Page 149 of The Bond That Burns

“Now you pretend you can’t understand me?” I complained. “I know you understand every word, you little rascal.”

“Get back to work or get out of my classroom, ladies!” a loud voice boomed out.

I jumped.

“Don’t worry,” Medra assured me. “She’s not talking about us.”

She gestured across the room where I saw two other students. Visha Vaidya was one of them. I was surprised to see a House Drakharrow student visiting a blightborn classroom. Then I saw the pretty, tough-looking dwarven girl she had her arms around. The pair were very much occupied, leaning up against the wall, and...well, decidedly not sparring.

“That’s it!” A stout dwarven woman strode up between Medra and I. “Out, ladies!” she roared at Visha and the other girl. “I expected better from you, Lace.”

The dwarven girl Visha had been kissing glanced over guiltily, licking her lips. “I’m so sorry, Professor. I swear it won’t happen again.”

I watched as the girl glared at Visha, then jabbed her sharply in the stomach with a fist. Visha grabbed her midsection and pretended to fall over.

The professor narrowed her eyes. “I want to see real competition happening over there, Vaidya. You promised me you’d make Ironstride work for it—” I assumed that was Lace’s last name. “I want to see her break a sweat. And not just from your damned lips,” the professor barked.

Visha smirked but nodded. “Yes, ma’am!”

“Now who’s this?” I realized the dwarven professor was staring up at me.

I gulped.

“Professor Stonefist,” Medra said quickly. “You remember I asked if I could invite my friend, Florence Shen, to one of our practice sessions? Florence wants to learn how to defend herself.”

The scouting instructor’s dark blue eyes scanned me, narrowing slightly. “Defend herself, eh? She’s a wee bit scrawny for this sort of thing. Not one for roughhousing are you, Miss Shen?”

“No, ma’am,” I blurted. “I like books.”

“Books, eh? All good and well in their place. What are you? A strategist? A healer?”

“Both,” I squeaked. “I mean, maybe. I also like plants.” Shut up, Florence, shut up, I silently told myself.

“And what about pets? Do you like those, too? I see you brought a little friend to class with you.” Professor Stonefist gestured pointedly to Neville.

“Oh, Bloodmaiden,” I moaned. “That was an accident.”

“You accidentally brought a pet?” Professor Stonefist rubbed her nose. “I didn’t even know students were allowed to keep animals.”

Technically, we weren’t, but somehow, no one had ever commented on Neville. The little fluffin could be surprisingly stealthy when he wanted to be. Practically invisible.

The instructor squatted down, her muscular form folding neatly despite the layers of well-worn studded leather armor she was wearing. As she studied Neville, I saw her face soften slightly.

“Well, well,” she murmured. “Haven’t seen one of these little beasties in a long time. You know much about these creatures, lass?” She glanced up at me.

“A little,” I said hesitantly. “They usually live underground.

Stonefist nodded. “Used to be every dwarven family had one. Kept our homes free from pests. Protective, loyal little things, too. But now...” She sighed, her fingers brushing gently over Neville’s ears. “Now it’s a rarity to see one.”

Neville was leaning against her hand like a cat basking in sunlight.

“Medra found him, actually,” I said. “She rescued him.”

The professor looked up at my friend with interest. “Did you now?”

Medra nodded. “I found him injured on the beach. We think he must have come up from underground. He was only a little pup then.”

Professor Stonefist nodded. “There are dwarven ruins beneath the school. Impossible to get to now, of course. But for a creaturesmall enough, I suppose it might be possible.” She looked at Neville fondly. “My family had one when I was a child. Named him Tumbles. Used to follow me everywhere. My dad said Tumbles liked me best because I always shared my supper with him. They’re smart creatures. Never forget a kindness.”

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