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THE IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY OF CARTHAK

The School for Mages

The Lower Acadees

SCHEDULE OF STUDY, AUTUMN TERM, 435 HE

Student: Arram Draper

Learning Level: 10

Breakfast—Third Morning Bell

Morning Classes

History of the Carthaki Empire

Essentials of Water Magic, beginning studies

Language: Old Thak

Lunch—Noon Bell

Afternoon Classes

Mathematics

Essential Earth Magic: Seed and Harvest (First Half Autu)

Reading and Writing

The Tools of Magic: Bowls, Mortar and Pestle, Salt, Water, Vials

Supper—Seventh Afternoon Bell

Extra Study at Need

Arra himself until his belly was bent over the polished stone It was the only way he could get between the two bulky men who blocked his view He kneas risky, but he couldn’t waste his first chance to see the gladiators when they randfather were back at their seats, arguing about new business ventures They weren’t paying attention, waving hi he’d squirmed his way down to the rail instead

Apart from them, he was alone There were no friends fro He was eleven—well, ten, in truth, but he told the his older schoolfellows Still, he wasn’t a baby! If he didn’t see the gaet the chance, and he’d learned only last night he ain for two years, even three Carthak was a costly voyage for Yusaf Draper, and his new venture would take hi, Arram would be able to tell the older students that he had watched the gaht from the arena wall!

Already he’d heard the tru the arrival of the emperor and his heirs He couldn’t see their faces, but surely all the sparkling gold, silver, and gems meant the wearers were part of the imperial family He could see the Grand Crier, who stood on a platform halfway between him and the royals More i voice as he announced the emperor’s many titles and those of his heirs

“Lookit!” The bruiser on Arram’s left bumped him as he pointed north, to the eht have pitched headfirst onto the sands twenty feet below if the ht him by the belt and hauled hi to notice Arram’s near fall, the man on the left went on to say, “There’s the , and her son! She never coames!”

“Who’s the ?” Arram asked “Who’s the son?”

The big rinned at each other over his head “For all you’re a brown boy, you don’t know your imperials,” said the one who had bumped him “Theis Princess Mahira, that was married to Prince Apodan”

“He was killed fightin’ rebels two year back,” the other man said “An’ the boy is Prince Ozorne”