Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
Maybe his attitude had to do with his dragon’s feelings about me. But that was strange too—why was a rare Midnight Gold-wing concerned with insignificant me? Was it my bloodlines? But Professor Leesbruck had said that bloodlines didn’t matter—that every Great House sometimes produced a runt—a genetic throw-back who wasn’t fit to be a rider.
I had no answers to any of my questions and there was nothing I could do but eat the Dragon Custard slowly and wait for the Great Bell to toll in order to make my escape.
32
AURORA
“What was that all about?” Jorn-o asked me as we left the Mess Hall together. I’d been afraid that Ryse might insist on coming with me, but he hadn’t said a word when the bell rang, and I jumped up from my new spot at his table and hurried away.
“I don’t know.” I said, looking away. “I think it might have to do with Larson. Ryse feels responsible because he used to be in his Wing.”
“Used to be in his Wing?” Toady exclaimed, his eyes wide.
“Holy shit!” Bugs exclaimed. “Then it’s true—Skoren kicked him out!”
“Who’s he replacing him with, then?” Leaper wanted to know.
“Me,” I said in a small voice.
“What?” Jorn-o gave me a look that was pure confusion. “But that’s not how it works! You can’t be in a Wing unless you have a dragon to fly.”
“Ryse says I’ll be flying with him until I get my own dragon,” I said.
My friends all shook their heads.
“Never heard of a First-year getting into a Wing before,” Toady muttered.
“I know, but it’s not like I asked to be in a Wing!” I exclaimed. “And anyway, I think it’s just that Ryse wants to protect me from Larson for some reason.”
“I think you’re right,” Jorn-o said thoughtfully. “At least, if what I overheard earlier today is any indication.”
“What? What did you hear?” everyone wanted to know—myself included.
“Well, I spilled something on my shirt at lunch, so I ducked back into the dorm to change between classes,” Jorn-o told us. “But as I was coming out of the bathroom, I saw Skoren talking to our Dorm Monitor. I couldn’t hear everything, but it sounded like he was demanding that Larson get moved out of Dorm A.”
“What?” I exclaimed, barely believing it. Was there no end to Ryse Skoren’s meddling in my life? It wasn’t like I was completely helpless. Why wouldn’t he leave well enough alone?
“Yeah and actually, the Dorm Monitor agreed,” Jorn-o said. “So I don’t think Larson is in our dorm anymore.”
“Just hope he didn’t get moved to ours,” Bugs said dolefully. “He’s a mean bastard.”
“Yeah, and getting kicked out of his Wing and his dorm on the same day is only going to make him meaner,” Bugs agreed.
I didn’t say anything—my mind was still reeling. So Ryse had actually gone out of his way to get Chud Larson moved out of my dorm. I was going to have to confront him, I thought to myself. I couldn’t let him keep solving all my problems—I had to stand on my own two feet, or no one would ever respect me at the Academy. I was already the shortest and the weakest—I didn’t need to look like a coward too!
My chance came later that night. I took my usual quick dip in the Cook-pot, then wrapped myself in towels and waited by the broad, arching entrance to the underground lake until I saw the Second-years coming.
The moment I caught sight of Ryse, I motioned at him. He had been talking and laughing with some of the other Second-years but he nodded at once and came over to me.
“What is it, Auri?” he asked, his brows drawing low. “Did he bother you again?”
“No, you did!” I exclaimed.
“I did?” He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Just come here—I need to talk to you.”
I stomped over to the far side of the wall, which curved into a natural alcove and offered a bit of privacy.
Ryse followed, still frowning. He was wearing a single white towel draped low around his hips and his broad, bare chest was on display—a fact I tried very hard not to notice.
I myself was wearing one towel around my waist and the other draped across my shoulders to hide my breasts. Even though my Dragon Glass pendant hid my true identity, there was no use in tempting fate.
“All right, what’s all this about?” he wanted to know.
I saw no reason to beat around the bush.
“You can’t keep interfering in my life,” I told him. “I mean, I appreciate you trying to keep me safe, but I have to face my own problems.”
He shook his head.
“We’ve been over this, Auri. You’re just too small and Larson is too big and too mean.”
“But you kicked him off your Wing and got him kicked out of my dorm!” I protested.