Q’s grandfather took his leave as they departed the testing room, wishing Q and Cedric well and thanking Ronan for the tour.

Their guide took them to Wardrobe Issue, where they were fitted for their new, first-year white robes. Ronan then escorted them to the dormitories to receive their room assignments. Either through luck, or his grandfather’s machinations, Q and Cedric’s rooms turned out to be right next to each other.

The dormitory section of campus was broken into three buildings. The first year females had their own building, as did those in their second year, due to the number of students in each class.

The male mages, for both years, shared a building. With the older mages taking the larger rooms on the ground floor, leaving the new arrivals to climb the stairs to the second level.

Cedric and Q saw that their things had already been delivered to their rooms when they stopped by to change into their new robes and drop off their extras. Once ready, they followed Ronan out of the building and toward the main hall to grab dinner.

“Your grandfather is rather terrifying. Has anyone ever told you that?” Ronan asked nonchalantly as they headed down the paved walkway.

Q raised a brow, saying, “Not in so many words. But he can be intense and a bit overprotective.”

Nodding his agreement, Ronan paused for a moment, and seemed to consider his question before deciding to ask it anyway. “If you don’t mind my prying, would this not be something the celebrate, scoring so well during your testing? The Councilman hinted that may not be the case for you, specifically.”

Q and Cedric exchange glances. On short acquaintance, they both liked the older boy, but they didn’t want to over share. Knowing the truth behind his parentage would not stay hidden for long, Q decided to share a little of what would eventually come out anyway. “We didn’t give our full names earlier. I am Earl Quinten Ashford, son of Julian and Katherine Ashford—”

“The traitor’s son,” Ronan finished for him. To Q’s surprise, there was no scorn or accusation in his voice.

Leaning closer, their guide whispered, “My father, Duke Hastings, has mentioned what happened to your family in passing. After the trial, he did some digging. He wanted to know how such a well thought out plot against the Throne could have gone unnoticed for so long. And when so many of the accused were cleared of all charges when no new evidence was found linking them to the conspiracy? It never sat right with him.”

Q had stopped walking at being called a traitor’s son, but the longer he listened to the young man speak, the more unsure he became. He watched closely for any falsehoods, but as far as he could tell, Ronan was being completely truthful in what he was saying. Looking to Cedric for his opinion, to which his friend just raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

“I’m sorry, but are you saying that you and your father actually believe my own was innocent?” Q asked, incredulity clear in his voice. The sound of his charge speaking from behind him made Ronan pause. Realizing he was the only one still moving, he spun back to face the pair.

Barking out a laugh, Ronan shook his head. “And go against the King’s ruling? Stars above, no. But I am willing to say it’s possible.” He admitted, turning halfway round, and motioning for them to continue down the path.

It had been a few years since Q ate in a dining hall. The last time was just before the fateful patrol out in the Western Marches that led to the battle that awakened his Gift. Wooden tables and benches filled the main hall with a small dais at the front, behind which Q could see several black-robed instructors eating their own meals. The tables were arranged to run the length of the room, with five rows that appeared to sit twenty to thirty people per table.

The large double doors shut behind them with a hollow boom and several of those closest took notice of their arrival. Like a wave, people further and further down the table turned to look at the trio as Ronan led them to a table laden with food, just to the side of the main doors. “Don’t mind them. They just want to see if anyone new has arrived. Most of the young nobles here know each other from Court. It’s a viper's nest of who awakened a Gift and who did not. It’s best not to play in their games if you can avoid it.”

Even with his back turned to the room, Q still felt eyes on him as he filled his plate, digging into him as if searching for weaknesses.

Once they’d grabbed all they wanted for dinner, Ronan led them to a table with a section of open benches. While navigating the room, Q couldn’t help but notice that the first-year boys sat huddled together in a small group, looking isolated and unsure. What truly stood out, though, were the second-years. They were scattered among the girls, many of whom draped themselves over the boys as though staking a claim. Curious if this was an extension of what Ronan had mentioned earlier, Q asked about it once they’d taken their seats, prompting Ronan to give a small nod in understanding.

“Yeah… that’s how it goes here,” Ronan said. “You’ll see more and more of your year-mates get lured away as the year goes on. We joked earlier about them being captured and forced to marry, but that isn’t the norm. Most of the young men here, fresh out from under their mother’s wings, are going to get themselves in trouble without anyone having to resort to getting physical.”

Raising a brow, Cedric set down the roll he was in the process of buttering and pretended to look around. Finally, he asked, “Are you married already, Ronan? Engaged, maybe? I don’t see a ring on your hand, nor any ladies hanging off you.”

For the first time since they met the older boy, he looked uncomfortable.

“No, my father would like me to focus on my studies while I’m here. A suitable marriage will be made once I have finished the Academy.”

Even Cedric, prone to taking a joke too far in an attempt to get a laugh, could tell this was a sensitive topic. Choosing to leave it at that, they changed the subject.

“When will we start class?” Q asked, “O! And when will we meet our classmates?” Cedric cut in, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

A smile returned to Ronan’s face, and he replied. “The answer to both questions is nearly the same. You have a few days until the first official day of class begins. That is when you will be introduced to your instructors, and the first time, your entire class will be gathered together.”

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“How large are normal classes, anyway? I know it will be a predominantly female class, but there have to be more of us boys running around,” Cedrick asked as he looked around the room, and then pointedly stared at the group of a half-dozen boys huddled at the table behind them.

“Your class is actually one of the largest we have had in the last few years. ten males and thirty-eight female gifted. Mine only had seven of us and thirty-five ladies.”

Letting out a whistle before popping a roasted potato into his mouth, Cedric pointed his fork at Ronan, “So, give it to me straight. What is it like here? The good, the bad, and the filthy?”

Q elbowed his friend and smiled at the older boy apologetically. “Please excuse him. He was hit in the head a few too many times over the years.”

Ronan waved it away, “It is no trouble, he is just overcompensating. I remember my first time, but don’t worry, it will happen for you soon enough, I’m sure.”

Cedric’s mouth dropped open as Q barked out a laugh. Closing it with a grin, Cedric pointed at Ronan with his fork once more, and said, “I like him, he gets my vote.”

“I’d be careful with what you say. You never know how he might take you saying that.” An acidic male voice said from the table behind them. Looking over their shoulders, Q and Cedric saw a first-year boy of roughly their age, staring daggers at them from the gaggle of boys. Peering back and forth between the young man and Ronan, Q could see a notable resemblance. If you swapped out the brown hair for red, they would be nearly identical.

Ronan exhaled and closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping. When they reopened, Q could see the sadness behind the expressive brown irises. “Must you, Taylor?”

The boy, Taylor apparently, sneered, “That is Mage Hastings. We are at the Academy now. And here, I do not need to suffer from having an abomination for a brother.”

Q frown at the harsh words. As an only child, he had always had the secret dream of having a little brother. Seeing the relationship between these two, it threw what he expected out of the carriage. “Look, there is some obvious history here that we are not privy to, but on short acquaintance, Ronan has been nothing but pleasant since we met. I would appreciate it if you kept such vitriol to yourself.”

The sneer deepened, “Well, look at that Ronan, you may have found yourself a dandy here after all, congratulations.”

Q’s eyebrows climbed high in surprise. The trio silently watched Taylor, who grinned with apparent triumph, stand from his table and make his way out of the dining hall. A few of the boys seated with him, scrambling to their feet and scurrying after him.

“Well,” Q said, turning back and picking up a roll, “I know I don’t have any siblings, but one experience with that shithead, and I’m not sure I would have enjoyed having a brother.”

Picking up on Q’s intentions, Cedric played along. “Ronan must be their mother’s favorite. I’ve heard rumor, that can warp a man if he’s weak-minded.” Smacking himself on the forehead, Cedric groaned. “Shooting stars, Mother told me to be more considerate of the handicapped.”

Ronan looked back and forth between the two in confusion at first, and then, as understanding crept in, with tentative hope.

Throughout the remainder of their meal, Q could see that candle’s flame of fragile longing continue to grow when neither he nor Cedric brought up Taylor’s revelation. They were finishing the last bits of food on their plates when a second interruption occurred, this one of a different, if no more appealing, nature.

“Did you enjoy your first dinner at the Academy?” A voice asked from behind Q and Cedric. Turning partially around, they found a short girl in the white robes of a first year, with wavy dark hair standing behind them. Even seated, she was nearly eye level with the taller boys.

“It wasn’t as bad as I feared it would be,” Q admitted slowly, as he looked the girl over. Thick black curls framed a pleasant face. The smile she was giving him in return certainly didn’t hurt. She gave him her own once over, and Q couldn’t help thinking that the games had already started.

“I’m Mage Irvine, but you can call me Macy,” she said, somehow managing to look at him while simultaneously fluttering her lashes.

Cedric turned a little more in his seat, so he was half-facing her. “Hello, Macy. I’m Cedric, and this is Q.” Nodding across the table, he said, “and that’s Ronan, our new friend.”

At the mention of Ronan, a sneer momentarily crossed Macy’s face before it returned to her previous, smiling demeanor. A demeanor Q found a little less pleasant after seeing the shift.

She dipped her head slightly and said, “A pleasure.” Returning her focus to Q and Cedric, she asked cheerily, “I don’t recognize either of you from Court. Where are you from? And how did your testing go today?”

Would you look at the pair on this one? Q thought. She just came right out with it. I’ll give her credit for not beating around the bu—Q’s musings came to a halt when a new voice joined the conversation.

“That is exactly what I would like to know—now, run along, little Macy.”

Shifting his gaze over to Ronan’s side of the table, Q got his first look at the speaker. A tall blonde beauty stood behind their friend, smiling down at them. She too, wore white robes as did the three friends Q could see watching from further down the aisle.

The new arrival waited, watching the shorter girl hurry away, before turning back to Cedric and Q, focusing that blinding smile of hers on them once more. “Hello! What are your names?”

Her question was met with a long silence until Cedric answered slowly. “I am Mage Vaelmara and this is my friend, Mage Valtieri.” he said, introducing them, “And what should we call you, Mage…?”

Q’s grandfather had recommended he use their old family name of Valtieri instead of Ashford while at the academy. Ed had known it would grate on his grandson, having to do anything to hide his connection to his father, but even Q could admit it was good advice.

“Vaelmara sounds familiar… but Valtieri… I don’t know if I’ve ever heard it before.” The blonde said, talking to herself and tapping her chin with a manicured nail. Puffing out a breath, she continued, “It doesn’t matter. I’ll figure it out later. So, what Gifts and how much stellum did you two have?” She asked, looking between the two first-years expectantly.

Q raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze between Cedric and Ronan. His question of is she serious, coming through loud and clear.

“I’m sorry, but are you always so rude?” Q asked after a moment.

“Oh, no, this isn’t me being rude, just efficient. I am the daughter of a Duke. If I am going to improve my families standing through marriage, I can only consider the best.” The bluntness in which she handled the question set the trio back a mental step.

Cedric honestly could not tell if he should be offended or not.

Q had no such qualms. Raising his hand, he said, “You can take me off your list. I don’t think I would be up to your standards.”

She nodded in acceptance and turned to Cedric, lifting one perfectly plucked brow.

Looking her up and down, Cedric decided he would shoot his shot. “Mental, Physical, and Transmutation. Seventy stellum.”

Shifting her head side to side, the blonde gave Cedric a thorough once over that reminded Q of his grandfather inspecting a horse before purchase. In the end, she said, “I will consider it, Vaelmara. Enjoy your evening!” With that, she spun on her heel and returned to her friends—who immediately broke out into hushed whispers.

Ronan whistled, “Duke Sutherland’s daughter, Lady Celeste.” Jabbing the tabletop with his pointer finger, he said, “Mark my words, get involved with that one and she will eat you alive.”

“But what a way to go…” Cedric responded absentmindedly. Still watching Celeste as she held court a few table lengths away.

After that interaction, their appetites were well and truly gone. So, they dropped off their trays before heading out the main doors. They made it half way back to the dorm before Ronan’s anxiety got the better of him and he blurted, “Do you two really not care?”

Neither Q nor Cedric needed clarification.

“That you are interested in men?” Q asked. “Not even a little.”

Cedric reached over and gripped the older boy’s tense shoulder. “More ladies for me, brother. What’s not to like?” He asked with a sincere smile.

Ronan’s lips twitched in return, staying quiet as they reached their rooms and exchanged goodnights. The expression lingered on his face long after, the smallest seed of hope taking root—perhaps, for the first time since his proclivities had been discovered, he felt a sliver of hope that he might finally be accepted for who he truly was.