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same arguments again is a waste of time, and we’re already short on it.”
    “But she’s used EM!” a girl with short black hair says. “What if she uses it against us?”
    “Well that’s just not sayin’ much, is it?” Percy says in his slow, southern drawl, his voice holding an unusual edge. “One of the prereqs for bein’ a squire is to be able to use EM.”
    “It’s not the same!” the knight says.
    “It isn’t?” Arthur asks, steepling his fingers before him.
    “Of course not,” Hector says. “We need to have oghams to be able to control the elements. Whereas she… Well, we all know she doesn’t need them.”
    “’Cause she’s got her own,” one of the squires lining the back wall sniggers.
    “Which is mighty useful, I’d say,” Percy says, balancing precariously on the back two legs of his chair.
    Next to him, Gauvain nods. “She wouldn’t have to worry about any malfunctions,” he says. “Which could be crucial in any battle. Especially since some of our own have proved somewhat unreliable of late.”
    “That’s right,” Gareth says, trying to cross his arms over his bulging pectorals and giving up at the sound of tearing fabric. “She protected Lance and Arthur both against
cette sorcière de 5
Carman.”
    “Looks like the changeling’s already affected
their
brains,” the girl knight says in a clear undertone to Hector.
    “And now they’re bringing a traitor into the fold,” Hector says in the same manner.
    Arthur slams his fists on the table, making everyone jump. “I will
not
have slanderous comments said in my presence about anyone at this school!” he barks. “Is that clear?”
    The knights’ faces turn scarlet and they look at me with unabashed hatred.
    “Now that’s settled,” Arthur continues, his composure regained, “I want to make sure everyone’s on the same page. There is to be no hazing of the new recruits, or anyone else for that matter. We need to devote all our time to preparing for another attack”—there’s a collective intake of breath from the squires at his words—“because we all know it’s coming. We just don’t know where or when yet. Squires, we’re counting on you to help us with our responsibilities as KORT members. That includes watching over the pages, especially since so many of them are still too young to fully understand everything that’s going on.
    “Finally, and I can’t stress this enough”—he gives me a pointed look—“the moment you spot trouble, go fetch one of us.
Immediately
. There is no place here for people who want to play the lonely hero. Is that clear?”
    “Yes, sir!” the row of squires intones, standing straight and proud, Keva among them.
    “Very well,” Arthur says with a satisfied nod. “Meeting dismissed.”
    As people brush past me on their way out, I tense up—not because of all the glares and whispered curses I’m getting, but because I’m to be stuck with Arthur again. Alone. And I’m not sure I can stop myself from throttling him.
    A soft breeze drifts in through the windows, lifting the brightly colored heraldic flags that hang high from the grey walls. Finally, the two of us are the only ones left in the trapezoidal room.
    “I suppose you have some questions for me,” Arthur says, letting himself slump in his seat, his face pale from lack of sleep.
    I would be tempted to take pity on him if all I’d had to go through wasn’t still fresh in my mind. But it is, and he being one of the greatest culprits, I take pleasure at the sight.
    “No,” I say.
    Startled, he looks up at me. “You don’t?”
    “Listening to you would be like listening to the serpent in Paradise,” I reply, “poison to my ears and bound to lead to my fall.”
    Arthur’s face turns a shade paler and his lips thin out. He looks like he’s about to argue, but then he sinks further down into his seat and closes his eyes. “Very well,” he says in a defeated manner. “Get out.”
----

I escape from