The Shadowseeker - Victor Kloss Page 0,20

stepped Dagmar, calmly surveying the scene.

“What do you think you’re doing? Can't you see we're in a meeting?”

Draven's fury was lost on Dagmar.

“You have my apprentice,” she said calmly. “It is 12:53pm and I would hate for him to be late for his first muster.”

“My goodness, you're right,” Wren said, glancing at her watch. “Off you go, Ben. And good luck.”

Ben didn't need telling twice. He turned and headed for the door, enjoying Draven's look of pure frustration.

“I'm going to speak to your director about you, Dagmar. Your behaviour is unacceptable.”

“As you wish,” Dagmar said. She gave a formal nod to Wren and Colin, before exiting the room, Ben hot on her heels.

— Chapter Nine —

A Surprise in the Library

Ben hurried down to the dining hall, where Charlie and Natalie were waiting impatiently. Everyone else had left already, and Ben barely had time to give them an update before Natalie was leading them to the muster room.

“Draven really doesn't like you, does he?” Charlie commented, as they hurried down the hallway, along with a dozen other apprentices. It was clear nobody wanted to be late.

“We're definitely not best friends,” Ben said. “What I don't get is how Dagmar was able to interrupt the directors and take me away.”

“When it comes to the apprentices, she has total authority, and nobody, not even the prince, will cross Dagmar when it comes to that.”

They entered the muster room with only a couple of minutes to spare. The apprentices were already lining up, and Ben noticed they each stood on a coloured square. The floor resembled a chess board, with alternating shades of wood. At the front of the room stood Dagmar, hands behind her back, rod under her arm.

“Highest to lowest rank, from the front right corner to the back left corner,” Natalie said.

Ben saw what she meant. Those with the most colourless diamonds were towards the front. There were a couple of boys and a girl with five colourless diamonds occupying the front right squares. Ben spotted Josh, with three diamonds, near the middle. Natalie, with only two, was nearer the rear. Ben and Charlie went right to the very back. They got a few nods and smiles from apprentices who had spotted them for the first time.

“Jimmy Stroud,” said a cheerful-looking boy thrusting his hand out. He wasn't much taller than Charlie, with a serious case of acne. “You're new, right?”

“First day,” Ben said.

“Ooh, fun,” Jimmy said, giving him a goofy smile. His front two teeth reminded Ben of a rabbit.

A loud dong came from somewhere at the front of the room and the soft chatter stopped immediately.

“Muster,” Dagmar said. Ben couldn't see her at the front of the room, but her voice carried effortlessly.

The name of each apprentice was rattled off and promptly answered. Nobody was absent.

“Very good,” Dagmar said. “I have two announcements to make. First, we have two new apprentices in our ranks: Ben Greenwood and Charlie Hornberger. Please welcome them.”

The apprentices turned and gave them a chorus of greetings. Ben acknowledged them with a smile and a nod; Charlie did the same, with an air of embarrassment.

“I'm sure you all remember how difficult your first days as apprentices were,” Dagmar continued. “It is unlike anything you have done before and fifty percent of those who fail do so within the first week. So please assist Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Hornberger in any way you can.”

Ben heard Charlie shuffle beside him. Those figures were alarming. What’s so difficult about the first week? Ben wondered, with a mixture of anxiety and excitement.

Dagmar continued. “I have been getting reports that certain Twos have been falling behind in Diplomacy. I shall not name names, but you know who you are. This is your first and only warning. I suggest you put more time into that department before it's too late.”

Ben had almost no idea what Dagmar was talking about, but he noticed a few people with two diamonds in the rows ahead shuffle uncomfortably.

There was a sharp clapping noise, which Ben guessed was Dagmar slapping her rod into an open hand.

“Apprentices dismissed. Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Hornberger, please stay behind for your orientation briefing.”

Everyone filed out, with a haste that was probably due to wanting to put distance between themselves and Dagmar.

“Good luck!” Natalie said, squeezing through the departing apprentices to reach them. “You'll do fine. I'll see you in a couple of hours. Meet me by the Institute's entrance at 3pm.”

Ben and Charlie were soon standing alone with Dagmar, who