The knight behind Menavillion shifts and clears his throat slightly. I agree, the obeisance is a bit unsettling, but maybe that’s because he beat me to it. I ball my hand into a fist, working to steady my nerves.
“My name is Willow,” I squeak. I pause and clear my throat. I dip my chin as Menavillion turns back to me. “It’s an honor to meet you, My Lord.”
I wince I realize that it’s too close to what Byron said.
Menavillion raises a single brow. “Are you a fae girl?”
“She’s a wild fae,” Istaria says, “Can you not tell by looking at her?”
“Hmm,” is all Menavillion says.
“I’m not—”
“And who is this?” he asks gesturing to Marvin.
“I honestly don’t remember,” Istaria says. Marvin’s head droops.
“This is Marvin,” Byron says, stepping forward and slapping Marvin on the shoulder. “Without him, we never would have made it here, he’s the one who paid our passage.”
“I see, well I amcharmed.”Menavillion nods his head. “I hope that you do not mind, but I am a busy man. I thank you for the service that you paid to my betrothed.” His eyes linger on Byron, causing my heart to pick up its rate. “I look forward to seeing what you have to offer here at this academy, Coalbiter. It will be interesting to have another of you in my company.”
My stomach drops like I swallowed a stone. Then Menavillion turns and walks away as if he doesn’t carry my future hopes and dreams with him.
Chapter Twelve
AfterMenavillionleaves,anacademy porter comes to show us to our rooms. Since they arrived at the same time, Byron and Marvin get to share their room. I’m kind of jealous of them, to be able to share a room with someone they know.
I’ll be having to bunk with a stranger. Not that I’m not used to it. Although I suppose I couldn’t necessarily call anyone at Woodsbury Grove a stranger, but some could certainly classify as strange.
I inhale deeply, staring down the door, trying to calm my nerves. They’ve only grown since I said goodnight to Byron and Marvin. I feel so much more alone with them now in their rooms. Not that I’m allowing myself to feel comforted by Byron’s presence here at the academy with me—not with all the troubles it brings me. Still, I wish that Marvin was here. He would make me feel better.
I raise my hand to knock, but then I realize that it’s my room and it’s late.
I’d probably disturb my roommate more by knocking rather than sneaking in. I push the door open, slipping through. Someone exhales and turns over in one of the two beds in the room. I make my way through the dark, dropping my satchel down and collapsing into the other bed, not bothering to change.
Almost immediately as I close my eyes, sleep claims me.
My next conscious thought is to register how bright it is. I groan, and roll over but the brightness finds me in the crevice of the bed I tried to find sanctuary in. I force my eyes open as a jolt shoots through me when I realize that brightness is sunlight. I sit up with a gasp glancing around wide-eyed as I try to figure out how late it is.
My eyes land on a girl with golden hair standing near the bed. She is already up and dressed in padded armor, her arms raised as she pulls her luxurious locks into a braid.
She pauses in braiding her hair and glances at me. “You must be my new roommate. My name is Chastmire.”
“Willow,” I reply reaching up and rubbing my eyes. “What time is it?”
“Time for me to be leaving.” She nods her head to me. “Sorry, Willow, but I’m not here to make friendships. I want to be a champion, and I’m not letting anything distract me from that. Stay out of my way, don’t try to keep me up at night, and we should get along just fine.”
“I…” I stutter as she finishes tying the ribbon and strides off.
However, she pauses at the door and offers me a tight smile. “Sorry if I’m coming off strong, but there’s not a chance in Skyshire that I’m going back home without that title. I’m not here for friendships, or to make bonds… I’m here to become a knight and that’s it.”
“You…” I continue sputtering.
“It was nice to meet you, Willow,” she says before she opens the door and strides off, leaving me sitting in my bed completely overwhelmed and a little bit confused as to what I’m supposed to do next. I arrived so late last night that I didn’t get the chance to figure out how things are run here. I have no idea when fast is broken and what sort of academic studies will be expected of me here. I assume there is someone I can speak to get all of this information, but I don’t know where to even find them.
Suddenly, the world seems so big and the future so uncertain. I don’t think the reality of me leaving Woodsbury quite sunk in until this moment but suddenly I feel as if my stomach is doing dozens of cartwheels. I want to rush out of this room and find Byron and Marvin…no.
I shake my head. I want to find Marvin and Marvin alone. Just because Byron is from home doesn’t mean that I can find comfort in him. Out of all the strangers in this new academy, the boy from my hometown is still my biggest threat.
