A Little Taste of Poison Read Online Free Page B

leap up and denounce him—but how could she? Nobody here knew her, or had any reason to care what she thought. Especially since she was one of the very people Eryx was slandering.
    â€œOf course,”Eryx continued, “any enlightened society must tolerate some disagreement, however—er—disagreeable. But I think we should draw the line at endorsing bad behavior, much less rewarding it. Thus my plan to reform our relief system, which I hope all of you will urge your local council members to support. Thank you.”
    With another burst of applause the students rose, many pressing forward to greet the Lording and shake his hand. Isaveth hid her face in her handkerchief, pretending to wipe her nose while she calmed herself, then got up and hurried out the door.
    *  *  *
    â€œYou’ll need a robe,” said the registrar, a stoop-shouldered man with a voice as bland as the rest of him. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a square of gray cloth and handed it to Isaveth. “And your timetable . . .” He glanced under the counter. “Hmm. Wait here, please.”
    He vanished into the adjoining office, while Isaveth shook out the robe and examined it. Unlike the masters’ robes it was sleeveless, so she could wear it over her coat as easily as under—and since her first class might be anywhere on the grounds, that seemed like a sensible idea. She draped it around her shoulders and smoothed it, waiting for the registrar to return.
    She couldn’t think too much about what Eryx had said or she’d start to panic. He’d spoken of treating Isaveth’s father and other politically-minded Moshites as undesirables, denying them financial support and encouraging their fellow workers to shun them—and the students in the club had applauded as though it were a splendid idea. As though her family deserved nothing better than starvation, which was what it would come to if Papa couldn’t find a proper job soon.
    Her only hope was that she’d leaped to the wrong conclusion, and Eryx hadn’t been talking about Papa at all. But the Lording hadn’t seemed surprised to see Isaveth, and she couldn’t forget how his cold eyes had lingered on her as he spoke. . . .
    â€œMiss Breck?”
    The greeting came from behind her, so unexpected it made her jump. Isaveth whirled and found herself staring into the lean, sallow face of Hexter Buldage, the new governor of the school.
    â€œOh,” she said, but it came out as a squeak, and she couldn’t think of anything else to say.
    Buldage smiled. His expression was kindly, his eyes mild as harvest fog; if she hadn’t known otherwise, she’d never have guessed him for a murderer. “Welcome to Tarreton College. I hope you’ll be happy here.”
    Mute with fear, Isaveth could only nod. How much had Eryx Lording told him about her? Did Buldage realize she knew his most terrible secret?
    â€œI hear great things about your talent for Common Magic,” the governor continued. “If you show a similar aptitude for Sagery, your classmates will have to work hard to keep up with you.”
    There was no stiffness in his posture, no sinister undertone to his words. If her presence here troubled him, he was doing an excellent job of hiding it.
    â€œIt’s . . . an honor to be here, sir,” said Isaveth, recovering at last. “Thank you for giving me—uh—this chance.”
    â€œMy pleasure. If there is anything I can do to assist you, let me know.” Still smiling, he stepped back, turned in a swirl of midnight robes, and walked out.
    Isaveth stared after him, heart drumming in her chest. The governor’s office was two floors up, on the far side of the building; there was no way Buldage could have passed this way by chance. What did it mean, that he’d come down especially to meet her?
    And why would he welcome Isaveth to the college when Eryx,