Of Noble Chains (The Ventori Fables) Read Online Free Page A

care about any of the other interviews today; he was only here for Kehzia Noble.
     
    The room was exactly what Zia had pictured in her fantasies.  It had three people sitting behind a long table, with a single chair facing them for the interviewees.  Across the room were a row of windows, none of them open to let in the beautiful summer weather .  At least the blinds are up , she thought.
    “Please take a seat, Ms. Noble,” said one of the men behind the table.  “I’m Dr. Ivy, this is Father Killian and that is Ms. Madsen.”
    Each person nodded to Zia.  She smiled and did the same.  Dr. Ivy was the person she really needed to impress; he was the Chief Administrator of the Tracker program.  Basically, if he liked her, he could veto everyone else on the board.
    “Hello,” Zia said, sitting down on what felt like the smallest chair in the world; which was saying a lot, considering how often she sat in children’s chairs at the library.  “I’m Kehzia Noble.”
    “We are aware,” Ms. Madsen said, shooting a glare in Aeryn’s direction.  He remained a mystery by the window.  Zia really hoped he wasn’t an interviewer; she hoped he was just there to observe because if he looked into her eyes and asked a question, she was sure she would forget everything.
    “Right,” Zia mumbled, a little taken aback by the board woman’s attitude, “sorry.”
    “Let’s get on with this,” Ms. Madsen continued, and Father Killian narrowed the corner of his eyes towards her.  Madsen looked up at Zia over a stack of papers, red fingernails clicking against the sheets.  “Why did you choose Havilan School of Trade as your first choice?  There are plenty of other schools with adequate programs for a…half human.”
    Zia understood her attitude instantly, but plastered a grin on her face.  Her mother always said that you should never stop smiling during times like this, no matter what you felt.
    “Because it’s the best,” Zia replied, already prepared for this question, “the Havilan School of Trade has trained the greatest Tracker’s out there and they also employ the—“
    “Yes, we’ve heard all this before,” Ms. Madsen interrupted, “moving on.  Why do you think we should let you into our program over someone else?  There are other pureblood clan members that want in as well, so why you?”
    Zia flinched.  This sort of racism was not what she had been expecting in an interview; especially an interview with the Havilan School of Trade board members.  Did nobody notice what she was doing?  Zia flicked her eyes to the other board members, each of them unreadable.  She wanted to say something, but her mouth started to dry up and she didn’t know what to say.  Zia didn’t have an answer for this question and her mind completely blanked as it searched for reasons she should be let in over someone else.
    “Because I want it?” she blurted.
    The corner of Father Killian’s lips twitched upwards but he managed to resist a full smile.  His eyes flicked towards Aeryn who shifted by the window but Dr. Ivy, the one Zia wanted to like her, remained motionless.
    “Because you want it?” Ms. Madsen repeated flatly.  She scribbled something down on the paper, back perfectly straight as she did so.  Wouldn’t want to wrinkle her clothes would she?
    “Yes,” Zia continued, “what other reason would there be?  Everyone who applies is at roughly the same stage of it, so what else could you judge someone on?  I graduated a year early from the Havilan Light Academy, third in my class only behind the girl that slept with two of her teachers and,”–she lowered her voice—“ Hayden Rider .”
    Aeryn moved around again in the sunlight, crossing his ankles.
    “She’s got a point,” Father Killian said, “that’s very impressive for someone her age.”
    Zia smiled, thinking that she had actually reached someone on the Board.
    “But do you have any experience?” Ms. Madsen asked, flipping a sheet