you, too, huh?”
“She did speak to me last night during her visit with Bryn.”
I went right to the biggest obstacle when it came to Emma attending the League’s school. “Honestly? I can’t afford it.” Not on my salary. Not since
Will
was no longer working and the child support had gone out the window. I was barely able to pay Emma’s tuition at Hope Ridge; there was no way in hell I could make the League’s astronomical tuition.
“We do take on a small number of scholarship students every year,” Aaron said. “Students who show promise academically as well as in crafting. I’ve taken the liberty of submitting my recommendation to have her considered. All you have to do is fill out the application and sign the release form so we can get a copy of her current school records. Then we can set the ball rolling.”
I blinked, totally caught off guard. Part of me was glad I couldn’t afford it because the decision was made for me.
“I can see you hadn’t expected this. I hope I didn’t overstep. My thinking was that if you knew attendance was possible … well, at least then you have options.”
“It’s fine.” Unexpected, but fine.
“She has a special gift, Charlie. Allowing her to explore it will only benefit her, challenge her, and serve as a measure of protection for her.”
I ran my fingers through my hair and sat back, staring up at the low ceiling for a moment. “I know. I just never thought my own child would be gifted like she is. I mean, my mother isn’t; I wasn’t really, not like Bryn. Will certainly wasn’t.”
“Ah, but you were. Both of you. You were able to communicate without words with Connor, your twin brother. And let’s not forget the very reason your body accepted the introduction of Charbydon and Elysian DNA was because your female line contains long-ago ancestors from both worlds. And Will demonstrated his aptitude for learning crafting, even though it was black crafting and behind your back. Gifts can skip generations, but, Charlie, I would’ve been surprised if your daughter wasn’t affected in some way.”
I sat forward again, bracing my elbows on my thighs and rubbing both hands down my face, letting out another loud breath. “She would be safer here.”
“Safer than anywhere else.”
“And learning crafting will help her protect herself and strengthen her abilities,” Bryn joined in.
“Defense and offense,” Aaron said. “She’ll study them both.”
“You do have a good academic program.”
“The best in the country. Our academic program goes back eight years. And when we moved our headquarters here to Atlanta, the school moved locationswith us. The last four years have elevated the school to one of the best in the country. Think on it … She can start spring semester, after the first of the year.”
I nodded, still a bit dazed by the turn of the conversation and the scholarship.
“So,” Bryn began after a long moment of silence. “As you know, Charlie saw the oracle last night …”
“The exorcists have all fled, left on their own or forced out,” I told him. “I think we have Grigori Tennin to thank for that.”
“
If
he’s the one in charge,” Aaron mused.
“Well, there’s no doubt Tennin is a key player. If the nobles were to leave Charbydon, Tennin would become High Chief of all the jinn tribes.”
“True. But we mustn’t forget that there are nobles out there who believe in the old myths and who want war with Elysia. The Sons of Dawn might have started out as a jinn cult, with a jinn goal, but others, like Mynogan, believed.”
To most nobles it was near heresy to imply that they were related to the Adonai, that they once lived in the heaven-like world of Elysia, and were cast out into Charbydon by the Creator. That myth was so old and obscure, most people didn’t even know about it and the ones who did simply believed it was fiction. Only a small few knew it for what it was. The truth.
“Elysia is light. Charbydon is
“She did speak to me last night during her visit with Bryn.”
I went right to the biggest obstacle when it came to Emma attending the League’s school. “Honestly? I can’t afford it.” Not on my salary. Not since
Will
was no longer working and the child support had gone out the window. I was barely able to pay Emma’s tuition at Hope Ridge; there was no way in hell I could make the League’s astronomical tuition.
“We do take on a small number of scholarship students every year,” Aaron said. “Students who show promise academically as well as in crafting. I’ve taken the liberty of submitting my recommendation to have her considered. All you have to do is fill out the application and sign the release form so we can get a copy of her current school records. Then we can set the ball rolling.”
I blinked, totally caught off guard. Part of me was glad I couldn’t afford it because the decision was made for me.
“I can see you hadn’t expected this. I hope I didn’t overstep. My thinking was that if you knew attendance was possible … well, at least then you have options.”
“It’s fine.” Unexpected, but fine.
“She has a special gift, Charlie. Allowing her to explore it will only benefit her, challenge her, and serve as a measure of protection for her.”
I ran my fingers through my hair and sat back, staring up at the low ceiling for a moment. “I know. I just never thought my own child would be gifted like she is. I mean, my mother isn’t; I wasn’t really, not like Bryn. Will certainly wasn’t.”
“Ah, but you were. Both of you. You were able to communicate without words with Connor, your twin brother. And let’s not forget the very reason your body accepted the introduction of Charbydon and Elysian DNA was because your female line contains long-ago ancestors from both worlds. And Will demonstrated his aptitude for learning crafting, even though it was black crafting and behind your back. Gifts can skip generations, but, Charlie, I would’ve been surprised if your daughter wasn’t affected in some way.”
I sat forward again, bracing my elbows on my thighs and rubbing both hands down my face, letting out another loud breath. “She would be safer here.”
“Safer than anywhere else.”
“And learning crafting will help her protect herself and strengthen her abilities,” Bryn joined in.
“Defense and offense,” Aaron said. “She’ll study them both.”
“You do have a good academic program.”
“The best in the country. Our academic program goes back eight years. And when we moved our headquarters here to Atlanta, the school moved locationswith us. The last four years have elevated the school to one of the best in the country. Think on it … She can start spring semester, after the first of the year.”
I nodded, still a bit dazed by the turn of the conversation and the scholarship.
“So,” Bryn began after a long moment of silence. “As you know, Charlie saw the oracle last night …”
“The exorcists have all fled, left on their own or forced out,” I told him. “I think we have Grigori Tennin to thank for that.”
“
If
he’s the one in charge,” Aaron mused.
“Well, there’s no doubt Tennin is a key player. If the nobles were to leave Charbydon, Tennin would become High Chief of all the jinn tribes.”
“True. But we mustn’t forget that there are nobles out there who believe in the old myths and who want war with Elysia. The Sons of Dawn might have started out as a jinn cult, with a jinn goal, but others, like Mynogan, believed.”
To most nobles it was near heresy to imply that they were related to the Adonai, that they once lived in the heaven-like world of Elysia, and were cast out into Charbydon by the Creator. That myth was so old and obscure, most people didn’t even know about it and the ones who did simply believed it was fiction. Only a small few knew it for what it was. The truth.
“Elysia is light. Charbydon is
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