Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

‘Huh. Maybe. I don’t think anyone in the Flight Club is going to be voting for her in the election.’

Nava watched as Taryn stalked toward one of the buildings being used as changing rooms. She looked annoyed. Really, really annoyed. ‘That temper of hers is going to be a problem if she does replace Suki.’

‘If that happens, I’ll be resigning.’

‘Then let us hope our housemate’s political skills are up to the task of defeating her opponent.’

Melissa grinned and started for the obstacle course. ‘I think Suki’s perfectly capable. Also, I think I’m ready to run the course again. Coming?’

‘Now that Taryn Borchardt is leaving, yes.’

236/2/17.

For once, Nava was not the fox. There were a group of first years out in the school’s forest, trying their best to hunt down one of the third years. Nava was watching on the remote monitors, mostly to determine whether there were any standout competitors. So far, there were not, but there were some who might be worth additional effort.

‘Is it my imagination,’ Francis asked, ‘or is Taryn Borchardt avoiding you?’

‘I’m not entirely sure that avoiding is the right word,’ Nava replied, her eyes never leaving the screens. ‘I may have annoyed her at last week’s Flight Club, and I did beat her in the battle royal at the fair. I am possibly not her favourite person at the moment.’

Francis shrugged. ‘Neither am I. She came asking for my endorsement as the EA chair. I told her that I preferred not to endorse either candidate until I had a better idea of their position on the school’s clubs. It seemed like that wasn’t good enough, but she said she’d be back when she’d formulated a comprehensive plan.’

‘A comprehensive plan? What does that mean?’

‘I have no idea.’ Francis pointed up at one of the screens. ‘Now he looks like he could be useful with a bit of training.’

The student in question had just been taken out by the fox. However, he had almost got his own shot in first and he had uncovered the older student’s position when the others had not. It was possible they had a potential competitor there. ‘You may be correct, Francis. I’d suggest further evaluation.’

‘It’d be useful to get you to do some of that…’

‘I may be available.’

Francis grinned and heaved a mock sigh. ‘Oh how I wish that you were.’

‘Francis Goretti Orlando, you’re too old for me and you know it.’

‘Only until November.’

‘And in November, I’ll still be with Suki.’

There was another sigh. ‘And that’s a much bigger fly in the ointment. I’ll just have to wait until her birthday and try for both of you.’

‘Hm. Well, that’s something to look forward to. The look on your face when she turns you down will be priceless.’

236/2/19.

‘There’s no real source for any of it,’ Melissa said. ‘There’s no consistency either. Lots of contradictory information. If you believe all the rumours, Nava’s sleeping with every eligible male in the school.’

‘Not just the males,’ Nava commented, her tone disinterested. ‘Several females have been named.’

‘I don’t think that’s where we should be focusing,’ Mitsuko said. She had called the house meeting, which was taking place in the sento, due to the appearance of a number of posts on the school’s gossip channels regarding Nava’s supposed promiscuity. ‘Why has someone decided to start posting this crap now?’

‘I’d have thought that was obvious,’ Courtney replied.

‘I tend to agree,’ Nava said. ‘It’s a fairly obvious attempt to throw you off your game. I know you don’t believe any of it, but I feel I should state that none of these rumours has any basis in fact.’ It was barely noticeable, but Mitsuko relaxed just a tiny bit at Nava’s words. Mitsuko did not believe the rumours, but hearing Nava deny them had settled any latent worry.

‘Well, one of the rumours said you were sleeping with me,’ Melissa said. ‘That’s true, but Suki’s with us when it happens, so I don’t think that counts. Who do you think started this? Taryn Borchardt is the obvious source, but–’

‘It’s her,’ Nava said.

‘You seem very sure.’

Nava considered briefly. ‘Ninety, maybe ninety-five percent. She tried to seduce me at Flight Club last week. Seduce may not be the best term. She suggested she wanted to get to know me a lot better. Since she couldn’t get me, I believe these rumours are her plan B.’

‘You’re saying that she tried to take you away from me,’ Mitsuko said, ‘just to gain an advantage in the election?’

‘No. That was her primary reason, but she’s fundamentally competitive. She wanted me because it would mean she beat you.’

‘Makes sense,’ Courtney said. ‘Taryn would be at the top of my list of suspects for starting this. What do you want to do about it?’

‘There’s not much we can do,’ Mitsuko said. ‘Denials will just feed the rumour mill. I don’t see this as a problem, aside from it potentially damaging Nava’s reputation.’

‘I’m not sure what reputation I have,’ Nava said, ‘so maybe this is just establishing one.’

‘I think we should establish a better one.’

‘Then I suppose I should attempt to quash these rumours. I have no idea how to do that, however. The main thing as far as I’m concerned is that they don’t disturb you.’

Mitsuko smiled. ‘I am undisturbed.’

Nava gave a nod. ‘Then I am too.’

236/2/20.

‘I’d just like to make it totally clear that I am not sleeping with Nava,’ Francis said.

‘I never thought you were, Francis,’ Mitsuko replied. It was lunchbreak and the student council was having a meeting. The rumours had not been the intended topic, but it was the topic which had come up almost immediately. ‘Even if you want to, you wouldn’t.’

‘I don’t–’ Francis cut himself off with a grimace. ‘Okay, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want her. I should probably stop the denials while I’m still believably innocent.’

‘A good policy, Francis,’ Darius said. Melissa and Marie were giggling. Courtney was doing her best not to. ‘The question is,’ Darius went