“Because magic is all that prince cares about,” Ella explained dryly. “I thought he’d grow out of it, but since he’s here, I’m quite certain he hasn’t. Priscilla and her parents were undoubtedly smart enough to figure that out. I’m sure as soon as they realized how serious he was about the Academy, they got her the best tutor money could buy.”
I looked back to the end of the table where Priscilla and Darren and the rest of their following were seated. I’d already started to hear rumors that the prince and his entourage were going to make the apprenticeship.
Really. On day one. To already have that kind of reputation.
It isn’t fair.
Alex noted my stare. “I heard some people have already decided to change their faction.”
“Huh?”
“After practice today, some of the others were saying they didn’t want to be second best. Two people said there was no point in hoping for Combat when the odds were so set against them.”
Master Barclae’s predictions were already coming true. I couldn’t believe it.
“They might say that now and change their mind later,” Ella pointed out. “Jeff changed his mind three times before the end of his first month.”
“I can see why,” I remarked slowly, “when you are competing with someone who even Master Cedric and the others are impressed with. They have seen hundreds of first-years. To impress them at this point means you really stand out.”
Ella folded her arms. “Well, future apprentice or not, no one is going to sway me but me.”
Once we had finished off our dinner, Alex, Ella, and I headed to the library’s upper study to begin the day’s assignments. Most of the class had gone off to the barracks to wash. Though the three of us were smelly and not particularly attractive at the moment, we knew we would fare better studying without the echo that a hundred or so lowered voices would bring if we cleaned up first like everyone else.
Entering the room, it was immediately evident that we were not alone. There were a couple other small groups already inside, but they were few in number. They seemed friendly enough so I didn’t mind much. I recognized one girl, Winifred, as someone from back home. Alex recognized another, Clayton, his friend from a nearby village. Before long, we had amassed a small group of our own: Alex, Ella and I, Winifred, Clayton, another boy named Jordan, a girl named Ruth, and Ella’s admirer from the library, shy James.
It was nice to study in the company of so many. We all had something to contribute to someone else’s work. While Winifred spent most of her time lecturing us on the mathematical equations we were trying to break down, Alex and I helped with the sections on herb lore. Having parents who owned an apothecary was an advantage.
Ruth and Clayton were able to assist with geography, and Ella, shockingly enough, with history, especially the battles. As she explained to our speechless group, Ella used to follow her father around while he drilled the village soldiers and then practiced later in private. No wonder the girl wanted Combat. She had a warrior mindset I envied. It also explained why she had fared better than most of us in Piers’s conditioning. Ella had been second only to Priscilla and a couple of the boys.
Even if none of us knew the answer to a problem, eight of us searching different volumes provided much quicker results than trying to do so independently. By the time the rest of our class had arrived, most of the assignments were finished.
Packing up my work, I felt a lot more confident than hours before. I still had problems to complete, but they were significantly fewer in number. The only thing that detracted from my mood was Ella—or rather, her insistent whispering and pointing as we turned the corner to exit.
Darren and his entourage had arrived, and in the short time they had done so, they had already taken over the most comfortable lounge in the library. This had left the rest of the ninety students trying to squeeze into the smaller aisles on the second floor. No one looked happy.
“Injustice at its finest!” Ella hissed when we shut the door behind us. “Treating the Academy like it is just another court back home!”
Alex glanced at our friend, eyebrow cocked. “You really don’t like the prince, do you?”
“No!”
“Why?”
Several heads turned to glance at Ella, myself included. True, I was no fan of the angry-eyed prince, but Ella had never told me what it was Darren had done to make her hate him so venomously. I had my own reasons for not liking the prince, but Ella’s hatred seemed much more impassioned. Maybe now I would hear the reason behind this loathing.
Ella set her mouth in a hard line. “It’s none of your concern, Alex.”
My brother looked disappointed. “I was hoping for a good story.”
I had to admit, so was I.
“Well, there’s nothing to tell,” she replied tightly. Her lively brown eyes were unreadable in the candlelight.