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“She doesn’t do signatures. Trust me, I asked,” Esther says, coming up from behind me. Today she’s wearing a floor length Watcher-blue knit dress with suspiciously cut holes around her breasts showing the bright yellow shirt underneath that matches the same color of eyeshadow and socks. She places her hands on her hips, puffing her chest out, emphasizing the bug-like yellow eye-tits at her other first-years.
They giggle and run off.
“Erm, thanks Esther.”
“You’re welcome.” She shrugs. “You had a vision just then, didn’t you?”
Perspective. “Yes.”
“And?”
“What?”
“What was it about?”
“Well, I’m not sure if I could really describe it.”
She reaches into a bulbous pocket on her dress, digging around a bit before pulling out an apple and taking a bite. “I thought you were a Teller.”
“Prentice Teller,” I mumble. Really, the distinction is important.
“Well, at least tell me how I can help. Something is bothering you.”
“Is it written on my face so plainly?”
She tips her head to the side, assessing. “Well, based on the pallor of your skin and slight perspiration under your arms—”
“Okay fine!” I huff and start walking. “I’m going to the library and could use an extra set of eyes.”
She skips to catch up to me. “I’m an excellent looker-upper.”
“Good, because I’m starting to get a feeling I’m close to solving a puzzle.”
Esther crunches into her apple, mouth full. “I love puzzles!”
Hopefully I find the missing piece soon.
The brisk winter air cuts through my woolen cape as we descend the steps of the castle, making our way to Battlefield. Never having walked to this edge of campus, I didn’t realize that the pits—large holes formed by craters long ago—got this large. With each one Ramona and I pass, the deeper my dread grows.
Whatever Commander Hogsmith has in store for us today cannot be good.
The class is already huddled along the edge of a particularly large pit. Ramona and I nestle close to where Selene and Gryphon are already standing.
“What type of torture are we enduring today?” Ramona asks.
“Beats me.” Gryphon shrugs a massive uncloaked shoulder, seemingly unaffected by the near freezing temperature.
Selene leans in, “I heard that the Elders are requesting changes in the curriculum to best prepare us for war.”
“Isn’t that what we are doing already?” I ask.
Selene raises an eyebrow. “Not according to my father. He and Clarence—I mean Professor Gregorio—had a long conversation during dinner at my house. They are worried. About the treaty, the unrest in the Underworld, and especially about the moon untethering. Said something about the Elders needing to fast-track our training.”
“That doesn’t sound promising.”
“Exactly what I thought,” Selene says, pulling her cloak tight around her.
Rogue flurries of snow dance across the sky in their descent as chatter continues to grow. The entire campus is crawling with suspicion, the latest news about the moon reaching all corners of the castle. Even Master Librarian Len engaged in conversation in the library earlier despite his ill nature toward any semblance of talking amongst his books.
