There was an unscheduled assembly that evening and all the girls of the lower school were gathered in wonder in the great hall beneath the library. First years mustered at the front, whispering each to the other where they stood.

"I hear they caught a boy trying to deliver a note," Bubbles Bannatyne nudged one of the Massking twins who blushed at the thought.

"Ooh, what did it say?" Sunshine Allouette asked the other twin who also blushed.

"We don't know," they said in unison. "Nothing to do with us," and they lifted identical noses in the air disdainfully in a perfect imitation of Princess Rapture who remained silent throughout the exchange. She was smiling uncertainly, for she knew it was not that, but must have been something a great deal more serious to result in such an unprecedented move by the head mistress. Meanwhile other first years from a different dorm were showing less humour and more alarm.

"Where's Pinky?" Petal Mara repeatedly asked each of her friends in turn, getting only head shakes for answer. "She said she was feeling ill a little earlier. I thought she might be faking it but I've not seen her all day. Now I'm worried."

"I am sure her well being is not compromised," Lyra Bellicosa opined thoughtfully. "Matters, be they what they are, shall reveal themselves in due time for I espy our glorious leader mounting the stage."

The whispers and mutterings faded among the girls all around the floor and everyone looked up at the statuesque figure expectantly. Miss Plazenby often appeared at these sorts of gatherings so the sight of her was not unfamiliar even to the new girls, but rarely had they seen her with such an expression on her face. Petal clutched herself tightly as worry surged within her.

"Girls," came a voice that carried to the depths of the hall. "It pains me to have to make this announcement but it is of such importance I have asked you all here this evening. One of the girls of this school has committed an unwarranted act of vandalism for which she will be duly punished. That she is a first year and new to the precepts and principles of this seminary is no excuse for her actions would be reprehensible in all walks of life. That matter is resolved. However, her actions appear to have been inspired by another pupil of this school whom she has chosen to shield under what she deemed a word of honour. I will not force her to break that word. It is my understanding the other participant in this wilful act is currently in this hall." This declaration resulted in an inevitable outbreak of head turnings and an audible undercurrent of murmurs. Petal Mara, feeling increasingly faint, was only too aware who the reprehensible first year was, but the other girl? Something made her look behind and to her right where Zephany Ildorim stood, back straight, eyes fixed on some object high up above the head mistress's head.

Miss Plazenby raised her hand for silence and continued.

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"As I say, I will not force the girl to reveal the identity of the other. It would be infinitely more praiseworthy if that guilty individual would reveal herself instead. She will face punishment of course but can do so with dignity."

Again heads turned this way and that and there were gulps and sighs in some quarters of the hall. Petal kept her tear-blurred eyes upon the Golden Girl, fixing her with a passionate stare so intense Zephany could not help feeling it. Her blue eyes, glittering with golden sparkles, slowly turned and met those soft but accusative brown eyes of the first year friend of Pinky Ponsonby. At that moment there seemed nothing golden about her, rather there was a paleness, a fading of all that glory, and then she looked away.

The uneasy silence was not broken by any confession, though Miss Plazenby glanced around the hall with lingering hope. Finally she lowered her head and took a step back.

"This regretful matter must end here," she sighed. "I only hope the girl of whom I speak will at some point find it in her conscience to right an unpleasant wrong, if not for her sake, then for the poor deluded girl who thought her a friend. Thank you for your time. Please return to your dormitories. All evening walks are cancelled for this one night to give everyone a chance to reflect on these matters. Dismissed!" With that she briskly departed the hall and left the girls to find their own way up stairs to their various rooms.

Dorm Sensation was in an uproar as soon as the remaining four girls entered the room and sought comfort in explosions of indignation.

"Have they locked Pinky in a cell?" Danique Ferale snarled in outrage. "Chained to a wall and fed bread and water."

"I think a little detention might be more likely," Soo Toglak retorted. "Though that doesn't soften the indignity of solitary confinement."

"She's all alone," Petal sobbed "No friends to talk to or anything."

"I fear her absence from our vaunted Winter Break Festival will be inevitable," Lyra added. "A dress of exquisite cut and style had already been chosen, and muchly she was looking forward to tripping among the coloured lights enfolded in its splendid drapery."

"Exquisite cut!" Petal said with unwonted fierceness. "That's Perfecta talk."

"No, I made it up," Lyra countered. "Just now."

"No," came a more familiar tearful sob. "I'm certain I know who the other girl is, a Perfecta girl!" She explained what she had witnessed earlier.

"Then you've got to tell the head mistress," Danique burst out. "Get our Pinky back among friends."

"I've no proof it's her. The head mistress won't act on an accusation. She would want proof it's Zephany."

"Zephany Ildorim," Soo said coldly, menacingly. "She is so going to die tonight," and she made a grab for her fighting batons made from game sticks without the sports mistress's knowledge. Danique grabbed her.

"What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry, words are weapons in Frangea, and I will put those to use," dropping the sticks but making to depart nonetheless.

"I'm scared to death," Petal said, clutching herself, "but I want to come with you. I want to look her in the eye when you speak to her."

"We'll all go, true friends of Pinky," Danique declared.

"That may only create a division of anger, a gathering of supporters to defend the victim," Lyra suggested. "Two will suffice."

"Come then Petal," Soo said cheerily, "let's storm the hallowed precincts of second year territory," and she dragged the nervous girl out of the room with her. Lyra smirked at Danique in the ensuing silence.

"I could not have expressed it better myself," she said, both thrilled and satisfied.