Free Steel Victory (Steel Empire Book 1) by J.L. Gribble

showered and changed back into street clothes; his damp silver hair still clung to his scalp, revealing the small pointed ear tips that reminded Toria of his own mixed heritage. He stood off to the side of the room at the large picture window overlooking the training room floor, studying a pair of men sparring with wooden practice knives.
    “You wanted to see us?” Toria said.
    “I believe it was the two of you who first wanted to see me.” Max turned away from the window and gestured to two couches on the other side of the room, ignoring the chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat. Would either of you like a drink?”
    Max plucked a bottle of water from a small refrigerator hidden in a sideboard. Kane accepted it with thanks and settled next to Toria. Max took a seat on the couch across from them.
    After stealing a sip of Kane’s water, Toria said, “You’re right. Mama asked us to speak with you about some problems that might come up tonight at the council meeting.”
    “I figured you two didn’t just show up out of the blue today to get some random practice in,” Max said, “but you did need it. And you got into a fight with Fosca, why?”
    “She started it!” Toria backed down from Max’s smirk. “I don’t know what happened, sir. She accused me of being a spoiled brat and not being a real fighter.”
    “You’re not a real fighter,” Max said. “You’re barely a journeyman. You’d do best to remember that.”
    “Yes, sir,” Toria said. “We’ll be back more this summer to train.” Kane nodded agreement.
    “Good. Then I presume the real reason you’re here is to speak with me about that little incident at Emily Fabbri’s restaurant the other night?” Now an amused glint appeared in Max’s eyes.
    Toria groaned. “So the stories have started spreading already?”
    “Not stories, necessarily. Let’s just say that had you gotten into any physical trouble with either Fabbri or the police, you had some friends in that restaurant with you,” Max said. “A few of the Guild were there eating a late lunch. They came straight to me afterward, to warn me both of that detestable sign out front and about your confrontation.”
    “That’s good to know,” Toria said. “I’m kinda glad it didn’t turn into a fight. I was way too tempted to smack Fabbri. She’s lucky she called the cops on me.”
    “But have you heard about what Victory and Dean Joensen did last night?” Kane said.
    When Max shook his head, Kane outlined Victory’s experience with Emily Fabbri the night before. “So now everyone’s pissed off, and council tonight should be lots of fun.”
    “To be a fly on the wall,” Toria said.
    “And to think that last month I was bored and wishing for a distraction. Like when the werepanthers attacked the building.” Max tilted a knowing eyebrow at the warrior-mage pair. “Wasn’t that the last time you two tried to come to a council meeting?”
    “Hey, our luck isn’t quite that bad,” Toria said. “But since the dean dragged me into this, I’m curious to find out what happens.”
    “I still have the mini-recorder I borrowed from Jordon for the interviews I had to do last month for my English class,” Kane said. “We could give it to Victory and have her sneak it in for us.”
    “I’m not hearing this,” Max said. “Council sessions are closed.”
    “And when have you known us to do anything wrong?” Toria said.
    “More times than I care to count, yet you two always seem to wiggle out of the consequences,” Max said. “I wish I had half your luck.”
    “Unfortunately, I think it comes with her,” Kane said. “None of it’s managed to rub off on me.”
    “But at least she’s entertaining. Another question: do either of you know when Asaron will be back in town?”
    “He’s here now, actually.” Toria’s turn to play storyteller. She recounted how her parents rescued her grandfather.
    “Good. A few journeymen finished their rotation in the Roman