Page 137 of Spark of Sorcery
Despite the relatively early hour, students are already out on the pathways this morning, many gathered in groups and gossiping to one another. As usual, the appearance of me with the Princes has them halting mid-sentence and gaping at us open-mouthed. It’s even more blatant today and I’m guessing that’s because the vultures have been feasting on the news of my attack and my visit to the shadow weaver clinic.
The climb up the stairs to my room is not as easy asusual. My legs feel weak and I’m forced to stop once when I wobble.
“I’m definitely getting you out of that assault course,” Dray mumbles.
“I’ll be fine by this afternoon.” I’m going to need to be. The next trial is only two weeks away and I can’t afford to miss out on training and learning.
These Princes may have convinced themselves that I am their fated mate – that they’re going to whisk me away to Onyx Quarter no matter what the outcome of the trials. But I know differently. The doctor said it herself – commoners without magic cannot have fated mates. They’re mistaken. And yet, a little optimism must have rubbed off on me from somewhere, because I seem to believe I can score some points in the next trial and make it out of Slate. At least, I think I can if I can walk without keeling over.
At the top of the stairs, we meet Fly who flings his arms around me and hugs me tight.
“Jeez,” he mumbles in my ear, “were you always this tiny?”
“Apparently I lost quite a bit of blood.”
“Not the best way to lose weight,” he says, looking me over. “They’re not seriously making her do classes today, are they? She looks hideous.”
“Thanks,” I say flatly.
“I said we could get her out of it, but you know Briony.”
“Hmmm,” Fly says, taking my hand and dragging me into my room, closing the door in the Princes’ faces.
“Hey!” Dray protests.
“She needs to get changed into her uniform,” Fly calls through the door.
“And you get to watch that happen and we don’tbecause…”
“No one is watching me change,” I call back, going to lie down on the bed and catch my breath. Fly flops down beside me, the biggest grin on his face that I’ve ever seen.
“Are you okay?” I ask him.
“Am I okay? I’m freaking ecstatic. This may be the best day of my life and that is something considering one time Caelan Manship took it upon himself to show me where my prostate–”
“Best day of your life?” I interrupt. “Because I’m back?”
“No! Well, that too but …” He examines my face. “You don’t know, do you?” He glances at the door and shakes his head. “They didn’t tell you.”
“Didn’t tell me what?” I say, rolling up to sit. This doesn't sound good. “Is it about Blaze?”
“No!” He takes my hand in his, grinning even more widely than before – so wide I’m scared his cheeks may split. “Odessa.”
“Odessa?”
“Odessa has been expelled from the academy.”
I stare at him in absolute shock. Expelled? Odessa? “No … that can’t be …”
“It is. I, along with most of the rest of the students and faculty, watched her being marched off the academy grounds last night. And,” he says, doing a little dance of excitement on the bed, “that isn’t even the best bit?”
“Really?” I say, because Fly is right, that news has made my day. Probably my year. “Guess where she was sent back to?”
“Iron Quarter. Isn’t that where she’s from?”
“Nope, Slate.”
“Fuck the stars above! What did she do?”
