Effie answered the rest of the questions in a daze. Then Professor Forestfloor took in the test papers and looked them over.

“Well,” he said. “Incredibly, you all pass. How remarkable. As your prize, you get to hear all about Nietzsche’s theories of tragedy and why it is better to be a tragic person than an ordinary one. Why we should all aim to be Dionysus rather than Apollo and die a glorious and beautiful death in the pursuit of our own selfish desires, and in so doing create harmony for all. . . .”

After class, the children fled as quickly as they could and agreed to meet in the chapel. Effie got there first, partly because she walked so fast, and partly because the others wanted to stop off at the cafeteria. Effie was still trying to shake off the things Professor Forestfloor had said. It was like galloglass theory all over again. Why did it seem to keep applying to her?

As she approached the door to the chapel she became aware that an argument was taking place inside in loud whispers. She couldn’t help herself stopping and listening for a few moments. Not that she had any choice—she was hardly going to go in and disturb them.

“Just come with me, now,” someone was saying. “I can keep you safe. We’ll go far away from here. Please.”

It was a faintly familiar voice, but Effie couldn’t quite place it.

“No,” came the reply. “I have to stay and fight. My mother. My friends . . .” Effie did recognize this voice. It was Leander Quinn.

“But if you’re bound when you’re young you can never get your magic back . . . You may as well be dead.”

“What, dead to you?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I’d still love you if you weren’t magical. You know that.”

There was a big sigh. “I thought we’d agreed to just be friends. I don’t share your feelings. I wish I did, but . . .”

“We can leave together as friends. We can go right now. I’ve got my car. My savings. I don’t understand why not.”

“Because I’m not a coward.”

“Right.” There was a long pause. “And you’re saying I am?”

“No, of course not. I didn’t mean—”

“I think I know what you meant.”

There was silence for a few moments. Then Claude Twelvetrees came out of the door, the tears in his eyes preventing him from really registering Effie on the steps. Of course, the fact that she’d cast the Shadows helped too. She lifted the spell as she walked into the chapel. She didn’t want to sneak up on Leander. That seemed unfair.

Inside the chapel came the sound of someone sighing heavily.

“Leander?” said Effie.