There came another pause, followed by a dip in the heart rates of several within earshot. That detail was telling but by itself was not an answer.

“She… passed away recently,” Walter said.

Adam started breathing again the moment that reply was uttered. Given the excuse, Clara only expected such a reaction from Agnes or another one of the girls. The boys in my day rarely interacted with the Reverend Mother.

“That’s a shame…” Clara said. “We always made sure to pay our respects to our superiors.”

“That remains true today,” Walter said. “We have yet to appoint a replacement.”

“I’m sure they’ll have big shoes to fill… Agnes, if you please?”

Clara made eye contact with Julia before turning towards their escort. It was clear the werewolf noticed that something was off as well, but they had to wait for a debrief. We need to be careful.

Agnes did not hesitate, and responded with a single curt nod. In Clara’s mind, Agnes was excited, but knew enough not to give herself away.

“That settles that,” Clara said. “How long until the meal hour?” 

“The meal will be served in a little over forty-five minutes,” Walter replied.

“Excellent,” Clara said. “Will the Reverend Mother be there?”

She tossed in that question casually to hide its importance. Given her company no one was fooled… and yet we play these games regardless.

There came another pause, followed by a dip in the heart rates of several within earshot. That detail was telling but by itself was not an answer.

A statement that confirmed Clara was once a troublemaker. Walter smiled, while Adam remained oblivious. I’m not the only one that got into trouble while here.

There was an awkward pause, meaning that Clara was not fully trusted. The man was unwilling to broach that subject. Afraid of challenging the legend in public?

Clara turned around to find Agnes standing there with a crossbow in hand. While silent, those eyes showed she was cognizant of the discussion. I’m starting to like this one.

“Would you like to lead the way?” Clara asked.

Agnes did not hesitate, and responded with a single curt nod. In Clara’s mind, Agnes was excited, but knew enough not to give herself away.

Like almost everyone here, her heart rate was steady. Julia was the exception, leading her to suspect the younger acolytes were elsewhere within The Tower.

“We can accommodate your request,” Walter said. “We had our guest quarters readied.” 

“Readied?” Julia confirmed.

“They are prepared every day,” Clara answered to help diffuse the situation. “Sheets washed, the rooms cleaned and dusted.”

Since hunters never knew when someone might return to The Tower, a wing of guest accommodations were always kept ready.

“Precisely,” Walter replied. “Agnes—(will you please escort them?)

“I know the way,” Clara said. “I spent more than my fair share of time preparing the rooms.”A statement that confirmed Clara was once a troublemaker. Walter smiled, while Adam remained oblivious. I’m not the only one that got into trouble while here.

“I never caught your name,” Clara said to the man who led the defence.

By then the applause had died down enough to start a dialogue. One she hoped would yield answers.

“Walter,” the man said after a slight pause.

“Pleasure,” Clara said.

“How did you find your way here?” Adam asked.

Walter’s eyes locked onto the acolyte. Adam sucked in air through his teeth before blowing away a stray lock of hair on his forehead.

“The Terminus,” Clara said to keep things vague for now. “It’s been a long road getting here.”

“I apologise for—(his outburst.)” Walter said.

Clara smirked before replying, “It takes a lot more than that to bother me. Besides, I’m chomping at the bit to find a way out too.”

That appeared to soothe both their minds. Still, Clara had no desire to be holed up here for much longer… interrogation in the form of small talk.

“They were expecting you to attack?” Julia whispered.

Julia was correct, this group was here to delay her. The next step would have been to blow The Tower and entomb her under tonnes of stone and debris. If it worked for Dorothy, it might work on me.

The werewolf chose not to add anything to her earlier statement, which was wise. The walls had ears and Clara was effectively a curiosity to staff and students alike. Some would like nothing better than to dissect me to prove angels don’t exist.

“I never caught your name,” Clara said to the man who led the defence.

By then the applause had died down enough to start a dialogue. One she hoped would yield answers.