the day before. The image of the page would not come, so he lay still, terrified, in the dim light.
There was only the quiet light of the moon.
Dawn was a long while away.
Home Again
steady stream of shouts led the way for Danica and the Bouldershoulder brothers as they walked the halls in the southern section of the Edificant Library's second floor. All three com-panions knew the source of the ruckus was Headmaster Avery even before they approached his office, and they knew, too, from whispers that had greeted them on their arrival, that Kierkan Rufo bore the brunt of the verbal assault.
"It is good that you have returned," came a voice to the side. Headmistress Pertelope strode toward the three. She smiled warmly and wore, as had become her norm, a full-length, long-sleeved gown and black gloves. Not an inch of skin peeked out below her neck, and, between the dark robes and the tightly cropped salt-and-pepper hair, her face seemed almost detached, floating in an empty background. "I'd feared you had lost your hearts to Shilmista - something perfectly reasonable," the headmistress said sincerely, with no hint of judgment in her perpetually calm tone.
"Ye're bats!" Ivan snorted, shaking his head vigorously. "An elfish place, and not for me liking."
Pike! kicked him in the shin, and the brothers glared long and hard at each other.
"Shilmista was wonderful," Danica admitted. "Especially when we sent the monsters in full flight. Already it seems as if the shadows have lightened in the elven wood."
Pertelope nodded and flashed her warm smile once more. "You are going to see Avery?" she stated as much as asked.
"It is our duty," Danica replied, "but he does not seem to be in a good mood this day."
"Rufo'd spoil anyone's day, by me reckoning," Ivan put in.
Again Pertelope nodded, and she managed a somewhat strained smile. "Kierkan Rufo's actions in the forest will not be easily forgotten," she explained. "The young priest has much to prove if he wishes to regain the favor of the headmasters, particularly Headmaster Avery."
"Good enough for him!" Ivan snorted.
"Oooi!" Pikel added.
"I've heard that Rufo has already received some punishment," Pertelope continued wryly, looking pointedly at Danica's fist.
Danica unconsciously slipped her guilty hands behind her back. She couldn't deny that she had slugged Rufo, back in the forest when he was complaining about his companions' deficiencies. She also couldn't deny how much she had enjoyed dropping the blustering fool. Her actions had been rash, though, and probably not without consequence.
Pertelope sensed the young woman's discomfort and quickly moved on to a different subject. "When you are done talking with Headmaster Avery," she said to Danica, "do come and see me. We have much to discuss."
Danica knew that Pertelope was speaking of Cadderly, and she wanted to ask a hundred questions of the headmistress then and there. She only nodded, though, and remained silent, conscientious of her duty and knowing that her desires would have to wait.
The perceptive headmistress smiled knowingly and said, "Later," then gave the young woman a wink and walked on.
Danica watched her go, a thousand thoughts of Cadderly following kind Pertelope's every step. Ivan's tapping boot reminded her that she had other considerations, and she reluctantly turned back to the dwarves. "Are you two ready to face Avery?"
Ivan chuckled wickedly. "Not to worry," the dwarf assured her, grabbing her by the arm and leading her to the portly headmaster's office. "If the fat one gets outta line with ye, I'll threaten him with smaller portions at the dinner table. There's a measure of power from being a place's cook!"
Danica couldn't disagree, but that offered little comfort as she neared the door and heard more clearly the level of Avery's rage.
"Excuses!" the headmaster roared. "Always excuses! Why do you refuse to take responsibility for your actions?" "I did not - " they heard Rufo begin meekly, but Avery promptly cut him off.
"You did!" the headmaster cried. "You betrayed them to that wretched imp - and more than once!" There came a pause, then Avery's voice sounded again, more composed. "Your actions after that were somewhat courageous, I will admit," he said, "but they do not excuse you. Do not presume for a moment that you are forgiven. Now, go to your tasks with the knowledge that any transgression, however minor, will cost you dearly!"
The door swung open and a haggard Rufo rushed out, seeming displeased to see Danica and the dwarves. "Surprised?" Ivan asked him with a wide grin. The angular man, tilting