“No.” The word came so fast and loud it made her wince. Master Banage’s smile was gone, and he was staring at her with an expression so old, hurt, and angry she didn’t know what to make of it.
“Never run away from your parents,” he said, his voice soft now, but the lowered volume didn’t lower the intensity of the words. “Ever. No matter how angry you may be with them. No father, no matter how terrible, deserves the pain of not knowing if his child is alive and safe.”
“I’m sorry,” Miranda said, but Banage shook his head.
“Forget it,” he said with a wave of his jeweled hand. “Just go home, be yourself, and everything will work out. He can try and change you all he wants, but you belong with us.”
Miranda’s head dropped. “You say that,” she muttered. “But what if you’re wrong? What if he keeps me at home forever? All my work and training will have been for nothing. I’ll have to stop being a Spiritualist.”
Banage’s laugh was so sudden, Miranda jumped. She looked up in alarm to see the Rector laughing longer and louder than she’d ever seen him do before. Finally, he stopped long enough to give her a wide grin. “Miranda,” he said, still chuckling, “I cannot think of anything that could keep you from being a Spiritualist. I don’t think I could keep you from being a Spiritualist. Trust me, you’ll find your way back.”
Miranda frowned, not sure if she should feel complimented or insulted, but Banage was already up and walking to the door. “Come,” he said. “We’re running late.”
“Late for what?” Miranda said.
Banage reached the door and glanced over his shoulder. “Did you forget so quickly? My apprentice has just bound a wind spirit, so I’m getting Krigel, and then we’re taking you out to celebrate. You’re not going to let your father ruin that, are you?”
Miranda’s face broke into a huge smile. “No, sir,” she said, jogging through the door he held open for her.
* * *
The cab dropped Miranda off in front of the Lyonette city home early the next morning. She climbed out of the hired carriage with some trepidation, clutching the battered leather bag that held everything she owned, which wasn’t much. Spiritualists traveled a great deal, and Miranda had never found much she was willing to lug around with her. Even so, she felt pitifully under-packed standing on the steps of the enormous, opulent mansion.
Her parents had moved since she’d gone to Court. This was her first time seeing their new house, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. The home she’d grown up in had been down by the river, a lovely old townhouse that had sheltered the Lyonette family for generations. It had been large and gracious, huge to a child, but it was nothing compared to the four-story monstrosity she stood before now.
Miranda hesitated on the street as long as she could, but when the carriage drove off, she forced herself to climb the white marble stairs to the covered portico at the top. Feeling more than a little awkward, she reached out and knocked on the shiny red door. A young woman Miranda didn’t recognize opened it at once. Her plain, dark dress and apron said she was a maid, but the look she gave Miranda’s travel jacket and trousers was as cutting as any noble lady’s.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m Spiritualist Miranda Lyonette,” Miranda said, straightening up. “I—”
The maid’s eyes widened the moment Miranda spoke her name, and she stepped back immediately. “Forgive me, Lady Miranda, I didn’t recognize you.”
Miranda didn’t see how she could have, being as the girl was younger than she was and the last formal portrait of Miranda had been painted when she was three.
“Your mother is taking her breakfast in the corner parlor,” the maid continued, shutting the door behind Miranda the moment she was through. “This way, please.”
Miranda followed the girl with a growing sense of dread. The mansion’s interior was as opulent as its exterior, all lofty white ceilings and dark wooden floors covered with thick scrollwork carpets that muffled her boots to nothing. By the time they reached the corner parlor, which turned out to be on the second floor, Miranda was feeling decidedly small and shabby. Even so, she kept her head up and her fingers spread to show off her rings. She had only three—Durn’s large emerald, Alliana’s moss agate, and the heavy gold band of the Spirit Court itself—but she thrust them out like her hands were covered. Much as she would have loved to show off Eril’s pendant as well, she kept him hidden below her shirt. Even bound, wind spirits could be tricky, and nervous as she was right now, it was best if Eril stayed close to her core where she could keep a good feel on him.