Free Clash (The Arinthian Line Book 4) by Sever Bronny

you have the blue book in your possession?”
    Augum raised his shoulder. “Right here, in the rucksack.”
    “I say it again—please refer to me as Mr. Harvus, Augum.”
    “Mr. Harvus.”
    “And do not be clever with me. I am far smarter than you are. As it is, follow me, please.”
    “See you soon, Jengo,” Leera muttered, following Harvus.
    As they walked, Augum wondered what Harvus had meant by being “clever”. Was he on to him and Leera? No, he was being paranoid, they’ve been so careful!
    “Please fetch Haylee for me, will you, Bridget?”
    “Yes, Mr. Harvus.”
    Augum glimpsed Leera silently mimicking Bridget.
    When they reached the small cabin, a cool wind rustled the forest, pushing gray clouds overhead. The stream trickled on, joined by the perpetual drip of snowmelt.
    “Let us wait for Bridget and Haylee to join us.”
    Augum raised an eyebrow. “Are we just to stand here? Why don’t we practice some spells—” but he stopped himself from going on. Mr. Harvus had closed his eyes and pursed his lips, indicating he was in no mood to hear it. Augum sighed loudly in protest. He was getting sick of Harvus’ stifling ways. His stupid mannerisms, which at first seemed trite and funny, now were irritating to no end.
    Harvus picked a piece of lint from his robe. “Mind yourself, young Augum Stone. You are not the hero you think yourself to be.”
    Leera stayed Augum with a subtle pinch on his arm.
    Bridget and a hobbling Haylee soon joined them. The latter had an impatient look on her face and rings around her eyes even darker than Bridget’s.
    “Haylee, I expect you to work harder today. You have been a disappointment thus far.” He raised a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “I do not want to hear it, young lady. You have had ample opportunity to study, yet your progress has been abysmal. In the academy, you would have had many more studies to worry about. Here, you have minimal responsibilities, yet you dawdle, throw tantrums, and cavort with that … savage.”
    Haylee was shaking her head throughout his speech, trying to keep tears from falling on her cheeks. “I don’t need this,” she finally blurted, lower lip quivering. “And I don’t need you, you … pasty marmot. I’m done—” She began hobbling off.
    Bridget took a step toward her. “Haylee, wait—”
    “Nope, I’m done. Done!”
    “But your training! You need to train with someone—”
    She was still shaking her head while hobbling off. “Yes, I do, but I refuse to do it with him .”
    “We are indeed done, young lady. Do not seek my services again.”
    “Oh, don’t worry about that, I won’t .”
    “Mr. Harvus, please—” Bridget said.
    “Back in line, Bridget. The young lady has insulted me and chosen the coward’s path. So be it.”
    Haylee stopped as if to respond, fists balled. Instead, she shook her head a final time and hobbled off.
    “Anyone else wish to cease lessons with me? You are absolutely free to do so.” Harvus waited for a reply, but none came. Augum would have loved to tell him to shove his lessons, but too much rode on their studies, far too much. He felt terrible for Haylee though. What was she going to do now? He’d help train her on the side but there just wasn’t time. They worked morning until night daily with Harvus, and if it wasn’t with Harvus, it was for Mrs. Stone at the Trainer, or performing practice tasks either set forth for them.
    “Good. Now then, I trust you to have diligently studied the chapter on today’s lesson, as I assigned a tenday ago,” Harvus began, gloved hands folded over his potbelly as he eyed Augum and Leera in particular.
    Augum felt a pang of guilt, not because he was worried about letting Harvus down, but because by being behind in their studies, he and Leera, having spent nearly all their study time together, placed themselves and Bridget in danger.
    “Bridget, what is today’s lesson?”
    Augum and Leera exchanged quick glances. Harvus