I took a seat in one of about forty desks along the second row at the end. For all the grandeur of the grounds and common areas, the lecture halls were quite austere. Four rows of built-in hardwood desks, stepped slightly higher at the back. An instructor’s desk with a black marble countertop for demonstrations. Blackboards on sliding tracks. Eggshell plaster walls with a simple cornice in indigo and midnight blue.
I may have been out of uniform and late, but I’d committed to memory everything I could find about the academy and my specialization, so most of what Master Arel relayed was review. As we all introduced ourselves, I noted fewer elves than expected. It was literally an elven academy, and elves were among the races with high magic affinity, the other being gnomes, of which there were four in our class. Did so many of them shun the idea of becoming a mage?
I gave the thirty-second speech I’d practiced for about six months, Theodore Thistlewood from the small town of Thorncove, wanted something different than the predominant avocations of lumber and fishery, studied the prerequisite courses at home, was delighted to be accepted. I didn’t mention the incident between the dilapidated trade schooner I’d booked passage on and the glorious Empire Clipper we’d encountered, now somewhat less than gloriouslyaccumulating coral in the depths. I didn’t wantthatsort of attention.
Many students had traveled even farther than I to reach the academy, including a certain elf woman, whose full name I finally got: Lady Sephimara Arazniros. Who did not wish to use the moniker Baroness. The Baroness was her mother.
I took notes, both physically and mentally, and an hour later, the faculty adviser concluded.
“Given that many classes are not unique to the mage specialization, you will, of course, encounter students in other programs. As contentious as the establishment of our new specialization is, both your performance and your behavior will be under close scrutiny. Anything less than excellence in either will incurconsequences.For the student in question and our entire class.” His voice, still soft, conveyed more conviction than I’d heard from him prior.
After the day I’d had so far, I remained seated, letting most of the other students exit first, including Lady Az… Ar… Araz-ni-ros. What a mouthful. Sephimara flows so much nicer off the tongue. My brother told me most elves weren’t as stiff as they first appeared, yet I had the feeling getting to first-name basis with her was about as likely as befriending a kraken. Pity.
I filtered out with the rest of the stragglers, giving myself the chance to take in the details as I strolled back to the lobby.
“It would appear your nerve knows no boundaries.” It was one of the trio of elves from earlier, who was fortunately not in the mage specialization.
“It may shock you to know,” I said. “But I have not miraculously had the time to change since your last admonishment of my attire.”
“We observed you with the rest of those so-called mage scholars,” said one.
“Youare the reason my brother was not accepted. He wished to attend in a respectable field of study.”
I sidestepped, attempting to get around them.
They blocked me.
“There is always next year for your brother, is there not?” I’d practiced with my own brother, learning to hold my own in this sort of situation, but wasn’t in the mood.
“There is. Who knows if you will last until then.”
“Who knows.” I physically pushed my way past them into the lobby in a very un-elflike display.
The matched luggage was being carried outside and loaded into one of two coaches. Lady Araz… nose stepped into the other.
I stopped dead, blinking at the spectacle.
Theentirestack of luggage is all hers?
“It is considered rude to withdraw from a conversation improperly.” The voice from behind carried a note of annoyance this time.
I spun to face them.
I did not want the conversation in the first place.Conversation… conversation. Yes. “I was not aware of any conversation.”
All three furrowed their eyebrows simultaneously andmost uniformly.
“What I observed was a lecture. Which I would naturally embrace at an academy… were it delivered by acompetent speaker.Good day.” I spun, determined not to face them again. Unless I heard the sound of weapons being drawn.
Which, given the day so far…
Chapter Two
I glanced at the spot I’d dropped my bags, finding it conspicuously devoid of luggage.
Stolen?
Everything I had was in that luggage!
