by Martha Carr
“I’ll think of something,” she replied quickly. “Whatever I have to do to make sure I pass this class, Professor, I’ll do it—”
“Oh, hold on.” He chuckled and glanced around the arena as students chatted and familiars darted through the air and across the dirt floor. “This isn’t a punishment, Miss Alby. That dragon has been your familiar for a week, and from what I saw the day it was made official, the two of you have a strong enough bond. I can work around the circumstances if you can.”
“Absolutely.” She nodded. Bella’s trying to unravel me and that is not gonna happen. “So…why did you call me over here?”
“To be my assistant. If you won’t train in class with your familiar, you’ll train in a different way.” Worley’s eyebrows drew together and he scratched his chin again. “There’s quite a difference between keeping your own familiar at bay and knowingly and willingly putting someone else and theirs in…uncomfortable situations. You might learn something from having to do what’s necessary, even if it makes you squirm.”
“Oh. Great.” Raven glanced quickly at the students. “We won’t hurt anyone, right?”
“Not physically. And nothing that won’t make them stronger because of it. I hope.” He gestured for her to walk with him and strode toward the closest student.
Raven set her jaw firmly and followed him. No wonder he said he didn’t like this part. It turns us both into the bad guy simply to teach a lesson.
“Now, Miss Knowles.” Worley clapped briskly. “It looks like that wombat of yours has a problem keeping her nose out of the dirt.”
The girl looked at Raven with wide eyes, then glanced at their looming professor with a grimace. “I guess.”
“Well, then. Let’s get to work.”
Chapter Six
Raven was among the first students out the barn door once Professor Worley dismissed them for the day. A few of the others gave her disapproving looks. Rory Davidian slowed at her side and frowned. “Ignore everyone else. Worley asked you to help and that’s all you did.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I can’t help but feel a little guilty, though.”
“Hey, it’s not like you shoved those mice down Ernie’s throat. I’m not sure what trying to make him keep down a handful of owl pellets was supposed to do, but he got through it.” Rory glanced at his shirt and brushed it off with a grimace. “Mostly.”
“Well, thanks, Rory.”
The kid walked away, still brushing his hand across his clothes. His owl familiar tucked into himself on his shoulder, apparently asleep.
“Wow. That was intense to watch.” Henry came up beside her and bumped her with his shoulder. “Did you see how Percy’s robin couldn’t keep herself together when Worley began to fling worms everywhere?”
“I sure did,” Raven muttered, still smiling when he jumped in front of her with wide eyes. “I was right there for all of Worley’s little tests.”
“Hey, lemme tell ya, there are a few people I wouldn’t mind making uncomfortable. Like Bennett when his jackal wouldn’t stop sniffing at everyone else’s familiar. Oh, and Bella.”
“You don’t have to remind me, Derks. Class literally just finished.”
“Yeah, but her face when that firedrake leapt off her shoulder to snatch…what’d he call it again?”
Raven offered the other students a small, sympathetic smile as they filtered out of the barn with their tired familiars. “Dragon jerky. It’s only dried lizard, but I guess it gets to firedrakes too.”
“Man, he couldn’t keep his little snapping jaws off the stuff. I thought he was gonna bite Worley’s hand off.”
She caught a glimpse of Bella Chase who stalked across the grounds away from the barn. The girl scowled furiously while her firedrake fluttered behind her. Raven readjusted the strap of her satchel and sighed. “I think Bella and her familiar both know that eating teachers definitely crosses the line.”
Henry chuckled and spun again. “Woah. Murphy. He hit you guys kinda hard, huh?”
The girl hurried toward them, her shoulders hunched and her face flushed. She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced at Raven. “That was rough.”
“I bet.” She rubbed her friend’s back as Fritz slunk behind his bonded witch and looked equally as dejected. His fur was still drenched and clung to his body while drops of water left a trail behind him across the grass. With every other step, he shook a front paw and stepped a little more lightly than usual. “Murphy, I honestly didn’t know what that spell was supposed to do. Worley gave it to me and told me to cast it.”
“I know. He made you his assistant. I don’t blame you but I’m sure I have a few more scratches than I wanted.”
Raven leaned closer to look at Murphy’s forearms. “Ouch. Hey, I know a tiny healing spell. It might help a little.”
The girl shook her head. “That’s okay. You probably shouldn’t, anyway, unless you want everyone else to come begging for a healing spell.”
All three of them glanced at Elizabeth Kinsley, who walked away from the barn alone, a long gash on her temple visible beneath the dark bangs that almost fell over her eyes. She cradled her bat familiar in her arms and didn’t look at anyone.
“What did they have to do?” Murphy asked and winced at the sight.
“Besides the bat being awake and active during the day?” Raven sighed sympathetically. “She had to keep him from roosting for three minutes and then, he couldn’t hang upside-down from anything.”
“Weird training, if you ask me.” Henry deposited Maxwell safely into his shoulder bag and gave it a little pat. “On the bright side, Maxwell and I didn’t get eaten.”
“I didn’t know being a guinea pig would put you in such a good mood, Derks.”
“Hey, it’s simply good to know I’m not the only one who hasn’t discovered all my familiar’s tricks. Or weaknesses. Worley didn’t look too happy about it.”
“No.” Raven turned as Professor Worley closed the doors to the barn. The man didn’t look at anyone and headed across the grounds behind the others, his huge hands thrust into the pockets of his trousers. “I totally understand why. Trust me, I didn’t like it either.”
Murphy scowled and automatically skirted a puddle in the path through the grass. Fritz gave it a wide berth too. “I can’t imagine what Worley would have to do to help you test Leander.”
“Maybe you’ll have to keep your dragon from burning the whole school down next time you bring him on the grounds.” Henry snorted and clapped before he spread his hands wide. “Then you’ll be good to go. Passed with flying colors.”
Raven gave him a warning glance. “Dragons aren’t like that. Leander doesn’t merely set everything on fire for no reason. The others don’t either. I’m sure the Moss Ranch wouldn’t have lasted this long if that were the case.”
“Well, whatever his weakness is, you’ll find it.” They stepped beneath the stone archway and inside the main courtyard of Fowler Academy. Henry glanced at the tall towers and looked both nervous and disgruntled. “Hopefully it’s not anywhere near as hard as it was for the rest of us today.”
“Actually, I think we’ve already been through that part,” Raven said. “I’m not sure a dragon’s first instinct is to let a mage throw a saddle on their back and climb aboard.” She rubbed her shoulder absently, although it didn’t hurt as much anymore. “And I had the bruises to prove it.”
“You always kill two traditions with one dragon, don’t you, Alby?”
“Maybe.” She tried to hide a proud smile at that. “More like bend tradition, though. I’m not trying to tear anything down.” They headed across the main courtyard toward the front entrance, but Raven stopped. “Oh, I almost forgot. I have to find Headmaster Flynn.”
“Oh, yeah. Mystery letter time.”
Murphy looked from one to the other in bewilderment. “What?”
“My grandpa wrote Flynn a letter, I guess. Before he left this morning.”
With wide eyes, the girl glanced a
t where Fritz stalked toward the road off the Fowler Academy grounds before she leaned toward Raven. “He left?”
“Yep. It’s kind of a longer short story. Do you wanna come with me? I’ll tell you all about it on the way.”
“Uh…no, that’s okay.” The girl pointed at her familiar, who had now circled on the road and sat on his haunches to stare at his witch with his ears flattened against his head. “I’m gonna go home and dry Fritz. I’ll maybe give him a bowl of milk or something. I feel so bad.”
“Sure. See you tomorrow, then.” Raven waved goodbye as Murphy wandered away. The girl turned once to give Henry a questioning glance, but he paid no attention.
“Derks.” Raven slapped his shoulder with the back of her hand. “Are you gonna let Murphy walk to the town center alone?”
“What? Uh…” Henry stared across the main courtyard on the grounds and his mouth fell open a little.
“Earth to Derks!”
“Hey, you don’t have to yell it in my face.” He stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it, then looked away again. “I was actually, uh…Jenny asked me to help her with a combat spell she’s having trouble getting down… You know, to improve her aim.”
“Really?” She laughed and wrinkled her nose at him before she looked away and waved across the courtyard. “Hey, Jenny!”
The girl waved in response, a little unsure, but didn’t say anything.
“Jenny Connors asked you to tutor her with a combat spell?”
“Right?” He shrugged. “I couldn’t say no.”
“Of course you couldn’t. It’s a good thing perfect aim was one of the first things you pinned down.”
“My thoughts exactly, Alby. She chose the right wizard for this one. So, I’m gonna…” He walked backward across the paved area and stuck his thumb over his shoulder toward Jenny. “Hey, I wanna hear about that letter and what Flynn has to say about it, okay? Don’t forget.”
“That’ll be hard. Have fun carrying Jenny’s books on the walk home.”
Henry gave an exaggerated laugh before he turned and shoved his hands in his pockets.
Raven watched him and Jenny talking, his head lowered as he watched the girl with a wide grin. When they left the courtyard together and disappeared, Raven pivoted to look at the tall tower in the center of Fowler Academy. It’s time to play messenger.
The school had thinned out quickly as the students headed off either to their homes in town or toward the dormitories. Raven passed a few second-year students inside the stone walls of the main building before she almost skipped up the wide, winding staircase to the top of the tower and Headmaster Flynn’s office. Wherever Grandpa went, it has to be in this letter.
The wide, thick oak door was closed when she reached the top of the staircase, so she gave it a few quick, hard knocks.
A muffled laugh came from inside and Headmaster Flynn called, “Come in.”
She pulled on the iron loop of the door handle and had to step down the last step to open it before she entered the massive circular room.
Headmaster Flynn stood in front of his desk, still smiling and nodding at Professor Fellows and Professor Gilliam beside him. He glanced at Raven in the doorway and raised his eyebrows. “Ah. Miss Alby. How can I help you?”
“My grandfather gave me something to bring to you.” She took a quick look at his two companions, who both smiled with equal curiosity. I’m not sure if anyone else is supposed to know about this.
“Excellent. Please, come in. If Connor Alby has something for me, I most certainly won’t say no.”
Raven walked across the room toward the desk in the center and glanced at the tightly packed bookshelves lining the walls and the huge round stained glass window set high in the tower wall at the back. Green, blue, yellow, and red light streamed through the office. She slipped her satchel off her shoulder and balanced it on her knee to remove the letter.
“I heard you had the chance to assist Professor Worley today during familiar training.” Professor Fellows smiled even wider and leaned forward a little like they shared a secret.
With the letter in her hand, she swung her satchel over her shoulder and focused on the professor. “Yeah. How did you hear about it so quickly?”
“I overheard a few students talking about it. It’s a rough part of the training, but Professor Worley’s one of the best for that kind of thing.”
“It can’t be much rougher than weapons training with you, though, right?” She held Fellows’ gaze as she crossed the room toward Headmaster Flynn.
He shrugged. “It depends on the day, I suppose. It takes considerable strength and willpower to test other people’s limits too, Miss Alby.”
“Yep. That was my biggest takeaway.” She looked at Headmaster Flynn and slowly extended the letter stamped with the Alby family seal.
“Oh.” The man stroked his graying beard and inclined his head as he took the folded parchment paper. “A letter.”
Professor Gilliam uttered a small sigh and shook her head. “Connor Alby still won’t leave his ranch and instead, has a message delivered.”
“Not exactly.” Raven’s attention slid away from Gilliam when the headmaster walked quickly around his desk to open a drawer.
“As far as I’m concerned, the man’s earned his right to do as he pleases.” The headmaster rummaged in his drawer. “Where did I put that magnifying glass?”
Raven couldn’t help laughing. “What do you need a magnifying glass for?”
Headmaster Flynn looked quickly at her and raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever tried to read your grandfather’s handwriting? Oh, well, I’m sure you haven’t come anywhere close to having eyesight problems. Embrace and cherish your youth, Miss Alby. It’ll slip through your fingers before you know it.”
“Yes, Headmaster.” Professor Gilliam folded her arms with a little smirk. “That’s exactly the kind of thing we want to drill into our students’ heads.”
Flynn hummed with satisfaction when he finally retrieved the magnifying glass, broke the seal on the letter, and unfolded the parchment paper.
Professor Fellows cleared his throat with a little smirk. “Don’t tell me you never seized the day in your youth, Eleanor.”
Gilliam glanced quickly at Raven, then raised an eyebrow at the weapons professor. “That’s Professor Gilliam if you don’t mind. And for the record, I firmly believe I spent my youth adequately and with as much of an eye on the future as I had on the present. Thank you very much. That’s how I’ve been so fortunate to have taught at this mage academy for the last twenty years.”
“Hmm. You must have grown up awfully fast then, huh? Did you start teaching right after graduation?” Beneath her glacial stare, he laughed and tried to hide it with a cough.
“If I didn’t know better, Professor Fellows, I’d say you were trying to hide one insult by wrapping it in a compliment I’m not so certain either one of us believes.”
Fellows eyebrows raised sharply and he turned a wide-eyed look of surprise toward Raven. The young mage in training merely hitched her satchel to a more comfortable position and smiled politely. Even Professors have their class clowns and overachievers. I wonder if Gilliam ever shot a few arrows at her competition.
“Miss Alby.” The advanced spells professor turned her back on Professor Fellows to settle an intent, scrutinizing gaze on the student in the room. “I don’t believe I’ve had the chance yet to congratulate you on the competition in Nadine.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Raven glanced at Headmaster Flynn, who had placed her grandfather’s letter on the desk and moved his hand rhythmically to scan it with the gigantic magnifying glass. “Leander worked hard for it.”
“Hmm. I’d venture to say you both put in a fair amount of—”
“Professors.” Headmaster Flynn’s voice cut through her words. Everyone turned to look at him, but he stared at the floor on the other side of his desk. “Would you kindly give Miss Alby and me the room?”
“Absolutely.” When the ma
n still didn’t look at anyone, Professor Gilliam sent Professor Fellows another warning glance before she brushed past both him and Raven toward the open door.
Fellows coughed over another laugh and tipped his head at the girl on his way out. “The trick is finding balance. Exactly like the edge of a blade, Miss Alby. Don’t let your youth run away with you but don’t let it limit you either.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She chuckled as the weapons professor gave her a thumbs-up and headed out of the office.
“Professor Fellows.” Headmaster Flynn finally looked up from the floor. “Please close the door behind you if you don’t mind.”
The man nodded and turned on the top step to shove the heavy wooden door into place. It shut with a thud that echoed through the huge circular office.
Raven turned to face the headmaster. He stroked his beard a few times and set the magnifying glass carefully on the desk but wouldn’t look at her.
That’s the same look Grandpa had when he stood over my bed this morning. “Headmaster?”
“One moment, Miss Alby.” He lifted Connor’s letter in one hand, snapped his fingers with the other, and muttered, “Incendium.”
The parchment paper burst into flames and he released it. In seconds, the entire letter was reduced to a loose pile of curled, charred ribbons and a melted puddle of green wax.
Her mouth dropped open. “Why did you do that?”
“I assume that’s a question asked out of surprise and not because you can’t imagine the answer.” Headmaster Flynn cupped his hand over his mouth and drew it down to tug on his long gray-white beard again.
“Headmaster, I stayed so I could see what my grandfather wrote in that letter.”
“And it’s a good thing you did, Miss Alby. I wouldn’t have enjoyed trying to locate you before you left the grounds for the day.” The desk drawer jerked open again, and he slid the magnifying glass inside with a thump. “Because you and I have a few things to discuss.”
Chapter Seven
Raven stared at the pile of ash on the desk. I should’ve read that letter when I had the chance. “What did it say?”