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“So what the hell do I do with my friends when I go and do the basic training the Dread Lord Grave is insisting on? We’re going to have to sacrifice the portal. I can’t believe we’re never going to see Natty again and I just set up all those trade deals with Sariah and Rye…”
“To never return to Aravisia…” Miazydar looked around him as if trying to memorise his last look at it.
“Well, students attending Lohirikam University often bring retainers with them to see to their needs,” Klara said.
“Yeah, we’re not doing that,” I said.
“Well…” Jez said.
“No, no, I’m not putting you guys in a position of powerlessness in a place that seems to have more than its fair share of fucksticks. Definitely not,” I said.
“Surely, that’s for us to say,” Flea said.
“You hated the whole idea of coming here and you brought a bag full of weapons,” I whispered out the corner of my mouth. “We’re not going through this again, no way. I decline this quest, we’ll find another one that’s safer and more fun.”
“It’s only for three months. You’ll have the bit of paper to shut these dicks up and can go swanning about the continent without the threat of dismemberment by plasma spear. I can pick up some dirty socks and do some dusting in a French maid’s uniform for a bit,” Flea said. “Anyway, you staying here on your own with those fuckwits about to execute you for something you had no control over? I’d much rather be here.”
“Great, so we’re doing this?” Jez said. She looked around wistfully. “Damn, instead of hilarious sexcapades, I get to be Dobby at Dragonwarts.”
By the time we arrived back at what was apparently the Aravisian Grand Council building, the paperwork had been done with the deal outlined. I read through it and so did the guys, before signing it. “An escort will take you to Lohirikam. Pass all of the core subjects and return here in three months and your visa will be ready for you,” Grave said.
“I need a message sent to Bordertown,” I said. “You don’t want my sister coming looking for us, she’s just as much a recipient of my grandmother’s spell as I am. Don’t want any more unregistered dragons popping up.”
“Of course, leave it with Klara and we will make sure it reaches your contact, Natty.”
So off we went again. Lohirikam Uni and its surroundings looked quite different than the city. It was enclosed by paddock after paddock of cattle and sheep looking animals and held a few of those tall stone structures spread around the main building. The uni was gothic in design, the pointed roofs dotted with carvings of dragons with soaring arches and a massive stained glass window on the front approach. A big burly man dressed in a suit waited at the entrance once we had landed. His eyes only widened slightly as Miazydar shivered and reduced his size but stayed in dragon form. One of the dragon riders came forward and discussed something quietly with him before handing him a roll of paper. The man nodded, then gestured for us to come forward.
“Miss McKinnon?”
“Yep.”
“Vice-Chancellor Bhechro, and these are your porters?”
“No, these are my friends who will stay here as porters, Flea and Jez.”
“As you wish. They can stay within your suite or in the staff dormitory.”
“With me.”
“Very well, we’ll show you around and then set you up with a timetable and accommodation.” Bhechro nodded to the riders, who then turned to head back. “Your dragon can wait here, or take one of the unoccupied eyries. They are marked with yellow flags.”
“I’m coming on the tour,” M said.
“Oh, well, of course, Great One, come through.”
The place was massive. We walked through the main doorway that looked big enough to fit Miazydar in his original form. Inside the building was one huge, open atrium giving you an excellent view of the three stories on either side. The ground floor appeared to be some kind of common area, filled with couches and side tables, throw pillows and rugs, though there were some classrooms on both sides that appeared to be gyms or dojos. It was mostly empty, with only a few students pouring over books.
“Lohirikam once housed its dragons in between the two main buildings,” Bhechro said with a wave of his hand, “but we found this caused unnecessary conflict.” His eyes slipped to M and then back to the architecture. “The two were combined and dragon accommodation was provided outside, as you might have seen on your way in.”
Interesting, M said, one wonders why this shift?
“We will allocate your classes for you today, but most are on the first floor with the rest of the first-year students. There
will be several other prospective riders there, but the majority are merit-based students. I’m not sure how universities are run in your world, but I think you’ll find here that the class environment is a competitive one.” Bhechro turned to look at me, his brown eyes staring coolly into mine. “If you hope to make friends, I would abandon that. Every single one of the 400 odd merit students will be looking at you, your performance, your dragon and trying to prove that they are more deserving, that the bond slicer,” he jerked his head to a big medieval-looking sword hanging up on the wall, “will be used against you and that they earn the privilege to stand by your dragon’s side.”
“And what of the dragons?” Miazydar said. “What say do they have over the running of this dragon rider mill?”
The VC stilled, looking at M much more closely now. His eyes ran over the reduced form of my dragon and just looked. For what? Signs of intelligence, magic? It was like he’d lost all ability to function until his mind had solved the problem of Miazydar.
