A fair-skinned boy with scruffy black hair sat across from Arcturus. He noticed Arcturus’s gaze and leaned forward.
“Edmund Raleigh,” the boy said, offering a firm handshake. “We’ve all known one another since we were toddlers, so don’t worry if some of the conversation goes over your head. Let me introduce you to everyone. You’ve already met Charles, Zach and Harold. The boy on the end with the ponytail is Damian, but everyone calls him Rook. It’s his surname.”
“Like the chess piece, not the bird,” Rook said, then wrinkled his nose. “You probably don’t know what chess is anyway.”
Edmund pulled a face at him, and turned to two girls on his right. “This is Alice, and this is Josephine, from the Queensouth family. Don’t bother trying to tell the difference between them, you’ll just get confused.”
“Hello!” the girls chorused. They were twins, with long blond hair and large expressive eyes, giving them a doll-like appearance. Edmund was right, they were almost identical. But the one Edmund had introduced as Alice had given Arcturus a bright smile before going back to her meal. Edmund wrapped his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek.
“We’re sweethearts, so don’t get any ideas.” He winked before turning to the remaining students to his left.
“This is Baybars Saladin, the fiercest swordsman you’ll ever meet,” Raleigh continued, pointing to a dark-skinned boy beside him. The boy gave him a polite nod before returning to his meal.
“As you’ve probably guessed, these four are the Lovetts. This is Fergus, Carter, Arthur—”
“And I’m Elaine!” the girl piped up, beaming at Arcturus. “I love your demon! Is it a boy or a girl?”
“A girl. Her name is Sacharissa.” Arcturus smiled at her. She looked too young to be a summoner, no older than thirteen. Most joined Vocans at Arcturus’s age, fifteen years old. Perhaps her parents had sent her there early, to be with her brothers.
“She’s so cute!” Elaine said, snatching some bacon from the table and holding it out for Sacharissa to eat. The demon immediately forgot her animosity to everyone who wasn’t Arcturus, and lapped it up greedily.
“Elaine, that’s not polite,” said Fergus, the oldest of the Lovett boys.
“Oh, all right. You’re such a worrywart, Fergus,” Elaine moaned, before sneaking a rasher from Arcturus’s plate and dropping it surreptitiously to the floor. A few seconds later, Arcturus heard snuffling and chomping from under the table.
“That’s okay. She’s barely eaten in days. I wasn’t even sure that demons ate our food.”
“Gosh, you do have a lot to learn,” Edmund laughed, standing up. “Good thing you’re here! Come on. It’s time for our first lesson of the year. Let’s find out who our new spellcraft teacher is.”
CHAPTER
8
ARCTURUS WAS EXPECTING THEM to lead him up one of the winding staircases when they left the dining hall, but instead they only took a few steps out into the atrium, where the others stopped and began to talk among themselves.
It was very dark in the room, for the servants had yet to light the torches. The only source of light came from the dining hall behind them, and a broad column of sunlight from the glass dome embedded in the atrium’s ceiling.
As he wondered at the darkness of the room, the other students pointed their fingers into the air, releasing balls of strange blue light that floated around the room, drifting this way and that as if they had a life of their own. They cast a dull cobalt glow in the darkness of the atrium, shifting the shadows and illuminating the gloomy cavern above their heads.
It was the first time Arcturus had seen a spell, and he gazed as the strange blue lights glided around the darkness like overgrown fireflies. He stared at his own fingers, wondering if he would ever be capable of creating such wonders. Sacharissa whined, frustrated at his lack of attention. He tore his eyes away from the spectacle and put his hands to better use.
“What happens now? Shouldn’t we be getting to the lesson?” Arcturus asked, rubbing Sacharissa’s head.
“This is where all the spellcraft lessons are,” Elaine replied, crouching in front of Sacharissa and examining her with interest.
“I love her eyes; they’re so blue! Can I pet her?” she asked, reaching out a hand.
“Elaine!” her brother Fergus snapped, jerking her away. “You know you’re not supposed to touch another person’s demon!”
“Why not?” Arcturus asked, wide-eyed.
“It would be … unbecoming,” Fergus said, his face reddening. Even as he said it, Arcturus could feel the waves of satisfaction from Sacharissa as he scratched her between the ears. Fergus was right. It would be strange if Elaine were to do the same. It was too personal—touching another person’s demon was almost like touching them.
“Sorry…,” Elaine said, kicking the ground with the toe of her boots.
“Cheer up, I’m only looking out for you. You’re far too young and even if you weren’t, well … it’s a commoner’s demon.” Fergus frowned. “No offense,” he added hastily.
Now it was Arcturus’s turn to redden.
“None taken,” he replied, though his insides seethed with anger.
“Why don’t you play with Valens. You only got him yesterday,” Edmund interrupted, strolling over from the others and giving Arcturus a sympathetic smile.
“I thought we’re only allowed to have our demons out in lessons,” Elaine said, sticking out her bottom lip.
“Well, the teacher’s late, but the lesson’s started. I’m sure they won’t mind, whoever they are,” Edmund replied.
She looked to Fergus for permission, who rolled his eyes before giving her an exasperated nod.
Arcturus tried to look disinterested, but took a surreptitious step closer. A new demon—now that was worth seeing.
“Brilliant!” She grinned, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a Mite, half the size of Obadiah’s Rubens and brown as an autumn leaf, yet clearly of the same species.
“Hey, you’re supposed to have him infused, not just out of sight!” Fergus remonstrated.
“What’s the point of having the smallest demon here if I can’t hide him in my pocket? Come on, Valens, let’s practice hunting!” Elaine giggled, letting the demon fly from her palm to hover in front of her face.
Hunting … why would Valens need to practice that?
Arcturus couldn’t help but smile as Elaine capered around the room, leaping and dodging as she and her Mite, Valens, played a strange game of tag.
As she neared the front doors, they blasted open and swung against the stone walls, sending Elaine scurrying back to the others.
For a moment Arcturus’s heart leaped when he saw a Peryton outlined against the harsh light from outside, but his joy was short-lived as he recognized the icy beauty who sat astride it.
“Oh, no,” Arcturus muttered, shuffling behind Fergus and Edmund.
Lady Faversham clopped into the room, her back ramrod straight as she surveyed the students. She dismounted, before slapping her Peryton’s rump, sending it swooping out of the front doors in a thunder of beating wings.
“So many familiar faces. It brings me such joy to see you all again,” Lady Faversham said, though her cold eyes showed only disdain as they skipped over Arcturus and the Lovetts.
“Aunt Ophelia,” Prince Harold said, walking over and shaking her hand. “I had no idea you would be our replacement! Welcome to Vocans.”
Aunt? So the Favershams were closely related to the king. Arcturus knew it was only the king’s curiosity that kept him safe. If Lady Faversham were able to convince him otherwise, Arcturus was as good as dead.