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Authors: Garrett Robinson
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not be surprised to learn. But you could spend five lifetimes and not read them all, and only if you spent all your time here, where you could never put such knowledge to use. I must admit to some small pleasure at the wonder in your eyes. Are you fond of reading?”
Ebon shook his head slowly. “Not before. But this…how could anyone see this place and not be struck by wonder? The Dean took me through the Academy yesterday, but he never showed me this. If he had, I would have called this the Academy’s greatest wonder.”
Jia’s lips drew into a thin line. “That does not greatly surprise me. Cyrus is not the most avid reader, and was not even as a student himself.”
“You were here when he was a student?” Ebon blinked. “How can that be? You cannot have seen enough years.”
It looked as though she was trying hard to stifle a smile. “You will find that flattery has little effect on me, Ebon.”
“I did not…I meant only that…”
She patted him on the arm. “Pay it no heed. Come. That is all you need to see today, and we should return you to your dormitory. You can return tomorrow, when your first day at the Academy truly begins.”
Jia brought Ebon back through the halls to another spiral staircase leading up. This time he recognized the staircase, and thought he might even be able to find it again, if pressed. That boded well. Once they reached the third floor, she brought him to his dormitory and stopped before his bed.
“There is one more thing you should know. If you wish to send a letter home, you may bring it to me, and I will see its safe transport. The fee is a silver penny. But if you wish to send a letter, and have not the coin, come speak with me, and I will see if something can be arranged.”
Ebon blushed, for he had a thick purse in his robes—transferred from the clothes he had worn upon arrival, and always kept upon him in case of emergency. “I do not think I shall have a problem in that regard. But I thank you for your consideration.” Again he thanked the sky above that she did not know his family. He remembered the way that everyone had avoided his eyes at the tavern only two days ago, and knew Jia would never have been so friendly if she knew.
“I imagine that is true, Ebon of the family Drayden.”
A chill set into his bones, and Ebon blanched as he looked at her. Wordlessly his mouth worked, trying to form some explanation. Jia smiled sadly, and then, to his surprise, she took his hand.
“You thought I did not know your family? It is written plain on your face, as well as your bearing, and your manner of speech. But if you think that matters here, you are mistaken. No one worth their salt cares for your name or your kin. And the Draydens have produced many excellent wizards—sky above, one of them is our Dean.”
Ebon found words hard to muster. “But…but on the Seat, they…”
“I do not doubt that many on the street looked at you askance. But you will find—or you should find—that being a wizard is different. Many worries you have struggled with during your life will fade while you are here. If not, then you are not learning all that you should. Do you understand?”
“I am afraid not.”
“Of course not. But you will. Your first class is tomorrow morning, two hours after the rising of the sun.”
Then she left him, and Ebon stared after her, dumbfounded, as the dormitory faded to silence around him.
eight
AFTER JIA HAD GONE, HE went to his cabinet and ensured his robes were neatly stacked. He doubted anyone would care how his cabinet looked, but liked his things well ordered, and no longer had Tamen to take care of them for him.
Tamen. Thinking of his retainer sent Ebon’s mind spinning. Only a few hours ago he had left Tamen standing in the Drayden manor courtyard, and now he was in the Academy. He might see Tamen again someday, and then again he might not. Certainly it would be a long time, unless his parents returned to the Seat for some
Ebon shook his head slowly. “Not before. But this…how could anyone see this place and not be struck by wonder? The Dean took me through the Academy yesterday, but he never showed me this. If he had, I would have called this the Academy’s greatest wonder.”
Jia’s lips drew into a thin line. “That does not greatly surprise me. Cyrus is not the most avid reader, and was not even as a student himself.”
“You were here when he was a student?” Ebon blinked. “How can that be? You cannot have seen enough years.”
It looked as though she was trying hard to stifle a smile. “You will find that flattery has little effect on me, Ebon.”
“I did not…I meant only that…”
She patted him on the arm. “Pay it no heed. Come. That is all you need to see today, and we should return you to your dormitory. You can return tomorrow, when your first day at the Academy truly begins.”
Jia brought Ebon back through the halls to another spiral staircase leading up. This time he recognized the staircase, and thought he might even be able to find it again, if pressed. That boded well. Once they reached the third floor, she brought him to his dormitory and stopped before his bed.
“There is one more thing you should know. If you wish to send a letter home, you may bring it to me, and I will see its safe transport. The fee is a silver penny. But if you wish to send a letter, and have not the coin, come speak with me, and I will see if something can be arranged.”
Ebon blushed, for he had a thick purse in his robes—transferred from the clothes he had worn upon arrival, and always kept upon him in case of emergency. “I do not think I shall have a problem in that regard. But I thank you for your consideration.” Again he thanked the sky above that she did not know his family. He remembered the way that everyone had avoided his eyes at the tavern only two days ago, and knew Jia would never have been so friendly if she knew.
“I imagine that is true, Ebon of the family Drayden.”
A chill set into his bones, and Ebon blanched as he looked at her. Wordlessly his mouth worked, trying to form some explanation. Jia smiled sadly, and then, to his surprise, she took his hand.
“You thought I did not know your family? It is written plain on your face, as well as your bearing, and your manner of speech. But if you think that matters here, you are mistaken. No one worth their salt cares for your name or your kin. And the Draydens have produced many excellent wizards—sky above, one of them is our Dean.”
Ebon found words hard to muster. “But…but on the Seat, they…”
“I do not doubt that many on the street looked at you askance. But you will find—or you should find—that being a wizard is different. Many worries you have struggled with during your life will fade while you are here. If not, then you are not learning all that you should. Do you understand?”
“I am afraid not.”
“Of course not. But you will. Your first class is tomorrow morning, two hours after the rising of the sun.”
Then she left him, and Ebon stared after her, dumbfounded, as the dormitory faded to silence around him.
eight
AFTER JIA HAD GONE, HE went to his cabinet and ensured his robes were neatly stacked. He doubted anyone would care how his cabinet looked, but liked his things well ordered, and no longer had Tamen to take care of them for him.
Tamen. Thinking of his retainer sent Ebon’s mind spinning. Only a few hours ago he had left Tamen standing in the Drayden manor courtyard, and now he was in the Academy. He might see Tamen again someday, and then again he might not. Certainly it would be a long time, unless his parents returned to the Seat for some
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