actual age, which was less than ideal considering that he was dealing with Tethru, who was rumored to have a predilection toward young boys and girls. Eridan didn’t know how truthful those rumors were—no one had ever been able to prove anything—but those rumors had been around for ages, and there was no smoke without fire.
“I’m really twenty, Grandmaster,” Eridan repeated, putting on his sternest expression in the hope that it would make him look older. His heart was pounding, his nerves so frayed he barely stopped himself from touching the thaal around his neck, to feel his Master’s grounding presence. He fisted his blue robe in his hands, to distract himself from touching the gemstone. Tethru hated his Master. Drawing his attention to Castien’s thaal would only make the situation worse; Tethru might take him away from Castien out of spite. Although Eridan had never heard of an apprentice switching Masters, the Grandmaster of the Order had almost absolute power. Anything was possible, considering how much Tethru envied and hated Castien.
“If you are already twenty years old, your transgression is even more serious, Eridan,” Tethru said, with the same saccharine, grandfatherly look that just looked creepy. “You should know better by now. Perhaps I really should handle your punishment myself—”
“That will not be necessary,” a familiar voice said from the doorway.
Eridan’s head whipped around. He broke into a wide, helpless grin. He drank in the sight of his Master’s tall, proud form, not even caring about the cold, warning look he received from Castien. “Master,” he breathed.
Castien walked over and laid a hand on the back of Eridan’s chair. Eridan leaned back, trying to subtly get his Master’s hand on his shoulder instead of that stupid chair. His Master, however, didn’t indulge him. Eridan tried not to pout.
“Your apprentice nearly killed another apprentice today, Idhron,” Tethru said sourly, the air around him full of dislike, no matter how hard Tethru was shielding himself. Tethru could never quite hide his jealousy of the respect Idhron commanded in the Order and his wariness of Castien’s power and ever-growing influence.
Frankly, Eridan still didn’t understand why his Master allowed Tethru to become the Grandmaster after Grandmaster Kato’s death. Everyone knew Castien was the most powerful mind adept of the Order, both telepathically and politically. And yet his Master hadn’t put himself forward as a candidate when Grandmaster Kato had died. It still baffled Eridan a little.
Castien’s face remained impassive, his blue eyes fixed on Tethru. “Has he,” he said flatly. “I will make sure to punish him accordingly, Grandmaster.”
Tethru huffed. “I’m not sure I trust your judgment on the matter, Idhron. It does not seem the boy has learned his lesson from the previous times Grandmaster Kato allowed you to punish him. Perhaps I should take the matter into my own hands—”
“That is very thoughtful of you,” Castien said, and Eridan’s stomach dropped for a moment before Castien continued. “However, you have so many responsibilities, Your Grace. I cannot possibly ask this of you. But thank you for the kind offer. I have sent my report to your datapad for your perusal. Come, Eridan.”
Without waiting for Tethru’s response, Castien strode out of the room. Eridan hurried after him.
“Master, I—”
“Not now,” his Master bit out, without looking at him.
Eridan shut up.
They walked in silence through the corridors of the ancient monastery.
Eridan looked around curiously. He hadn’t been here often, only the few times he had accompanied his Master to a meeting with some high-ranking outsiders.
The monastery was the oldest part of the High Hronthar, the place their Order originated from. Thousands of years ago, it used to be the Order’s home, their headquarters, but nowadays it was little more than a front. As far as the rest of the planet was concerned, the monastery was the High Hronthar, and that was why all meetings with the outsiders were held here.
Eridan smiled a little at the thought. It always amazed him how utterly clueless the outsiders were. The Council of Twelve Grand Clans thought they were ruling Calluvia, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. The Chapter of the High Hronthar held the real power on the planet, since they controlled the royals and politicians that ruled the planet. In the view of the outsiders, the High Hronthar was just a bunch of monks that dedicated themselves to mind healing and a peaceful, unambitious life. It was kind of hilarious how utterly wrong they were.
Despite the late hour, Eridan and his Master still encountered