《Wings of a Viceroy》


 1. Mother

    Ezra straightened her suit and stared at her reflection. Piercing green eyes stared back at her, cynical and unforgiving. Just as her mother intended, she cut a masculine figure. Constant training every morning, before the sun touched the horizon, gave her muscle mass and daily tutoring kept her sharp. She was naturally tall for a woman, her black hair had been cut short for as long as she could remember. Her dark olive skin was clear and healthy.


    She had been blessed with superior genes and cursed with a life of lying about her very identity.


    ¡°Are you ready, Ezra?¡± Her mother entered the room, arms open wide to hug her. ¡°My handsome man,¡± she cooed, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re leaving me.¡±


    Ezra¡¯s eyes flickered over her dismissively, ¡°Is the car here?¡± Her voice was hoarse from continuous screaming that damaged her vocal cords. It replicated a post-puberty male¡¯s voice well enough. Her mother certainly thought of everything.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± her mother chimed. Viere Ketea wasn¡¯t the dancer of her youth but she still had a strange ethereal beauty. Her long limbs extended like wings as she moved, her fingers flitting over Ezra¡¯ face. She had large eyes like spun gold and long, sweeping lashes. She seemed to be delicate and weak but appearances were designed to be misleading.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Ezra glanced away from her for only second, to glance out the window, yet when she looked back, her mother had an ugly scowl. ¡°Try not to draw attention to yourself. You¡¯ll ruin us.¡±


    Those were the words she used if even the light hit Ezra at an angle that was a bit too feminine for her liking.


    Nowadays, Ezra found herself giving the same response. ¡°If I was going to ruin us, it wouldn¡¯t be on accident.¡± What she left unsaid was that it¡¯d be out of a need to burn this forsaken inherited estate to the ground along with every childhood memory it brought to mind.


    Her mother took this statement as reassurance and tucked a pocket square into her breast pocket, ¡°Your father would have been so proud.¡±


    Ezra sneered, ¡°He would have been appalled. As would you, were he alive.¡±


    ¡°But he isn¡¯t,¡± Viere reminded her, ¡°He would have been proud of you for taking care of your mother.¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t have cared, Ezra thought bitterly. He wouldn¡¯t have cared a bit for his pretty little wife and his non-male heir. He would have been like every other male in this sniveling patriarch society, disinterested and controlling. After he died, her mother could have either retreated to a life outside high society with an allowance or claim her daughter was male and therefore, liable to inherit her father¡¯s estate and funds. She decided to force her daughter into this charade.


    A servant ran into the room and bowed at the waist, ¡°The car is here, sir.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Ezra slid out of her mother¡¯s grip and headed towards the door. ¡°Good bye, mother.¡±


    ¡°Be good, dear son.¡± Don¡¯t ruin us.


    Ezra glanced back, ¡°There¡¯s hardly any fun in being good.¡±

 2. The Wolves of Nobilis

    Ezra watched the gates of Nobilis Academy roll into view. Forty thousand acres dedicated to the education of the noble class for five years of their lives. At sixteen, Ezra was entering late.


    The gates that surrounded the property was black gothic gates, meant to represent the death of something or the other once you entered. Ezra rolled her eyes at the melodrama of it all.


    Her car followed a procession of cars to a building front of center of the property. Boys were lined up, socializing within their lines or yelling across.


    The driver stopped at the end of a line and got out. Ezra straightened her suit and kept her face blank as he walked over to open her door. The boys in the line turned their attention to the car, anticipation building in their eyes. They all knew each other from the day they entered the school two years ago. Ezra merely stepped out the car and a hush spread through the line and seemed to expand across the courtyard. Ezra kept her eyes forward, taking her place in the line.


    A boy broke out of the line and stood in front of her. He was taller but stick thin, like a puppet without strings. His face was dotted with acne but his mouth was set in a stern line. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Ezra stared straight ahead without giving him the impression that she was seeing him. ¡°Ezra Ketea.¡±


    ¡°Ketea,¡± the boy huffed a mocking laugh, ¡°They allowed you in? And this school claims to have high standards.¡±


    Ezra dipped into her memory and pulled a name. ¡°Guine Reborsi. It offends me to know that you were the one chosen to give this lecture.¡±


    There was a bark of laughter off Ezra¡¯ left. A young man was approaching, blonde hair rolling down his shoulder. His too wide grin seemed more predatory than welcoming. ¡°Ezra Ketea. Welcome.¡±


    Ezra¡¯ mind supplied this name, unbidden. It was only natural, seeing how Davi Leuris was heir to one of the most powerful houses in the kingdom. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Leuris. It¡¯s a pleasure to be here.¡±


    ¡°Please, call me Davi,¡± Leuris clapped her shoulder in what he probably thought was a friendly manner but his grip was far too tight and his dark gaze drilled into her. ¡°Why haven¡¯t I had the pleasure sooner? I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯ve missed out.¡±


    ¡°My health hasn¡¯t been the best these past couple years,¡± Ezra gave him the practiced story with an unconvincing, flat voice. ¡°My dear mother wanted to keep me close. For her peace of mind.¡±


    ¡°I see. What was the problem?¡±


    ¡°Pardon me?"


    ¡°What was the problem with your health?¡± he clarified.


    ¡°Weak bones,¡± said Ezra, looking bored. ¡°Every time someone touched me, something broke.¡± She glanced at where his hand remained and leveled him with a desert dry stare.


    There was a stunned second where Leuris didn¡¯t say a word but he quickly recovered and uttered a shallow laugh. ¡°Alright, wouldn¡¯t want to break you,¡± Despite his words, he clapped on the her back a few more times before leaving. ¡°Look after the newcomer, Guine. He has a lot to catch up on.¡±


    Ezra held back a grimace at how much the claps stung.Stolen story; please report.


    When she looked back at Guine, he was staring at Leuris¡¯ back, visibly confused.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Ezra asked.


    Guine snapped to attention and glared at Ezra. ¡°Davi wants me to catch you up so listen closely. Little jokes like that are going to get you in trouble the next time around. He was just in a good mood today.¡±


    ¡°A good mood,¡± Ezra echoed. She didn¡¯t get that impression. She was more of the opinion that he didn¡¯t know his own mood. ¡°He''s a strange character.¡±


    Guine didn''t respond. Instead, he turned his back on Ezra and ordered, ¡°Follow me,¡± before marching to the front of the line.


    Ezra didn''t move an inch, but as her eyes flickered to the boys around her. While taking in their looks of shock and jealousy, it dawned on her that something strange had happened. A split second decision had her following Guine.


    He stopped at a circle of boys, ¡°This is the second year wolves. Wolves, this is Ezra Ketea.¡±


    The first boy to step forward was eyeing Ezra like she was a gold mine. He was tall with fiery red hair and an unruly beard. He was also twice Ezra size. He put out an cheerful hand, ¡°I''m Hayes.¡±


    Ezra shook his hand but asked Guine, ¡°What do you mean, wolves?¡±


    ¡°The Leuris'' family crest is a wolf,¡± Guine explained, ¡°As his closest allies, we''re allowed to call ourselves wolves.¡±


    Ezra¡¯ eyes narrowed, ¡°Why are you introducing me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Guine¡¯s stark answer had the ring of truth. ¡°Davi assigned me to get you caught up. He wouldn¡¯t have said that if you weren¡¯t a potential wolf.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely dripping in potential. Come on, Guine, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t see it,¡± Hayes asserted, grabbing Guine¡¯s shoulder to make sure he was looking. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he look like someone with potential?¡±


    ¡°What are you,¡± Guine stopped when he finally caught on and scowled at Hayes, ¡°Those are just rumors.¡±


    ¡°I merely couldn¡¯t help observing that this gentleman has plenty of potential,¡± Hayes winked Guine, not trying to hide just how sleazy the comment was. ¡°But that¡¯s inconsequential. Let me catch him up.¡±


    Guine almost squawked, ¡°No, certainly not, you can¡¯t be trusted with potentials. You¡¯ll make them vagrants like you.¡±


    ¡°You call me a vagrant, I call myself higher on the hierarchy.¡± He wasn''t wrong. Hayes Demorye was from a far more prominent family.


    Guine¡¯s jaw clenched, ¡°Fine, but I¡¯ll be sure to report this change.¡±


    ¡°Make sure you do,¡± Hayes said smugly. He threw an arm around Ezra¡¯s shoulders and led her away from the group, ¡°You and me are going to get along quite well, my friend.¡±


    Ezra sneered, ¡°Even if I find you appalling?¡±


    He shrugged, dripping a disgusting amount of ego, ¡°I¡¯ll grow on you. Besides, if you want to survive here, you don¡¯t want our dear Captain Rule-Enforcer,¡± he jabbed a thumb in Guine¡¯s direction, ¡°He¡¯s a fantastic choice when you¡¯re already leading the pack. You, though, are struggling to grasp even the lowest ring of the hierarchy. The Ketea family¡¯s name has withered and died and you¡¯re expected to revive it. Whether you adore or despise me, I can help you make it to graduation.¡±


    Ezra had to bite her tongue as she reflected on his speech. He was right in all respects. ¡°Why would you help me?¡±


    Hayes¡¯ grin was large and vicious, ¡°The moment you showed up, Leuris named you a potential and showed very clearly that you unsettle him. You, my friend, have the potential to ruin him and I¡¯d be remiss if I left you on lonesome, potential unexploited.¡±


    Ezra eyed Hayes, ¡°You¡¯re not very loyal, are you?¡±


    ¡°This school is a giant chess game,¡± Hayes informed her, ¡°If you make it out of here King then you¡¯ll have the run of the land.¡±


    And he expected her to be his pawn. Considering her situation, she couldn¡¯t argue. It was a better deal than she would have expected if she had known how politically driven the school¡¯s social structure was. She picked up his arm and removed it from her shoulder and stated, ¡°I don¡¯t like being touched.¡±


    Hayes held his hands up in surrender despite the laughter in his eyes. ¡°Fine. Anyway, we have rules. Most of these goes for every family and their allies. Number one is simple, just be the best in your classes but especially better than the other houses. Two, do what you need to do but don¡¯t get caught by the teachers.¡±


    ¡°What would I need to do?¡±


    Hayes just smirked, ¡°Three, obey your alpha. For now, it¡¯s Leuris but also me, just for the record. Four, try not to associate with the competition. Anyone catches you intermingling without insults being thrown and you¡¯re immediately labeled a traitor.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a hasty judgment to make.¡±


    ¡°No one wants to risk having a spy in their mists.¡±


    Ezra wondered for a second, who else had secrets that would ruin them.

 3. Nobilis Dorms

    After the Entrance ceremony, the boys were sent to their classes. Ezra saw a teacher approaching out the corner of her eye but he stopped dead when Hayes put an arm around her shoulders. He retreated to the other teachers and whispered something before going off the other way. She was given a number of curious looks after then but no one tried to approach her.


    Hayes took a look at her schedule and grin, ¡°You¡¯re going the same course as me.¡±


    ¡°Course?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Every year has four classes, each class goes a different course to keep from getting in the way of other classes. You¡¯re third year, class A. Just stick close to me and you¡¯ll get through the day.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Ezra spent a moment wondering what would get her sent home. What would, short of ruining them, get her out of this academy? Her feet carried through the halls of the building but she didn¡¯t hear a word of Hayes¡¯ commentary. She was wondering if maybe ruining them was her only option. The charade was ridiculous enough when she had rooted at home. She didn¡¯t want this burden any longer.


    ¡°And this is the lesser known library,¡± Hayes announced, as she left the confines of her mind, ¡°A couple of years ago, a newer one was built and since then, this one has been thoroughly forgotten.¡±


    Ezra looked up at the elderly oak door and committed it¡¯s location to memory.


    When they arrived to the classroom, the twenty odd students that shared the class had already arrived.


    The teacher was a young man, appearing to be in his early thirties, and stout. His square jaw clenched slightly as the walked in the room. ¡°Class started five minutes ago.¡±


    Hayes shrugged off the rebuke, ¡°I was showing the newcomer around.¡±


    ¡°Right, the newcomer, Ezra Ketea,¡± his eyes slid over to Ezra, ¡°My name is Lionel Crestmon. I will be your instructor this year. Hopefully, this will be your last time being tardy. The next will warrant disciplinary action.¡±


    Ezra nodded, ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Good. Sit down, both of you.¡±


    Hayes spotted the two empty seats in the back first. He clapped Ezra back and walked on back.


    She glared at him but followed, ignoring the eyes tracking her every move. She was already a specimen and they didn¡¯t even know her gender.


    ¡°As I was saying before we were interrupted,¡± Mr. Crestmon continued, ¡°This is not the time to be complacent. Every year of this school will either lead you to success or send you down the dark road of failure.¡± His eyes swept over the classroom. ¡°I am here to help you on your journey to adulthood but keep in mind, I am neither a peer nor a friend. Your interpersonal squabbles are none of my concern.¡± One last sweep of the classroom, his eyes lingering on Hayes, before he turned his back and picked up his chalk. ¡°The first lesson on your course is history. Who can tell me why we build on your knowledge of the past year after year?¡±


    Hands went up and class was in progress.


    Ezra allowed her mind to stray. The first day was merely introductory classes, shortened to allow the students to visit each lesson in the course before going to the dorms to unpack.


    So Ezra allowed herself to slip out of the guarded front. Class carried on while she looked out the window and watched the clouds form and float by. The bright blue sky was met by trees at the horizon. Flowers dotted the campus grounds, slipping in shades of reds and purples into the view. Then orange and black wings came out of nowhere, landing on the windowsill. Her shoulders relaxed when she saw that it was only a monarch butterfly. Or, she thought critically, a viceroy. The impersonators were hard to distinguish with the naked eye.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    A hand landed on her shoulder and her head snapped over to Hayes. The boy smiled, ¡°You¡¯re weren¡¯t paying the least bit of attention, were you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She looked up to see Mr. Crestmon was gone, ¡°Where¡¯s the instructor?¡±


    ¡°Gone to get the science instruments.¡± Hayes leaned on his fist and smiled at her, ¡°Exactly what were you thinking so hard about?¡±


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the butterfly fly away. ¡°That¡¯s hardly any of your business, is it?¡±


    ¡°Well, I suppose not,¡± his smile remained as he turned his attention to twirling his pencil. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t help thinking you¡¯d make a pretty girl. If you weren¡¯t so prickly.¡±


    Ezra scowled, ¡°You can keep inconsequential comments to yourself.¡±


    ¡°Inconsequential,¡± she watched curiously as he let out a rueful laugh, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the word for it. To think I just called a man pretty. God, this is going to be an interesting year.¡±


    After their classes for the day were done, Hayes led her to the third year dorms.


    ¡°The first floor is recreation,¡± Hayes explained, walking through the grand parlor. Boys were already reclining on couches as they came in, apparently unconcerned with unpacking. There were a few card games started up, gambling games by the looks of it. He led her to the back of the parlor, around a wall, ¡°The mess hall is open from five am to seven pm. The dormers stock and maintain this kitchen so if you¡¯re a midnight eater, this is where you can prepare whatever your heart desires.¡± He was greeted people as he walked, clearly well known, and introduced Ezra in turn. The farther they went, the more it irritated her.


    ¡°This is the communal bath,¡± he announced. Steam came pouring out when he opened the door, ¡°We occasionally have meetings here.¡±


    Exra furrowed her brows at him, ¡°While bathing?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a little nudity among men? We expose ourselves and strengthen bonds and all that,¡± He winked playfully then was off again.


    He led her to a set of stairs and started the journey up. ¡°What room are you in?¡±


    ¡°16C.¡±


    Hayes snickered, ¡°Top floor. You''ll resent that once we really get into combat.¡±


    He walked up two flights of stairs, nodding and greeting peers. It was why Ezra was surprised when, as they ventured up the third flight of stairs, a gloomy looking boy with shadow black hair came down and was treated with cold disregard.


    The boy responded in turn, walking pass without a word until he caught sight of Ezra. Curious hazel eyes followed her.


    Ezra tore her eyes away and continued up the stairs. The room Hayes took her to was halfway down the hall. He went on in and introduced the room with a grandiose wave, ¡°Welcome to your new home for the next three years.¡±


    The room had already been arranged and unpacked for her. She wasn''t surprised. Their head house keeper, Miranda, had demanded to travel with the men to make sure none of them touch her things. Otherwise, it''d be hard to explain the feminine artifacts that could be found. Ezra expected to find them in a neat box beneath her bed. The room was bare beside the bed, wardrobe and trunk. The trunk was the most decorative piece in the room, a family heirloom from her father''s side. It was gilded in gold and had stories of sea monsters and adventures etched into the sides.


    ¡°Nice trunk you got here,¡± Hayes commented, eyeing it. ¡°Is this your security blanket? I suppose on entering Nobilis can be intimidating. It beats keeping a plushie.¡±


    ¡°My mother,¡± she growled irritably, ¡°It¡¯s my father¡¯s heirloom and she insisted that I take the thing with me. It''d be at the bottom of a lake by now if I thought I''d get away with it.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± his eyebrows were up and he could barely repress a smile. ¡°I would hate to be too forward but you don''t seem to like either of your parents.¡±


    She leveled him with a flat glare, ¡°Get out of my room.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I''m obviously not needed anymore,¡± he held out a hand and waited patiently for Ezra to shake it. ¡°Dear Mr. Ketea, would you happen to be the finest wine in the country?¡±


    She stared at him, confused and curious despite herself, ¡°Why would you ask that?¡±


    ¡°Because now that I''ve met you, I''m sure I''ll be keeping you close.¡± He left her with a cheeky wink and a clap on her shoulder.


    Ezra touched her shoulder, feeling the lingering phantom of his hand. There were tones to touch, she was starting to realize, and she couldn¡¯t quite figure out what was behind Hayes¡¯. Was he an ally or another battle front?


    While she brooded over this, she caught sight of the key left on her bed. There was little point to staying in the room to contemplate something that had no immediate answer. She wanted to get to know the new land she had to navigate. Starting, she supposed, with seeing if there was somewhere to retreat to besides the room.


    Like an outdated library.