It was time for punishment.
After classes and before dinner, Headmistress Millington met Ramsey and me at the front doors with two snow shovels, two pairs of gloves, and a no-nonsense look. "I expect you both to work together without any problems or magic. This is work. Remember dinner in one hour."
With a wave of her hand, the locks and gears disengaged and turned, and the huge doors opened to a wintery nightmare tinged with the salty sea. The sky rippled with heavy clouds, and several feet of blinding-white snow lay on the ground - with more falling. This was the first daylight I'd seen in months and quite a while before that since the academy had no windows. The glaring light watered my eyes and speared to the back of my skull.
"Haaaate," I hissed, throwing my hood over my head.
Ram
