Arcturus was expecting them to lead him up one of the winding staircases when they left the dining hall, but instead they only took a few steps out into the atrium, where the others stopped and began to talk among themselves. It was very dark in the room, for one of the servants had put out the torches. The only source of light came from the dining hall behind them, and a broad column of light from the glass dome embedded in the atrium's ceiling.

As he wondered at the darkness of the room, the other students pointed their fingers into the air, releasing balls of strange blue light that floated around the room, drifting this way and that as if they had a life of their own. They cast a dull cobalt glow in the darkness of the atrium, shifting the shadows and illuminating the gloomy cavern above their heads.

It was the first time Arcturus had seen a spell, and he stared wide-eyed as the strange blue lights glided around the darkness like fireflies. He stared at his own fingers, wondering if he would ever be capable of creating such wonders. Sarcharissa whined, frustrated at his lack of attention. He tore his eyes away from the spectacle and put his hands to better use.

"What happens now? Shouldn't we be getting to the lesson?" Arcturus asked, rubbing Sacharissa's head.

"This is where all the spellcraft lessons are," Elaine replied, crouching in front of Sacharissa and examining her with unashamed interest. "I love her eyes, they're so blue! Can I pet her?" she asked, reaching out a hand.

"Elaine!" Fergus snapped, jerking her away. "You know you're not supposed to touch another person's demon, especially if it's a boy's!"

"Why not?" Arcturus asked, wide eyed.

"It would be ... unbecoming," Fergus said, his face reddening. Even as he said it, Arcturus could feel the waves of pleasure from Sacharissa as he scratched her between the ears. Fergus was right. It would be ... strange ... if Elaine was to do the same.

"Sorry ..." Elaine said, kicking the ground with the toe of her boots.

"Cheer up, I'm only looking out for you. You're far too young and even if you weren't, well ... it's a commoner's demon." Fergus frowned. "No offense," he added hastily.

Now it was Arcturus's turn to redden.

"None taken," he replied, though his insides seethed with anger. He had no interest in the little girl, she was only about thirteen after all, and romance was the last thing on his mind. Still, it hurt. His ineligibility as a suitor did not need to be pointed out so bluntly.

"Why don't you play with Valens. You only got him yesterday," Edmund interrupted, strolling over from the others and giving Arcturus a sympathetic smile.

"I thought we weren't allowed to have our demons out, unless it was a lesson," Elaine said, sticking out her bottom lip.

"Well, the teacher's late, but the lesson's started. I'm sure they won't mind, whoever they are," Edmund replied.

She looked to Fergus for permission, who rolled his eyes before giving her an exasperated nod.

"Brilliant!" she grinned, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a Mite, half the size of Obadiah's Rubeus and brown as an autumn leaf, yet clearly of the same species.

"Hey, you're supposed to have him infused, not just out of sight!" Fergus remonstrated.

"What's the point of having the smallest demon here if I can't hide him in my pocket? Come on Valens, let's practice hunting!" Elaine giggled, letting the demon fly from her palm to hover in front of her face.

Arcturus couldn't help but smile as the impudent girl capered around the room, leaping and dodging as she and her Mite, Valens, played a strange game of tag.

As she neared the front doors, they blasted open and swung against the stone walls, sending Elaine scurrying back to the others.

For a moment Arcturus's heart leaped when he saw a Peryton outlined against the harsh light from outside, but his joy was short lived as he recognized the icy beauty who sat astride it.

"Oh, no," Arcturus muttered, shuffling behind Fergus and Edmund.

Lady Faversham clopped into the room, her back ramrod-straight as she surveyed the students. She dismounted, before slapping her Peryton's rump, sending it swooping back out of the front doors in a thunder of beating wings.

"So many familiar faces. It brings me such joy to see you all again," Lady Faversham said, though her cold eyes showed only disdain as they skipped over Arcturus and the Lovetts.

"Aunt Ophelia," Prince Harold said, walking over and shaking her hand. "I had no idea you would be our replacement! Welcome to Vocans."

Arcturus felt a growing fear as he realized that the prince had called Lady Faversham his aunt, which meant she was closely related to the king. He knew it was only the king's curiosity that kept him safe. If she were able to convince him otherwise, Arcturus was as good as dead.

"I'm not your only teacher, Harold. I have brought an assistant teacher, Captain Elizabeth Cavendish. The silly girl has managed to get herself pregnant by a common servant, so she might as well make herself useful. She can teach the youngster," she nodded at Elaine, "and the commoner. The rest of you are already far too advanced, so we will focus on the four battle spells of shield, lightning, fire, and telekinesis in my classes. Please stand in a line over there."

"Golly, she's something," Arcturus heard Edmund whisper as they hurried to do her bidding. "She's not even unpacked and she's already getting started."

A second Peryton swooped through the front doors, wheeling around the atrium before landing with a clatter of hooves beside Lady Faversham. Elizabeth grinned at Arcturus, before dismounting and sending Hubertus out again with a click of her tongue.

"Elizabeth, take the little one and the common boy to the summoning room and teach them the basics. I shall remain with the older students."

"I'm not a little one," Elaine pouted, scowling at Lady Faversham. "I'm thirteen years old. Me and Arcturus should stay!"

The noblewoman's nostrils flared, but before she could respond, Elizabeth swiftly took Elaine by the arm and led her through a set of heavy doors a few steps away. Clearly, Lady Faversham did not take kindly to being contradicted.

"You too," she snapped, clicking her fingers at Arcturus. "And infuse your demon while you're at it. Don't you know you're not allowed your demon out other than in your room and in lessons. If I catch you again, I'll have you sent to the punishment room to think about what you've done.

"I don't know how to infuse my demon yet," Arcturus replied matter of factly, "and the bedroom I've been given is the punishment room."

Lady Faversham's eyes narrowed and she took a step toward him. Arcturus met her gaze as calmly as he could, though his heart thundered in his chest. Sacharissa bumped her side against his thigh, but he calmed her with a thought before she could let out a growl.

"I don't like your tone, boy," she snarled, jabbing her finger at him. "You will call me Ma'am when you speak to me. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Should I go now, Ma'am? I wouldn't want to keep Captain Cavendish waiting, Ma'am." He didn't know why he was antagonizing her. It could only do him harm, for she held all the power and he had none.

"Get out," she hissed, pointing at the door, "and take that stinking mongrel with you."

Arcturus hurried to the summoning room, his courage suddenly failing him. He had been very stupid, to speak to her that way. But it had felt good to fight back. Give as good as you get, that was what Elizabeth had told him.

As he and Sacharissa passed by Lady Faversham, she darted forward and drew him close, so he could feel her hot breath on his ear.

"The king's curiosity will only last so long," Lady Faversham whispered. "When it does, I'll have the skin whipped from your hide, and more besides."

Arcturus tore himself away, trying to stop himself from sprinting out of the room.

"See you later, dog breath!" Rook called after him.

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Thanks for reading Chapter 8! I really don't like Lady Faversham...did Arcturus just make a huge mistake?

Did you know that ORIGINS continues with a full novel called THE OUTCAST? You can read ALL of Arcturus's story in May, 2018, coming to a store near you or available online in all the usual places! 

The sequel to this book, THE NOVICE, is out RIGHT NOW all over the world! You can pick one up in most bookstores including Barnes and Noble and Waterstones. It's also available online on Amazon, Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Nook and Google Play, to name but a few!