Hanayni
“Do you have any suspects?” A traitor! No one I knew would betray the School. At least, that’s what I’d always thought.
“There are a few. All members of my Inner Circle are suspect,” Kelsey answered. I wasn’t offended; it was the only sensible to suspect us all, since we are the only ones who know the location of the Meeting.
I trusted Kelsey. She would find out who the traitor was. I knew it wasn’t me, and I was reasonably sure it wasn’t Lorik. Even though he is an unfeeling grouch, his loyalty is unquestionable. He’d never to anything like this. Neither would Astulad, Diane Jameson, Fistac, Madara, or Rona. These people, I was completely sure of. Corator, Aoife, Istalcia, and Red, I wasn’t quite so confident in. They were newer, and I didn’t know them as well. But I’ve always downright distrusted Minali. From the beginning, she had just seemed…dark. Devious. I had never trusted her. And she definitely wasn’t the sort of person I’d trust with my life.
“Hanayni!” Kelsey said loudly.
“Yes, Your Honor?” Now that I was suspect, it would be best not to be familiar with the Head of the School.
“You were zoning out. There’s work to be done.”
I started to interrupt, but she continued. “But first I have to satisfy myself that you are not the traitor,” she said without a trace of a smile.
I knew what that meant. She would screen my mind. Reluctantly, I walked forward and allowed her to take my hands in hers. I prepared for the pain.
Getting your mind searched always hurts, since you can’t really help the searcher if that’s not your IP.
I just gritted my teeth and endured. It couldn’t have lasted more than 15 seconds, Earth time, but when she finished, I felt like I had just fought a week-long battle.
“You’re clear, Hani,” she said, using my nickname. “We need you in the sick ward.”
