Page 18 of Monster's Mystery

Aiden slid in beside me, munching on a bacon, egg, and hashbrown sandwich. “We could find out more about the victim.”

“Great idea,” I said. “Does anyone know anything about him?”

Bruce sat down beside Rhiannon. “Richard Smith, plant witch. He was desperate for Hazel’s thesis position, and willing to threaten her for it. His family is extraordinarily wealthy, so he always got what he wanted, the spoiled brat.”

“You know him?” I asked.

“I knowofhim,” Bruce replied, wrinkling his nose. “He is—was—the star of the academy’s Dragon Polo team.”

“Professor Dunlop mentioned that,” I interrupted. “What is that?”

Una stared at me, her jaw agape. “How do you not know about Dragon Polo?” she asked, incredulous.

“I assume it’s a sport. I don’t do sports,” I said with a shake of my head. “I don’t get the point.”

“Okay, but this isDragon Polo,” she reiterated.

“You keep saying that like repeating it will help me understand,” I said with a sigh.

Aiden chuckled. “It’s a sport with a ball. The players are in teams and try to get it through the other team’s hoop.”

“Where do the dragons come in?” I asked.

“They’re being ridden.”

My jaw dropped. “But... What? Dragons are huge!”

Everyone at the table laughed, much to my embarrassment.

“Not these ones. They’re about the size of horses,” Bruce said.

“We learned about them in Care of Magical Creatures last year,” Rhiannon put in. “They were bred small but fast from the big dragons, always taking the runts of the litters of the fastest dragons.”

I nodded in understanding. “Okay, that sounds like it could be fun.”

“It’s a lot of fun!” Una exclaimed. “There’s going to be a match against Academie Bellamie soon. You’re coming with us.”

“Sounds like I don’t have a choice,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You don’t,” Una said dismissively.

I chuckled. “Well, I’m interested to see these genetically engineered dragons, at any rate.”

“You know that Dip and Pinkie Pie are genetically engineered to be pet-sized for thier entire lives,” Lilia put in with a grin. “It’s not like you’re unfamiliar with small dragons.” The aforementioned Pinkie Pie, hearing his name, stuck his head out of Lilia’s long brown waves and gave me a wide-eyed look before he hissed and scuttled back to his safe place underneath her hair by the back of her neck.

My mouth opened and closed for a moment. “Good point. I forgot Dip wasn’t a cat,” I said sheepishly. “She acts so much like one.”

Everyone laughed again.

“Getting back to the point,” Bruce said. “Richard was the star of the team. He may have bought his way on in first year, even though first years aren’t allowed usually on the team, but he was actually really good.”

“There’s nothing money can’t buy, like the best tutors and athletic coaches in the world,” Lilia said dryly.

“So maybe someone who was jealous of his athletic prowess?” I suggested. “Who stands to take his place on the team? Was there a... I don’t know what you call it in sports. A stunt double? An understudy?”

Una collapsed in giggles. “A substitute?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Isn’t that for teachers?”

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