Trial By Fire (Schooled in Magic Book 7) by Christopher Nuttall Page B

back and hold your hands behind your back.”
    Emily flushed, but did as she was told. Sergeant Harkin had told her how to stand properly, but she’d slipped after going to Mountaintop and then desperately working to complete Third Year with her friends. Mountaintop...another shiver ran down her spine as she recalled that Master Grey had graduated from Mountaintop, the school she’d turned upside down. He had more than one reason to hate her.
    “Your posture isn’t bad, but it’s too tight,” Master Grey said, turning his cold gaze to Aloha. “Relax slightly, very slightly.”
    He watched her for a long moment, then turned his gaze back to Emily. “It has been a month since we last spoke,” he said. “Do you recall what I said?”
    Emily nodded, looking down at the floor.
    “Look me in the eye,” Master Gray ordered. “Do you recall what I said?”
    “Yes, sir,” Emily said. It was easier to look at the Gorgon, snakes and all, than it was to raise her eyes to meet Master Grey’s. “I remember what you said.”
    “Good,” Master Grey said.
    He clasped his hands behind him, never taking his eyes off her face. “The two of you are in an odd position, as you should be able to understand for yourself,” he said. “On one hand, you have passed both years of Martial Magic at Whitehall; on the other, you need more experience - and to graduate - before you can take up an apprenticeship.”
    “The Grandmaster said that,” Emily said.
    Master Grey scowled at her. “One demerit for interrupting me,” he snapped.
    Emily blinked. A demerit ?
    “I will therefore be concentrating on building up the military and self-defense skills you both need,” Master Grey continued, resuming his speech. “You will be taught some skills which are rarely taught outside apprenticeships, but you will also be introduced to concepts that are not covered in your selected classes, purely because of their military value. And you will be doing a great deal of physical exercise.”
    He paused, then went on in a decidedly nasty tone of voice. “Each demerit will be paid for, young ladies, with an hour of physical exercise,” he informed them. “I expect each demerit to be worked off within the next few days. Should you build up five demerits without paying them off, there will be a harsher punishment in store. I was intending to explain this to you later, but as one of you has already managed to earn a demerit...”
    Emily flushed, looking back down at the floor.
    “Look me in the eye, Lady Emily,” Master Grey repeated, tartly. “You must learn to present yourself as a confident person, no matter what you’re feeling inside. Far too many little tragedies might have been avoided if the victim had looked able and willing to defend herself.”
    He’d read the reports, Emily realized, and probably her school records too. Lady Barb had made the same observation, the day after Hodge had tried to rape her. If she’d looked more confident, she’d told Emily, Hodge might have known better than to try to attack her - or anyone. And maybe the Ashworths and Ashfalls would have thought better of allowing themselves to come to the brink of open war in her territory.
    And if he’d read her school records, she wondered, what else did he know about her?
    Master Grey peered at her, then stepped backwards. “You will report to the Armory after lunch on Tuesday and Thursday,” he added, coldly. “I will not accept any excuses for lateness; if you happen to be in a sickbed, bring that sickbed with you. Do you understand me?”
    “Yes, sir,” Aloha said.
    Emily echoed her a moment later. Her friend seemed almost enchanted...but then, Aloha had always thrived on challenges. Master Grey might come across as a bloody-minded asshole to her, yet he was also someone at the top of his game, someone who could actually teach her how to expand her skills. Emily understood...but she also wished it had been someone - anyone - else. She had the nasty