The walk up each step to the third floor filled James with dread, his foot falling heavier and heavier. The polished floors were clean enough that he could see his reflection in the shining wood. Reflexively, James tightened his hold on the bag of horseshoes.


    I do not want to be here. I do not want to see him.


    But each step took him closer and closer to the Master’s study. James passed portraits of the Master, of the few graduates the Master was proud of, his accomplishments. The feeling of dread grew like a rock in his stomach, heavier and larger with each passing moment. The joy of the morning and the glimpse of a new life felt so far away.


    I was so ready to give this up, to accept what Ser Edwin was offering. Is there something wrong with me?


    James reached the first set of large double doors into the study. He just stood there, doubt and fear locking his knees and gluing his feet to the ground. The carved owl of the knocker taunted him, judged him. James knew he could not leave until he had at least dropped off the horseshoes, but even knowing that was not enough to push him through the door. With a deep breath, he summoned all his courage and pushed the door open.


    The study was well lit. Large bay windows dominated the west wall and poured light into the room that took up nearly half of the second floor. Most people were astonished at the Master’s study. The floor-to-ceiling bookshelves required ladders to reach the uppermost sections. Small owl coves built into the shelves held small tables and cushioned chairs for reading or studying. None were occupied at the moment, and James got the distinct feeling they had been cleared out for this meeting.


    The Master stood, arms crossed, staring out the middlemost of the five windows. The Master’s blue coat was thrown open, its tails waving in the breeze.


    James slowly approached, setting down the bag of horseshoes on the large desk that dominated the middle of the enormous room.


    The Master turned at the sound. He scowled, his blue-green eyes alight with anger. Seeing it was James, he visibly relaxed and ran his fingers through his blond hair.


    “James, please sit. We have lots of things to discuss.” The Master gestured to the empty seat.


    “Thank you, sir, but Ser Edwin said I really must be getting back quickly. There is, uh, more work that needs doing.” James shuffled his feet, unable to meet the Master’s eyes.


    “You are lying, James.” The Master walked around the desk, placing a firm hand on James'' shoulder. “I do not like it when the children lie.”


    “I am not. I must be going.” James did not look at the Master.


    I am finally free. He just wants me to stay, to go to the Emperium like all the others.


    “You should continue your lessons here. Ser Edwin cannot prepare you the way you need. The way the Emperium needs. Do you not want to help, to protect your brothers and sisters? I see the Dark ahead—it is coming for us all.”The Master’s hand grabbed James'' face and turned it up toward him. His eyes were cold, like looking into a deep lake.“You know I brought you all here, clothed and sheltered you, fed and taught you. In doing so, I have protected you from the cruelty of the Wyld Lands and the creatures that live there.”


    “I must go, sir. Please let me leave. Ser Edwin will worry.”James tried to pull away, but the Master’s fingers were locked tight around his face. The dark center of the Master''s eye bored into James.


    After a few painful minutes of silence, the Master released James’ face, throwing him back. James stumbled and grabbed at the desk to steady himself.


    “Be gone, you ungrateful child. You will not be welcome back. I suggest you say your goodbyes.”The Master turned back to the open window, folding his arms once more.


    James rushed from the room, tears stinging his eyes. He could not tell who he ran past; the uniforms blurred together. He slipped more than once on the slick floors, only barely managing to catch himself. He could hear the whispers as he ran.


    “Is that James? Where is he going? I heard the Master expelled him.”


    “James! Stop! I not keeping up with ya. You always be fasta den me!”Max’s voice was frantic and breathless. It cut through the pain in James'' chest.


    James was outside the door to his old dormitory. His frantic run had taken him down the path it remembered, even if he did not. He shared the space with the other older boys. A few were sprawled on their beds. Some stood or sat, going about the business of the day. He walked slowly down the aisle to where he had spent most of his life and flopped onto his old bed.


    “Er, you okay?” Max said, sitting down next to James. “Master bit much, ya? It we do fine. We survive. Annie like he hit ya dis time.”


    “He did not have to, Max. He threw me out.”James held the tears back, but his voice cracked all the same.“I will not be here to cover for you.”


    “Dontcha worry ''bout me, I be fine. In six months, I be outta dis place anyways. Emperium gonna come through and snatch us screwups up, ya know.”Max stood up and kicked James'' boot, extending a hand to help him up.“Whatcha say we go say a proper bye to the littles? Think dey will miss you da most.”


    “You''re probably right,” James said, taking Max''s hand. “Maybe Ser Edwin or Miss Silvia can take you in. Before the Emperium.”


    “Ser Edwin only ever takes one apprentice, and that’s you. I ain’t got da witch''s magic. Master woulda seen to that.”Max pulled James to his feet.“True enough, I guess. Imma still ask them.”


    Stolen novel; please report.


    The walk to the area where the littles were learning was not far from the dorms. James always found the small room comforting, with its bright colors and simple shapes. There were only two littles at the moment—a small boy named Luke and his twin, Maria.


    “JayJay! JayJay!”


    They screamed as he walked into the room. No older than three, the two threw their little arms around James'' legs. He bent to grab each of them in a hug.


    Max snuck inside during the commotion and knelt next to Luke.“I got somtin'' for you and your sister, but don’t let Miss Abby see.” Max pulled two sugar cubes from his pocket and handed them to the twins. The grins they gave Max lit up their whole little faces, and James and Max laughed.


    “Don’t ya be giving those two more sugar, Maximus. They are already hard enough to be getting to sleep now.”Miss Abby smacked the back of Max''s head, having seemingly appeared from thin air.“James, dear, give me a hug.”


    “Heya, Miss Abby.”James stood, the littles still twined around his legs, and gave Miss Abby a hug.“I will be leaving today, won’t be able to come around anymore.”


    “So I heard. Good on you, lad, for getting out of here. The Master does what he can, but it not be for everyone.”She held him tight for a moment longer than what was proper before pulling away. Still holding onto his shoulder, she gave him an up and down, dusting off his shirt.“Ser Edwin’s already putting ya to work. Good for him. A little honest work would be good for ya.”


    “He is. There''s something to making something from nothing, ya know.”James grinned.


    “Can’t say that I do, but I know you boys, and that seems just like the thing you be needing. Come here, you two.”Miss Abby picked up the littles, carrying one on each hip to the cribs at the side of the room.“It be time for your naps.”


    “Naps aren’t for an hour,” Max said, checking the cuckoo clock on the wall.


    “Naps be now, Maximus, so you both best be going.”She pulled a wooden spoon from her apron. The gulp of panic Max let out signaled that it was time to leave. Miss Abby gave them both one more hug.


    “Be safe out there, lad. May the Mother watch over you.”They walked in silence down to the first floor and out the side entrance before either said a word. The gates loomed up ahead, and Max kicked at the dirt.


    “I see ya tomorrow. Master can’t keep all the doors locked.”Max’s voice was hopeful, but his head was down, his shaggy hair hanging in his face.


    “I don’t know about that, Max. Ser Edwin will probably have me working sunup to sundown.”James kicked at a dirt clod, not wanting to meet his friend''s eyes.“I am sure I will see you, though.”


    “You will see me tomorrow.”Max''s words were more confident. He grabbed James by the shoulder just inside the gate.


    “Promise me!”James met Max’s eyes, his own face mirroring the goofy grin the other boy was sporting.


    “Okay, fine. I will see you tomorrow,” he said, grabbing hold of his friend and squeezing tight.


    ***


    Ser Edwin was waiting for James. His arms crossed and hammer in hand. The older man’s face relaxed with relief at the sight of James kicking a rock down the road. Ser Edwin walked to James and placed his hand on his shoulder. The light was low and cast Ser Edwin’s shadow large against the forge.


    “Good work, boy, thought you got lost or something happened to you. Was about to come looking. Meal’s on the table.” With a pat on the back, he pushed James towards the house. “I’m glad you''re back.”


    “I’m sorry, Sir. The Master he…”


    “None of that now! Food ain’t getting any warmer, I put it on the hearth to keep it warm.” Ser Edwin didn’t wait for James and pushed into the house. James was taken aback by the kindness once more, as he slowly followed the older man. True to his word, there was a plate warming on the stone hearth. Mashed potatoes, a green leaf-shaped vegetable James hadn’t seen before, and a whole sausage. James’s stomach growled at the feast before him. Ser Edwin let out a bark of a laugh, and James nearly jumped from his skin. Ser Edwin pulled another sausage from the fire, this one still popping and sizzling, and placed it atop James’s potatoes. The smell of which sent James’s stomach growling once more.


    James watched as Edwin cut a new sausage from where they hung and skewered it over the fire.


    “Eat up. We still have your schoolwork that needs doing before bed.”


    “My what?” James said around a mouthful of sausage.


    “Your reading and sums, history too if we have time,” Edwin said, squatting by the fire, slowly rotating the cooking meat. “Your mind is as much a weapon as your body or the sword you wield, boy.”


    James began to wolf down his food, nearly choking. It was all so good.


    “Slow down, boy, it’s not a race.” Ser Edwin pulled his stool closer to the fire to warm his hands.


    “Sorry, sir,” James said around a mouthful of potatoes.“If you didn’t eat fast, someone else would take it off your plate.”


    Ser Edwin simply grunted at that, filling his own plate with a heap of the potatoes, retrieving the sausage from the fire. They ate in silence for a time, James willing himself to eat slowly, to not break the trance Ser Edwin seemed to have fallen into. After what felt to James like an hour, Edwin finished his meal and stood, his eyes not leaving the dancing flames.


    “Okay. Back outside. I’ll light the lanterns.” Edwin moved slowly, grabbing a long coat off the hook by the door and hung up his apron in its place.


    James shoveled the last bites of potatoes into his mouth and followed. The spring cold bit at James’s arms and neck. True to his word, Ser Edwin had lit small lanterns all around the sandpit they had trained in earlier.


    “Sir?” James said, not sure what he was to do, or if he had done something wrong at dinner. “I thought we were to learn maths and things.”


    “We are.” He tossed James the same training-blade from earlier. “But I want you to work through the motions I showed you, while I ask you questions.”


    “Sir?”


    “Do as I said!” Ser Edwin’s words were a bark, his grey eyes fixed hard onto James, who nearly dropped his blade.


    “Yes, sir.” James took what he hoped was the first position.


    “Good. Tell me the sum of five and five, boy.” Ser Edwin circled James, adjusting James’s stance with the tip of his own practice blade.


    “Ten, sir.” James moved to the second position.


    “What is six groups of six?” THWACK, Ser Edwin slapped James’s knee that was bent awkwardly out of position. James let out a small whimper of pain.


    “Um. Thirty-six, sir.” James adjusted his stance to bring his knees more in line with the movement to the third position.


    “Good. Spell your name.”Ser Edwin kicked James’s foot, and he fell to the ground, the wind leaving his lungs and the practice blade falling from his hand. Edwin was over him in a heartbeat. His own practice blade swinging down, James flinched. Something tickled the back of his mind. THWACK. Pain brought him back to the moment.“Spell your name.”


    “J. A. M. E. S. Sir.”There were tears in his eyes and pain radiated up his side from where Ser Edwin had struck him.


    “Good.” Offering him a hand up, Edwin pulled James to his feet.


    “Why…” James cut off the question before he could ask it.


    “Because the movement should become second nature. When we are done, your body should know these movements without any prompting from your mind. So if we can distract your mind, your body will be forced to learn it on its own.”Ser Edwin’s eyes were dark as they locked with James’s.


    “Yes, sir.”Was all James could say, dropping his head. Not sure what Ser Edwin meant.


    “It’s okay, you don’t have to understand. Do the full pattern ten more times before you come in.”Turning, Ser Edwin put his blade away and returned to the house, leaving James to work through what had been said.


    The motions were hard to get right, each one needing control. Swing step, swing step, swing step. James imagined he was fighting a monster from the stories, a ghoul come to take him away to a horrid fate.


    He heard it before he saw it.


    A figure, hunched, hooded, and covered in blood. It reached out a hand with fingers that bent in the wrong directions.


    “James…”