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"He cut my ear twice I had to have it stitched!" I tried to tell her, but she shushed me furiously as the door closed behind her Before her visit, I had been wearily relaxed and ready for sleep Now, despite ue, I could not drift off, even after I blew outsoft bed and listened to the rain hitting theglass and wondered if I was ordinary and boring Eventually I decided that Epiny was too eccentric to even knohat "ordinary" was, and thus I was able to fall asleep

Only my youth, I am sure, made me jolt awake at the cha Unthinking, I bade her co beneath my covers, as she fetched ater and then bundled away reatly unaccusto cared for in such a way, and even after she had left, it took me some little time before I dared venture from my bed, lest she return unannounced When I did, I washed and dressed hastily Habit made me tidy my room, and then I wondered if the maid would thinkmyself Then I became irritated with ht think of an to consider nervously all that ht before Had I had any more time by myself, it is likely I would have worked myself into a fine lather, but luckily for me, another knock at my door summoned me to an early breakfast with my uncle and father

Both were up, shaved, and neatly attired for the day despite our late night I had expected to see s and my uncle made no mention of them The help served us a hearty breakfast of kippers and a rill with tea and toast Sleep had revived my appetite, until my uncle observed, "Eat well, Nevare, for I’ve heard that a young man’s first meal at the Academy is a hurried one I doubt that your noon meal will please you as well as this breakfast does"

At his words, o directly to the Academy today then, Father?"

"We think it best that you do Your uncle has agreed to keep Sirlofty here until such time as you are allowed to have your ownwith a cobbler Sefert recommends, and then I’ll escort you to the Academy You’ll be a day ahead of ive you a chance to settle in before your classmates arrive"

And so it was done Breakfast was scarcely finished before a footman came to announce that e My uncle bade me farewell at the door and advised my father that there was to be an excellent venison roast ild plu to the carriage when Epiny suddenly hastened down the steps after us She was still in a nightgoith a robe flung over it, but now her curling brown hair was loose about her shoulders By daylight, I estier than me Yet she seemed childish when she cried out, "Nevare, Nevare, you cannot leave when you have not even said farewell!"

"Epiny! You are htclothes!" my uncle rebuked her, but there was suppressed mirth in his voice, and from it I suspected that she was her father’s favorite

"But I ood luck, Father! Oh, I told you I should have stayed up last night I knew it! Noe’ve had no ti a reading for him, to foretell his success or failure at the Acade her hands to fra to paint my portrait She narrowed her eyes to slits and said in a hushed voice, "Perhaps I ht you ordinary? Such an aura Such a nificent aura, that I’ve seen on any other or close to your skin, but a second corona of green says you are nature’s child, and a loving son to her-"

"And that sort of nonsense is exactly why you were not allowed to stay up to greet hi, Epiny, and then he irl and her play-pretend nattering delay him on an important day like this" True impatience and perhaps a bit of embarrassment had crept into her father’s voice I stood still as she pattered up tofrom beneath her robe She stood on tiptoes to kiss odspeed "Coularly die of boredoo