“I’ve been better.” Weysh winced and rubbed at his sore leg. The pain from dragon injuries often transferred over to human bodies, if not the actual damage. It was just one of the many mysteries regarding the link between dragon and human. “Carmenna, I know it’s not my place, but Noriago—”

“How is Yenni Ajani?” she asked sharply.

Weysh sighed. “Well, if you must know, she failed all of her magic exams. Unless she can find some way to stay, she has to leave Prevan tomorrow.”

“What? That’s awful! I had no idea!” Carmenna frowned, lost in thought. “What if . . . has she been doing any extracurricular activities? Working as a teaching assistant, for example? I know as a tutor I get some reprieve. There may be something there.”

“En? Then we have to tell her! Come on! I’ll fly us, there’s no time to waste.”

But she shook her head, backing away. “You know I’m not one for flying. Go on without me. I’ll speak with her later.”

“Very well.” Weysh jogged backward into the wide main street where he had room to change. “Be well, Carmenna, and thank you.”

He changed to dragon, ignoring the pain in his leg as it intensified. It was a minor injury, and his dragon body would heal it on its own. Weysh spread his wings, flapped, and took off to find Yenni.

19

The letter box beside Yenni’s sitting room door had papers of all colors peeking out. She’d been so distracted she hadn’t checked it for days, but it was not the time to be sifting through her messages. She’d already lost half the day, her last day, sleeping off her injuries from last night’s assault. Today she must put aside all her pride and appeal to that horrible Professor Mainard as soon as possible.

But something about that mess of papers nagged at her. She raised the creaky lid of the metal letter box and sighed in dismay. Grabbing a handful of papers, she quickly skimmed through them: A reminder to vacate her residence by the end of the day. An official transcript of her shameful grades and—what was this? A missive from Professor Devon?

Yenni Ajani,

Come find me in my office as soon as you get this. I saw your exam scores. I know things must seem bleak, but there is a way you can remain at Prevan.

Yours,
Emmanuel Devon

Yenni gasped and jumped to her feet, the other messages abandoned as she yanked the door open and dashed down the hallway, her sandals slapping on the marble tile.

She came barreling down the stairs, and the foyer attendant made a small noise of shocked surprise as Yenni zipped past her. Yenni had just cleared the black, wrought-iron gate that marked the entrance to the residence when someone called out to her.

“Yenni! Yenni Ajani!”