I turned to watch her go.
Chapter Thirteen
The Assigning
Just as the mean girl left the dorm room, four others entered.
“Why was Jessica bleeding?” asked the tallest of the girls in a thick French accent. The other three just shrugged.
I sat on my bunk and began to put my things away.
The girl who’d been bullied came over and gave me a soft smile. “I’m Liesl,” she said in a thick German accent. “Thank you,” she said shyly.
I nodded and smiled. “I’m Holly.”
“Hi, Holly,” said Liesl. “Want to sit together at dinner?”
I nodded. “Yes, definitely.”
“Hey, you two,” said the tall girl. “I asked you why Jessica was bleeding.” She stood there, hands on hips, waiting for our reaction.
I shrugged and continued to sort through my meager belongings.
Liesl shrugged as well, and climbed back onto her bunk.
The tall girl stood there silently, tapping her foot, then glanced at her three friends, who were gathered next to her.
I unwrapped the boxes that had been delivered to my bunk and put them away, then consulted the paper schedule the headmistress had given me.
It was a good ten minutes before tall girl and her three barbie sidekicks made rude sounds and went to their bunks to unpack their own belongings.
It was clear: Liesl and I were the same, and the other girls wanted nothing to do with us.
“Dinner is soon, want to go now?” whispered Liesl.
“Maybe. Do you think our stuff is safe to leave?” I whispered back, glancing at the other girls.
Liesl looked over at them. They were talking among themselves and ignoring us. She shrugged.
The door opened, and in walked an upperclassman. She was dark and apparently in an extremely good mood.
“HI, EVERYONE!” She stood there with an expectant air.
After a few seconds, Liesl and I said “hi” shyly.
I guess we’re going to be the shy brigade.
“Hello.”
“Hi.”
“Hi, Sarah!”
The upperclassman waved at everyone.
“My name is Sarah Goodheart, and I’m your dorm supe. Before we go down to dinner, I need to go over a few things.”
“Miss Goodheart, Jessica isn’t here. She left a while ago, and she was BLEEDING.” The taller girl said, distressed.
“Yes, I know, Naomi. I’ve already talked with her,” said Sarah. “That’s one of the things I wanted to address now.”
Naomi glanced over at Liesl and me, smirking.
“Now, every single day, including weekends, breakfast is at seven a.m. sharp. First class is at eight a.m. sharp. We don’t dawdle. At all. I do not want any of you reported for being late.” She fixed us with a serious look.
“Okay, continuing: lunch is at half past twelve. Classes resume at half past one p.m. and go until half past four p.m. So, there are five classes Monday through Friday. The weekend is yours, but the meals are at the same time, so don’t miss them.”
She fell silent, thinking for a moment. Then began speaking again.
“Curfew is nine p. m. You will be abed on the stroke of nine. Do you understand?”
We all nodded.
“Now, I understand Jessica had a mishap earlier. Tell me: who was present at the time?”
I stayed silent, though my eyes grew wider when Naomi and her friends all pointed at Liesl and me.
“I see,” said Miss Goodheart in a firm voice. “Then you four,” she pointed at Naomi and the other three, “leave now while I have a private word with the other two. Go down to the dining hall. We will be down shortly.”
They left, solemn expressions on their faces.
When the door shut behind them, Miss Goodheart turned to Liesl and I. “All right. Tell me what happened.”
I looked down at my hands.
“Jessica was trying to take my bag. She had grabbed it and was trying to pull it from my hands,” Liesl said in a quiet voice.
“Go on,” Miss Goodheart said.
“We were alone. Then the headmistress came in with Holly, said a few words, and left. Oh, and she completely ignored Jessica with her hands on my bag.”
Liesl frowned. “Not sure why. Anyway, when the headmistress left, Jessica began pulling my bag again, and started screaming at me to let go. Holly came and told Jessica to leave me alone. Jessica ignored her. Holly shoved her onto her bed, and she rolled off the bed to the ground, where she bumped her head. Then she got up and said something to Holly about ... about being misborn, skinny, and poor.” She stopped, and looked down.
“And how did she get the bloody nose?” asked Miss Goodheart.
I finally spoke. “Because I punched her.”
The older girl looked at me. “You punched her in the nose?”
I nodded.
“Because she was disparaging you, Holly?”
I nodded. “I punched her, and she fell back to the ground. I guess that’s when her nose started bleeding.” I looked down, feeling ashamed, but not sure why.
I looked up at Miss Goodheart. “I’m sorry I made her bleed, but I’m not sorry I stopped a bully from stealing Liesl’s bag.”
“Miss Goodheart, Jessica was trying to take my bag. The handle started to rip. See?” Liesl held the bag up and showed the older girl, who took a good look at the partially ripped handle.
“Take that to housekeeping. There’s a seamstress who can mend it for you,” Miss Goodheart said quietly.
Then she looked up and folded her hands.
“You probably have questions. I’ll try to answer them. First of all, the headmistress does not get involved with petty disputes and bullying. It’s not because she isn’t supposed to, it’s because she is of sprite ancestry, and is nonconfrontational by nature. It’s in her genes. Kind of silly that she’s in charge of this school, but she lets the disciplining fall to the dorm supervisors.”
Miss Goodheart took a deep breath.
“Jessica came to me and told me her version of what happened. I sent her to the nurse and thence to the dining hall.”
I looked up sharply. “Wait. ‘her version’?”
The older girl shook her head. “What Jessica told me happened does not get people bloody noses.”
I felt a small bit of relief.
“I understand the situation, and I’m going to ask you to, from now on, please handle it without drawing blood, if at all possible.” She looked at me, her head to the side. “Holly, I am afraid we don’t often have misborns here at Titania Academy, so you may be the target of some adverse attitudes, despite your royal heritage. I will try to make things better when I see this happening, but I can’t be everywhere.
“People can be cruel, and students often group themselves into cliques. I just hope things don’t get too bad.” She patted my hand as she rose. “Please keep me posted on things?”
I nodded, feeling dazed.
Liesl stayed silent and wide-eyed during this exchange.
Miss Goodheart paused by the door. “Well, what are you waiting for? It’s dinnertime.”
We followed her out and down the stairs.
Liesl whispered “So, no punishment? That’s really good!”
I nodded. I was expecting at least a reprimand and detention or something.
The dining hall was very crowded. Liesl and I stood in line with our trays, got our food, then took seats at the end of a table full of giggling girls. Jessica, Naomi, and the other girls were nowhere to be seen.
Hopefully they’re on the other side of the room.
The dinner was delicious, but I kept glancing around, hoping to see Chance.
As we were finishing, two strange girls came up to us.
“Hi,” they said in unison.
“Hi,” I replied.
“Are you really of the royal line?” The shorter girl asked.
“Uhhh,” I didn’t know what to say. “It’s what I’ve b
een told ...”
“Yeah, that would be the case with a misborn, huh?” The girls dissolved into giggles and stumbled away.
I scowled into my water glass.
“Holly,” Liesl had put her head close to mine. “Don’t let them get to you. None of that’s your fault.”
“I know, but ever since I got to the school, literally before I got off the wagon that brought us here, people have been doing that,” I said.
“Making fun of you?”
I nodded.
“They’re just stupid and ignorant,” said Liesl. “It’s what’s inside that counts, not who your parents were.”
“Then why am I a joke to them?” I asked in a low tone.
“I told you. Because they’re stupid and ignorant.”
I couldn’t help it, I grinned.
Liesl suddenly looked up and blushed.
“Hi, stranger,” said a voice from behind me.
I turned to look.
“Chance!” I rose and grabbed him in a hug.
“Oh, hey. Easy, easy,” said Chance, working to remain standing. “Is everything okay?”
I wiped tears from my eyes in horror. I had not meant to cry. It’s just that seeing him again made me feel so much. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just went off balance is all.” I turned to my new bunkmate. “Oh, Chance, this is Liesl, my new friend. Liesl, this is Chance.”
Liesl got to her feet, blushing furiously. “Hi.”
Chance bowed, “Please to see you again, Liesl. I’m glad you’re making friends with Holly.” He stuck his hand out.
Liesl put her hand out to shake his, a silly grin on her face.
Chance took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Enchanted.”
I though Liesl was going to pee her pants. I kid you not, her face was so red she looked like a strawberry.
I smiled and ducked my head.
“So Chance, do you eat in the dining hall every day, too?” I asked.
“Most days, although I’m usually over there,” he waved vaguely through a set of double doors where I spied more tables of students.
“Huh,” I said. “Well, would you like to start sitting with us?” I put my head to the side, smiling up at him.
He chuckled. “I suppose that would be fine.”
I glanced at Liesl and she looked pleased.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a hunting horn outside, and everyone started getting up, their voices rising to a loud hubbub.
“What’s that?” I asked Chance. “What’s going on?”
“Oh! It’s The Assigning. It’s where first years get assigned their familiars,” Chance said.
Their what?
Liesl clapped her hands in delight. “Oh! Grandma told me about the familiars, I can’t wait! I hope I get a cat!”
“What is a familiar?” I asked.
Liesl looked at me with a shocked expression.
“Holly didn’t grow up in a magical household, Liesl,” Chance explained.
“Oh,” Liesl said softly. “I’m sorry,” she said to me.
I shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m here now.” I grinned.
Liesl laughed.
“Holly, a familiar is a magical animal that is bonded to you,” said Chance. “It’s a spell, so the headmistress will cast the spell over you, and your familiar will appear beside you. And they’re connected to you for life. They are mostly invisible, until you need them.”
I looked at him, my jaw dropped in surprise.
“I was raised by my grandmother. She had a large black cat as her familiar, said Liesl. “I really miss them.” She smiled wistfully.
I stared at Chance. “What’s your familiar, Chance?”
In response, he said several magical words that fled my memory as soon as I heard them. A hawk appeared on Chance’s shoulder.
It was magnificent.
“Ohhhh,” I exclaimed.
“Chance, that looks so cool,” Liesl said.
Chance grinned, said the words again, and the hawk disappeared again.
“Is he still there, just invisible?” I asked.
“No, he’s not there. He is back in the forest,” said Chance. “He appears when I call him or need him.”
I nodded, still amazed.
“Well, come on, you two. Let’s head out to The Assigning.” Chance led the way out to the front lawn.
There were tiki torches erected on the boundaries of the large grassy expanse.
Headmistress Ó Baoghill stood on a large boulder with a parchment scroll.
She was calling a name out.
A boy rose and approached the professor and held out his hand.
She shook it, then gestures for him to walk into a ...
What was that?
It looked like a big rock arch, with white mist in the center. The mist was swirling and curling, but it never left the arch.
It was as if the mist was enclosed.
“Chance, what is that?” I asked.
“Watch and see,” he replied.
So I watched. We all watched the boy take a step up into the arch ...
And disappear ...
No one was reacting with fright or horror. Most of the upperclassmen seemed to be waiting, with bated breath, for what might happen next.
Then the mist cleared, and the boy stepped out the other side.
But he was no longer alone.
A rabbit hopped after him, and stayed by his feet. As the boy walked around and back to his classmates, the rabbit followed close behind.
I stared, not sure what to make of this.
“Where did the rabbit come from?” I asked Chance.
“The magical realm,” he answered.
I still didn’t understand, but I realized it was sometimes okay to not understand, to just observe and take it all in.
The next student was called. This time it was Jessica, I realized with a start. She had on a small white bandage over the bridge of her nose, and I felt a twinge of guilt.
I had done that to her.
Jessica walked into the arch, which was roiling with mist once again.
A few seconds later, Jessica reappeared on the other side, followed closely behind by her new familiar.
“What is that?” I whispered, craning my neck to see.
“I think it’s a duck,” Chance said.
I felt so confused.
“How is your familiar chosen?” I whispered.
“It picks you, according to your personality and needs,” said Chance. “Usually, the fiercest familiars pick the boldest faeborn.”
Two more students went through the archway, coming out with a badger and a fox.
Then the headmistress called up Liesl.
I thought she was going to faint.
“You’ll be fine. You got this,” I whispered as she passed me.
Liesl slowly walked to the misty archway and stepped through. Ten seconds later, she walked out followed by her ...
“What’s that?” I whispered.
“An ermine,” answered Chance.
The animal was sleek and white. It hopped onto Liesl’s shoulder and rode there all the way back to us.
Sooo beautiful. I hope I get a beautiful familiar. Something white...
“Holly Ó Cuilinn.”
Oh god, oh god, oh god ...
I felt a gentle push on the small of my back, and took a step forward.
I glanced back, and Chance winked at me and gave me a thumbs up.
I took a deep breath and walked to the archway.
Up close, the mist swirling about wasn’t white, it was pearly, with pastels mixed in it.
“Go on, then,” said the headmistress.
I took a step into the arch. I could see nothing but the swirling mist. I raised my hand in front of my face, but I could not see anything.
Wow, thick mist. Magical mist.
Greetings, little faeborn. Welcome to the archway.
“Huh ... hullo,” I said.
“I see you are of roya
l lineage. You will need a strong protector. Hmmm ...”
I waited. The voice took a long time.
“Well, it seems we have two familiars who are vying for the honor of being tied to you. Tell me, do you accept these two sisters?”
Two images formed in my mind. Not of what the familiars would look like, but rather, what their minds held.
The two familiars were happy and enthusiastic, joyful and energetic, strong and regal.
My heart warmed to them immediately.
I felt a lick on my cheek from one of them, then another on my other cheek.
“That’s how they kiss, in case you’re wondering.”
I laughed out loud in delight.
“You have been matched. You may take a step forward, faeborn.”
I stepped out of the archway, grinning broadly, and walked back to where Chance and Liesl waited.
Two arctic wolves followed me.
Chapter Fourteen
Familiars
We slowly walked back inside, the whole group with new familiars hummed with chatter.
“They’ll disappear when you fall asleep,” said Chance. “They go to the magic faerealm, and they appear when you call them or if you are in trouble.”
“So, we just bring them with us wherever we go?” asked Liesl.
“That’s the idea,” Chance smiled. “They are a very necessary part of being an adult fae.”
Hmmm.
I somehow felt much safer with my two wolves walking on either side of me.
They were huge, coming almost to my shoulders when they sat with their ears pricked up.
I buried my fingers in their thick, white fur. The felt warm and soft and wonderful.
“Why did Holly get assigned two familiars?” asked Liesl.
“Not sure,” said Chance. “It happens once in a while.”
I swung my head around. “So it has happened before?”
“Oh, yes. I have heard tell of this happening before,” Chance said.
“You’ve heard of it?” I asked. “So you’ve never seen this happen? There’s no other students at the school that have two familiars?”
Chance shook his head. “But I have definitely heard of it happening.”
“When? In what circumstance?” I asked.
“Chance, hey buddy, come on, we’re going to be late.” An upperclassman grabbed Chance by the shoulder and pulled.
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