We ended the day with physical fitness, each house on their own for this part. Yvonne, the slender girl who rarely spoke, crossed her arms at the mention of strength training.
“Exercise might sound boring to you,” Luther snapped. He was apparently in charge of whipping us into shape. “But being strong enough to hold on during an upside-down maneuver or not sling your dragon off course during a tight turn in a championship race might sound a little more important.”
Yvonne slowly uncrossed her arms.
“And perhaps even more important than that,” he said with a malicious smile, “this part of your training will help you all bond as a class.” His smile darkened. “You’re going to need it to survive here the next three years.”
Adrenaline had fueled me most of the day, but my energy was waning as we turned our second lap around the school’s grounds. The well-worn path started at the lair, wound through the woods, and hooked around a lake nestled out of sight.
That night, we feasted on roast chicken with a garlic cream sauce that tasted like heaven, fresh greens, and more vegetables than I’d ever seen served in a single meal. It wasn’t until I’d taken a huge bite and garnered a few disgusted looks that I recalled Fairfax’s training. Though I knew I wouldn’t starve here, I couldn’t convince my body of that fact, and I ended up eating more than every other girl at our table.
When the meal concluded and Headmaster Vaughan dismissed us, Shep and Luther strolled past our table. Shep slowed. “Good first day?” he asked, eyes scanning each of us in turn.
Luther huffed but waited for his friend.
“Yes,” Vanya answered. “Thank you.”
He leaned down toward us, bracing himself on the table. “The first night race is coming up. And to be?—”
“What’s a night race?” Vanya asked, cutting him off.
Scarlett snorted and looked away, enjoying the fact that she knew more than the princess right now. For once, I knew more than Vanya, too. But I let Shep answer.
Shep smiled at Vanya. “The students race their dragons through the city streets at night. And not just any streets. The course goes through bottomside.”
I stared at my hands in my lap, trying to conceal the stiff frown on my face. I’d heard plenty of rumors about night races, but I’d never known the racers were Cardan Lottstudents. I’d always thought they were gang members who cleared the streets with their pistols and threats so they could create more reasons to gamble. Though I’d never seen a night race, everyone in my neighborhood knew about them.
“Is that legal?” Vanya asked.
“Not at all,” Shep said, smile widening. “The race goes under some of the bridges.”
She blinked in surprise. “That’s impossible.”
“Wait till you see it,” he said, directing his words to all of us.
“Shep, don’t…” Luther warned.
Shep tapped the table with a knuckle. “First years aren’t always invited. But if you want my advice, try to stand out these first few weeks. Be noteworthy.” Walking away, he pointed at us. “Noteworthy.”
As I laid my head on the pillow, relishing the idea of a good night’s sleep, I thought about Fairfax’s words to be successful here. He had hinted at academic success, but the real reason he wanted me here was to win a race—and to win against these heirs and heiresses who’d been riding dragons for years, I’d have to do more than listen during lessons at the lair. I’d need to practice more than all of them, and what better way to practice winning a race than to actually win one?
If there was a way to get into the night races, I’d find it. But before I could enter, much less win, a night race, I’d need to know what they were like.
Rolling over, I vowed to be noteworthy enough to get that invite.
When the bellin the clock tower tolled eight times, the sound coupled with the light pouring through the window woke me. I groaned as I rolled over from the exact position I’d fallen asleep in. Classes started in fifteen minutes.
“We’ll be late,” I muttered, trying to pry myself from the bed. But it felt like trying to pry a flattened fly from the wall after swatting it.
Vanya muttered something in her native language and rolled over, covering her head with the blankets. I pushed mine aside and stood, stretching for several breaths before getting dressedfor the day. When I was ready to leave the room, Vanya still hadn’t gotten out of bed, despite my best efforts to encourage her to do so.
“I’m a princess, remember?” she grumbled, her mouth smeared against her pillow.
“I thought the whole point of you being here was to prove that you wanted to learn our customs, be a symbol of friendly camaraderie between our countries,” I said, lifting my arm as if giving a speech.
Vanya rolled over and gave me a narrow look. “Fine,” she said, throwing the covers off in a dramatic way. When she was finally dressed, I rolled my eyes and turned toward the door. All the books I needed for the classes before lunch were tucked under my left arm.
Trays of food had been brought to the common room’s dining area, and several students were picking their way around the table, grabbing pastries or fruit or slices of cured meats. Camille sat at one of the small tables near the large window that overlooked the grounds. She snapped at the students remaining in the room, reminding us we had less than ten minutes to make it to class. It only took three minutes to walk to the history classroom, and I was too hungry to skip breakfast.
