Weysh’s chest went tight at how small and tired her voice came out. It was very lucky indeed that he’d found her. In fact, he had planned to visit his parents that night. After spending the day thinking, and planning, and combing his brain, he could only come up with one possible way to help Yenni stay at Prevan. Something he deeply, desperately did not want to do. But for her, he would swallow his pride. And so, after tracking practice, he’d planned to stop briefly at pub street with the other dragons for some liquid courage before doing what he must. And good thing he had.

“I hate to leave you, but the longer I wait, the colder the trail, so I’d better get started. I trust you have things under control, Zui. Once everything settles down could you or Harth find Augustin?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then I’m off.” Weysh exited the alley and changed. Then he took to the skies, in search of the unlucky rat prick who’d robbed his Given.

Once the peacekeepers apprehended the thieves they took Yenni and Diedre to a healing hospice, where Creshen women in blue, wide-brimmed bonnets ushered them into a cozy room with two beds, one lantern, and one window. A Creshen healer checked Yenni’s hearing and vision and pronounced her fit, explaining her exhaustion as the result of extended use of magic and trauma from the night’s events. They patched Diedre up as well, and then a peacekeeper returned to ask them question upon question, making sketches of the thieves based on their answers. It turned out the band of thugs were fairly notorious for attacking people in the pub district of late, and so Yenni’s and Diedre’s actions were ruled self-defense on the spot, and they faced no charges.

Not long after their interrogation Zui returned with a harried Captain Augustin in tow.

“Captain Augustin!” Yenni called weakly.

He crouched beside her bed, tsking his tongue. “What mess have you gotten yourself into here, Kayirba?”

Now that Augustin was before her, his face inquisitive and expectant, the slow burn of shame heated Yenni’s cheeks, but she pushed past it. After everything she had been through, with everything that was riding on her staying in Cresh, she must follow through and seek his aid.

“I failed my magic exams, Captain.”

“Un!” he grunted. He crossed his arms, shaking his head. “Ah, curses, a shame that. A damn shame.”

“Yes, I’ve been told I must leave the academy the day after tomorrow, but I had hoped you could help me find a way to stay.”

He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. “Would that I could, Mam’selle Kayirba. Truly, I mean it. But that’s not a ruling one such as myself can overturn, en? That’s the way of things at the illustrious Prevan Academy. But a damn shame, truly. You’ve a rare talent, you know.”