is the question! But I believe the Beast recognizes something in their would-be Keeper. They see someone else of their kind. Of their Lore. Of the wilds.
A hush fell over the room as Runa entered, and Barclay tore himself away from his book. As always, Runa’s long blond hair was tightly braided, and she walked like a soldier, menacing, nimble, ready to strike. Even Barclay, who had little in common with the other students, was eager to hear what she had to say.
“Many of you already know who I am,” she began, taking a seat on her usual leather armchair by the fireplace. “My name is Runa Rasgar, though some refer to me as the Fang of Dusk. As many of you also know, it’s the power of the Legendary Beasts that keeps the other Beasts within their Wilderland. But that power is imperfect, and it often slips. I consider it my job to protect the world from the most vicious of Beasts, because not all Beasts are useful or cute or friendly. Some Beasts are dangerous. Some Beasts aren’t meant to be tamed.”
At her first pause, someone took advantage of her silence and shouted out, “Could you tell us more about Dooling? What was it like to be champion for six—”
“After my apprenticeship ended, I spent some time as a Dooler, so that I could meet Keepers and Beasts from all over the world. I won champion six years in a row.”
Beside Barclay, Abel let out a huff. “There’s a lot of people full of themselves around here, don’t you think?”
“I thought Runa was your top choice,” Barclay hissed.
He and Ethel both shrugged. Barclay wanted to ask more about their change of heart when another student spoke up.
“But if you could tell us more about—”
“There’s nothing more to say. I won’t be competing in the Dooling tournament this year,” Runa said sharply. “As I’ve decided to take on apprentices instead.”
The room quieted, realizing that offending Runa could ruin their chances of becoming her student. Barclay wondered why Runa wouldn’t share more about the sport that had made her so famous—it was obviously what all the students wanted to hear about. Maybe her memories of Dooling had been bad ones. Maybe that was how she had gotten that scar.
This time someone raised their hand, rather than shouting. “What was it like to be apprenticed to the Grand Keeper?”
Barclay elbowed Ethel in the side. “Runa was Viola’s father’s apprentice?” he asked.
“Well, yeah,” she said. “Didn’t you know that? So was Cyril Harlow, who’s also a Guardian Keeper.”
No wonder Viola had been nervous to go talk to Runa the first time they met.
Runa didn’t seem to like this question any more than the last. “I learned a lot,” she said, and left it at that.
When she didn’t continue, the same person pressed, “But… Is that when you met the Horn of Dawn? Maybe you could—”
“I don’t wish to elaborate on my relationship with Cyril Harlow. Any other questions?”
Barclay didn’t know a lot about Guardian Keepers, and with Runa refusing to answer anything, he doubted he’d know any more after this presentation ended. What was the point of giving a lecture if she refused to speak?
“Soren Reiker said you used to know Conley Murdock, that you all worked together studying Lochmordra—”
“He told you that?” Runa growled, looking up with a fire in her glare. A hush descended over the students.
The girl who’d spoken seemed to shrink several inches. “I… Yes. That’s what he said after the first exam. I don’t… I mean…”
Runa’s gaze traveled over the room, as though she was looking for someone. Each of the students straightened, hoping her eyes fell on them, but she didn’t seem to find who she was searching for. Then she grimaced and stood up. “You’re all dismissed.”
And she walked out the front door.
Almost no one moved. “Do you think she’ll be back?” someone asked.
“No. What do you think ‘dismissed’ means?”
“I wanted her to sign my champion card!”
While the students at last filed out, Abel asked, “Am I the only one who found that a bit strange?”
Ethel’s brown eyes narrowed shrewdly. “It sounded like she had something to hide.”
Barclay agreed that the lecture was strange and her leaving abrupt, but he couldn’t help but feel loyal to Runa. She was the only person who hadn’t laughed at him when he told her he’d bonded with a Lufthund. She was the only one who could help him get back home.
“Something to hide?” Barclay repeated. “I thought you