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Fooling around with plants and herbs. A pause. Do you truly find such things interesting?
I do. It’s peaceful here. And the work I do could be important someday. Much more important than helping highbloods to some far-off military victory. Alchemy and healing arts could save lives—blightborn lives. I’d recently decided that was a far nobler calling than becoming a strategist.
As important as learning how to guard your mind? He sounded peevish. You are already far behind where I would like you to be in your thrallguard lessons.
I need to pass my classes, Nyxaris, I reminded him. Emberfern is a very important plant. In fact, it’s been sadly understudied. Actually, I’m surprised you haven’t …
“Miss Shen.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin. Coloring, I looked up at Professor Allenvale.
“You seemed half a world away from here.” She touched my shoulder gently. “Are you worried about your paper?” She glanced around, then lowered her voice. “You needn’t worry, Florence. It’s a very fine mark. You continue to impress me. In fact, would you ever consider a scholarship semester in the Sable Isles?”
I stared at her. “A semester?”
She nodded. “I’ll be returning to my own school at the end of Springrise.”
My face fell. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Well, you knew I wouldn’t be able to stay here forever. But perhaps you might join me for the Summerfell session? I take on a few students every summer for an intensive research retreat.”
“Me?” I squeaked.
Nyxaris snorted. Yes, you, little scholar. You cannot tell me you are surprised by this.
“You’re a brilliant student, Florence. I can’t help but feel, however, that you do not belong at Bloodwing.”
I stared at her. “What do you mean?”
Allenvale leaned down. “This school is a battlefield. It’s meant to prepare you all for potential war.”
War between houses was the only kind of war there had ever been—at least, for the past five centuries. Which was why I’d always thought it rather ironic that all of us were trained at the same school. I supposed it meant that no one house could claim a large advantage over another militaristically.
“To defend the highblood houses, yes. Isn’t that what your school is like?”
She shook her head. “The Somnaria Institute isn’t a war college, not like Bloodwing. It’s primarily a research academy. No combat classes, just gardens, laboratories, and libraries that never close.” She smiled as my eyes widened. “Yes, I thought you’d like that last bit.”
“But your school does exist to serve House Orphos,” I said carefully. “Doesn’t it?”
“The knowledge we discover at Somnaria supports House Orphos, and the school receives grants from the Orphos family, yes. But that doesn’t mean we don’t also do work that is beneficial to blightborn.”
But that wasn’t their main focus. It never was.
I picked up my pair of tongs and fiddled with them. “I’m House Avari, though, not House Orphos. I’m not sure how it would work,” I said regretfully.
She shrugged. “Sangratha is at peace. There’s nothing in our school charter that precludes an Avari student from visiting or even enrolling. Apply for the summer scholarship. Spend one term in the Isles. Who knows? Maybe you’ll decide that’s where you really belong.”
My heart pounded with excitement, but I knew what she suggested would never be possible. Not now that I was betrothed to Kage and bonded to Sangratha’s only dragon. I nibbled my bottom lip, not sure how to respond.
You wish to go to this place? To spend your summer studying instead of spending your days in leisure like other students?
I’d like nothing better than to study under Professor Allenvale all summer. It would be a dream come true. But you know it’s not possible. Lady Avari would never let me go—or you, for that matter.
If you wish to see these Isles, we will go. If your new archon objects, he may travel with you.
It would put me far from Viktor. Perhaps Lady Avari would see the benefits of that.
Allenvale was watching me.
