by CC Rose
***
Sitting in the headmistress office was the second most uncomfortable feeling I had ever felt. And it wasn’t my first time here. Sitting across from me, behind her oak desk was the headmistress:
Lady Darcia Croft, Sapherian Ryder, Bond of Da’Vora.
A tall woman with a simple look, her features sat more masculine, with a wider jaw, deeper brow and broader shoulders than most women. Though, just as beautiful as all Ryders were. Her dark hair was wrapped into her standard top bun with the fringe pinned tight to her left brow. Her eyes were a deep brown; black in the dimly lit office. Darcia wore the standard blue cloak for a Sapherian Ryder, listening to Salvador’s tale, her eyes glared into mine.
I dropped my gaze, knowing it didn’t matter either way. Salvador stood to my left, while he usually was a calm teacher; definitely not one of my favourites. He was angered and fired up. His pale face was splashed with red blotches from his gasped explanations to the headmistress. To my right, was someone I had never met. He was already in the room when Salvador pushed me into the seat. He had interrupted this stranger, bowing to apologise before continuing on with what he had discovered in the north tower—me, attacking Bronson.
I rolled my eyes. He deserved it. After what he did to me this afternoon. I heaved a sigh. I tried not to look too relieved just yet.
Side glancing the stranger’s form, I hid a smirk that twitched my lips. Black shoulder length hair napped his neck, masculine with a nice golden tan on his forearms and shoulders. Mid twenties like all Ryders of the lands. He wasn’t wearing any coloured cloak to show which dragon kin he belonged to. He did have the dragon glove in view.
I dropped my gaze to my pale ashen glove. It ran the length of my left forearm, from knuckles to elbow and like all Ryders, chosen to be guardians of Dangora. The glove was fingerless, strong of unbreakable material with four small holes on the underside from palm to elbow. This was the reason I was here—this glove. A Dragon Ryders Glove. This pale ashen-glove, covered in small indentions and hidden hieroglyphs was the one thing that would save me from a sound lashing—might save me from a sound lashing. I know it would definitely save me from expulsion from Draeos. They didn’t punish students with time off. No. They gave you more time on.
I peeked up to Salvador just as he finished his tale of what he discovered, saw, and heard from the other students, and the damage I had done to poor Bronson.
Now I wish I did hurt him. At least a bruise on his face would have been nice.
“Do you have anything to add to this Miss Thorndale?” Darcia’s voice was harsh.
For a fleeting moment, I thought she had heard my thoughts.
“I didn’t mean to do it. He jumped up so fast—”
“Jumped up? So you don’t deny using magic on him?” She tilted her head.
“He did it first—” Darn it. I was done for. I really shouldn’t talk. “I was just blocking.”
“That is beside the point. Mr Creet will be punished for his behaviour. But you. You will be punished far stronger.”
“I swear I didn’t mean it.”
“Whatever your intentions Miss Thorndale, does not sit well in the lands or in the school of Draeos. You should be ashamed of yourself. You are a 1st year senior. A Dragon Ryder. Given the privileges others would only dream of. And this is how you repay us? Your Bond?” Her thin lips pressed together in disgust.
I stared at the floor. The weight of what I had done started to sink in. She was right. Sort of. Putting up with what I had to endure for the past six months, she wouldn’t want this lecture either.
“I know that coming to Draeos at such a late stage in life has put you under a lot of pressure to keep pace with the other students.” Her tone changed, as to her features; softer maybe.
I lifted my eyes from my knotted fingers.
“I am aware that you completed your exams last week, and I would like to inform you that your results have returned.”
And? I wanted to prompt her, but stayed silent.
“And after reviewing your test results and discussing matters with your teachers, I’m afraid to inform you Miss Thorndale that you will not be moving on to the final year of training. You will be repeating your 1st year senior.”
“What? You can’t! I can’t be that bad. I know I was late getting here—”
“Late!—Late Miss Thorndale would have been a few moments. You arrived ten years too late. Your training is far behind all the other Ryders. Not to mention basic hand work, simple knowledge of lands and lores. While we take great pleasure in knowing another Dragon Ryder is in training, and we will provide to the best of that Ryders needs, we wish to make sure you are more than capable when you do graduate. Sending you off to your final year would be devastating Miss Thorndale. You are not even six months in. Your fellow students have been training for years; their Bonds are three years older this coming year. That is why we ask that you repeat your eleventh year. Hopefully you will go on to your final year with better grades than what you finished with this year.”
She may well have spoken about a common flu. Me failing. That was hard to take in. Was I really that bad. Okay, maybe.
“I know I can keep up. I can do more study, after lessons. Please. Don’t keep me down a year.” Begging wasn’t helping.
She raised a palm to stop my plea.
“It’s not up for discussion Miss Thorndale. The rule is clear. No student is permitted to leave a grade unless capable, and worthy of moving onwards. You are not capable. And after today, and the other three incidents in the past six months, it is a wonder you managed to get even a grade on your exams.”
Well, don’t try and make me feel better, I scoffed inwards. Trying to hide my pain, fear and shock, wasn’t easy. Sadly, La’Kera was the one to receive my pain. She tried for soothing rumbles.
“What does La’Kera have to say about my decision?”
I blinked at Darcia’s tone. She didn’t show anger anymore. Perhaps she realised she was being a tad harsh.
“She thinks that it would be for the best … that we are too young to continue to the next level,” I said sullenly. The shock had passed and so too the anger. Now I was just numb. I wasn’t angry with La’Kera. She spoke truth.
“She is far wiser than you Miss Thorndale. I ask that you heed her advice more often.” She sighed.
I figured that was it. I was now free to go. I risked uncurling my legs. Her gaze held me in place as she tilted her head to the stranger, who was still as a statue in the room.
“I will discuss your punishment in a moment. First, I would like you to meet, Master Karson Albury, Bond of Blade’Dur. He is a top level Master, experienced in mentoring the best students in the lands. He has come here today so that we could discuss your training in more detail.”
I turned my attention to the stranger. Karson Albury. That didn’t ring any bells. Maybe he was new to Draeos, or the east of Dangora. Taking in his chiselled features, they reminded me of statues, carved from marble. I double blinked in my distraction and focused. Not on his good looks. Well, maybe a little. But mostly on what Darcia was saying.
“Because of your situation, I am withdrawing your visit into EzRah during the holidays.”
“NO!” I almost leaped from my seat. My face drained of all colour. Not allowed to go to EzRah? Along with repeating my eleventh year. What more could this woman do to me?
“It’s my decision to allow you entrance. It isn’t part of your punishment. It is a requirement by the Guild to allow you to gain more skill while staying here in Draeos for the holidays.”
“I have to train on my holidays?”
“Training daily with Master Karson throughout the two months will aid you in more ways Miss Thorndale.” Her voice was heavy. “Once lesson resumes, Master Karson will be teaching you after class and on weekends for the remainder of your schooling at Draeos.”
“You have got to be kidding me!” I gasped. This was too much. Too much for one day. “I know I’m behind
—”
“Behind? You are far behind in your study Miss Thorndale.” She wet her lips, with another heavy sigh. “And least I remind you, that you are the only Ryder in the lands. The first in three hundred years! You are bonded with the only Dy’Monian dragon. The rarest, the most sought after of all kin. That is the most valuable thing in this land. You shouldn’t be turning down Master Karson’s generosity with little thought to what this could mean for you and La’Kera. You will do as Master Karson asks. Is that clear?” Her dark eyes pierced into me with order.
I wanted to protest.
Stay calm … it will be okay, La’Kera’s gentle voice echoed into my thoughts. She was overjoyed that I was staying in the grounds of Stone Heart Valley. It made her purr with excitement.
The longer I twisted my fingers, the harder it was to know what or how I could get out of it.
“Is that clear?” She demanded an answer. Her words were final.
I nodded. “Yes Lady Darcia,” I squeaked.
“Your punishment will be as follows … You will clean the lavatory in your section for the rest of the week. You will help in the kitchen with the house elves after evening meals. And you will produce a parchment on proper mânã usage in two evenings. And if you use magic on another student again, you will scrub the shower rooms on every level for the next year. Is that clear?” Her command was absolute.
Dropping my gaze to my lap, I grumbled inwardly at her tone. I didn’t want to risk irritating her more. She usually isn’t this mad. Maybe my other incidents were overlooked because I was new. Not anymore. I would have preferred to do a ten thousand word essay on why not to use magic rather than clean the lavatory. I had to swallow my pride, annoyed and frustrated in myself.
“That is all Miss Thorndale. I hope not to see you in here again.” Her tone was edged with less steam.
I nodded. With shaking legs, I rose, avoiding eye contact with Salvador and Karson, and left the room.
Once free of the tower, I released the heavy breath I’d been holding. My body was in knots; my eyes were close to moistness. I didn’t like being yelled at, humiliated and insulted, and the punished on top of it all. I swallowed several gulps of air, taking in the dappled rays that splashed the cobble stone with afternoon warmth. I crossed the courtyard and entered into the Main Building.
Least it’s only the rest of this week to clean the privy, said La’Kera.
Easier said than done, I answered her in thought. Seeking her mind, she was out by the far woods; several hours walk from here, a fifteen minute flight for her. She was hunting deer at this time of day. I continued towards my chamber. My heart and mind were heavy with all that happened and knowing the truth—I wasn’t going to EzRah.
