or both.
          And he still had one more week to go.
          “So, what have you learned about Fauns?” Elise asked from across the desk they had taken in the Reading Room. Mrs. Pianova and Bolswaithe both agreed to have Elise mentor him in selected magical courses. She grudgingly accepted at first, but she had quickly adapted to the idea of giving Thomas homework and drilling him like a Sergeant whenever she had a chance.
          Thomas contained a snore as best he could. The Reading Room was almost as large as his library station. Desks and computers ran through the center of the room while sofas ringed the walls. The colors were neutral, its picture frames unattractive and tedious, and the floor a polished dark wood. It begged you to be silent. It made the book or screen in front of you the most interesting thing in the world.
          It was perfect environment for reading and learning, but it was also the most boring place Thomas had ever been.
          “So?” Elise asked again. She had that tendency to purse just the rise of her lips when she was anxious, and Thomas couldn't figure out if it made her look cute or annoying.
          Today, he decided, it made her look boring too.
          “Fauns are the animal magical counterparts,” he droned, closing his eyes and