some really useful exercises for remembering lists.”
Seeing his doubtful expression, Sonea smothered a sigh. She had quickly discovered why Poril was having trouble with his studies. He was neither smart nor strong, and tests sent him into fits of terror. Worst of all, he was so demoralized by this that he had given up trying.
But he was also hungry for companionship. Though she had not seen the other novices being deliberately cruel to the boy, they obviously didn’t like him. He was from House Heril, which was out of favor in court for reasons she had not yet discovered. She didn’t think that was why he was avoided, however. He had several irritating habits, the worst being a ridiculous, high-pitched laugh that set her teeth on edge.
The rest of the class ignored her, too. She had quickly realized they were not purposefully avoiding her though, and that they did not dislike her in the way they disliked Poril. It was simply that each had formed a close friendship with another classmate, and had no wish to include a third.
Trassia and Narron were clearly more than just friends. Sonea had seen them holding hands a few times, and noted that Lord Ahrind kept a close watch on the pair. Narron was already determined to become a Healer, and his results in that subject were the best in the class. Trassia was also most interested in Healing, but in a passive way that suggested her interest was due only to Narron’s enthusiasm - or the expectation that women were most suited to Healing.
The only Elyne in the class, Yalend, spent his time with the talkative Vindo boy, Seno. Hal, the stiff-faced Lan boy, and his Kyralian friend, Benon, formed the other pair. Though quieter than the boys in Regin’s class, these four still talked endlessly about the horse races, told unlikely stories about girls in court, and fooled about as if they hadn’t reached the end of their childhood.
Which they hadn’t, she was coming to understand. The children of the slums grew up fast because they had to. These novices had lived their lives in the midst of luxury, and had less reason to mature quickly than their brothers and sisters outside the Guild.
Until they graduated, they were free from family responsibilities, such as presenting themselves at court, marriage, and managing whatever income-producing “interests” in farming or manufacturing their family was involved in. Joining the Guild extended their childhood for an extra five years.
Though Poril was a year older, he was sometimes the most childish of all the novices. His friendliness seemed genuine, but she suspected he was pleased that he wasn’t the novice from the lowest social background anymore.
Regin, to her surprise and relief, had ignored her since she had left his class. She glimpsed him in the Foodhall each day, and occasionally saw his gang gathering in the corridors before classes, but he didn’t attempt to harass her. Even the rumor that had circulated concerning her relationship with Rothen had been forgotten. Teachers no longer eyed her with suspicion, and she rarely heard Rothen’s name whispered as she walked down the corridor.
“If only we knew which parts she’ll ask us to name,” Poril sighed. “The big ones, I suppose - and a couple of small ones.”
Sonea shrugged. “Don’t waste your time trying to guess what she’ll ask. It will take as much effort as memorizing them all.”
A gong rang out. Through the trees, Sonea could see other novices reluctantly gathering their belongings and hurrying toward the University. Like them, Sonea and Poril had spent the midbreak outside enjoying the rare warmth of a sunny autumn day. She stood and stretched.
“After class, let’s go to the library and study.”
Poril nodded. “If you want.”
Walking quickly, they hurried out of the gardens and into the University. The rest of the novices were already seated in the classroom. As Sonea took her seat, Lord Skoran entered the room.
Putting down a small pile of books, the magician cleared his throat and faced the novices. Then a movement in the doorway drew his attention away. All of the class turned to watch as three figures stepped into the room. Seeing Regin among them, Sonea felt a chill of foreboding.
University Director Jerrik looked around the room. His eyes skipped over the other novices’ faces. As they met hers he frowned, then he glanced at the novice at his side.
“Regin has succeeded in completing the half-year tests.” Jerrik’s usually stern voice held a hint of reluctance. “I have moved him to your class.”
Sonea’s stomach turned over. The magicians were still talking, but she could not bring herself to focus on the words. She felt her chest tighten, as if an invisible hand had wrapped itself around her and was squeezing. Her heartbeat grew louder until it roared in her ears.
Then she remembered to breathe.
Suddenly dizzy, she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, Regin was wearing his most charming smile. His gaze moved from the other novices to her. Though his mouth remained fixed in the same wide smile, and not a muscle of his face appeared to move, somehow his expression changed completely.
She tore her eyes away. This is impossible. How could be have caught up? He must have cheated.
Yet she couldn’t see how he could deceive the teachers and still pass their tests. That left only one possibility. He must have started extra studies not long after she had - probably as soon as he had learned what she intended to do. And he had done it in secret, most likely with the help of his guardian.
But why? All his friends were in the other class. Perhaps he thought he would gather another gang of admirers here. She felt a trickle of hope. It was unlikely that even he could break up the pairing that this class was firmly set into. Unless...
Knowing Regin, once he had decided to go to the effort of rising to the next class he would have made friendly overtures to all the novices in it. He would have made sure he was welcome.
Looking around the class, Sonea was surprised to see Narron regarding Regin with a frown. The boy looked displeased. Then she remembered how she had been told firmly that this class had no time for “playing around.”
So perhaps Regin hadn’t befriended her new classmates. Yet he had gone to a lot of effort to rise a level.
Maybe he just couldn’t stand seeing a slum girl do better than him. Fergun had been willing to take great risks to have her expelled from the Guild because he didn’t want lower-class entrants joining. Her success or failure to learn and be accepted would be taken into account if the Guild ever considered taking in members from outside the Houses again. What if Regin was trying to hamper her learning, to ensure she failed and lower-class entrants were never welcomed again?
Then I had better make sure he doesn’t succeed!
She had escaped him once, she could do it again by studying harder and reaching the next class.
Even as the idea occurred to her, she knew it wasn’t possible. It had taken her every night and Freeday to finish a half year’s learning three months early, and she still had to catch up on what this class had covered already in the months before she had joined it. She didn’t have any time left to learn what the Second Years had studied as well.
Perhaps it would be better to let him think he’d won. He’d leave her alone if he thought she wasn’t doing as well as him. She didn’t have to be the best novice in her class to prove that entrants from outside the Houses could succeed as magicians.
If she fell back to the first class she was sure Regin’s pride wouldn’t allow him to follow her. She dismissed that idea faster than the first. The summer class was still under Regin’s sway, even if he had left it. At least her current class wasn’t united against her...
She blinked, suddenly realizing that Lord Skoran’s thin, wavering voice had been the only sound in the room for some time.
“...and in continuing our assessment of the Sachakan War, I want you to find out all you can about the five Higher Magicians who joined the battle at the second stage. They were from countries outside Kyralia, and their aid was gathered by a certain young magician named Genfel. Choose one of these magicians and write a four- thousand-word description of his life before he became involved in the war.”
Picking up her pen, Sonea began writing. Regin may have reached the higher class, but he still had much work to do before he caught up with them. For a few weeks he would be too busy to harass her, and by then she would know if he was going to have any influence over the rest of the class. Without them to support him, it would
