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“Now, perhaps in your momentary elation many of you may not ask yourselves the most important question. How is Dragons, which is already so deep in the red that it’s almost extinct, going to pay to keep its doors open?”
That was a very reasonable question, and Sam braced herself for the simplest answer. Cuts, more cuts, and more cuts on top of those cuts. Sam could see Lily and Amanda stiffen a couple of yards in front of them. At the same time, Joanne clutched her elbow again, but Magdalene did not say anything beyond that, instead flicking through her notes.
“Now, since I am envisioning a growing number of out-of-state and regional trips for our sports and academic teams, the money does have to come from someplace. Unfortunately, we will be cutting several programs. You will all receive emails with further information on what exactly will no longer be offered. I can tell you that cutting some foreign languages and a selection of art-related studies will save the school about 10% of the total funding set aside for those faculty and curricula. That is obviously a small but not insignificant amount of savings. The rest of the funding to put the school back into the black and sustain it for the next fifty years will come from Three Dragons Academy leasing the abandoned astronomy tower on Viridescent Cliff and the ground it stands on to the township, which has already approved the blueprints to turn the building into a state-of-the-art hotel.”
Shouts, boos, and cheers all rang together. Now it was clear what all the commotion on the cliff farthest from the school grounds had been all about. It was also clear why the Mayor and some of the council members were here, alongside the town’s most prominent business people.
As a business decision, Sam thought, it was probably brilliant. The school gave up nothing. The astronomy tower on Viridescent had been abandoned for over twenty years, the neglect slowly becoming hazardous. It was also far enough from the school and other campus holdings to not encourage much foot traffic between the structures. And if push came to shove, the school could always erect a fence to further insulate itself from future tourists.
But it also sent a message of defeat. And Sam was cognizant of that. For two centuries, the school had stood aloof and separate from the township—they never mingled, with the settlement slowly outgrowing its smaller-sized part of the island, but having nowhere else to expand. Its economy was stifled with no more land or opportunities to grow, and the school had resolutely refused to sell any of its vast and mostly vacant holdings. The separation may have started out as callous, but it also kept the students and the faculty entirely safe from anything and everything, since they were so isolated up on the cliffs. Now that was about to change. The town and, horror of horrors, tourists, were going to be part of the school’s reality. Sam felt the nervousness thrum in the crowd. And most importantly, Sam felt the outrage build up in several trustees, most of whom were so visibly angry they did not deign to maintain a modicum of impassivity.
With the cacophony rising around her, Magdalene extended her hand again, ringing the small bell, but silence took longer to settle over the crowd this time around. Still, once it descended, she went on.
“As I mentioned, all of you will be receiving a very detailed breakdown of all the logistics, financial and educational changes that shall occur at Dragons in the coming year. But I can assure you that none of these decisions have been made lightly. I am fully aware that some things at Dragons are sacred, hence those things will endure. Others, while still cherished and aggrandized for centuries, have to be sacrificed so that Dragons itself can live on. With this being said, I assure you that there will be a school here next year and for many years to come, which is more than anyone could have hoped for two months ago.”
She made to leave the podium when a loud, impatient voice from the back rang out, and Sam recognized Orla once again.
“What about the scholarships? What about the students?”
Sam could see Lily, Amanda, Suzie, and the rest of the girls tense, but she had a feeling it was not just because their fate was thrust into the spotlight. Being othered again, so blatantly—even if Orla meant well—had to feel horrible. Unlike most people in the crowd, Sam knew exactly how that felt since she herself had experienced being singled out all throughout her life at Dragons. She was about to intervene somehow, when Magdalene turned back to the microphone, eyes seeking Orla in the crowd.
“What about Dragons’ students, Professor Fenway?”
Suddenly, just by the way Magdalene worded her question, Sam realized that it would all be all right. In fact, if she’d only cottoned on sooner to the way Magdalene had always treated Lily and the other girls—with unreserved fairness and kindness and generosity—Sam might have saved herself some sleepless nights. Because Magdalene always acted as if there was no decision to be made at all. As if—
“Three Dragons is a private school for young women. All young women who want to study here. With the additional funding from the agreement regarding the astronomy tower, the school will not be cutting scholarships for any and all who need them. Moreover, Dragons will be expanding those scholarships to better reflect the actual ethnic, racial and religious makeup of the state, which is something the school does not achieve right now. In centuries past, Dragons was always a trailblazing institution when it came to diversity and inclusion. Long may it continue.”
Sam could feel Joanne exhale next to her ear and felt herself relaxing.
“And, for the record, Professor Fenway, even if there would not have been enough funds raised, I’d have paid for the ten students currently on scholarships at Dragons myself. Being the Headmistress makes me part of the school, hence my sponsorship would not have been against the charter. However, surely you’d agree that having the Astronomy Tower contract in place makes the scholarships much more sustainable than relying on the Headmistress’ personal fortune. Now, dear guests, enjoy the refreshments!”
If Sam hadn’t already been totally and completely in love with Magdalene Nox, this would be the moment she would have slid all the way into the overwhelming feeling. Standing there, the sun behind her shining bright like a halo, setting the tips of her hair on fire, she looked ethereal, like an avenging angel fallen to the earth, not to scorch it, but to save it.
18
Of After-Action Reports & Unbridled Courage
All hell broke loose. The moment Magdalene stepped off the stage the students were on their feet and on the go. Some people were cheering, some booing, some quietly making their way out of the courtyard and towards where the previously advertised refreshments were set up.
Joanne was still clutching her elbow, and Sam turned to either untangle herself or see if she needed help, but found the older woman grinning like the cat who had gotten the canary.
“What?”
“Oh my goodness, child, that was a spectacular display of gamesmanship if I ever saw one. Now, don’t look at me like that. I was just as hoodwinked as everyone here, but what a way to twist and turn everyone inside out.”
Sam was about to answer when a shaggy tornado nearly mowed her off her feet, quickly followed by another, and she found herself with her arms full of teenagers. Lily and Amanda were either laughing or squealing, Sam wasn’t quite sure which, but she thought she understood the sentiment. The moment was quite magnificent, even if somehow anticlimactic at the same time.
“Did you fucking see that?”
“Language, young lady!” Joanne’s rebuke didn’t sound strict enough, and Lily simply grinned, showing off her mischievous dimples.
“But did you see that?” The kid was glowing. Happy and carefree, and despite her earlier assurances that she would simply accept the decision regarding Dragons’ scholarships, Sam could tell by the relaxed set of the thin shoulders and the elated expression on the pale face that a heavy weight had been lifted. Sure, Lily with her prodigious talent would have found a way to get funding for her tuition somewhere else, but she’d have probably been separated from Amanda, and Sam saw how important the girls had become to each other during the course of the summer. It was a beautiful sight.
And so Sam hugged the giggling girls, and within a few seconds felt Joanne’s arms come around all three of them. Talk about a weight being lifted. Sure, some of Magdalene’s decisions were highly controversial, the hotel and the program cuts were bound to be problematic, but what a way to make the school sustainable despite the dwindling endowment. Also, what a way to make enemies on both sides of the aisle.
And speaking of enemies, Sam’s heart clenched as she looked above Lily’s shaggy head, where Orla quietly spoke to some of the Old Dragonettes who surrounded her. Her expression was grim, mouth tight, and a deep groove between her eyebrows seemed to only grow deeper as the conversation progressed. Sam sighed. Perhaps she had been a coward for too long to allow Orla free rein and an unchecked run in this useless opposition she was playing at. Sam knew that Orla was at Dragons by the grace of Magdalene’s goodwill and Sam’s pleading as much as anything else. But it seemed that Sam herself had empowered this enmity—that was stubborn to the point of stupidity—to any and all reform of the school. Gently extricating herself from Lily’s embrace, she made to join the former headmistress when an arm on her shoulder stopped her progress. Stanton Alden looked even older and frailer up close than he had sitting on the stage.
“Professor Threadneedle.” He bowed his head slightly in greeting and let his hand drop from the light shawl she now clutched around herself in defense against unwanted approaches as much against the early morning island chill.
