Chapter 4: Future laid out
Irwin barely saw where they were going and only snapped out of his daze when a soft, cold breeze blew in his face. Looking up, he saw they had been brought to the classroom at the far end of the building. The window's shutters were open, and the dark, gray air outside promised more rain.
Greldo jutted him in the side, and he quickly focused back on the front of the class.
Sorcerer Xourdin moved behind the small desk, staring at them briefly.
"I'll only explain this once, and it's up to you to listen," he finally said coldly.
As he spoke, he raised one of his hands, and a card glowed, revealing an eye that hovered on the back of his hand. It seemed to look around, glancing at each of the children before it flashed and faded, leaving the children staring at the hand wide-eyed.
"Sit!"
Irwin jolted and scrambled after Greldo and the others to find a seat. He dropped into the first wooden stool he saw before looking around worriedly. The room felt empty with only the twelve of them, and he knew he and Greldo stood out being the poorest from the Rats District. Even the other Rats District children looked more like they belonged there, especially Dalsin, who was the largest of the youths and somehow seemed to blend in, even with his decrepit old tunic. He sat beside Ensil, the youngest of the sons of the smith, and both were pale.
"Good, at least you can all obey orders," Xourdin said. "Now, first off, I wholly expect some of your parents to attempt to weasel you away... You had better talk them out of it. If I have to come to get you personally, I'll destroy the houses I visit. Do I make myself clear?"
Irwin felt his hair stand on end as he swallowed away a sudden lump in his throat. The classroom was deadly quiet, and Xourdin frowned, standing up straighter as he glared at them.
"Do you understand?" he said in a soft, deadly voice.
"Yes, Sorcerer Xourdin," twelve boys and girls shouted as one, some with shuddering voices.
Sorcerer Xourdin gazed at them quietly, then nodded, the intense cold danger that had radiated from him fading.