“It is the least of the many things I like about you.”
The frankness of his response surprised them both, but Leo did not take it back. He also could not meet her eye as he asked, “What do you say?”
“Since it’s for a good cause,” said Ceri. “The infirmary, not your magic obsession.”
“Obsession, such a perfect word,” said Leo. The way he said it—a sultry hiss in his accent—made the hair on Ceri’s neck stand on end. “What is it you say? ‘I have you pegged’?”
“You have me pegged,” corrected Ceri. “You as in you. You are the one who is pegged. I’m not pegged.”
“That’s what I said, no?”
Ceri laughed at the look of utter confusion on his face. “Close enough,” she said and followed him to the lab.
Ceri and Ana arrived in the dining hall the following evening freshly bathed, having carried their pillows and blankets across the courtyard as a light rain began to fall and wind whipped through the branches of the yew.
It didn’t seem like much of a storm, not yet at least. The flagball team seemed to agree with their assessment: despite repeated warnings from Dean Whittaker, they had remained in the courtyard tossing the flagball around until Groundskeeper Tomasar had come at them, waving his pitchfork.
Ana was staring at Harry Charlton. “Look at him. A quarter elf, they say. I can see it.”
Sure, Harry Charlton was undeniably attractive in that classic, meaty sort of way that Ceri had once found appealing, all bulging muscle and closely cut hair. But Ceri found his tireless need for attention—he was currently clowning around with the ball, messing up the makeshift beds other students had made on the floor—exhausting.
“Why don’t you go talk to him?” asked Ceri. Ceri was proud of herself. This was a significant sign of personal growth, keeping her mouth shut. She would’ve pointed out his obvious flaws to Jerta. And Ceri would still do so if she saw something that was actually concerning, but he seemed harmless enough, so she’d keep her opinions on his grandstanding to herself and let Ana like who she liked.
She was positively mature.
“Me? I’m a Halfling. He’s…”
About as tall as Idris, which was to say ludicrously tall. Maybe that was why he held no appeal for Ceri. He was built like her brother.
“I’m pretty sure everyone is smaller than him,” said Ceri. “I can’t see why it would matter. Have you ever tried talking to him in your Ancient Languages class?”
Before Ana could answer, they were interrupted by a worried-looking Professor Marin. “Hello, your highness. Have you seen Leo come in yet? I thought he might be with you.”
Ceri looked around the room, but she didn’t spot the blonde, bespectacled elf anywhere. “No, I haven’t seen him. Did he leave the lab yet?”
“A couple of hours ago. He said he wanted to get a few things before the storm came. I’m sure he’ll turn up soon enough. He’s probably fighting with the library again.”
Ceri could hear in her voice that she wasn’t sure if that was likely, and Ceri could guess why.
“You don’t think he’s going to try to take measurements in the storm, do you?” she asked. “Idris has all of the cursed objects.”
“I don’t know,” said Professor Marin. “Knowing him, he’s foundsomethingto measure. I’m just hoping it’s inside. Please let me know if you see him come in.”
Ceri waited a respectable length of time after Professor Marin left, then she stood up.
“Ceri, you can’t,” said Ana. “This kind of storm is really dangerous. People die on Turtle Island all the time, mostly because they go out when they’re supposed to stay in.”
“Exactly,” said Ceri. “Leo’s out there.”
Ana nodded slowly, understanding. “Be careful.”
“You too,” said Ceri.
The guard posted at the door stopped her. “Can’t let you outside, princess. Our orders are no one goes back out.”
Ceri recognized this man from court. She’d never liked him much. “Let me out at once or the king will hear about it. Those aremyorders.”
The guard hesitated.
