Page 38 of The Bond That Burns

I scrunched up my nose. “The what?”

“Rather poetic name for a class at Bloodwing,” Theo observed.

“Isn’t it?” Florence said happily. “It’s co-taught by Professor Rodriguez and a visiting scholar, Professor Vasanti Allenvale.My mother was gushing about it. Apparently, Professor Allenvale is very famous. Half of the class will take place in the traditional classroom with Professor Rodriguez and the other half of the time we’ll be out working in the greenhouse, learning about...”

“Plants?” Visha guessed.

Visha and Theo were staring at Florence as if she had two heads.

“Exactly,” Florence said, beaming.

“It sounds fascinating,” I said loyally. Visha looked as if she was about to snicker so I glared at her until she coughed.

Florence was continuing to scan my schedule. “You’re also in some combat classes.”

Visha perked up. “Which ones?”

“Let’s see... She has Defensive Arts and Historical Strategy, one after the other. They’re often taken together. Oh! I’m registered in the Strategy component of that class.” For a moment, Florence looked excited. “Oh, wait, no. My class is at a different time.”

“That’ll be the section for House Avari students,” Theo noted gently. “So you’re in healing and strategy classes?”

Florence looked crestfallen for a moment, then she nodded. “Yes. I’m taking some of both.”

“Plus some extra ones besides?” I guessed.

When she blushed, I knew I was right.

“Basically, Florence is a scholarly genius,” I explained to the others.

“Stop it,” she said, flushing more fiercely. “I am not. I just have no problem spending all my time studying.”

Visha was looking appalled again. But she shook her head. “What time is Medra’s Defensive Arts class?”

Florence checked the timetable. “Every second day just after lunch.”

“That’s the same section I’m in,” Visha said with a grin.

“I’m in that one, too,” Theo said, surprising me. “Blake’s not,” he quickly added.

It would be strange not to see Blake in a combat class. But it was for the best. The more I could avoid him the better.

“You have another class that looks interesting, Medra,” Florence said, still studying the piece of parchment. “Historical Perspectives: Sangratha and Dragons.”

Now it was my turn to feel eager. “That sounds interesting. Who’s it with?” I hoped it would be Rodriguez.

But Florence shook her head. “It doesn’t say.” She paused. “You’re in another scouting class with Professor Stonefist. Intermediate Combat for Blightborn.”

I was surprised I wasn’t in more classes tailored to dragon riders. But maybe they didn’t have anyone to teach them. That would make sense.

“There are some gaps in your schedule,” Florence said, scanning. “Maybe that’s when they expect you to work with Nyxaris.”

My heart sank. “Yes. Maybe.” That would be a problem, if so. Or maybe the gaps were for extra thrallguard sessions with Rodriguez. I could hope.

I glanced at Theo. The mention of the scouting class had reminded me of Naveen. But also of Vaughn Sabino. “Do you have any classes with Vaughn?”

Theo shook his head. “No, but why would I? He’s not in House Drakharrow.”

“What?” I stared at him. “Yes, he is. He was selected into it. I was there.”

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