Rowena had been almost too dazed since they arrived to have really noticed the character of the outer city of Arcania, but as they left the Broken Quill she realized that this particular corner, though still a touch run down and ramshackle, was much cleaner and nicer than the area through which they’d first entered the city. She supposed it made some sense– Lorimer’s past as the former Provost of the University meant that he was likely used to a much finer quality of living than he was experiencing in an Inn outside the city center, so it followed that he’d chosen a place somewhere less dilapidated than the rest of the outer city.

Clearly, whatever he’s up to isn’t much of a secret, Cuth mused.

Or it’s not much of a problem for anyone else, Rowena pointed out. Just because he’s been doing… whatever he’s been doing… and communicating with Martha about us doesn’t mean it’s necessarily evil.

Oh, come on, you sound like Kieran, Cuth protested. You don’t think them messing with the Heartstones is a problem for everyone?

Rowena just shook her head a little bit, looking over at Kieran. He’d been hesitant to leave Lorimer behind, she knew– she believed that he wanted to fulfill his promise and come with her to see Tommie’s murderer brought to justice, but she also knew that his curiousity about the University itself had to have played at least a small role in his choice to come with them that morning. Her friend had far more ambition than she’d ever realized.

Looking around at the rest of them, Rowena bit her lip. How well had she really known any of them? At least, before the last weeks. Before their Selections had changed them, bonding them together in these mutual burdens of out of control Classes and Subclasses, Rowena had been perfectly content to keep just about everyone at arm’s length since her mother’s death. She’d had Calla and Tommie to mind, the shop to try to run, her father to support… but she’d never exactly been the most outgoing or friendly child, if she was honest with herself. Kieran was the only one she’d ever really let in close, and now—

I hate to interrupt this tragic reverie, but I think we’re at the next gate, Cuth said, and Rowena snapped her attention back to the present.

Her stomach knotted and turned as she steeled herself for whatever challenge awaited in their attempt to convince the guard they belonged in the inner city. They weren’t dirty from the road anymore, it was true, though the quality and cleanliness of their clothes left something to be desired. She sighed and pulled her hood back from the cloak Mattie had given her. She needed to give every possible appearance of respectability.

This gate was built as sturdily as the outer gate, if not even moreso. The quality of the wood was better, Rowena could see, and even had some carvings of plants and starbursts around the sides, a pretty touch she’d noticed on both the door to the Broken Quill and a few other places around the outer town. The wall here was made of smooth, evenly cut off-white stone– based on what they’d seen of the city from a distance, this would be the start of every building being built in this material, which gave it such a striking look.

A guard stood leaning against the wall right next to the gate, a small window by his head. He wore a clean, well-cut leather jerkin studded with rings and had a distasteful look on his face. Rowena swallowed, made eye contact with her friends, and made her way up to him.

“Good day, sir–” she began in what she hoped was a confident tone. “We’re–”

The man interrupted her by spitting into the dirt right next to her. Rowena paused, appalled, and looked back to see Sorel’s eyes ablaze with anger, a gentle hand of Mattie’s holding her by the arm. Kieran looked amused.

“Gross. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” Kieran raised his eyebrows at the guard, who pursed his lips and sneered back at him.

“Go away, little flies,” the guard finally said in slow, condescending tones. He examined his fingernails and picked out a little piece of dirt, which he flicked carelessly at Kieran.

Sorel shook Mattie’s hand off of her and took a few steps forward. The guard looked at her wrist and rolled his eyes. “Oh, no. A baby Shield.”

“We’re guests of Mallantha Enchanter and require an escort!” Rowena said hastily, hoping to prevent any further misunderstandings. She was so close– so close to finally finding people who could bring her brother’s murderer to justice… they just had to get through this one last hurdle…

The guard scoffed, but didn’t seem surprised. “That woman and her demands. Always bringing ruffians and charlatans into the city. I’ll have to check, of course.”

He leaned into the window by his head and called out. “Oi– did Mallantha send yet another request?”

Mattie’s face had paled again, but Rowena thought that it seemed less a response to her weakened state than being appalled at being labeled a ruffian. She clenched her fists, counting the seconds that passed. She couldn’t hear what the guard in the little guard station said.

The snooty guard finally sighed and turned. “Fine. Go through. Kevan will take you to see her royal highness.”

Mattie gasped as the strong wooden gate was pulled open. “Mal– Mallantha– she’s royalty? You didn’t say!”

Rowena shook her head. “I think he’s just being a jerk.” But she was so relieved that the man hadn’t even checked their Sigils that she simply walked through the open gate quickly and let out a small sigh of relief.

She steeled herself to meet this Kevan who would take them to Mallantha, expecting another lazy, insufferable man. Instead, she was greeted by a rather short, fairly plump young man who couldn’t be more than a few years older than they were.

His face was flushed underneath his helmet, and he stammered slightly as he greeted them with enthusiasm. “H-hello there! I’m Kevan, K-kevan Shield– I see we have another S-shield here, too!” he beamed as he saw Sorel’s Sigil.

Sorel smiled in spite of herself, and Rowena couldn’t help but join her. The young Shield was bumbling, but he was one of the only people they’d met recently who was kind for its own sake, not because it was his job or he had some ulterior motive.

“Heyo, Kevan. Thanks for the tour,” Kieran said gallantly before the young man could peer any closer at the rest of their Sigils. His and Rowena’s were carefully covered, of course, though Kieran had protested when Rowena had insisted upon that. Mattie and Sorel had perfectly normal and respectable Classes and Subclasses, and they did not– or at least, she’d allowed, Kieran’s may have been respectable but it was unusual. Or, special to use a word Kieran preferred.

“I– well, you’re w-welcome,” Kevan beamed. “Is this your first time in the c-city?”

Rowena caught a glimpse of the other guard’s exasperated face before the gates swung shut behind them. Was that a hint of relief, as well? She gave a small smile– Kevan did seem rather chatty, which probably got annoying over the many hours at a boring post. He and Kieran were a perfect match, then.

Mattie piped up, “Is Mallantha Enchanter– is she royalty?” she looked a little nervous, smoothing her clothes as though she’d just fully realized how inappropriate they were to meet anyone higher ranking than Kevan.

Kevan’s face screwed up in a frown. “Do you mind if I remove my h-helmet? Only don’t tell anyone, I’m not supposed t-to. Trainee rules and all that… But even this late in the year it’s h-hot!”

Before anyone could respond, he had done so, and tucked the leather-skinned helmet– almost more of a cap, really– under his arm. “That’s b-better! Lady Mal… s-she’s like a c-cousin to the k-king or… I don’t really know. N-not royalty, b-but n-nobles are nobles, am I right?”

“So right,” Kieran affirmed, looking at Rowena with a shrug. He walked ahead a little bit with Kevan, asking him questions about the buildings as they made their way into the inner city.

They walked along a broad avenue paved with the white stone. Rowena wondered what it took to keep it such a gleaming, clean surface– it made the huge trees that lined the street shocking in their color, vibrant reds and oranges now that autumn was well under way. Although there were more people here than Rowena had ever seen, bustling about their business in the late morning light, there were fewer relative to the size and space of the inner city.

“What have we gotten ourselves into?” Mattie asked softly. Sorel put a hand on her shoulder.

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“You’ve gotten yourselves into nothing,” Rowena replied. “You just– you traveled with me. With us. But just focus on getting into the University. Tommie isn’t your problem.”

Mattie’s golden red eyes flashed. “Don’t say that, Ro. We’re in this together. Justice must be served. Just because we’re from Tunehlan… well, it doesn’t mean someone can just come and do something like that.”

Sorel grunted lightly, almost a laugh.

“What?” Mattie asked, cocking her head.

“Rich people do whatever they want all the time,” Sorel replied. Her voice wasn’t bitter or resentful, just knowing. Mattie frowned in response, her brow furrowed in what looked like concern.

Rowena supposed that the Farming families did often have to put up with a lot from the more respected Merchant Classes.

There were many streets leading away from the main avenue and those branched off into yet more alleys, streets, and paths, but they stayed on the main walk, heading to the University in the center. Rowena had never seen such a broad and straight avenue, and swallowed. It was impressive, to say the least. Despite the lack of much greenery other than the trees, she found herself feeling comfortable in this space– the stone walls felt secure and grounded, and she felt anchored and enclosed— she felt safe in a way that she really hadn’t since they’d left Tunehlan. She let out a small sigh of relief and allowed herself this small enjoyment. She supposed she was a city person at heart.

After several minutes of walking, Rowena was finally able to see their destination and stopped in her tracks, her breath caught.

My University! Cuth said in triumph. The greatest in the known world.

“Do you remember anything else?” Rowena asked, taking in the sight. It was a massive keep with towers on each corner and one giant one in the center that rose up to become the highest point in the entire city. The effect was blinding as once again everything was made of the strange white stone.

“About what?” Mattie replied, sounding almost breathless. She looked at Rowena curiously for a brief moment before turning her attention back to the majestic sight ahead of them.

“Nothing,” Rowena said quickly, cursing herself for being so thoughtless as to respond to Cuth out loud. She wasn’t quite ready to share his existence with them, for some reason– shame? Fear? “I meant, what can you tell us about the University?”

“I’ve always wanted to come here,” Mattie said softly as they began walking again. “It was founded hundreds and hundreds of years ago, maybe thousands. Originally it was only the central tower, and then they added the outer keep later. The city grew around it– it has always been a center of… well, of magic. They say it pre-dates the Class system.”

“Nonsense,” Sorel snorted. “Nothing ‘pre-dates’ the Class system. That’s like saying something pre-dates jumping, or breathing.”

Mattie shrugged and tucked a copper lock behind her ear. “I’m just telling you what I read. Maybe they meant our language around it, or something. And anyway, last week I would have told you there are no wyverns in the world anymore.”

Sorel frowned. “Fair enough,” she said, but she didn’t look convinced.

As they grew closer to the keep, Kevan paused in his incessant chattering at Kieran to pull his helmet back on again, presumably to avoid being caught out by a superior guard at the University. “We’re almost th-there!” he called back to the rest of them.

“We could tell,” Sorel replied, and Kevan blushed slightly.

Rowena swallowed and tried to organize her thoughts. Mallantha had seemed eager to help them, but if anything, that made her slightly suspicious. Why would a noble woman care what happened to them? To Sorel’s point, the wealthy rarely troubled themselves with the troubles of others. Rowena was no fool– she may have been a respected shopkeeper in her own town despite her age, but here she was no one.

The full realization of that dawned and grew, stifling the relief and pleasure she’d felt at walking through the beautiful city.

Who was she, to show up in this grand place and demand justice? Her breathing began to come in short, rapid pants.

Shut it down, Cuth snapped sternly. Breath deep– in, and out. You’re not no one here– you have me.

And who are you? she thought back, but followed his instructions and controlled her breath.

I– I don’t know exactly, but I think we’ll find out here, Cuth said with a touch of excitement. And who I am doesn’t matter. What I am does– and what I am is a creature of this place. This is my home. This is my element. I’ll get you through this.

“You okay, Ro?” Kieran called out, and she realized that the rest of the group had moved on toward the open gates at the front of the University keep.

“Fine. Coming,” she said with a shake of her head, and trotted forward to keep up.

“-- for Lady M-mallantha Enchanter–” Kevan was saying to another guard, a man with massive, toned muscles underneath his tanned skin.

This guard was wearing even less armor than Kevan and the other guard at the inner city gate had been wearing, just a leather shirt with a simple red stripe on the shoulder and no helmet at all, but he moved with an ease and grace that reminded Rowena of Sorel’s own natural ease in her own body. Rowena supposed that the guards needed less armor here than at either the inner city gates or outer city gates, though this man was clearly more competent than any of the other guards they’d met so far.

“I h-have to leave you here,” Kevan said almost apologetically as he turned toward them all. “I-it was really n-nice to meet you.”

“Report back to your post, Guardsman,” the University guard said sternly, but not unkindly.

“O-of course, C-commander,” Kevan bobbed his head and turned quickly, making his way back down the broad white avenue.

“So you’re joining Mal for luncheon?” The man said skeptically, looking them up and down. “I’ll need you to register over here.” There was a small room built into the keep wall, more of an office than a guard room, really. A huge ledger lay on a small wooden desk.

“Register?” Rowena said, a touch of nerves in her voice.

“Name, Class, Subclass. Standard procedure,” the man replied. He had dark hair and thick eyebrows that dominated his stern face.

“Now, now, surely we can dispense with all of that bureaucratic nonsense, Roderick?” A familiar voice floated over breezily, and a moment later Mal appeared.

Rowena looked at her in surprise. The night before the woman had been dressed as if for subterfuge and action, in tights and the same cloak that Damon had worn on the fateful night Rowena had met him. Now, Mal wore a light, cream colored dress that would have been shapeless if it weren’t for the thick, rope-like green belt she wore wrapped around her waist. The cloak was nowhere to be found, and Mal looked for all the world like any of the other students they’d seen bustling around the city, though Rowena could clearly tell that her dress was of an impeccably fine cloth and tailoring despite its simplicity.

“No, we cannot,” the guard, Roderick, replied with stern simplicity as he cracked open the large ledger.

Mal frowned. “These four are my guests. They’re not registering for the University.”

“Even more reason to record their presence,” Roderick replied. “Now. You.” He pointed at Mattie.

It was clear that this refusal to go along with her demands did not please Mallantha in the slightest, Rowena noted, but the woman pursed her lips, and stepped back. “I’m just trying to save you the trouble,” she said with a sigh. Was that an emphasis on the word trouble?

“Don’t bother,” Roderick said as he inspected Mattie’s arm and carefully wrote down her Sigils. “It’s my job. What’s your name?”

“Mattie,” Mattie said hesitantly, looking briefly at Mallantha, who gestured that she should proceed. “Mattie of Tunehlan.”

Sorel went next, and then Kieran. Rowena thought she saw a flash of something– curiosity? surprise?-- as Roderick wrote down Kieran’s unusual Subclass, and chewed her lip. What would a guard say of her own Class and Subclass?

Rowena thought for a moment about refusing, about running away, but she couldn’t do that. Not now that she was so close to her goal. She reminded herself that she was a guest of Mallantha– surely she wasn’t the only ROGUE to have come to the University?

With a quick gesture, she pulled her arm wrap down and looked away as Roderick peered at it, waiting for a comment or questioning to commence. Instead, he simply asked, “Name?”

“Rowena of Tunehlan,” she said quickly, and met his eyes with a look of gratitude.

He did not respond with kindness nor curiosity nor censure. The man simply wrote down her Name, Class, and Subclass, and then slammed the ledger book shut again. “You can enter the University now, under Mallantha Enchanter’s supervision. Don’t leave without stopping by here again to sign out, and make sure you sign out before dark.”

“Well, thank you for that,” Mal said with an exaggerated drawl. “I know we all sleep so well in our beds knowing that Commander Roderick Shield is protecting us.”

“Speaking of signing out, Mallantha Enchanter,” Roderick said, stony-faced, “the next time you leave after hours without permission, I’m taking it up with the Provost.”

“Like he’ll care,” Mal said flippantly, and ushered the four of them through the gate and into the courtyard. Once Roderick was out of earshot, she hissed, “Damn, how did he find out?”

Rowena looked around at the large, circular courtyard covered in bright green grass. Straight paths across it formed an X, with a large and impressive waterfall in the center. She’d have said it was a fountain, but she couldn’t see any stone at all– just an eternally flowing waterfall that started about twenty feet up in the air but seemed to make no sound at all.

Mallantha shook her head and then turned to look at them all with a pleasant expression. “Alright. Are you ready to meet the Provost?”