2
The Academy
The sun had just begun to turn the sky a pale, golden grey. Its light crept in through the high-barred windows of the hall. Emilia sat on the cold stone floor, trying to stay awake. Claire had been locked in the infirmary for hours. The last time the door had opened was when the Academy girl had gone in.
Emilia’s eyes stung, and her lids sagged heavily. Blinking, she kept her eyes as wide as she could. Sleep threatened to take her, but she needed to be awake in case there was news of Claire. And sleep might bring dreams.
“Come on, Claire,” Emilia murmured. “You’ve got to be okay.”
As if in answer to her plea, the infirmary door swung open with a hollow groan. Emilia spun, her heart leaping as she half-expected to see Claire skip into the hall, her long, blond hair stream
