Chapter 11
Proctor Tal was a thin, dour-faced man who looked me up and down and then gestured me to sit in the middle of the three chairs arranged in front of him.
Jenni already occupied the one on my right, and Lena took the one on my left. Other than the chairs, there was nothing in the red-walled room besides us and the proctor.
“It’s so nothing catches fire,” Lena whispered to me, noting my survey of our classroom.
I nodded, pushing away the memory of hungry flames consuming the Nightshade Lord’s throne, burning the tapestries to ash in a heartbeat. It was a wise precaution on the part of the priests.
“So,” the proctor said, “the first chant. Jenni, stand up and demonstrate for our new aspirant.”
Jenni did, tossing her plait behind her shoulder, then lifting her cupped hands. “Fi
