I wanted to mount him, an un-nerving feeling in itself. I trotted down the stairs and danced through the shop until I was standing on the street once again.
“So where to? Another portal, or is the training area in this realm?” Even to my eyes my voice sounded too high, too excited, but staying cool around this man was hard.
Tavlor didn’t seem affected at all. He was as calm as the day was long. “We can train at the Warlock’s academy. It is only a few blocks over. We can walk.”
“Great.”
I stuck to his side and walked down the street next to him. People stared as we strolled by, even crossing to the other side of the street so that they didn’t have to step near us.
I glanced at Tavlor beside me.
Yes, I suppose he was an imposing figure with his too tall height, long hair and dark robes. But I didn’t think it was his physical appearance that was putting everyone off.
“Why is everyone afraid of you?”
I wasn’t sure if this was rude or not to ask. I probably should have been a little more tactful, but the words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Now that they were out there, I couldn’t take them back. I would own them, then.
There was a twitch in Tavlor’s cheek as his straight lips tilted down into a frown. “Because I’m a bastard,” he said as though it was obvious. “An abomination. A half breed.”
I curled my fingers into fists. He didn’t even seem perturbed by the horrible things he was saying. Not in the slightest. I giggled a little at that moment. I couldn’t help it. The whole thing was ludicrous.
He turned to glare at me, and I clamped my hand over my mouth.
“I’m sorry,” I said, though I didn’t sound sorry in the slightest. “You sound like one of them. It’s ridiculous.”
I rolled my eyes, just for good measure.
His gaze changed, his liquid silver eyes piercing my soul.
I swallowed down a moan and cleared my throat with a cough. “Can you like... not do that please?”
“Not do what?” He asked, his tone confused.
I immediately looked away. He must not even realize. No wonder he was deadly. He didn’t even realize what sort of affect he had on people.
“The...” I gestured with my hand, hoping it would help me explain. “I don’t even know what it is. I feel like you’re looking into my soul.”
He looked away and straightened his spine as though recovering from an insult. “I apologise.”
“Oh no, it’s okay,” I said quickly. I didn’t want him to think he was doing anything wrong. Was he doing anything wrong? I didn’t know the technicalities, of course. I didn’t know the laws here. But whatever he was doing, it didn’t seem like it was being done on purpose. “You probably can’t help it, it’s just un-nerving.”
“I know.” His voice was still a growl, but there was a sheepishness about it that was almost endearing. “People hate it.”
Hate it? I burst out laughing again and this time he rounded on me. “What are you laughing at?” he demanded.
I winced. I hadn’t meant to offend him. Strangely, I found myself wanting to console him, to make him understand that I wasn’t trying to tease. Everything was catching up to me – Mother’s death, Father’s rejection and then offer of help, Mallory’s strange bigotry. I was also missing my sister’s more than I cared to admit only because it would bring me even more pain.
“Oh no!” I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant... I...”
I glanced around at all the strangers still watching us. “Can we go somewhere private?” I asked in a whisper.
Tavlor nodded. “Follow me.”
He charged off and I had to run to catch up with him. We didn’t speak for another two blocks, until we were standing in front of an imposing building with high fences.
He waved his hand and the gates opened. “This is the Academy.”
“Wow.” My eyes widened. I stepped back, trying to take it all in. “What a place to go to school!”