Dawn broke gray and cold over the academy grounds.
I stood on the eastern wall, watching the sun struggle through heavy clouds. Below, students moved through the courtyard in exhausted clusters. Some helped carry wounded to the medical stations. Others worked to repair the damaged defenses. All of them looked like they'd aged years overnight.
The wall beside me was scarred with claw marks. Blood stained the stone in patches that would take weeks to scrub clean. We'd won, but the cost showed in every charred beam and broken window.
"Fifteen injured seriously enough for extended care." Celeste appeared beside me with a steaming cup. "Another thirty with minor wounds. Could have been worse."
I took the cup. Tea, heavily sweetened. "How many dead?"
"Three. Two students and one of the bord
