The dean's house at the back of the area where all the professors who were employed full-time lived with their families was double the size of the other houses. Ethan greeted the officers who stood inside the house as extra protection. Smith had placed his men inside to protect Earl, an old school friend.
Earl sat on a reclining chair, his hands trembling as he picked up the cup of tea. He dunked a biscuit, tea spilling over the sides as he did. The explosion had shaken the man. Earl stared at Wendy and then at Lucy. His eyes did not focus. He mumbled.
"They want to kill me. I am a respected member of this academy."
Thompson came through the door, his lieutenants not at his side. Thompson sat beside Earl, taking a biscuit, then reclined in the chair.
"Jeremy has finished, and whoever took him knew what they were doing. The man with the rug was caught near the train station. He was an opportunist. Seeing the academy devoid of people, he snuck inside an office, stealing the rug to take to his home."
Earl sat forward, taking another biscuit from the tray.
"Jeremy, the man was a womaniser who had a way with young women except for Lark. She could not stand the man."
"What could have made her feel like that towards him?" Thompson asked.
"Alas, women have a sixth sense. They know when to avoid a man unless they are drawn to danger like a mouse to cheese."
Earl ate his biscuit silently, then suddenly sat upright, pointing his finger in the air.
"Jeremy does not work for the academy. He has a contract to supply us with flowers as needed. How did he get his hands on the keys."
Thompson looked at Ethan, his brows furrowed.
"That would suggest that the intelligence we had gathered from the students was wrong. Jeremy told them that he worked at the academy as an employee."
"How did he get hold of all the keys? He should not have them," Earl said.
Ethan stood opening the door as Wendy and Lucy walked out.
"Alas, Jeremy has played all of us. We should find him for questioning. It seems highly unlikely that he was kidnapped at this stage."
Ethan felt a tug on his ring. It was Lara.
"Alas, we must go to the inn. Lara is waiting for us."
Wendy and Lucy walked outside, Ethan on their heels, glad to be out of the house. Thompson would stay for a while, consoling his friend.
"Hail, the usual posture."
Wendy and Lucy stood ready to be picked up. Ethan flew to the portal, where the two were in his arms. The farmer waved as he floated by inches from the ground. Lara sat at their table, a worried expression on her face. Her countenance changed as Ethan appeared next to her. He bent down, kissing her with passion as he seated himself next to her.
"Ethan, the professors have decided that the testing will be tomorrow. I have contacted all the students. The professors tried to pull a fast one on us."
Ethan hugged her gently, kissing her head.
"Alas, we will be ready. I am sure everyone will be there tomorrow. Their questing should have trained them and honed their skills."
"Squee, we will show them what real training can do tomorrow."
"I know we have trained hard, but my heart still feels uncomfortable thinking about it," Lara said softly.
Wendy took her cheek, staring into her eyes, then kissed her gently on the lips three times.
"Hail, we will not let you down. Have faith in us. Just be there for us, and we will do the rest. Your support and love are all that matters to us."
"What have you discovered at the academy?" Lara asked as she held Wendy's hand.
"We know that the fairies and orcs keep the academy grounds clean, and the gardens look spectacular, as we have witnessed."
"Squee, Jeremy has become a suspect. He has keys he should not have, and he tells everyone that he works for the academy but is contracted to supply plants to the academy."
Penny places four mugs of mead on the table.
"Meow, Good day, my favourite people have arrived. Food will be here soon. Grace has given us a full backpack of roe deer meat. I have made a stew from some of the meat. Be right back."
Lara turns to face Ethan.
"Jeremy has tried to get into my bed whenever he sees me. The man is creepy, a real player."
Ethan takes his plate from Penny, thanking her. Wendy and Lucy attack their plates of stew with vigour. He breaks the bread, buttering the pieces and handing them to the women. Lara eats cautiously as a lady trained in the upper class. Her table manners were impeccable. Ethan dips his bread in his stew, and as he eats, he looks at the flames in the hearth, deep in thought.
"Alas, we have misjudged the Skinwalker, and it looks like it is helping us. The question is, why?"
Ethan pushes his empty bowl forward. Could the roses be a clue? In every scene except the deaths in the woods, there were roses. No, that could not be. He feels silly thinking about it.
"Alas, tomorrow we will need Maple to help."
"Why, what could she do for us?" Lara asked in surprise.
"Alas, she needs to nurse the students back to life after Wendy and Lucy are done with them."
Lara took Lucy's hand.
"Are you serious? Are they that powerful already from only a few encounters?"
"Alas, you and the others will be just as strong as soon as we choose your classes."
"I cannot wait to grow in power. I need more essence. Could I stay tonight, please?"
The three women shared looks. Ethan could sense that he would not get much sleep tonight. A small figure strolls out of the kitchen, doll under her arm, tiny hands rubbing her sleepy eyes, tail sweeping left and right behind her. Melisa guides her little sister to Ethan's table.
"Meow, good evening, everyone. She wanted to see you as soon as her eyes opened."
Ethan picked the little catkin up, placing her on his lap, her head resting on his chest. Her tail wrapped around his arm before she drifted off to sleep again.
Soon, Grace and Maple would arrive for dinner as well. They had three hours of relaxing. The women watched a show about a man and woman who travelled to small villages, eating and commenting on the local dishes.
He would love to take everyone to those villages. He saw Heather in his mind's eye, longing tugging in his heart. He prayed that she would be safe and healthy even thou he did not trust Gimmel, the arrogant asshole.
Grace and Maple arrived later that evening. The guild had many problems as Grace had been away for a few days. Maple had grown busy as the flu broke out amongst the villagers, and the cold weather brought the disease.
As they walked up the stairs, Wendy opened their door. Lucy laughed in delight as a massive bed covered most of the floor.
"Hi, guys; I hope you do not mind. I had this bed made as a surprise," Shaw said behind them.
Ethan rubbed the back of his head.
"Alas, thank you, my friend. You have anticipated our needs. You know that makes us permanent patrons, right?"
Shaw rubbed his hands like a greedy banker.
"The more women you gather, the wealthier we will be. Grace has paid the room for the next few months ahead."
Shaw walked downstairs laughing. Ethan looked at Grace.
"I used our reward from the firedog quest," Grace said.
Ethan picked her up in a princess carry.
"Alas, let us test our new bed girls."