Clash (The Arinthian Line Book 4) by Sever Bronny Page B

“Write out the spell words. Indeed. On what parchment, pray tell?”
    When Jengo had no answer, Harvus held out his hand. “Hand me the book, please.”
    Augum glared at Harvus.
    “Augum, are you refusing to hand over the book to your mentor?” The glint in Harvus’ cold eyes was unmistakable. Seeing no choice in the matter, Augum surrendered the book.
    Harvus idly flipped through the pages with his gloved hand, beady eyes occasionally flicking to them, while Augum and Jengo sat absolutely still.
    Having gotten through halfway, Harvus stopped, gave them a certain look, and flipped to the back page. “Ah, here we are,” and slowly began to read aloud so Bridget and Leera could hear. “ ‘Harvus won’t let me and Leera like each other—’ ” He shook his head. “Poorly written at best, my dear boy. The correct word should be ‘allow’, as in, ‘Mr. Harvus will not allow Leera and I to cavort improperly’.”
    His eyes flicked to Augum a moment before he continued, making each word sound as if it had been written by a dumb child. “ ‘He overheard us talking about him and is mad’.” He chuckled to himself, a sound wholly unnatural. “Well I am not ‘mad’, as you put it, Augum, I am merely doing the right thing—preventing you from soiling yourself. Now let me see here, what else did you scrawl? Oh, yes. ‘We have to find a way to fire that manure-eating squirrel-haired bastard as soon as possible’.” Harvus’ eyes swept to Augum like a spider descending on its web-bound prey.
    Augum shrank a little, barely conscious of the girls watching.
    “Not only did you ruin the back of a very expensive book, but you have slandered my good name, and—without cause, mind you—wish me fired.” Harvus gently closed the book. “I see. After everything that I have done for you. After all the extra hours of training, the toil, the patience I have exhibited. After all the sacrifices I have made …” He held up the book with his gloved hand. “ This is how you repay me?”
    Augum pointed at his own mouth, wanting to tell Harvus he did want him fired, that he did think he was a manure-eating squirrel-haired bastard, and that he had no right whatsoever to treat them this way—
    Harvus slowly drummed the book with two fingers. “I see we shall have to simplify things. A child is unable to learn at an advanced level when he lacks basic discipline. Augum Stone, you will not have the privilege of touching this book, since you obviously cannot help but desecrate it. And since you cannot seem to control that tongue of yours even when mute, you leave me but little choice.”
    Harvus held the book under the crook of one arm while digging into a pocket with the other, fishing out a bar of tallow soap.
    Augum immediately got to his feet, but Harvus reached out, using Telekinesis to arcanely hold him.
    “Open wide please, Augum, it is for your own good.”
    Augum’s mouth was forced open with expert Telekinesis. He watched helpless as the soap floated over, jamming into his mouth. His lips closed around the bar and locked in place. His eyes watered from the strain of trying to force the bar of soap out. He wanted to gag but could not. He felt the bitter sting of humiliation, reminding him of being trapped with Erika in Evergray tower. The pair of them had to be cut from the same sadistic cloth.
    Behind Harvus, Bridget grabbed Leera, preventing her from rushing over, something Augum was grateful for—she did not need to go through this agony again.
    Harvus made a show of tearing out the last page of the book before handing the tome to Jengo. “I shall keep this as evidence. You may show Augum the pages, but he is not to touch the book itself. He has to earn that privilege back. Do I make myself clear, Jengo?”
    Jengo would not look at Augum, his voice solemn. “Yes, Mr. Harvus.”
    Harvus hovered over Augum, watching him. “The less you struggle the better, my dear boy.” He sighed. “See, what you need to