12. Aurora
AURORA
The Mess Hall smelled amazing again the next morning, but my stomach was in knots, and I couldn’t pay attention to food.
There was already a crowd of First-years gathered around the Rankings, which were written on parchment and hanging on the far wall. I went with Jorn-o and the others to see them, but I was too small to push my way through the taller boys.
Jorn-o got through though—he and Leaper muscled their way to the front of the crowd. When my new friend saw the names, he whooped and punched a fist in the air. Then he pushed back through the knot of boys.
“Well?” I asked anxiously. “Did you pass?” What I really wanted to ask was “did I pass?” but I didn’t want to be rude.
It was frustrating not to be able to get through to see on my own. I considered trying to wiggle through, but I was afraid someone might elbow me in the head or mouth. If I wound up in the Infirmary, the Healers might want to examine me, and my secret identity would be exposed.
“We all passed,” Jorn-o said and Leaper nodded eagerly. “We’re all in,” he promised.
“Me too?” I asked anxiously. I hadn’t been part of their group for long. Had they really thought to look for my name?
Luckily, Jorn-o had.
“You didn’t just pass, Auri—you made the Highest Ranking.” He sounded awed.
“Really?” Relief flooded me. Surely I must have tested out of the First-year classes. Which meant that I would be assigned to a Second-year room with a single roommate instead of a twenty-person dormitory!
“Really.” Jorn-o nodded solemnly. “You must be really smart.”
“I just had a strict tutor,” I said, shrugging and trying to play it off.
“Nah—it’s the Lysandra blood showing up,” Leaper said, giving me a sharp look. “The cream always rises to the top—that’s what my father says.”
“Well, it’s been nice knowing you,” Toady remarked. “I guess you’ll be put in Second-year classes—maybe even Third-year. So you won’t have to hang around with us peasants any longer.”
I felt a sudden stab of regret. I didn’t want to lose my new friends! I had never been close to anyone but Auren before—it felt nice to have other people who cared about me, even if they were boys.
“Look, I still want to sit with you at Mess Hall,” I said quickly. “And I’m sure we’ll still have some classes together.”
“Maybe.” Jorn-o didn’t sound very sure about it. “Anyway, let’s get some breakfast.”
But just as I was turning to get into line with the rest of them, a heavy hand landed on my shoulder.
“Cadet Lysandra?” a cool voice said in my ear.
Looking up, I saw it was Professor Griven. His face was set in grim lines and as his fingers tightened on my shoulder, I felt my stomach drop.
“Y-yes, Professor?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“I need you to come with me,” he said. “Now.”