then the storklike man next to him.

And the man with the mutton-chop whiskers.

And the portly man who smelled of snuff.

And the man to his left.

And the man to his left.

And finally, Headmaster Winter.

“A majority,” Headmaster Winter said. “Rohan Mehta is officially pardoned and reinstated as a member of the first-year class.”

Henry and Adam grinned triumphantly.

Headmaster Winter’s eyes twinkled as he said, “Sir Roberts? Can you please send a telegram to Holchester informing Mr. Mehta and his family of the good news?”

And with much good cheer, the hearing came to a close. The members of the board rose from their seats and offered their hands to Henry and Adam in congratulations. The room emptied, until only Lord Havelock, Henry, and Adam remained.

“Are you meaning to stand there all day?” Lord Havelock asked. “Or were you planning to unpack your things in time for supper?”

“Sorry,” Henry murmured, and then, knowing that it had to be said, added, “and thank you, sir.”

“Whatever for?” Lord Havelock asked with an all-too-familiar Havelook of Doom.

“Speaking on our behalf,” Henry said, “and on Rohan’s.”

Henry elbowed Adam.

“Right, thanks,” Adam said.

“There are some things that need not be mentioned,” Lord Havelock said with a significant look at Henry and Adam. “Gratitude, in this case, is one of them.”

Lord Havelock swept out of the room, his master’s gown billowing behind him.

“What was that about?” Adam asked, frowning.

“A bribe,” Henry said, making a face. “Lord Havelock had been helping Sir Frederick to get us kicked out of the academy, remember? But now that Lord Havelock has spoken on our behalf to make things right, we can no longer accuse him of anything without seeming horribly ungrateful. Think about it.”

“You’re right,” Adam said. “The git is blackmailing us.”

“It’s not blackmail,” Henry said with a sigh, “not when both sides benefit. It’s more like … an understanding.”

On the way back to their room, Henry and Adam ran into Valmont coming the other way down the corridor.

“Why haven’t you been at lessons?” Valmont demanded.

Henry shrugged. “We were suspended.”

“Right,” Valmont said. “I heard about the hearing from Theobold. Are you really expelled? For trying to steal from the headmaster’s armory?”

“What?” Henry protested. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I told Theobold I didn’t believe him,” Valmont said, scuffing the toe of his boot into the carpet.

“Well, the board voted, and we’re not expelled,” Henry said.

“Really?” Valmont asked, surprised.

“And Rohan’s coming back,” Adam blurted.

“Congratulations,” Valmont said sourly.

“Listen, mate, can I ask you something?” Adam asked. “Why are you being, well, nice? Nicer than usual, anyhow.”

Valmont scowled. “Uncle Havelock told me to.”

“Oh,” Adam said.

But Henry wasn’t so sure that was the reason. He remembered how Valmont had laid off tormenting them over the past few weeks. How Valmont had nearly stuck up for them at Partisan.

“Just because I’m being nice doesn’t mean I like you,” Valmont said.

“Good, the same goes for us,” Henry said, edging past Valmont in the hallway.

“Chess match tonight?” Valmont called after him.

“Only if you’re prepared to lose,” Henry called back.

When Henry and Adam returned to their room, there was someone waiting for them.

Headmaster Winter stood, hands clasped behind his back, staring out the window. When the door opened, he turned.

“Hello, sir,” Henry said with a frown. “Everything all right?”

“Not really, no,” Headmaster Winter said, looking around for a place to sit and finally giving up. “Viscount DuBeous has been taken to the hospital. He’s covered in bruises, and a fever has made him delirious.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Henry said, nudging Adam, who mumbled his agreement.

“Whatever the viscount saw in the Nordlands,” Headmaster Winter continued, “he has not confirmed evidence of combat training or this room of which you spoke.”

“But it’s true, sir,” Henry said.

“True or not,” Headmaster Winter said with a sad smile, “without proof that the Nordlands have violated the Longsword Treaty, there is nothing we can do at the present time.”

Henry could hardly think, he was so upset with the headmaster’s words. Viscount DuBeous had to have seen something, whether or not he would acknowledge it. Why didn’t the headmaster send someone else to the Nordlands? Of course, Partisan would have removed the evidence, moved their combat training equipment to another part of the castle now that they knew the room had been discovered—but sit and do nothing? Ridiculous.

“So we sit here and wait for them to attack,” Adam muttered.

“There are worse places to sit and wait,” the headmaster said.

“Like reformatory schools?” Henry asked before he could stop himself.

“Ah,” the headmaster said, his smile tightening into a grimace, “that.”

“Frankie doesn’t want to go, in case