Page 67 of On Wings of Blood

“Oh, girls...” Florence's mother exclaimed, wringing her hands together as she looked at the mess of books. “Please don’t do that.”

Visha and Quinn just ignored her and kept going.

Theo trailed behind them with a sheepish expression. He wouldn’t meet my eye as he went past. But he must have seenthe stricken look on Professor Shen’s face because as his gaze fell on the scattered books, he paused, then bent down to pick a few of them up. As he handed them to Florence's mother, he glanced quickly at me and shrugged apologetically, as if trying to make amends for the rudeness of his companions.

But I wasn’t about to let him off that easily. I glared at him and said nothing.

Putting his head down, Theo disappeared down the main aisle.

Florence’s mother’s shoulders sagged as she looked down at the remaining books on the floor. Her cheeks were flushed as she bent down and started picking up the volumes.

I crouched down quickly beside her. “Here. Let me help you with that. You’re Florence’s mother, aren’t you?”

She looked up at me, startled. “I’m Jia Shen, yes. Who are you?”

“I’m Medra Pendragon,” I said, smiling and putting out my hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from Florence.”

“Ah, yes,” Jia said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose again, and smiling slowly. “Florence mentioned she’d made your acquaintance.”

“She’s been very kind and helpful. I don’t know how I would have made it through these first days without her, honestly,” I said.

Jia Shen’s smile grew a little. “That’s my Florence.”

“I’m so sorry about the books,” I said, gesturing to the mess. “Are they always like that?”

Her face clouded. “It’s all right. I’m rather used to it.”

I was shocked. “But you shouldn’t be. You’re a Bloodwing librarian. How can they get away with it?”

“Oh, they don’t do it to all of the librarians,” she assured me. “Just the blightborn ones.”

She rose to her feet with a groan and wedged a stack of heavy-looking books back onto the trolley. Then she bent down to pick up one of the books Quinn had viciously kicked. “Oh, dear. This one will have to be tended to.” The spine of the book had split and some pages were sticking out.

“It’s vandalism,” I said hotly. “Not to mention incredibly rude. Those spoiled brats.”

Jia eyed me nervously. “It’s clear you’re new here. Please, don’t bother saying anything on my account.”

“But you deserve to be treated with respect. I don’t understand.”

She shrugged. “Every year some of the students pick a teacher to target. I guess this year it’s my turn.”

I felt a chill go down my spine. “Has it just been students from House Drakharrow? Or are all of the highblood students treating you this way?”

She tilted her head. “Now that you mention it, it does seem to be mostly Drakharrow students.” She sighed. “I wonder what I did to aggravate them.”

I thought I knew.

“I think it’s because of Florence,” I confessed unhappily. “Because she dared to make friends with me, I mean. I tried to warn her...”

Jia held up a hand. “No. If what you say is true...” She looked me up and down. “Florence told me you’re the rider. That you didn’t even want to be here.”

“That’s true,” I said slowly. “I was forced to come here.”

“And forcibly betrothed to Blake Drakharrow, from what I understand.” I nodded and she shook her head. “The highblood customs... Even when I think I’m used to them, they do something that reminds me I may never be.”

“So, you don’t... adore them all? Like Florence seems to?” I said curiously.

Jia looked around, as if not wanting to be overheard. “Florence will learn, in time. Just as I learned. But you need to keep something in mind here, Medra. None of us have a choice. We were born blightborn. Florence tells me you’re new to Sangratha.” She gave me a curious look that reminded me I needed to learn more about this world’s geography. Just how large was Sangratha anyhow? “Well, if that’s true, try to imagine what growing up here is like.” She looked at me carefully. “You don’t question the people who hold all of the power. To do so could be dangerous. For you or for your friends.”

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