“Yes, he is but he was also the Head Master’s son,” I sent back.
I wondered how I could explain why I hadn’t saved him. Would the Head Master believe I hadn’t known I was able to channel L’eesha’s power at the time Chud died? I really doubted it.
“In all fairness, Head Master, Chud Larson had been bitten three days prior to when he reached us,” Professor Zephyr said, breaking into my train of thought. “I don’t think it would have been possible for Cadet Lysandra to save him, no matter how strong her power is.”
“Well, we’ll never know since she didn’t even try,” the Head Master snarled. Then he cleared his throat. “Dismissed, Head Healer. Thank you for your testimony.”
She nodded her head gracefully, sent me a look I couldn’t interpret, and stepped down from the podium.
“And now, we will address the charges of tampering with preapproved Academy battle formations,” the Head Master said. “Professor Humbolt, please come to the stage.”
Professor Humbolt stomped up the steps and took his place behind the podium. His weathered face was already set in lines of dislike, and he wouldn’t even look at me—which I considered a very bad sign.
“Professor Humbolt, will you please describe what occurred when you were trying to direct the Wings into their flight formations during the battle against the Madlings,” the Head Master said.
“Gladly, Head Master.” Humbolt nodded and gripped the podium. “While I was signaling the Wings to get them in order after the first Madling charge, this female directed her dragon to take charge instead!”
He shot me such a venomous look as he spoke that I couldn’t help recoiling.
“I see.” The Head Master nodded. “And had she ever done this kind of thing before?”
“Yes, she had,” Humbolt spat. “She had her dragon take control of my Battlefield Signaling class! I warned her then never to do it again—though of course, at the time I thought she was a male cadet. Clearly, she didn’t take my warning to heart and decided to let her inexperienced dragon take over in the heat of battle!”
I could no longer be silent.
“If I hadn’t had L’eesha send the riders and their dragons hope and courage, we would have lost the battle!” I exclaimed. “The Madlings feed on fear—they project terror onto their prey and then use the fear they cause to hunt. They?—”
“That is enough! That is enough!”
The Head Master banged on the wooden top of his podium angrily to shut me up.
“If the witness will not be silent, then she must be gagged!” he ordered.
“So Auri’s never allowed to speak for herself?”
The new voice rang out from the side of the stage—a familiar voice that made my heart soar.
“Ryse! it’s Ryse!” I heard L’eesha exclaim.
It was Ryse—he stepped onto the stage though the Head Master hadn’t called him.
“Since you’re calling witnesses, I have something to say,” he declared.
The Head master scowled at him.
“Cadet Skoren, you have not been called as a witness. You are not authorized to speak in this trial.”
“So you’re only calling witnesses that accuse Auri?” he demanded. “Even though she saved us—though she flew into the battle and sent every single rider and dragon hope and courage and kept us together when we were frightened and scattered, you still want to punish her?”
There was a swelling murmur among the cadets, and I saw many people nodding in agreement. Even though he was basically saying what I had already said, Ryse was popular and well-liked by everyone in the Academy—his words carried weight that mine didn’t.
“Cadet Skoren, you are excused from this stage and from this trial and if you’re not very careful, from the entire Academy,” the Head Master said, frowning warningly at him.
Ryse looked like he was going to answer but suddenly someone yelled from the crowd,
“Let him speak!”
“Yes, let him speak!” another voice shouted.
