‘He said what?’

‘He suggested that fitting Camryn with armour might hasten her recovery, but the Preceptor thought it might be a mistake and to check with you’ repeated Bria

‘Yes, yes child, I heard what you said the first time’ said Rosa testily. ‘I was just surprised that the boy is that much of an idiot. The armour will restore most injuries and afflictions, but the Preceptor is correct. The poison will react with dragon’s blood – explosively so.’ She thought for a moment ‘Tell Adeline to… Ah, I cannot order. I suggest that you go to Adeline and ask her to guard Camryn for now and not let anyone in armour near her. Tell the Preceptor my suggestion when you see him. Come back when you have eaten’

Bria hurried out of the room and back into the refectory. She whispered in Adelyn’s ear who grabbed her plate and headed down the corridor. The boys and the knights looked at her and eventually Sir Anders broke the silence ‘Whats happening?’

‘I’m not allowed to say’ said Bria plopping back down in her place in front of her food ‘but don’t go visiting Camryn until the Preceptor says you can.’

Sir Anders opened his mouth to say something but Sir Henrik held up his hand. ‘She can’t say so don’t plague her’ He looked at Bria. ‘Now is a hard time for everyone, but you’re doing well. Keep as you are. Do you have anything else to be doing next?’

Bria nodded, her mouth full of fresh bread.

‘Lads you will be doing more of the clearing and laying for the next day or so, but we will pitch in. Bria, you and Adelyn train when you have the freedom. You will need to explain everything to the Preceptor when you see him.’

By the time Bria had finished eating, the table had been cleared around her and Sir Bern’s voice calling the cadence of a halberd drill could be heard ringing around the Southern Hall. She got up and took the remaining plates back to the kitchen before heading back to the Lady’s hall.

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‘Tell me what was said and what happened’

‘Jemryn was talking about his eyes itching and talked about it being a dragon borrowing his eye’s

‘It’s possible, some magic can do such things go on’

‘And the Preceptor said Jemryn would have to ask the LoreMaster because he’s a real mage but good luck getting a spell out of him, but then a tiny dragon of light flew in with a scrap of paper’

‘Hmm! a messenger spell. Not much of a drain but showy’

‘The Preceptor went out to speak to him because we had food on the table and came back a few minutes later and was quite angry. He said to ask you about the armour and about any old spells that might have been disrupted recently.’

Rosa folded her hands in her lap and sat still and silent for what seemed like an age. Then she whispered something too faintly for Bria to hear and made a shaping gesture with her hands towards one of the lanterns.

The all around light from the lantern seemed to twist and writhe before settling into a long bright beam.

‘Take the lantern child and shine it on the roof. See if you can see the crystal roof’

Bria swung the lantern this way and that and before long had found the sheets of crystal that made up the centre of the roof further into the cave.

‘Now bring the lantern beam down’

Bria tilted the lantern down and there much further into the cave was a cluster of halberds tied together at the top forming a tripod, which supported something hanging underneath.

‘Ah yes – it’s pitch. It drips very slowly you know. I remember a spell circle in diamond dust that I drew long ago and in enough time, the pitch would drip and spread, disrupting the workings of the spell. Get a broom girl.’

Bria picked up one of the brooms they they had been using on the dust nearer the entrance. ‘Is it safe?’

‘Hmph. I suppose one disaster this week is enough. Give me the broom and stand near the door with the lantern. Close the door and shut your eyes. Tightly mind! No peaking!’

Bria did as she was bid and listened to the shuffle of Rosa’s feet as she made her way down the cave.

The sudden popping sound wasn’t as startling as the sudden glow she could see through her eyelids.

‘You can look again now’

Disappointingly the hall wasn’t any different.

‘It was an old but powerful spell to stop progress, centred on this hall. It has been that that kept me alive all these long years. I expect some of the effect leaked and was what made life so dull for you.’

‘Why did you need it?’

‘Ah child, I can’t remember. I caught some of the power as it unwound completely. But I will need more access to get better still. Go and see Camryn while I think on how we can accomplish that’