“We’re going back to the inn to eat and study for the written exam tomorrow,” Ethel said. “Do you want to join us?”
“It’s a written exam tomorrow?” Barclay choked. He’d never failed a test, but his competitors had been around Lore their entire lives. Barclay barely even knew the basics.
“Don’t you know?” Ethel said, frowning. “The first exam is always a written one. I heard High Keeper Erhart even wrote this exam himself!”
Barclay’s panic rose. “This is going to be a disaster.”
“Cheer up!” Abel said, slapping his back. “You can’t fail out of the Exhibition unless you die! And we can study together over cider.”
Barclay and Viola’s stomachs both rumbled.
Several minutes later the four of them had wandered into a tavern called the Ironwood Inn. It had a cozy atmosphere, fluffy carpets and blankets all over the floors and chairs—even if they did look like they were made from squirrel and raccoon fur. On the bottom level was a tiny restaurant famous for hot mugs of spiced pear cider. Even with the threat of impending doom, Barclay felt much better with his belly warm from the drink.
Ethel returned from the twins’ rooms with her arms full of more books. Barclay didn’t think he’d ever met someone with so muchstuff.
“What is all this?” Barclay asked, nodding at her pile and her bag.
“Oh, just some collectibles.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of notebooks. She opened one and showed Barclay the sketches of different species of Beasts, writing scribbled into every free inch of the page. “I’ve got all sorts. The figurines are my favorite. But I’ve also got maps. And posters. And…”
She spilled out a drawstring pouch of tiny items, like feathers and baubles. Barclay admitted most of the collectibles were interesting, like a tooth made out of what looked likesolid silver, and a bone shaped like a star. He didn’t touch the brown clump on the end, though. He suspected it was scat.
“This is my favorite,” Ethel said excitedly, holding a flat, grooved white stone in her hand. “It’s the shell of an Oystix. I think it drifted into the river from the Sea!”
“That’s just a rock,” Abel said flatly.
Ethel stuck her tongue out at him.
Mitzi, who had been sleeping on Viola’s lap as she flipped through the opening chapter ofA Traveler’s Log, looked up at the spread of treasure. She climbed onto the table and pecked at each of the trinkets.
“I love your whelp!” Ethel cooed. She reached out to pet Mitzi, who stole a shiny piece and ducked away.
“Sorry,” Viola said, prying the piece out of Mitzi’s mouth. “You know how dragons are with shiny things. Such a little thief.”
“I wish I could have a dragon,” Abel moaned. “If I ever get to go to the Mountains, I’ll havetenof them. I’ll be invincible.”
Barclay had never imagined anyone could love Beasts, let alone love Beasts this much. Lore Keepers were not what he expected at all. He didn’t know whether it fascinated him or disturbed him.
“Ten dragons? How many Beasts can a Lore Keeper bond with?” Barclay asked.
“There’s not actually a limit,” Viola answered. “But the stronger they are and the more you have, the harder it will be for you to control them and their Lore.”
“Well, I’m plenty strong,” Abel said, puffing out his chest. “I’ll collect twenty Beasts. No—fifty! One hundred!”
Ethel rolled her eyes. “Says the boy who once tried to bond with a regular rat.”
“It had an abnormally long tail!” Abel shot back. “It looked like a Rattle!”
“How many Beasts do you have now?” Barclay asked.
“We just have one each, but don’t ask what they are,” said Abel. “We’re keeping it secret. We’ll need the element of surprise to pull ahead in the Exhibition.”
At this, several of Ethel’s figurines were inexplicably swept off the table and to the floor. Ethel hurriedly bent down to pick them up, casting an irritated look, not to Abel but behind him. Except there was nothing here.
Barclay glanced at Viola, who knitted her brow.
“Do you also collect Beast things?” Barclay asked Abel. “Is that what your cards are?”
A look of horror crossed his face at the comparison.
