After she brushed her teeth, took a shower, and arranged her hair in a crown braid (the better to feel queenly with—everyone knew a future queen trumped a duke’s son), she dressed quickly in the Academy uniform she’d picked up at the administrative office the day before: a deep maroon blazer, white shirt, maroon tie, and gray skirt. Not the most imaginative uniform she’d ever worn, but at least it went nicely with her pendant. And she wasn’t really there as a student, not anymore. Jaya was a human Trojan horse, and this helped her blend in nicely. If her life had a soundtrack, it’d be thrilling and ominous, full of a dark but powerful energy.

Picking up her bag full of new books, Jaya closed the door quietly behind her. She only passed two other students on her way downstairs; few students seemed to be awake yet. She’d be early to breakfast; Leo, Daphne Elizabeth, Rahul, and Grey Emerson probably wouldn’t be there, which was excellent. She needed the time to mentally bolster herself. You never went into battle unprepared, and you never let the enemy take you by surprise. The Raos may not wage wars for land anymore, but like Appa always said, the wisdom of her ancestors ran in her blood.

When Jaya got down to the sophomore wing, Isha was already waiting in the luxuriously appointed common room, reading a book about Eleanor Roosevelt. Her hair was in two ponytails that cascaded past her shoulders, and suddenly, Jaya saw her as she’d looked at seven years old. In spite of being a fireball of mischievous (and annoying and frustrating) energy, she did have her moments. Deep down inside, Isha was still just a little kid, innocent and sweet and much too trusting. Jaya’s heart swelled.

It wasn’t right what the Emersons had done, coming after a young girl. Jaya balled her fists, breathing hard, and at that moment Isha looked up and frowned. “Why do you look like a constipated bull?” she asked.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jaya said, blowing out a breath and picturing her anger dissipating in a cloud above her. She stepped forward as Isha put the book away and gathered her bag. “You’ve got dark circles under your eyes. Did you sleep at all last night?”

“No,” Isha said, linking her arm through Jaya’s. “I was too excited.”

“You know, most people might be anxious about the unknown… moving to a school nine thousand miles away from everything they know, et cetera?”

Isha laughed. “We’ve done it so many times before, it’s not exactly like I don’t know what to expect.”

“True.”

“You’re up early too. Besides,” Isha added, “I’m weird.”