I was used to the grandeur of the castle at home, but everything here was brand-new to me. The paintings on the walls were artworks I’d never seen. Beautiful creatures, and depictions of battles between our kingdoms. A blue dragon soaring among white puffy clouds with a rider on its back. The majority black furniture placed decoratively was ornate. And of course, new cats wandering about. Sir Gideon, a rather offensive but fun, black and white striped cat, who happened to be my favorite, refused to come. His exact words were, “I will not be a servant to the foreigners.” Apparently he was also prejudiced.
Madison led us through winding hallways before we stopped at the bottom of three sets of stairs. At the base of the center staircase a crimson phoenix symbol was worked into the shiny stone floor and on each step leading up. “This is the Delhoon girls’ dorms,” Madison said. “To the right are Hesstia’s, and the left, Collweya. You are not allowed to enter the other kingdoms’ rooms. You are not allowed to enter the boys’ dorms on the other side of the academy. These rules are set in place for the safety of all students. Violate them and you’ll be sorry you did.” Her serpent-like gaze swept over us.
I observed the golden crossed swords symbol of Hesstia and the black Dragon for Collweya a moment before we were led up the steps. Just like in Delhoon there were two girls to a room. Nothing luxurious, two beds, two sets of dressers, two bedside tables, a large mirror, a single chair and a closet. Madison called out room partners and Legacy and I anxiously awaited to see if we’d be together again. “Legacy and Visteal, you’re in eleven.”
We smiled at one another and hurried to our room. I threw myself on the soft bed and looked up at the ceiling, noticing for the first time that it had been spelled to look like the outside sky. The clouds even moved, and a set of birds soared.
Already unpacking her trunk, Legacy took out a handful of clothes. “Do you think there will be dances here with all the students?”
“That would be fun,” I said watching a “v” of geese fly across our ceiling. “How many students do you think are here?”
“Well, in Delmar there were seven hundred, so I’d guess about the same. Maybe more with three kingdoms attending.”
We talked and put our things away until a cat strutted through the small opening beside the door. “Good day, ladies,” the long-haired, snowy white cat with shockingly green eyes said. “I am Atticus, and will be your attending cat. If you should need anything, I am quite often nearby.”
Back in Delhoon our cat was usually Ophelia. Apparently she didn’t come with us.
“Hello, Atticus,” I said. “You’re beautiful, if you don’t mind my saying.”
“Oh, I do enjoy a good compliment,” he said and flicked his tail. “You two are both nice-looking humans.” He hopped up onto my bed. “You must be the princess.”
With a smile, I said, “I am. My name is—”
“Visteal, I am aware.” He looked across the room at Legacy. “And you are?” His slightly disparaging tone wasn’t missed. As if he wasn’t impressed after meeting me, the princess. This behavior was typical of a cat, I doubt my cousin was offended.
“I’m Legacy.”
Atticus tilted his head. “Well, with a name like that, your parents must have high expectations for you. I hope you can live up to the task.”
“You and me both,” she said with a chuckle.
“You will find your schedules should arrive at any moment.”
As if he’d conjured them himself, two envelopes slid under the door. Closest, Legacy picked them up, and handed me the one with my name on it. I peeled it open and read:
Class schedule for Visteal Magnevera Exavior
Fifth year spells—Professor Tessam
Leadership—Professor Gilfor
History and Customs of Collweya—Professor Hardock
Advanced Swords—Professor Magnevera. Which would either be my Papa or Madison.
War Strategy—Professor Kyndel. This class was only for students who wished to have a place in the military leadership. Someone who aspired to be a warlord or an apprentice of a warlord or in my case, a queen.
Advanced Nordan Language—Professor Fero. I was already fluent in Heshan which was what they spoke in both Collweya and Hesstia. Nordia was south of us, an outlaw land with many different dialects depending on the region.
My eyes fell to the next line and my heart seized a little seeing the next Professor...
Magical History—Professor Deg
“I can’t escape him. He’s like a mosquito that won’t die and keeps coming back for blood.”
Legacy chuckled. “Who?”
“I’m guessing you don’t have professor Deg for magical history.” I couldn’t keep the disdain from my voice.
“Nope—Professor Vertue. Sorry Vis.” She held her schedule next to mine. “Do we have any classes together?”
I scanned her list and was a little disappointed. “We have War Strategy together. That’s it.” Back home we had three classes together.
Legacy frowned for a moment then pulled a smile. “We’ll see each other during breaks and after classes plenty.”
I folded the schedule and put it in my pocket and continued putting my things away.
The cat, Atticus hopped down from the bed and sauntered toward the door. “It is time to meet in the foyer. From there you will be shown to the grand dining hall.”
Nervous butterflies bounced around in my stomach. It was not as if I hadn’t met up in a dining hall with hundreds of students before but the anticipation of seeing and meeting the students from the other kingdoms was nerve-wracking. Would we get along? And then there was the thought of seeing Zyacus, Hesstia’s scrawny little prince. Four years ago, he constantly made fun of my freckles and acted like he and I didn’t belong in the same room. Which was
