I was fuming now. “I didn’t even want to go to that school. And then that stupid boy started being mean to Lana for no reason, so I blew up the window and walked on out of there.” The birds were quiet. They looked at me, considering. Then they turned to Lana. “Someone was mean to you?” Lana tried to disappear. When that failed, she nodded. “Uh huh.” “What did he look like?” Nahc said. […]

“Mel! Mel!” I stretched, and kept walking. I looked up, and saw that Lana had followed me. I waved. “Hey, Lana.” She motioned back to the Academy. “You’re going to get in trouble.” “Mmhmm.” I smiled. “Probably get about a bajillion demerits for that.” “Isn’t that a bad thing?” “Nah.” Of course it was. But it was a school bad thing. What were they going to do? Give me a bad report card? Whatever Throw […]

Today seemed to last a thousand years. First Mr. Grumbly was talking about history. But he kept referring to pages, and historians, and dates upon dates upon dates. After a few minutes, I decided to catch up on sleep. Demerit twelve. I perked up a bit when he started to talk about spells. But again, there was so much talking. Words like conservation of energy. Transmogication of the elements, mass and signs and quations. It […]

Blue Wheel Academy was just a few blocks away from the Mayor’s manse. In the northern part of town, and up-scale to a point that didn’t seem possible. The Academy had a fully manicured lawn, shimmering bluegrass that sparkled when I looked closer. Trees were lined up along the walk to the three-story building. And above the main doors to the building, was the eight-spoked blue wheel that must have been the symbol of the […]

“What?” Sir Violet twitched in Sela’s hand. “I’m not letting them go without protection.” The lady stared at the sword. “I’d like to see you try.” She pointed at the two of us. “They are still children. What a twenty-three-year-old is doing taking orders from one is another matter, but Blue Wheel is very clear. No unsupervised adults on school grounds, and certainly not armed.” Sela herself kept making tiny movements. I walked over to […]

I folded my arms over my staff. “We’re not going anywhere,” I said. The lady sighed, and nodded. “That is already one demerit. Add another because you were late, and you are already in the bottom third of your class, Miss McKay.” “Mel.” She tutted. “Emelia. No nicknames at Blue Wheel.” “Good, because we’re not going.” “Two.” There was a notebook in her hand, and a slim pen in the other. She made a notation. […]