Winterbound, Part 4 - Company

Despite the doubts of the school staff, the snowfall that had begun the night before carried on throughout the day, making it ultimately impossible for anyone to focus on their work. Anaya and Tiu, impatient for their plans, were forced to admit defeat as by nightfall the light descent of flakes had all but turned into a real blizzard. Right before supper, on her way from her last elective lesson to the dormitory, Anaya overheard the old school nurse whispering to the groundskeeper about an enraged dragon. The groundskeeper dismissed the idea with a laugh as Anaya hurried on unseen.

“We’ll have to leave when school lets out for the week’s end overmorrow, whether the skies have cleared or not,” she announced walking into the room she shared with Tiu. “Old Ester was going on about a dragon’s wrath and you know normally I would dismiss everything she says, but now I—”

Turning around after she had unloaded her bookbag onto the floor she froze, staring at the two people in the room. One being Tiu, whom she had of course been expecting, the other, of all people, being Madiza.

Madiza was one of the fortunate ones, her father being alive and all, but still somehow “too busy with his important work for the king” or whatever it was that Madiza claimed. Anaya and Tiu had secretly agreed behind her back that it was likely her father didn’t want her around due to her obnoxious nature. Madiza had earned their scorn for spreading a rumor about Tiu and one of the boys at Santa Corrida Academy, which was both blatantly untrue and disgusting in nature, and had ended in a near fist fight between all the girls on class three. All of this had, of course, officially been settled with the Madam present, mutual apologies having been issued, but that didn’t mean the animosity was gone.

“So, what’s this about a dragon?” Madiza asked, cocking her head to the side and feigning innocence.

Anaya caught Tiu’s eyes, filled with apology. Neither of them said a thing.

“Tiu and I were just discussing wherever you two disappeared to last night,” Madiza continued. “I had just stepped out of my room to get a glass of water and imagine my surprise as I see you two sneaking out like a pair of rats.”

“None of your business, Madiza,” Anaya snapped. It was the wrong thing to say.

“Oh, but it is,” Madiza exclaimed, her lips stretching wide. “I am, after all, the Madam’s representative amongst our class.”

Anaya made a sour face, but didn’t comment, moving instead closer to Tiu.

“She cornered me,” Tiu whispered. “You know I’m a terrible liar.”

Anaya sighed. “Fine,” she said. “Just… sit down and stop being so dramatically threatening. It’s giving me a headache. We’ll tell you what happened.”

After a thorough explanation, the three girls sitting on the floor fell into a somewhat tense silence. Madiza, sharp like a hawk, was clearly planning her next strike, or at least that was what Anaya thought she was doing. Meanwhile, her and Tiu were attempting to communicate through a series of looks and shrugs.

What do we do now? Tiu was (probably) saying.

We need to get rid of her before she busts us, Anaya tried to convey through meaningful glances at Madiza.

How??? seemed to be Tiu’s reply.

Their wordless communication was cut short by Madiza’s little sigh.

“Fine, I guess there’s no helping it,” she said, pausing for dramatic effect, “I’m coming with you.”

That really stunned them into silence.

“What, no you aren’t,” Tiu said, the first to recover.

“Since when do you have any say in it?” came Madiza’s biting reply. “You two need someone sensible to keep you out of danger. Or would you rather I tell the Madam?”

Tiu’s mouth snapped shut. She and Anaya exchanged a worrisome look.

“So, were leaving on the eve of giver’s day?” Madiza said chirpily. “I’ll be sure to inform the Madam that I’m taking you two along for a devotional trip to the temple next town over. I’m sure she would be more than willing to agree to that.”

Anaya had not, in fact, spent much time worrying about how they would explain their absence. The weekends were mostly free time at the school, but hiking up to the mountains and back would take two whole days, if not more. Actually, definitely more. But she had figured the difficult part was leaving and they could worry about getting back when they got there.

“Great,” said Tiu, sounding anything but enthusiastic.

“I shall see you then, girls!” And with that final proclamation Madiza got up and left with a beaming smile on her face.

Just as the door closed, Tiu groaned. “I can’t believe her!”

“Why does she even want to come?” Anaya asked. “I guess I can understand why she would want to bust us, but why tag along?”

Tiu shrugged. “Maybe she’s bored?”

Anaya frowned. There was something off about this. She had sensed it when she’d first walked into to the room with Madiza there. Why had she been so interested about the dragon? And why was she so insistent about coming along? The thoughts were whirling in her mind, like a swarm of mosquitoes, annoying but inconsistent. She shook her head.

“Well, whatever it is, we’ll have to prepare ourselves for The Miss Madiza Show.”

Tiu rolled her eyes. “Oh goody.”

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 “Two’s a company, three’s a crowd.”

 Next topic is "Suspicion".