Behind them, Keiko was silent, though Cassie could feel her contempt oozing over her like tar.
‘Of course,’ said Sir Alric after a heavy pause. ‘This must be quite a culture shock for you, but I believe you are fitting in very well. I hear good things from your teachers, and from the Few. We are delighted to have you here at the Darke Academy, Cassie, delighted.’
‘Um,’ she muttered awkwardly, ‘great. Thanks.’
‘And are you happy here?’
He had turned his head, and she felt obliged to look up at him. He really was an amazing man. Must be knocking sixty, but still good-looking, and his charisma could blast you into the middle of next week.
She smiled. ‘Yes. Oh, it’s … amazing. Yes, of course I love it.’ Funnily enough, she realised, that was absolutely true.
‘Good. That’s good.’ He nodded. ‘Is there anything that concerns you? Any … worries?’
Cassie shrugged, averting her eyes. ‘Um. No. Should there be?’ Stupid remark, she thought, giving herself a mental kick.
But Sir Alric either didn’t hear it, or pretended that he hadn’t. ‘I’m glad. I do encourage students to come to me with any problems, no matter how trivial. You will remember that, Cassie, won’t you?’ He gave her another smile, so radiant and infectious she could only return it. ‘Some students find me a little … unapproachable. Somewhat remote. That’s my fault, of course, but I don’t want you to feel that way. Feel free to come to my office at any time, Cassie – if you have questions, if you need to ask for help or advice. That’s why I’m here.’
They’d come to the bottom of the west-wing staircase now, and he steered her along the corridor. Keiko still hadn’t spoken, but her silence was a furious one. She was simmering, but it was impossible to tell if Sir Alric had noticed. Cassie was glad he was between them. She felt safer with him there, so her heart plummeted when they emerged into the grand entrance hall and Sir Alric halted.
‘Keiko will show you back to your room.’
‘Oh, I don’t need … I’m fine now, I can manage on my own.’
He tutted and laughed. ‘I’d worry. That sense of direction of yours! Please, Cassie, let Keiko take you back.’
‘But … OK.’ Cassie glanced at Keiko, but the girl was glaring into space.
‘I’m glad to have met you at last. You’re going to be an asset to the Academy, I know that. You fit in here as if you were born to it.’ He took her hand. ‘Take care, Cassie.’ His voice chilled. ‘Keiko. My office. First thing tomorrow.’
Keiko was silent till his footsteps had faded. Then Cassie heard her murmur, so soft she wasn’t even sure if Keiko was talking to her, ‘Do you know who all the statues are?’
Was she actually trying to be chatty? Taken aback, Cassie shook her head. ‘Achilles?’ she said doubtfully. ‘And I recognised Leda and the Swan in the courtyard.’
Keiko made a contemptuous face. ‘The Swan is Zeus in disguise, doing as he likes with a mere mortal.’
‘I know that,’ said Cassie, irritated at the patronising tone. ‘And that one’s Hermes, right?’
‘Yes.’ Keiko, uninterested in Hermes, turned to a stag that was rearing in motionless terror, marble hounds tearing at its haunches. A beautifully sculpted woman looked on, disdainful.
There was a chill in the air, thought Cassie. ‘So who’s that?’
‘Artemis. The hunting goddess,’ said Keiko, sounding amused. ‘The stag is Actaeon, a hunter who dared to spy on her as she bathed. Artemis turned him into a stag as a punishment. And then his own hounds tore him to pieces.’
The silence was thick with menace. No, Keiko definitely wasn’t trying to be friendly.
The girl gave an unnerving chuckle. ‘Oh, it’s only a myth. A warning from the ancients. Gods should not be treated lightly, you see? Gods should not be mocked. I mean, take this little tragedy …’
Almost against her will, Cassie found herself following Keiko across the hall, to where one marble woman cowered at the feet of another. The supplicant had lifted one pathetic hand, to shield herself or to plead for mercy. The woman above her, axe poised to strike, didn’t look like she knew the meaning of the word.
‘This is your namesake, did you know?’ Keiko touched the pleading marble hand. ‘Cassandra. Do you know about Cassandra’s curse?’
Cassie shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
‘She was a prophetess. Ever so fine and clever, because her prophecies always came true.’ Keiko sniffed. ‘Cassandra was never wrong. Oh, yes, she always knew when something terrible was going to happen. But no one would ever believe her.’ Her smile was very unpleasant. ‘No one.’
Cassie cleared her throat. ‘That’s a bummer.’
‘Isn’t it just? This is Clytaemnestra, who murdered her when Agamemnon brought her back from Troy. Cassandra knew that would happen, too. She refused to enter the palace, screaming that she smelled blood.’
‘I see.’ Cassie’s heart beat furiously. ‘And nobody believed that either?’
‘Nobody believed that either.’ Keiko shook her head with mock sadness. ‘And so she entered the palace.’ She nodded at Clytaemnestra’s axe. ‘And got what was coming to her.’
‘Poor old Cassandra,’ said Cassie, keeping her voice level.