The drillmaster finally called a halt, and Raisa handed off her pike to Pearlie, who stacked them in the racks. “Talia sends her love,” Raisa said. Pearlie blushed and smiled, her face radiant with pleasure. Talia was Pearlie’s first real girlfriend.

“Gaah,” Raisa muttered, snatching up her jacket and heading for the bathhouse. Love everywhere, and none for me.

The sun was just rising as she crossed the quad to Wien Hall for her first class—the History of Warfare, taught by Taim Askell.

She’d been surprised that the master taught a course for new-lings. Askell was a remarkably good teacher—passionate about his subject and knowledgeable, with the kind of practical experience many academics didn’t have. He peppered his lectures with real-world examples, many from his own past. He’d fought in battles as far away as Carthis, using all kinds of weaponry and tactics.

Raisa had studied the history of the Seven Realms with her tutors at Fellsmarch Castle, but this was a new kind of history, focused on warfare, and enlivened by the diversity of the students in her class. They came from all over the Seven Realms, and Raisa soon realized that there was more than one truth to know about the past.

Due to the lack of natural barriers, there’d always been more interchange between Arden and Tamron, We’enhaven and Bruinswallow; even the island realms. The southern realms shared customs, languages, faiths—the same basic worldview.

The Fells had become isolated, consumed with its own problems. As a result, the mountain peoples were the subject of much speculation, fascination, and misinformation.

What little the flatlanders did know about the Fells came through the traders who traveled out of the mountains, selling metalwork, jewelry, and other upland products; and buying the foodstuffs that grew in the deep soil and warmer climate of the flatlands. Clan traders were exotic, romantic figures that were good at spinning tales.

Raisa was the only Fellsian student in most of her classes, even the military ones.

Like usual, Raisa had arrived for class from the bathhouse at the last possible moment, and so was forced to sit in the front row as Askell strode to the podium. She hurriedly set out her ink and paper. She always took copious notes in Askell’s class.

He spread his lecture notes and surveyed the class, as he always did. Today his gaze lingered on Raisa a little too long. She straightened and met his gaze directly.

“This morning we will discuss the use of magic in warfare,” he said. “And so this lecture will pertain particularly to Fellsian charm-casters and the Spirit clans, though it also applies to some elements in Carthis.”

A murmur ran through the class, like a stiff wind through the aspens.