Read Online The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst - Free Book Online

old clothes in the bins. You’ll bathe every day, after survival class and before the evening meal. You’ll keep your room neat and bring your clothes to me for a new set when you outgrow them. You also will come to me when you are ill or injured, and I will give you a pass to the healers. Unless you are unconscious, in which case a pass will be sent with you.”
    â€œUm, thank you.” She wondered how often students were knocked unconscious, if that was part of the standard welcome speech. “I’m Daleina. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    The woman gave her a withering look, all her wrinkles deepening until her face looked like a squeezed cloth. “Room 27B. Your schedule will be on your door. Do not be late. Ever.”
    â€œWhere can I find my family? To say goodbye. They’ll want to see me, and I want to tell them I passed.” She held the clothes gingerly, away from the mud that clung to her tunic. Her family would prefer to see her clean and unbruised, even if it took an extra minute. It would help erase her parents’ worry and bolster her sister’s impression that this would be a piece of cake.
    â€œYou’re in the academy now,” the woman said. “You don’t have time for family. Everyone has been dispersed, and your parents will be told of your status by messenger.”
    â€œBut I didn’t get to talk to them—”
    â€œBathe and settle in. We are your family now.” She turned from Daleina to shove clothes at the next student, a girl with wide eyes and pinched lips who looked as if she’d rather bolt up the tree like a squirrel than stay a second longer. Daleina wondered what the headmistress had said to her. She lingered for a second more, trying to think of what she could say that would convince the woman to let her see her parents and Arin. She only needed a moment, a chance to tell them that everything would be fine. Finishing, the scared girl scooted over to her.
    â€œHurry,” the girl whispered. “You don’t want to be on her bad side. That’s Caretaker Undu.”
    The name meant nothing to Daleina, but she followed the other girl down the stairs. The steps were smooth and curved, as if they had been worn by hundreds of feet over hundreds of years. “What’s a caretaker?”
    â€œTeachers run the classes, and caretakers run everything else. Caretaker Undu is the head caretaker. She has zero sense of humor and zero tolerance for nonsense. You aren’t from the capital, are you?”
    â€œOuter villages, midforest. I’m Daleina.”
    â€œMarilinara. You can call me Mari.” Away from Caretaker Undu, Mari didn’t seem so scared anymore. She strode into the bathing room as if she’d been there before. Maybe she has, Daleina thought. Maybe everyone else knows where to go and what to do, and I’m the only green one .
    â€œWhere are you from?” Daleina asked.
    â€œHere.” Selecting a slim door, the third in a long row of doors, Mari opened it. Daleina caught a glimpse inside: a tub with steaming water and a pile of towels. “Caretaker Undu is my mother.” She then closed the door, leaving Daleina by herself.
    Half of the bathing stalls were full. Walking past them, Daleina picked an open one and shut the door behind her. She stared for a moment at the hot bath. Usually baths at home involved a pitcher and a bowl at their feet to catch the water. Mama sometimes heated the water over the fire. Sometimes she overheated it. Sometimes she didn’t heat it at all. It was usually a surprise, and Arin always insisted Daleina go first. She’d thenhowl in laughter at however Daleina reacted. Arin would have been fascinated to learn that the baths here were hot without any sign of anyone heating or filling the tubs. And to hear about the maze, the headmistress’s office, and the inside of the academy . . . Daleina swallowed hard. She didn’t