Page 36 of Malcroix Bones Academy

Was that hope? Relief? Disappointment?

Whatever it was, I wished it would shut up. My jaw hardened before all the feelings there could fully blossom into something I’d have to deal with.

“So?” My arms tightened against my chest. “Isn’t that what you wanted? For me to go to one of those schools you told me about, with all the ten-year-olds?” I felt sick, and a real stab of worry as I thought about my brother. “I thought this is what you wanted,” I repeated harshly, not hiding the accusation in my voice. “Why are you being weird about it?”

“You won’t be going to school with ten-year olds,” Ankha muttered, obviously distracted as she re-read the scroll. “Weren’t you listening? I said you qualifiedfor your age.They’re not sending you to primary school. You’ve been accepted at Malcroix Bones Academy. They’re waiving the primary schoolrequirement, based on your inspector’s recommendation, and your test scores.”

A silence hung in the air.

My voice grew taut. “I thought you said that was years off?”

Ankha finally looked up. She glared at me, as if she held me personally responsible. Then, with one question, she made it clear that she did.

“What did you do in there?” she demanded.

“What did I…” I trailed, then glared back at my aunt. “What do you mean, what did I do? I didexactlywhat you told me to do. I followed instructions!”

“Did your mother train you?” Ankha asked, her dark blue eyes now the color of steel. “Before she died? Did Clotide?”

“I really wish you would stop talking about my dead mother,” I hissed.

There was a silence.

Ankha exhaled an impatient sound.

“Fine,” she said, back to annoyed. “Well, whatever you did, it seems to have impressed Forsooth.” She stared out the window at the strange London sky. “If it’s a mistake, if he’s misread this in some way, I doubt you’ll thank him for it.”

Seeming to see something in my face, Ankha let out a humorlessHmmphf.She deftly rolled up the longer piece of parchment.

“Well, it’s done now.” She sniffed dismissively. “Your results have been officially recorded. I doubt they’d let you into one of the lower schools now, even if you applied.” She looked me over critically, then gave me a cold smile. “You should be pleased, girl. It turns out you were right. You’ll be going to university in the fall after all.”

I refolded my arms tightly enough to cut off my own breath.

Ankha returned my glare with one of her eagle-eyed appraisals.

“You’ll have to pass a bridging course this summer,” she said. “They’ve already sent the location, dates, and list of textbooks. You need only say yes, and you will be enrolled.”

I felt my throat close. Bridging course?

Isn’t that what Alaric said he’d be doing all summer? Did that mean I’d be going to school with Alaric this summerandpotentially in the fall?

None of this seemed real.

“Well?” Ankha prodded. “Is the answer yes? Or no?”

“Is it yes?” I asked sourly. “How could itnotbe yes? It doesn’t sound like I have much choice, does it? And why would I?”

But my eyes were pulled by the scroll, which had unrolled itself again, seemingly on its own. It let out a puff of green and black smoke as I watched. The small cloud rose into the air, then slowly dissipated.

When I leaned over to stare down at the bottom of the scroll, I saw my name written out in black ink, in an eerily accurate approximation of my handwriting.

“You were saying?” her aunt queried smugly.

I looked up. My hands suddenly grew cold.

It felt real now.

“Appears you’ve made up your mind rather quickly,” Ankha said, that wry amusement still in her voice. “Ididwarn you that you need only say yes, but the scroll knows your intent, as well as your words. You agreed. Youwantto go. It was enchanted to accept your answer as soon as you gave it. You are now bound to the Academy’s terms. You will attend the bridging course this summer in London, and the Academy in the fall, assuming you pass.”