Serralyn nodded, and turned toward a familiar building—the first building Kaylin had actually entered when the Academia had not been fully awake. “Do you know if Larrantin is teaching now?”

“He is.” Serralyn placed a palm against the door of the administrative building. “Valliant’s in that class.” The door opened inward as Kaylin grimaced. Door wards. Ugh. “You wanted to speak with him?”

“If he doesn’t have another class immediately after—and if the Arkon doesn’t turn me to ash—yes.”

“You really have to stop calling him that.”

“Right. I’m trying.”

“Sedarias says: very trying. Teela agrees.” Serralyn’s eyes were green.

“Is anyone on my side?”

“Terrano. And Mandoran says at least you’re not boring.”

There were three people at the long desk Kaylin thought looked very much like a bar—but without the bottles, glasses or stools. “Serralyn,” one woman said; to Kaylin’s surprise she was a gray-haired human.

“Matilda, this is Corporal Kaylin Neya—she’s an Imperial Hawk. Her partner, Corporal Severn Handred.”

“We’re not yet under the auspices of Imperial Law,” the woman said, voice brisk. “But the chancellor has had several meetings with the Emperor. You’re welcome here, but you won’t have the authority of the law behind you.”

“It would be pointless—the boss of the Academia is a Dragon.”

Matilda smiled, exposing a dimple on the left side of her face. “That he is. You can sign here. We don’t have mirror check-in or Records in the Academia—more’s the pity.”

“You probably won’t get them,” Kaylin replied, picking up the quill she was offered. “Most sentient buildings consider their use a dangerous security risk.”

“Those that don’t have to do this kind of work can feel that way—it’d make our job a lot easier. I think the chancellor might be expecting you, though.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve got a note here that says you’re to come to his office before you visit anyone else. It’s his handwriting—he’s got very distinctive handwriting.”

“Oh.”

“I haven’t done anything yet,” Kaylin told Serralyn as they walked toward the building that housed the chancellor and almost all of the classrooms. And the dining hall, which Kaylin privately considered far more important.

Serralyn glanced at Severn, who nodded.

“The chancellor doesn’t usually send notes like that.”

“Might’ve heard from Sanabalis.”

“So you have been doing something. Teela’s worried about Azoria. Or that’s what I think.”

“I haven’t been doing anything but desk work and visiting one little old lady’s house because her neighbor is harassing her.”

Serralyn clearly didn’t believe this, but held her peace. It had never been her job in the cohort to bring up difficult subjects or demand answers. She accompanied Kaylin to the chancellor’s door. “It’s not warded,” she told Kaylin, who then knocked.