Alex laughed uncomfortably. “Just wanted to know what the poor guy did, so I didn’t repeat his same mistake. I’d hate to have the hatred of such a beautiful lady.”
Ella smiled slightly, and the tension in the hall left the air. “You are much too charming to make the same mistake,” she told him lightly. Then, she leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. She had to stand on tippy-toes to reach his sun-tanned face, and by the time she finished, his skin had a deep red tint to it.
Ella continued down the hall while Alex stood frozen in place, eyes trailing after as the girl turned another corner and disappeared.
“Don’t you even think about it,” I warned him.
“I don’t…she…” His face grew redder, and conscious of the amused expressions of our group, he shook his head to clear away the confusion, sandy brown locks flailing wildly in his attempt. “I have to go.”
Alex took off in the same direction as Ella, though he was headed toward the boy’s housing.
Clayton snickered. “I think Ella is going to give your brother a run for his reputation.”
“She’s only interested in older men like Master Barclae,” I replied without thinking.
“People say a lot of things. That doesn’t mean they are always true,” James piped up, a little too eagerly.
We all laughed at the truth of his statement and parted ways to our barracks. I spent most of the time making small talk with Ruth and Winifred until we had finished bathing. By the time I entered our sleeping quarters, the rest of the girls had arrived with large piles of parchment, books scattered across the floor in every which direction.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Priscilla directing a scrawny girl where to set her load. Meanwhile, Priscilla sat idly brushing her long locks and complaining loudly about how much harder it was going to be for her to rest surrounded by “this lowborn mess.” Somehow, from Priscilla’s tone, I didn’t think she was referring to the books.
“I think she and the prince will do nicely together,” I remarked quietly to Ella as she sat down on the bunk next to mine. “They are easily the nastiest people here.”
Ella smiled.
“Do you still have work left?” I asked her.
“No, I finished most of mine earlier during the break at lunch.”
I looked longingly at my pillows. I still had at least an hour of assignments left.
“I still have a couple problems too,” Ruth offered from a couple bunks down.
“What time do they check the lights?” Winifred wondered.
“I think the constable said eleven, which should be any minute now,” another girl next to Winifred remarked.
“Do we have any candles or matches?” I needed to finish my work somehow.
“I don’t think so, but I can conjure light,” Ruth offered quickly. “Do you want to try and finish your work with me after the constable has finished his rounds?”
I nodded, grateful for her offer and jealous she had a skill I didn’t at the same time.
We decided to go to the bathing corridor so as not to keep the others up with our studying. Unfortunately, about ten minutes after we thought the constable had finished his rounds, his servant Frederick pounded on the door and demanded we go to bed at once. Fearing the reprimands Barrius had promised, we quickly heeded Frederick’s order. I was a little nervous that I had not finished, but at that point there was nothing I could do until morning came.
“Please wake me when you are up,” I whispered to Ella as I crawled into my bunk. “I still need to finish my work.”
“Mmm-hmm.” I hoped she would remember in the morning.
I wrapped myself in my blankets and shut my eyes. In a matter of moments I had forgotten the day’s events and was fast asleep.
CHAPTER FOUR
The cruel, harsh light of day was not there to wake me that following morning. Instead, the horrible toll of bells sounded from somewhere outside the Academy and continued to ring across every inch of its campus.
I groaned and rubbed my eyes. The sun had barely risen, and every muscle in my body was tight in protest.
“I know. It’s a wonder you were able to sleep through it yesterday,” Ella remarked as she stood up.
“How much time do we have until breakfast?” I asked.
“Not much, they expect us to start right away.”
I had thought I would have some time to study. Lovely.
“Ugh, they brought us more of that delightful training garb,” a sarcastic voice said to my left.
I glanced around. At the front of the room was a large crate of shapeless brown breeches and forest green tunics, equally plain. Next to it was a pile of old leather belts and high boots splattered with mud and dark red stains that looked suspiciously like blood. As Piers had promised, the clothes were worn and frayed. It was obvious they were hand-me-downs that had been passed on year after year to the incoming class.