Magdala carefully put her glass down on a shelf next to the fireplace. “Why college? Why now?”

“Because it’s time you started to think about your future,” answered her mother. “A college will grow you as a mage and will give you a chance to earn some real achievements.”

“But in the jungle-”

Her father’s harrumph cut her off. “Academic achievements, not martial ones. While your lord uncle may go around using his cups-blessed skills to fight, that is not the true role of a Souran mage.”

Her mother squeezed her shoulder. “With the Harvest Ball approaching, you need to be on your way to getting your own apprenticeship, not helping Dwayne with his.”

“Do I?” Magdala pushed her mother’s hand off her shoulder. “Which college have you chosen for me? Griffon to make dyes? Coles to make lamp oil?” Her heart felt like it was in a vice. “You know that I want to do something real, something exciting, not stay here in Bradford and make stuff for other people.”

Her mother’s posture stiffened, but her voice stayed calm. “Sen Laurence and I both agreed that you’d be a bad fit for those colleges.”

“Ha, I bet. Ole Laurence would prefer those colleges to keep bringing in money.” Her father grinned despite her mother’s glare. “You know that’s her main leverage with the Throne and you Sages.”

“Regardless,” her mother turned back to Magdala, “we have selected a college that fits your interests.”

And what did she think Magdala’s interests were? “Which college?”

An announcement precluded her mother’s answer. “Ms. Mei Ma the Axesnapper and her brother, Huan!”

Finally.

Magdala turned to the entrance just in time to catch a flicker of displeasure cross Huan’s face. She giggled. When he’d submitted his name to their registers, he hadn’t even bothered to put in the name of his own sister in, and now he was being introduced as Mei’s secondary. Updating the register was totally-

What was Mei wearing? Where had that purple and white striped monstrosity come from? The hunter wore it well, but she had strong posture and that made everything look good on her.

“Magdala.”

Was this Huan’s fault? It had to be, right?

“Magdala Gallus.”

A hand caught Magdala’s chin and forced her to face her mother.

“This is more important,” said her mother.

Magdala pulled herself free. “Okay, fine. Which college?”

“Lees.”

The room swam for a moment. “Lees? The College of History Lees?”

“Yes.” Her mother watched Magdala carefully. “At the moment, the current dean is eager for someone to take over archiv-”

“Why Lees?”

Magdala’s interruption earned her a glare from her mother. “Because your history papers have always received high marks, you’ve never failed a history exam, and,” she lowered her voice, “the position requires zero use of your magic.”

Magdala’s heart chilled. “I… I’ve gotten much better since then.”

Her mother sighed. “I know that. Your father knows that, but the last thing anyone at the Magisterium remembers is you knocking out your entire class. Luckily, Dean Quill is more than willing to overlook all of that. She’s over there.” She pointed.

Magdala followed her mother’s finger to a frail old woman leaning heavily on a petrified wood cane. Why was she talking to Dwayne? Oh, because of Gran. Magdala winced in sympathy. She’d endured many a social tour from Gran.

Her father patted Magdala’s back. “I believe that Lees will leave you ample time to think about life after school.”

“I’m sure it will.” Magdala squirmed in her dress, which was chafing her. “Has anyone important ever come out of Lees?”

Her mother’s jaw set. “Yes.”

“Really? Who?”

“Roberta Bruce.” Her mother gestured to a tall thin woman with thick, dark brown curly hair, who was talking to another mage in brown and gold. “She just started her own college, and she’s a fan of your friend apparently.”

Her father guffawed. “I’m not surprised. Axesnapper is the talk of all the barracks. Even those zealots at Sen Jerome’s have been talking about her.”

Unlike Quill, Bruce had just the barest hint of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. “She seems young for a dean,” commented Magdala.

Her mother looked away. “She graduated top of her nQe class, completed her apprenticeship at Lees, presented her master thesis to the Sage Council, and got a commendation from the Church, all in just ten years.”

“That’s really impressive…” Magdala glanced at her mother’s rigid posture. “But you don’t like her.”

“We don’t like her,” corrected her father. “She started the College of Martial Magic.”

“What, really?” asked Magdala. “What’s the course of study? What are-”

“No.” Her parents’ joint refusal brought Magdala to a halt.

“She’s here,” her mother rubbed the bridge of her nose, “because Quill her master is here and for no other reason. You need to let what happened in down that jungle go.”

“But martial magic is what got us out,” said Magdala. “Shouldn’t we should be digging more into that area of study not less?”

“No, we shouldn’t.” Her father leaned in. “While we needed you and your mother to-”

“And Dwayne,” added Magdala. “You always forget him.”

“And… him.” Her father practically choked on the word. “While we needed you, you have to understand that that means we, myself and my officers, failed you. Letting mages fight for us is barbaric. We are not the Tuqu with their shamans or the Ri with their wizards. Souran mages are-”

“Calm, reasonable, and rational,” finished her mother, “and the battlefield is no place for us.”

It had been Souran mages who’d calmly reasoned that Lord Kalan and Dwayne’s theory was irrational just because it didn’t feel right.

Luckily, not all Souran mages had thought so. “What about Lady Pol?” asked Magdala. “She’s both respectable and accomplished. I can write to her and… what is it?”

Her parents had shared a significant glance.

“What?” asked Magdala.

“That would not be a good move,” said her father. “Ever since her mother died, Luisa has become disengaged from court affairs.”

Her mother winced. “She has publicly repudiated Emittance theory.”

Magdala rocked in place. “She did?” Lady Pol had been that theory’s strongest proponent. “When?”

“Last week, the Council received a paper from her that used evidence she’d discovered in Yumma to support my brother’s theory.” Her mother allowed herself a small smile. “She even cited his papers.”

“That’s good, right? It’s the better theory, so we can-”

Her mother’s raised hand stopped her. “Unfortunately, she failed to understand what really sways the Magisterium. Making appeals to the ancient past and citing eccentrics like my brother only allows them space to dismiss her as out of touch and outlandish. The Earth Sage even said, ‘Modern magic has obviously evolved past such a primitive understanding of how the world works. After all, we’re here and they’re not.’ Cups, that man…”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Her mother took a deep breath before continuing. “At any rate, the Magisterium will not be moved by mere words, only visible evidence. That is why Dwayne is here in Bradford and not off gallivanting in the desert or doing Cueller-knows-what down in Walton, and that is why you will not be Lady Pol’s apprentice.”

“If she had a son Magdala’s age,” her father was rubbing his chin, “I could be persuaded.” When his wife and daughter glared at him, his hands came up. “I’ve heard the stories. Two apprentices, living and working together all day long, getting to know each other; it’s better than courting. I know all of your classmates found their partners that way, Iona.”

“Not untrue…”

That put Magdala’s lab sessions with Dwayne in a different light. “Surely, not all of them, right?” Her face felt warmer than the fire. “I mean Francesca’s mother didn’t meet her father that way.”

“Well, I’m pretty certain that Ms. Lucchesi chose her partner from a…” Her father glanced at Magdala and sighed. “Cups, Iona, was I this easy to read?”

Her mother patted his arm. “You’re her father; you do have a slight advantage.” A servant appeared at her elbow and whispered into her ear. “Yes? Excellent. Sound the dinner bell.”

Good, Magdala could escape. “We’ll talk about this later?”

Her mother’s head tilted back. “Later? Why do you think I invited Dean Quinn for dinner?”

Magdala felt the floor fall away from her. “Oh... But...”

Her father patted her on the back. “Just make a good impression.”

***

After Mei stepped out of their carriage and onto Tarpan’s drive, Huan unfurled an umbrella and pulled her hand through the crook of his elbow. “Let me do the talking, and we’ll profit from tonight.”

Mei’s lips pressed together, but she nodded, and let her gaze drift to Maggie’s big house as her brother pulled her forward. Even through Bradford’s constant drizzle, Tarpan looked impressive with hedges as tall as hills and flowerbeds Mei could get lost in. In fact she had, spending hours looking at each blossom.

Huan pulled her to a stop in front of the big wooden doors, where two guards stood at attention. “Huan Ma and his sister Mei.” He bowed, imploring Mei to do the same with a nudge of his elbow.

Mei didn’t know why they still weren’t using their real family name Li. It wasn’t like the ShengXiao guard didn’t already know where they were.

The two guards glanced at each other. The left one asked, “Are we supposed to know who you are?”

Huan straightened up, his voice a growl. “We’re expected.”

Mei watched her brother carefully, her fingers itching at the absence of a blade.

The left guard scoffed. “Sure you are. You can talk like a nob, dress like a nob, but you ain’t a nob and that’s a…” His eyes took in Mei’s features. “Hold up, what’d say your names were?”

Maybe this was catching eyes. “Mei.” She bowed again for good measure. “Mei Ma.”

“Mei Ma. I’ve heard that before…” The guard’s eyes lit up. “Axesnapper Mei?”

The nickname made her skin tingle. “Yes?”

“The little Tuquese hunter who saved a whole squad down in Vanuria? That’s you?”

The other guard raised an eyebrow. “You sure? It could be one of them fighters from the consulate.”

“I can check, corporal.” The left guard turned back to Mei. “What’s Saundra Taylor’s rank and nickname?”

The other guard narrowed her eyes. “You think them consulate fighters wouldn’t know that?”

“Why would foreign nobs know about an enlisted?”

“Huh. Good point.”

“She’s Swordbreaker?” Mei hunted for the other answer. Maggie had made a big deal about it, had even made Dwayne learn all the ranks when he’d gotten it wrong once. “She’s a sergeant.”

The left guard grinned. “Oh it’s her.” He and the corporal saluted. “It’s an honor to meet you, ma’am.”

“And if you ever get tired of snobby nob food,” whispered the corporal, “come to Sen Quincy’s. You’re owed a pint of beer.”

“Cups, corporal, she’s owed a barrel.” The first guard opened the door. “You look lovely tonight by the way, ma’am. Good luck in there.”

“Thank you.” Mei bowed again and pulled Huan through the door. She glanced at his face. He was seething. “What’s wrong?”

Huan bared his teeth. “They knew you.”

A pair of servants appeared. “Your cloaks?”

“Yeah, take them.” Huan removed his cloak, snatched Mei’s off her shoulders, and handed both of them over along with the umbrella. “I was there too. No one seems to remember that.”

“Lord Gallus remembers.”

“Not enough to offer any kind of reward.” Huan shook his head. “Forget it. Let’s go.”

He took the lead again, and as they rushed past the many, many painted portraits of Maggie’s armored, pale-faced ancestors, Mei made sure to step on just the white tiles, which had heads of wheat pressed into them, instead of the red horse ones. Horses were considerate and intelligent beasts, unlike awrocks who were boulders with legs.

“Walk normal,” hissed Huan.

Mei ignored him.

He sighed. “They wouldn’t have even found that sorcerer in the first place if it weren’t for me.”

“And Sir Marcus.”

Huan turned pale. “Right, and him.” He coughed. “With just a little power, we won’t need people like him to save us. Now,” they’d reached the parlor, “eyes up, head high.”

As they entered the parlor, a voice called out, “Ms. Mei Ma the Axesnapper and her brother, Huan!”

Of the one hundred people in the room, only three took notice of the announcement: Maggie by the fireplace, Dwayne in the center of the room, and a tall, thin hazel-skinned woman in a severe black dress that left everything but her hands and face to the imagination.

“That witch, she changed it,” Huan growled. “I’m not just your brother.” He caught sight of Mei’s hand going to her knifeless waist. “Right, ahem. I am going to go mingle. You should too. Remember, you’re here to catch eyes.” He released her and strode up to a flock of nobles, crafting a smile as he went.

Mei watched him a moment. There was some of the old Huan in his movements, but they were rougher, like he was applying tips he’d heard, not skills he’d honed. Still, her brother was unarmed, and, between Lord Gallus and Dwayne, not to mention the Water Sage, there was more than enough force to restrain Huan if he had a fit.

That left the question of what Mei should do with her time. At the moment, Dwayne was being led like a sheep by an old woman, Maggie was trapped in conversation with her parents, and the snack table that ran down the middle of the room looked like it needed some lightening. The decision was easy. Dwayne would find his footing soon, and the snack table wasn’t going anywhere, but Maggie clearly needed a break from her parents. Mei set course for the fireplace.

“You wear that dress quite well.” The tall, thin woman, now bearing a slim glass of a pale yellow bubbly liquid, stepped in front of Mei. “Axesnapper Mei, I presume?”

Odd way to address her. Mei bowed. “Yes, I am. You are?”

The corners of the woman’s lips quirked. “Dean Roberta Bruce.” She returned Mei’s bow. “I understand that you’ve been traveling with Lord Bartholomew Kalan’s so-called apprentice.”

“Dwayne. Yes.” Bruce’s hair reminded Mei of Dwayne’s before he’d shaped it. “They’re my employers.”

“Yes, I heard. I have also heard quite a lot about you. The regular soldiers love to tell the tale of how you took down that Revenant down in that cups-forsaken jungle.”

Mei knew this. She had had to tell that tale a hundred times down in Walton. Keeping one eye on Maggie, she asked, “Are you a soldier?”

Bruce laughed. “Oh, no, no, just an avid student of the martial science, but I am interested in assisting combat experts, like yourself, prevail against heathen magical practitioners. I’ve started a college with that goal in mind.” She sipped from her glass. “I believe that your friend young Gallus would be an excellent fit.”

Mei was aware of colleges, she passed several on her way to the Commissary from the Tower, but Bruce made it sound like a job offer instead of a learning experience. “Maggie does like fighters.”

Bruce choked. “You call her… Ahem. Yes, her… admiration makes young Gallus an excellent candidate, but really that piece of magical brilliance she used down in Vanuria makes her perfect for my college. Using her mother’s water magic to create a large-scale explosion was inspired.” Her shoulders drooped. “Unfortunately, my colleagues don’t see it that way. Did you know that those recreant, provident, and, and, hoary fools wanted to expel her?”

Mei snorted. “They couldn’t. You don’t steal a lion cub when the lioness is there.”

Bruce chuckled. “Yes, Lady Gallus’s teeth would have torn them apart. Between that, her father the Lord Commander, and the Gallus family’s connections to the Lucchesis, expelling the scion of the Gallus family would have been as suicidal as entering a lion’s den with awrock steaks strapped to your thighs.” She finished her drink. “I do have an offer in mind for you specifically, Mei. Have you heard of Sen Jerome’s?”

“No.” Half of Mei’s attention was still on Maggie whose conversation with her parents was getting intense. “Who is Sen Jerome?”

“Two hundred and twenty-three years ago, Sen Jerome of Astbrooke served as the Queen’s Lord Commander. In order to decimate a plague of rogue mages that was going on at the time, he worked with the Church to create a religious order, an elite force trained to defeat mages.”

Mei knew about Maggie and Dwayne’s encounter with a rogue wind mage on the road to Ti Mei. That and her experience down in the jungle made her think that the best way to fight a mage was with a mage. “By ‘defeat’, you mean kill?”

“Of course. These rogues have rejected the true message of Cueller and have turned her gifts on the righteous, sowing chaos and suffering in the process. They’ve given up their right to live.” Bruce’s eyes glittered. “You really should stop by Sen Jerome’s and share your experiences. It would be most edifying.”

The whole of Mei’s being recoiled from the intensity of the dean’s interest. “I am sorry.” She bowed. “I cannot help you. I don’t fight the same way they do.”

Bruce stepped closer. “Yes, I heard something about that.”

Mei’s heart raced. She couldn’t know about Mei’s rifle. “You did?”

“Yes, the garrison down in Walton mentioned a-”

“There you are, Professor, no, Dean Bruce.” A big man in brown and gold robes joined them. “I was hoping to catch you here.”

“Baron Thadden.” The dean’s teeth bared in a smile. “I was just speaking to the Office of the Royal Sorcerer’s new Head Guard.”

Mei inched away from them, her heart still racing. This wasn’t good. Knowledge of her rifle shouldn’t have spread as far as this person she’d never met. The whole reason why her parents had died was to keep the thing a secret.

“Head Guard.” Thadden snorted. “She’s barely fashionable, dressed like that.” He dismissed Mei with a wave of his hand. “More importantly, have you met the ‘apprentice’?”

Seeing her chance, Mei bowed and fled to the snack table, where she snatched a glass of something bubbly and downed it in one go.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Huan appeared with a plate of pastries. “This is a reception, not a tavern.” Balancing the plate in one hand, he took the empty glass from her. “Why aren’t you mingling?”

Because mingling was terrifying, but Huan didn’t want to hear that. “I was thirsty.” Mei grabbed one of his pastries and stuffed it into her mouth. “And hungry.”

Huan grimaced at the crumbs tumbling out of her mouth. “You just walked away from a Dean and a high official from the Royal Secretary’s Office.”

Mei swallowed the pastry. “And?” She took another glass off the table, and gulped down its contents.

Huan took the glass from her. “Stop that. Hey!” He failed to stop her from grabbing another pastry. “Those are exactly the kind of people whose eyes we should be catching. You definitely caught the Dean’s; she went straight for you.”

“Yes.” Mei took a smaller bite out of her pastry, feeling better and less panicky. “Then I gave her eyes back. I don’t want them.”

“That is not how this works.”

Mei shrugged and took another bite of her pastry, now enjoying its sweet tangy flavor. “I’m not here to catch eyes. I’m here for Maggie and Dwayne.”

Huan’s face flushed. “Listen, you-”

A bell ring silenced the room. “My mages, lords, ladies, and guests, dinner is ready. Please proceed to the dining room.”

“Finally.” Mei stuffed the rest of her pastry into her mouth. “I’m still hungry.” She left her brother speechless by the snack table.