She turned and strode into the castle. Nanette shrugged and followed. Wards crackled around her as she stepped through the door, each one accessing her and her outfit before allowing her to proceed. It wouldn’t be easy to smuggle someone into the castle, particularly if that person happened to be a man. Nanette had met a couple of girls who’d tried to smuggle their boyfriends into the dorms, but it was rare. Mountaintop had plenty of room for young lovers to find privacy, without disturbing anyone else. She was fairly sure a girl could hire a room in the town, if she wished. No one had raised any objection to her hiring a room.
Her eyes looked from side to side, spotting no one. “Where is everyone?”
“Flying lessons.” Penny didn’t unbend, even slightly. “Everyone attends. You’ll be there too, once you master the charms.”
“Flying lessons?” Nanette allowed herself a laugh. “You mean you really ride pitchforks and broomsticks?”
Penny shot her a disgusted look. “You’ll see,” she said, as she stopped in front of a door and tapped loudly. It opened, silently. “Believe me, you’ll see.”
Chapter 3
“Lady Nadine of Hightower,” Lady Damia said. She was a middle-aged woman who would have been pretty, if she hadn’t had a permanent scowl on her face. Her hair was tied into a long braid that seemed to move of its own accord. “Welcome to Laughter.”
“That’s Princess Nadine,” Nanette hissed. She knew it was unwise to bait one of the most powerful women in the world, but she had to stay in character. “I am…”
“The natural-born daughter of a baron,” Lady Damia said, in a tone that suggested she only barely managed to keep herself from saying bastard. “You are no princess. And in this place” — her eyes bored into Nanette’s — “outside titles have little meaning. You are a student; nothing more, nothing less.”
“My father…”
“Your father may call you a princess, if he wishes,” Lady Damia said. “But here you are a student. Your title means nothing.”
Nanette tried to look offended. She was fairly sure that wasn’t true. Magicians might be the social equals of everyone, at least in theory, but she’d spent six years at Mountaintop. She knew there was more deference to aristocratic titles than any of the senior magicians cared to admit. A student from an aristocratic background would be flattered by staff and students alike. And Penny talked like an aristocrat… an aristocrat who was trying too hard. She smirked, inwardly. Lady Damia was either mistaken or simply lying.
“You are old enough to enter fifth year,” Lady Damia continued. “However, as a newcomer to the school, and one who was not taught by one of our former students, you will be required to wear the grey blazer and take remedial classes until we deem you fit to advance to the final year. Should you fail to qualify by the end of the year, you’ll retake fifth year and…”
“I’m a powerful magician,” Nanette insisted. “I can…”
Lady Damia raised a hand. Nanette found herself frozen, unable to move or speak. She could have broken free, but Nadine would have been helplessly trapped. Behind her, she heard a snicker. Penny wasn’t quite as rigid as she acted. Lady Damia shot Penny a sharp look, then turned her attention back to Nanette. Her eyes were very cold.
“You have a lot to learn,” Lady Damia said, coldly. “The spell holding you in place is very simple. Practically any of our students can cast it — and break it, even when it holds them frozen. Your mentor” — she gestured towards Penny — “will teach you the basics, if you behave yourself. If not, I’m sorry to say you will have a very unpleasant time here.”
She studied Nanette for a long moment. “Your mentor, who is also your roommate, will give you your timetable. You will have the same chance to learn as we offer to other students, but what you make of it is up to you. Attend your classes, listen to your teachers, practice your spells… do well. Or waste this opportunity, as you wish. Do you understand me?”
Nanette felt the spell break. “Yes.”
“Good.” Lady Damia nodded to Penny. “Take her to the bedroom and help her to settle in.”
“Yes, Mistress,” Penny said.
“And one other thing?” Lady Damia spoke calmly, but coldly. “Bratty conduct will not be tolerated here. Your father paid us to educate you. He did not pay us to put up with misconduct.”
Nanette forced herself to swallow as Penny caught her arm and pulled her out of the tiny office. She was surprised Lady Damia had been so blunt, even though she didn’t really blame the older woman. Anyone who read the reports would know Nadine would be hard to handle. She wasn’t the sort of person who would listen to gentle hints. Nanette snickered at the thought. Nadine — the real Nadine — would probably get herself kicked out of school within the week.
“I don’t know what you think is funny,” Penny said, as they passed through a door and walked down a flight of stairs. “You’re in hot water.”
“If you say so,” Nanette said, mockingly. “Are you the real Head Girl or are you just pretending?”
Penny stiffened. “I was elected Young Head Girl last year,” she said. “I’ll be Older Head Girl next year.”
“Of course you’ll be older,” Nanette said, as gormlessly as she could. “It’s obvious.”
“Be quiet,” Penny snapped, sharply. She stopped in front of a wooden door. It opened at her touch. “Our home away from home.”
Nanette looked around with interest as Penny led her into the chamber. It was smaller than she’d expected, with two beds, two small bedside cabinets, two simple wooden desks, a single large bookshelf and a door she assumed led to the washroom. The walls were plain stone. She could sense magic flickering through them, magic that might — might — be keeping an eye on the occupants. The trunk sat beside the bed, waiting for her. She made a mental note to test the charms before she opened it for the first time. She’d gone to some trouble to make sure she’d know if someone had tried to open and search Nadine’s trunk.
And they might raise eyebrows when they see the book, she mused. Cloak had been insistent she steal the school’s copy, rather than simply copying the notes. She didn’t understand why, but she was in no place to argue. And what will they think of some of the other things Nadine wanted to bring?
Penny pointed to a bed. “That’s where you’ll sleep,” she said, darkly. “I’m sure it isn’t what you’re used to, but it’s what you’ve got.”
“I need a bigger bed,” Nanette said. She’d actually slept in worse places, but she couldn’t say so. The room reminded her of Whitehall. “And I need it warmer in here…”
“Learn to warm the room yourself,” Penny said, dismissively. “A firstie could cast the spells.”
She went on and on, outlining everything from basic school rules to guidelines that made little sense. Nanette listened with half an ear as she reached out mentally and felt the wards, trying to determine if they were actually spying on the occupants. She’d grown used to a complete lack of privacy at Mountaintop, and she was practiced enough to act normally even when she knew she was being watched, but it was important to know what was really happening. If she had some privacy…