Hattie returned the next day to Derington School for the Mage Arts in time for her appointment, and followed Nancy to Headmaster Dawson's office.

Like the rest of the academy, the furnishings of the office were grand and mage made. Headmaster Dawson stood up when Hattie arrived. He was a youthful man, who Hattie thought was rather handsome, with his red hair combed back and calculating brown eyes. Hattie was surprised he held such a high position for his age. 

"Thank you, Nancy," he said.

"Of course, sir. Please call me if you need anything." Nancy's smile made Hattie think the woman may have had a small inclination towards the fellow.

"Please, take a seat, Miss Hattie," Dawson indicated towards a chair set across from him.

Hattie took a seat, but Monte stayed upright next to her. With Hattie seated and Monte standing up, their heads were almost level.

"Very impressive companion you've got. Monte, right?" he smiled.

"My word!" Hattie said, and her alarm wrinkled her wrinkles. Somehow, Dawson had accessed the bond between her and Monte, and he was sending a friendly greeting to them both.

"We've the same talent, you see," he said, and his pyschic presence retracted, "Only I didn't evade the draft in my youth. I recommend you keep that little tidbit to yourself from now on."

Hattie was quiet for a moment as she pondered that. Because as far as she knew, the army had stopped drafting a few years after she'd decided to hide and squash her ability. But even after that, she hadn't pursued her ability, since things had been going well, and she loved her work at Derington Holding. As well as the army still being a not so good place for a young lady, draft or no. And any tutors would have been beyond her means. But as she realized all this, she also thought that Headmaster Dawson looked too young to have been around for all that. 

"What is our talent, exactly?" Hattie asked, guarded after the intrusion into what was supposed to be private. Something was off about this handsome man.

"In the most broad terms, we can bind ourselves to other creatures and create a familiar bond. You'll both begin to share each other's more...positive characteristics with each other. For Monte here, that means sapience and problem solving with a sharper intellect, and for you, Miss Hattie, that will mean keener instincts and reflexes. Among other things, of course, as no two bonds are the same."

"Where's your familiar?" Hattie asked.

Headmaster Dawson chuckled.

"Right here."

Hattie looked around, but didn't see anything. She glanced at Dawson again and he waved a hand to his right. Hattie jumped.

A giant tortoise sat to the right of the desk, and met Hatties eyes with a lazy curiosity.

"That is my familiar, Shia." 

"How--" Hattie said at the same time that Monte snarled while his fur bristled. How had he not noticed?!

"Shia is a particularly magical creature. She's not agile or dexterous, but her cloaking abilities are top notch. Not to mention...her life span."

"That's why you look so young, but you must be right around my age, hmmm. You're making this lady feel like quite the relic," Hattie relaxed somewhat at the explanation.

Headmaster Dawson laughed, "Well, don't feel too bad. Now, I'm not sure how much you would benefit from classes here, since our gift tends to vary according to the individual, and especially depending on what creature you bond with. But I am happy to teach you what I know."

"One more thing," Hattie said, "I don't think I have enough funds to pay for tuition, but I'm willing to work part time to cover the costs."

"That's fine," Dawson said, "I think the cooks will have use for your skills. You used to work for Duke Soliman, did you not?"

"That I did."

"I’ll talk with Nancy about getting you set up and working out your schedule. Come back tomorrow, around eight."

Hattie thanked Headmaster Dawson for his time and left, Monte padding next to her.

Monte was still irritated that he hadn't noticed Shia. 

"I know, good chap. Those two are a mite suspicious, though I do think his offer to help is genuine." 

But Monte remained bothered throughtout the evening.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Hattie returned the next morning and let Nancy escort her to Dawson's office. Again, Shia wasn't visible, nor could Monte sense her presence, but both were certain she was nearby.

Headmaster Dawson sat across from Hattie, hands clasped, "I've worked out to tutor you myself twice a week for an hour, and the rest of time you can go to relevant classes. Specifically, Professor Linden's class on monsters and beasts.The kitchen staff can use your help during morning prep, which will cover the costs of your time here, since you won’t be taking on a full load. Are these terms acceptable, Miss Hattie?"

Hattie conferred with Monte, who agreed, but cautioned Hattie that he didn't like Dawson much. Hattie kept it to herself, but she was sure Monte's upset was really only because of Shia's evasion of his senses. It had stung his pride.

“Your terms are acceptable,” Hattie said.

“Very good,” Headmaster Dawson stood up, and walked Hattie to the door, “Nancy will show you where to go. I’ll see you later this week.”

Hattie and Monte went back to the front desk.

“I’m a student,” Hattie beamed at the secretary. Nancy gave her a small smile in return, but wasn’t overly enthusiastic on Hattie’s behalf. She handed Hattie several papers, and a brief scan showed it to be Hattie’s schedule.

“Let me show you the kitchens,” Nancy led Hattie and Monte down several hallways, to a small, out of the way alcove, where an even more unassuming door opened to the kitchens. It was hotter than in the halls, and young women, and the occasional man rushed about. The strong scent of garlic and onions permeated the room, and Hattie knew her clothes would reek once she left. And poor Monte’s fur!

Nancy led her past the bustle to a thin woman with tense shoulders.

“Miss Hellen, this is the new part timer. I’ll leave it to you,” Nancy turned and left the heat and hecticness of the kitchen. 

Hellen’s eyes roamed over Hattie, and she frowned. Then her gaze went down to Monte and her frown deepened.

Before her assumptions could get out of hand, Hattie introduced herself and Monte. As Hattie spoke, the frown eased off Miss Hellen’s face, “I also spent the last fifty years working at Derington Holding, so I’m familiar with how to run and help in the kitchen, not to worry, dear.” 

“Thank goodness,” Miss Hellen said, “I’m happy you’re here, but I can’t have your friend in my kitchens, near all the food, and while we’re cooking and such. It’s just not safe. We have a small greenhouse, perhaps the professor will let him stay there?”

“I wouldn’t know where to go, but I don’t mind asking,” Hattie said.

Miss Hellen pursed her lips, and then called out, “Freddy!”

A young man, sweat stained, and apple cheeked appeared next to Hattie.

“Yes, ma’am?” he asked.

“Please escort the wolf somewhere safe and out of my kitchen. Maybe the greenhouse?”

Freddy saw Monte and nodded, but the twinge on his face said he was uncertain about the strange request. How safe would he be alone with this creature?

“He’s quite clever,” Hattie said to reassure him, “He’ll understand what you tell him. Monte, you’ll behave, won’t you?”

Monte wagged his tail and gave a sort of nod.

“See?”

“I guess…”

Freddy left with Monte, and Miss Hellen set Hattie up. Since she knew Hattie was experienced, she promised that after Hattie had spent a week of two learning how she ran the kitchen she’d be happy to put her in charge of a small group. 

Hattie spent the rest of the morning prepping ingredients and learning people's names. Quite a few of the staff were also part time students, including the young man, Freddy, who’d walked Monte out.

When lunch time came around, Hattie followed Freddy to the greenhouse to pick up Monte.

“I would stay with you, but I have a test later this afternoon, so I wanted to review before lunch is over,” Freddy said, and wrung his hands.

Hattie insisted she would be fine, waved the boy off, and entered the greenhouse. It was situated at the epicenter of the academy, with a skylight roof and soft magical light that emanated from the sides of the walls. The room gave Hattie the sense she was standing in one large sunbeam.

The teacher, a man named Professor McGallin, (Freddy had told her his name) leaned over a raised bed, focused on the plants.

“Hello,” Hattie said. He stood up and turned towards her.

A smudge of dirt streaked from his chin, up his cheek, and disappeared into his hairline. 

““You’ve got some dirt on your face,” Hattie said, “a student dropped off my partner, a gold wolf, this morning.”

“This fellow is yours?” he asked Hattie, and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped at the wrong side of his face.

Hattie mimed wiping the other side, and Professor McGallin followed her direction.

Monte appeared from the other side of the raised bed, his fur shiny in the light.

“Yes, thank you for watching him.”

“It was my pleasure,” he said while he tucked the handkerchief away, “My father is a veteran, and he always told me stories about the majesty of the gold wolves. Yours is quite well behaved.”

Monte sent Hattie a smug satisfaction.

“Would it bother you much if he came every morning?” Hattie asked.

“Not at all,” McGallin said, “He mostly napped in the corner, and I think only one student noticed him, when he did walk around, he was so quiet. And that was only because of his fur.”

“That’s a weight off me,” Hattie said, “I appreciate your help very much. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Monte bounded to Hattie’s side, and the two left the greenhouse.

“Did you have a good morning, my friend?” 

Monte had. The sunlight made for a cozy nap.

Hattie walked with Monte to the dining hall, which she knew how to get to since she’d helped set up lunch. She found an unoccupied seat at the tables, and partook in what she had helped make. Steamed buns and baked potatoes, soup and a sauce covered fowl. Nothing fancy, but delicious all the same and filling. She made sure Monte had what to eat as well.

Hattie checked over the papers that Nancy had given her, and saw that though Professor Liden was holding class today, she would start tomorrow. Nobody had gotten a chance to talk with the professor yet about the new addition to the class.

Hattie’s first session with Headmaster Dawson was scheduled for the weekend, with the second taking place in the middle of the week in the evening.

“It seems we will both be quite busy from here on out," Hattie said, "But I am excited."