Kalculus pondered with one knuckle to his chin.

  I felt myself reverting to my human self. My tusks shrunk back and folded into my face. My back popped in what felt like 30 different places with a really satisfying neck crack as it realigned itself.

  Kalculus muttered just loud enough for me to hear.

  “So you have the family gift.”

  I stared up at him with my half-changed face. I couldn’t see anger in his eyes. It was more like a brooding contemplation, like he was measuring the depth of the ocean.

  The family gift? So there was something true about me being connected to House Alaster after all. But how was that possible? We weren’t even from the same world.

  Kalculus touched something behind his ear. The familiar static shimmered.

  “Volani - Pomocnik - Roquette!”

  A grumpy groan came through, which quickly corrected itself into the head matron’s usual professionalism.

  “Oh, yes sir?”

  “Grab me a blanket and a set of dress for the young lord. Meet me in the courtyard.”

  “The court? Yes, Lord Alaster.”

  Roquette showed up seconds later just as I was finishing my transformation. She quickly approached the courtyard with her head turned and threw the blanket about me, dropping a fresh set of clothes on my head. Her back was straight as ever but I could see the bags under her eyes.

  “Will that be all?” she asked as I finished the button on my jacket.

  “Yes, you may leave” said Kalculus.

  I couldn’t keep myself from shaking as the adrenaline flushed from my system. I wasn’t getting used to being so well acquainted with how fragile I was. But remembering who I was next to helped me shake some of it off.

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  “T-thank you K..Lord Alaster.” I said. I wasn’t expecting what he said next.

  “The debt is uneven between us.” he sharpened his eyes towards me behind a stray lock of silver hair.

  “Debt?” I was royally confused. My brain couldn’t think through the flood of emotions. Confusion. Exhaustion. Fear.

  “I paid back my life debt to you just now, life for a life. I sent you on the hunt, when you were clearly unprepared..although I see now perhaps not so unprepared as I thought.”

  He growled softly: “But the debt is still uneven. You honored me in front of every noble family and the king, and gave me the head of the alpha manticore. You showed the nation you yield fealty to me, which dispelled some of the public opinion that you wished to usurp me. Well played.”

  Through the surge of emotions I felt a heat rising in my face. I couldn’t stop the words before they spilled out.

  “Play? All I’ve been trying to do since coming to…coming here is survive. I didn’t ask to be sent here! I’m not trying to play some game.”

  Kalculus was quiet for a moment.

  “Quickly, what would you ask of me, so I may settle my debt with you?”

  I was struck by the absurdity of the question. It didn’t answer any of my frustration at all, but quelled it instantly as I tried to think through the meaning of each word. I still really didn’t like him, especially more now since he confirmed that he was trying to kill me off. Yet here he was, giving me permission to ask for a favor.

  It didn’t take long for a couple things to float to the top of my addled brain.

  “I want to know more about shapeshifting, this “family gift”, where it comes from and how to use it. And, thinking quickly I added, “and a guide to help me navigate this wor…

  His eyebrows shot up and squinted in suspicion.

  “Help me navigate Vivenheim,” I corrected.

  He calculated under his silver brows.

  “You think too small, but I will grant your requests within my ability to do so. I will add one more thing and then my debt to you is paid. You will need a proper garment so that you will be…”He smirked before continuing, “...appropriate as a noble when you change back.”

  He turned to leave the courtyard, and I noticed that several servants were already picking up shards of glass with leather gloves. He regarded me one last time that night.

  “Also, as you have demonstrated your loyalty, tomorrow you are to help me with my work.”

  I groaned, within and without. Kalculus shot me a sharp grin.

  “We begin after breakfast.”