by Kate O'Hearn
Cylus’s eyes narrowed and his posture changed. “I am not stupid.”
Nerve struck. “Yes, you are stupid if you keep causing trouble with Zephyr. You must know how strong Pegasus is. Trust me, Zephyr’s just as strong. But she doesn’t have his self-control. So if you want to keep all those pretty white teeth of yours, you’d better be quiet.”
“I’m not stupid and I’m not scared of her,” Cylus said, though he backed away two steps.
The ground started to shake as Brutus returned. He bent down to them. “The principal is waiting for you. You go in through these doors and straight down to the end of the hall. Her doors are right there. Sit down on the benches outside her office and wait to be called in.”
“I should not be here,” Cylus argued. “My mother is on the high council and is an adviser to Jupiter. She will be furious when I tell her how you have treated me.”
“I would be happy to tell her myself,” Brutus offered. “In fact, shall I go over to the palace right now and bring her here? Then you can tell her yourself why you were fighting.”
Cylus stood defiantly before the giant, but when Brutus started to go, he called, “Never mind. There is no need to disturb her right now.”
Brutus sighed and pointed to the doors. “Get inside.”
The look on the giant’s face left no room for discussion. They entered the school together and saw the madness inside as other students filled the main hall. They had already been given their assignments and were struggling to find their classrooms. Hall monitors of every shape and kind were helping to direct them.
The three said nothing as they continued forward until they reached a T junction where the corridor continued in opposite directions. Ahead of them were two large double doors with long benches set up on either side. A sign on the door indicated this was the principal’s office.
One of the benches already had an occupant. A boy was sitting alone and looking very lost.
Astraea had never seen anyone like him before. His head was down and he was gazing into his folded hands. He appeared to be neither Titan nor Olympian. His skin was radiant silver, and he had a head of shocking black hair with lavender and blue highlights.
He had a sharp nose and full lips. When he looked up at her, Astraea almost gasped. His eyes were amazing—dark blue with silver flecks.
“All of you come in!” called a voice from behind the office doors.
Astraea patted Zephyr’s shoulder and walked forward. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the strange silver boy rise to follow. He was graceful and walked with a soft, soundless tread. He wouldn’t look at anyone.
Cylus stopped and stared at him. He snorted, “What—are—you?”
“Cylus!” the voice called. “That is enough. Inside, now!”
“But have you seen him?” Cylus cried.
“Inside!” the voice repeated as the office doors flew open.
Astraea looked inside and couldn’t see who opened them or how. She put her arm on Zephyr’s back and slowly walked forward.
They passed through a spacious outer office, which held only a single marble desk filled with scrolls and parchments, then went farther ahead into the inner office. Inside, they saw a stern-faced woman dressed in flowing white robes and sitting on a three-legged stool. Her graying hair was piled high on her head, and she had golden sandals on her feet. There was no other furniture in the room, though there was an immense window overlooking all the other buildings of Arcadia.
Brutus was standing outside the window peering in.
“Thank you, Brutus,” the woman called. “I will take it from here.”
She turned back to the students, and her hard blue eyes bored into each of them, as though looking deep inside. “If you do not know my name, I am Themis, the new principal of Arcadia.” Her gaze finally settled on Astraea. “Fighting on the first day? Really, Astraea, is that the example you wish to set for the younger students?”
Astraea dropped her head. “I’m sorry.”
“So you should be. You have brought shame down on your family. I will, of course, have to inform your parents.”
Cylus snickered and smiled smugly at Astraea. Themis immediately turned to him. “Do not for a moment think that I do not know your part in this altercation. You started it with your cruel words!”
Astraea suddenly realized why Themis’s name was so familiar. She was a Titan seer, and back in ancient times on Earth, she had been the Oracle at Delphi, who passed along law and order to humans. It made sense that Jupiter would ask her to preside over Arcadia to keep order.
“I did not!” Cylus said. “She hit me first.”
“After you teased Zephyr about her parentage. Then you called Astraea stubby-winged. You were both cruel and mean-spirited. I will not tolerate either in my school.”
Her sharp eyes shot to Zephyr. “Nor will I tolerate violence. You must learn to curb that temper of yours if you plan to attend this school.”
Zephyr also lowered her head. “I am sorry too.”
“Now, this is all very new to us, so I will be lenient today. Instead of expelling you, which I should do, you will each serve a full week of detention. During that time, if there is any more trouble, I will not hesitate to expel you.”
“What’s detention?” Astraea asked.
“What is detention,” Themis corrected. “It is where each of you will stay after school and perform whatever tasks I assign you. If you try to escape this punishment, the next punishment will be worse. Now do I make myself clear?”
Astraea and Zephyr nodded while Cylus shrugged. Seeing this, Themis rose from her stool and was over to him in a flash. “Did you just shrug at me?”
The hair on Astraea’s arms rose and she felt tingling down her spine. The fine hairs of Zephyr’s mane also started to float. It seemed the angrier Themis became, the more energy she gave off.
“I am sorry,” Cylus said quickly, not daring to look at the principal. “Yes, I understand, I will be here for detention. There will be no more trouble.”
Themis calmed and the static electricity in the air abated. She returned to her stool. “Fine. Now, Zephyr and Cylus, go rejoin the lines outside to receive your classroom assignments.” Her eyes moved to Astraea. “You stay here for a moment.”
Astraea looked over to Zephyr as her friend slowly moved to the door.
“And no more fighting!” Themis called as they disappeared into the outer office. “I am watching you both.”
When they were gone, Themis stared at the marble floor for some time before looking back up at Astraea. “I have a special assignment for you.” She looked over at the silver-skinned boy. “Come closer, Trynulus.”
He was so still and silent that Astraea had forgotten he was even in the room. But when he stepped forward, he seemed to glide. There was a gentle calmness around him as he stood silently beside her.
“Astraea, I would like you to meet Trynulus. He will be joining us at school to further his education.”
Astraea looked at the strange boy beside her. When his eyes landed on her, she was once again struck by the colors inside them.
“Trynulus,” the principal continued, “Astraea will be your guide until you find your way around.”
“Me?” Astraea cried. “Forgive me, Themis, but how can I be a guide when I don’t even know my own way around? I expect to spend most of my time lost!”
For the first time since she’d arrived in the room, Themis smiled and laughed lightly. “Then you will learn together.” The principal’s eyes settled on Trynulus. “I appreciate that Titus is a big change for you. Xanadu is a wonderful place, but it is wild and untamed. Here we are more ordered. But I am sure in time you will come to love it. There is much to see and do. Just remember, you are the first of your kind to come here. If this works, more will follow. So you must consider yourself a diplomat.”
“I understand,” he said softly.
“Xanadu?” Astraea looked over at the silver-skinned boy. “Are you
really from Xanadu?”
“Yes,” he answered.
Themis left her stool and walked closer to them. She smiled at Trynulus before saying to Astraea, “Trynulus’s father was from Earth and his mother is Rhean, a unique race rescued by Riza and Emily Jacobs when their world’s sun went supernova. His mother’s people now live on one of the new continents of Xanadu.”
“Wow,” Astraea said. “That’s so cool.”
“Cool?” Themis frowned. “I do not think so. Xanadu is a warm world.”
“Sorry,” Astraea said. “I mean that is very exciting.”
“Yes, it is,” Themis said. “So of course, you can understand how difficult the transition will be for Trynulus. I want you to help him adjust to life here on Titus.”
“Sure,” Astraea said. “Zephyr and I can show him all around.”
Themis sighed. “Ah yes, Zephyr . . . Please do not let your friend lead him astray. We both know how . . . spirited she can be.”
Astraea smiled. “I understand. We’ll be careful.”
Themis reached into a hidden pocket in her robes and pulled out a small piece of paper. She handed it to Astraea. “Here is the class schedule for you and Trynulus. You may go on to your first class now. Just remember to return here this afternoon to start your detention.”
Astraea frowned. “I thought showing Trynulus around was my detention.”
Themis shook her head. “No, showing Trynulus around is just good manners. You will still do a week’s detention for fighting.”
“Oh,” Astraea sighed. “Of course.”
Themis smiled at Astraea but held out both her hands to Trynulus. “Welcome to Arcadia. I’m sure you will soon fit right in.”
5
ASTRAEA WALKED WITH TRYNULUS THROUGH the confusion of Arcadia One. Around them were other students looking just as perplexed as they tried to figure out their schedules and locate their classrooms.
Along the halls were doors, and each one had a number on it. Astraea soon worked out that the four buildings of Arcadia were numbered One to Four. Within each building, classrooms were also numbered, and the floors of the buildings had names. Their first class was in Arcadia One, room 3 on Prometheus level. She just had to figure out which level was Prometheus.
“How long have you been here?” she asked as they made their way to the stairs.
“A few days,” he said.
“Where are you staying while you’re here?”
“There is something called a dormitory—it’s where the students stay who come from too far away to go home each night. But in my section, there’s only me.”
Astraea looked at his strange silver face and saw no emotion there. He didn’t look around him and didn’t ask her any questions. If she didn’t speak, he remained silent.
They climbed the stairs to the next level. A sign said it was Prometheus. “Here we are, Trynulus. We just have to find room three.”
Trynulus stopped. “May I ask a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Would you please call me Tryn? My mother only ever calls me Trynulus when I’m in trouble. I prefer Tryn.”
“I prefer it too,” Astraea said, finding it hard to believe he would ever get into trouble.
By the time they arrived at their first class, everyone else was inside. There were desks, benches, and standing areas to accommodate every shape of Titan or Olympian. Astraea was disappointed to see Cylus standing with several other centaurs, and even more upset to see that Zephyr wasn’t there.
Minerva stood at the front of the class. “Come in,” she said, ushering them in. “Find an empty seat and sit down. We are about to get started.”
Astraea knew that Minerva was known as a powerful Olympian warrior and Jupiter’s favorite child. The class schedule said this was supposed to be ancient history. If so, why would a warrior teach it?
The answer had revealed itself by the end of class. Technically speaking, Minerva was teaching history—the history of the ancient battles between the Titans and the Olympians. Astraea realized that if the point of Arcadia was to bring the Titans and Olympians together, this was the worst possible class to do it. Minerva spent most of the time going into details about the Titans’ attacks on Olympus. Not once did she discuss the Olympian return attacks on Titus.
When the bell finally rang, Minerva called out, “We are starting in the classroom, but soon we will take our lessons outside, where I will introduce you to the weapons we used and how to use them.”
Astraea was seated beside Tryn and looked at him. “Weapons? Really?” Her eyes went to the back of the room, where the centaurs were laughing, pushing and shoving each other. Cylus’s eyes landed on her. He made a motion as though he was holding an invisible bow and arrow. He drew back the arrow and fired it at her.
“Oh, great,” she said. “I can’t believe they put us in the same class as Cylus and his friends.”
“Does he worry you?”
“Worry? No. But he does bother me. He’s a troublemaker.”
Astraea waited for Tryn to say something else, but he looked down at his hands and remained silent.
“I guess we should look for our next class,” Astraea finally said. She pulled out her schedule and sighed. “This day just keeps getting worse. We have blacksmithing taught by Vulcan. Why do I need to know about metalworking? It’s not like I want to build weapons.”
A trace of a smile lit Tryn’s face, then vanished. “I know Vulcan well. He spent time on Xanadu helping us. He did not make weapons—he helped design and build our homes.”
“Oh,” Astraea said. “That was really nice of him. What’s it like on Xanadu? I heard it’s beautiful.”
“It is.”
Astraea waited for him to say more, but he said nothing. She watched him from the corner of her eye and noticed how sad he looked. When he glanced over to her, she looked down at the schedule again. “Um, it says Vulcan’s forge is in Arcadia Three, at the back. Let’s see how long it takes us to find it.”
The first day at school sped by as Astraea and Tryn moved through their classes. There were blacksmithing, art, dance, astronomy, and Earth studies taught by the human-turned-sphinx Tom. Astraea shared that class with Tom’s daughter, Seneka, and found she enjoyed it the most.
But through all the classes and even between them, Tryn said very little. Unless Astraea started the conversation, he said nothing at all. She decided by the afternoon that he was either very shy, indifferent or didn’t like her—which made her especially grateful when she shared two afternoon classes with Zephyr.
When the final bell sounded and the day ended, Tryn just nodded and walked away.
“Well, good-bye to you too . . . ,” Zephyr called as she and Astraea watched him slip through the crowded halls without a glance in any direction but down. Zephyr looked at her friend. “He’s a ball of fun, isn’t he?”
Astraea followed Tryn’s departure. “He is quiet, I’ll say that for him. I think he feels really out of place.”
“You think?” Zephyr said. “Look at him. He’s silver. Of course he’s out of place. I bet he even glows in the dark.”
“You’re one to talk,” Astraea teased. “I can read by the glow you give off.”
“That’s different,” Zephyr replied hotly.
Astraea laughed as they slowly made their way back to the principal’s office.
Themis was there, waiting for them. “You are late,” she chastised.
“But we were at Arcadia Three for dance class. That’s a long way away,” Zephyr said. “And since Astraea can’t fly yet, we had to stay on the ground.”
“That is no excuse.” Themis walked over to the window and picked up a broom lying against it and large bucket with a dustpan. She handed the broom to Astraea and put the bucket before Zephyr. “For the rest of this week, you two will sweep the halls of Arcadia One. When you finish, you may return home.”
“What?” Zephyr cried. “That’s not fair! Cylus started the fight. What’s he doing for
his detention?”
“If you must know, because he started the trouble, Cylus is cleaning Arcadia Four—by himself.”
Zephyr snorted. “It’s still not fair. Why should we sweep the floors when you have cleaners to do that? Let the night dwellers do it when the school is closed. We shouldn’t have to.”
Themis’s eyes darkened. “Do you believe you are better than the night dwellers? That they alone should do this kind of labor?”
“I didn’t say that,” Zephyr said. “But they do work at night when others have gone to bed. They like that kind of physical labor.”
“So because they generally work in the nectar orchards, they should automatically work here as well?”
“Well . . .”
Themis nodded and took the broom away from Astraea. “All right. For today you do not have to clean the halls—”
“Great!” Zephyr turned and began to clop out of the office.
Astraea saw the growing anger on Themis’s face as Zephyr started to leave. Her best friend was getting them deeper into trouble and didn’t even know it.
“Stop!” Themis commanded. She waved her hand in the air, and the double doors slammed shut in front of Zephyr, who whinnied and reared in fear.
“I am not finished with you yet,” Themis said. “Come back here.”
Zephyr looked from the doors to Themis and back to the doors again. “How did you do that?”
“The ‘how’ does not matter. What does is what will happen if you test my patience further.”
When Zephyr returned, Themis shook her head sadly. “Since you believe you are so much better than the night dwellers and that they should do all the physical labor, I want you to experience what they do in the orchards. For your detention today, you will both go into the East Arcadian Nectar Orchard and collect two urns of fresh nectar. It’s getting late and the flowers will be opening soon.”
“You want us to collect nectar?” Astraea gasped.
Themis nodded. “You will each fill an urn. Then tomorrow morning before class, you will deliver the nectar to me and tell me what you thought of working in the orchards.”