The Buried Symbol (The Ruins of Issalia Book 1) (23 page)

Nindlerod nodded emphatically.
“
Yes. He bet me that I couldn
’
t come up with an invention that would make writing less tedious. He said he would
eat his own shoe
when I had an invention that did so.
”
The man
’
s head bobbed up and down as he cackled.

Brock smiled again. He liked this man.

Nindlerod waved him off.
“
You
’
re done here. Go get some lunch and then return to the admissions office.
”
He turned and walked to a nearby desk, cackling with laughter the whole way.

CHAPTER 35

The bell rang as Brock stepped out of the Foundry. Doors opened, and students poured into the hallway, all flowing the same direction. Like a feather caught in the wind, Brock was swept away with the crowd.

As the mob of students neared the Main Hall, they slowed to funnel through sets of double doors. He followed along, soon realizing he was in the dining hall.

Long rows of tables stretched the length of the hall. Not knowing what else to do, Brock worked his way across the room until he found an open seat. He felt self-conscious in his tan shirt, surrounded by a sea of blue cloaks.

“
Are you following me?
”

Brock stopped surveying the crowd and turned toward the voice. Intense blue eyes stared back at him. He smiled, recognizing the girl who had escorted him to the Foundry.

“
Um
…
no,
”
Brock said.
“
I just kind of ended up here. I was told to get lunch before I return to the admissions office, so I followed everyone and
…
here I am.
”

“
Well, that
’
s okay I guess,
”
she said.

He pulled his hand from beneath the table, extending it toward the girl.
“
We didn
’
t get a formal introduction earlier. I
’
m Brock. And you are
…”

She glared at his hand, as if contemplating her options. Finally, she shook his hand.
“
I
’
m Ashland.
”

“
It
’
s nice to meet you, Ashland.
”

He glanced side to side before asking her a question.

“
Where did you get your food?
”

“
Well, see those students coming out that door?
”
She pointed across the room.
“
Those are the novices. Their job is to serve meals to the upper-level students before they eat.
”

He noticed that the students carrying trays of food wore cloaks that were slightly different. The blue cloaks of the older students had white piping around the edges. The novice cloaks were just solid blue. However, Ashland
’
s cloak had no white piping.

“
What about you? You
’
re a novice too, right?
”

Ashland nodded.
“
I was here early and already served two others before I grabbed my own tray.
”

He leaned back as a student set a wooden tray before him. The wonderful smell of lamb and potatoes wafted up from the plate. As he began eating, Brock glanced toward Ashland, who was focused on her meal. She was quite pretty. Wanting to get to know her better, he decided to ask a question.

“
So, what do you learn in Ecclesiastics?
”

Ashland stopped chewing, her bright eyes flicking to Brock then back down to her plate. She swallowed before responding.

“
I understand that you
’
re applying for admission. Since you
’
re being evaluated, I assume you don
’
t have a writ.
”
She looked serious.
“
If and when you are admitted, I will be happy to answer questions regarding the Academy. However, students are not allowed to divulge what occurs here to outsiders. I
’
m sorry if I sound rude, but my path in life depends on my success here, and I won
’
t risk that for you nor anyone else.
”

She looked down at her plate and resumed eating as if she was alone in the room.

CHAPTER 36

Brock winced at the loud voices coming from Ackerson
’
s office. The thick walls and heavy door muffled the words, making them not quite clear enough to understand. What began as a heated debate seemed to have devolved into an outright shouting match. At least, that
’
s how it sounded from where he sat outside the door.

Suddenly, everything quieted. He leaned closer, straining to hear what was happening. He jumped when the door swung open and Master Pretencia stormed past. Brock could still hear the man
’
s footsteps fading down the hall when Ackerson called out to him.

“
Mr. Talenz, would you please join us?
”

Brock entered the room, closing the door behind him. The other three instructors he had met that morning sat at the table along with the master of admissions.

Ackerson addressed Brock.
“
It appears that you do possess some potential after all. While clearly not a consensus, the majority of the evaluators believe that you would be a welcome addition to our school.
”

Brock scanned the faces in the room. Budakis sat with his bulging arms crossed, giving a firm nod as their eyes met. Varius gave him a warm smile. Nindlerod grinned and nodded, letting a small cackling giggle escape. Brock was stunned, realizing he had somehow won the support of these three masters.

His gaze landed back on Ackerson, who continued speaking.

“
The current school year ends tomorrow, followed by summer break. Please be back with your belongings in thirty days.
”

Seeds of happiness bloomed into a smile on Brock
’
s face. It was happening. Then he thought about Tipper.

“
Sir, what about my servant? Can he stay with me?
”

Ackerson shook his head.
“
Sorry, son. Only students and masters can live at the Academy. Not even spouses of academy instructors are allowed to live here.
”

Realizing there was nothing to do about it, Brock just nodded.

Ackerson stood and opened the door.
“
Congratulations young man. You are now a member of the Academy. What you do with this opportunity is up to you.
”

Brock turned toward the masters at the table.
“
Thank you all so much. You won
’
t be disappointed.
”

Minutes later, he was outside and on the road to Fallbrandt. Whistling as he walked, Brock
’
s spirits were high. Somehow, he had accomplished what had seemed like an impossible dream. Brock the Unchosen was a student at the Academy. It seemed unreal.

Before he knew it, he was back at The Quiet Woman. In the lull between lunch and dinner, James was the only person in the dining room, restocking the shelves behind the bar. He waved and continued with his business.

A high-pitched cry came from a room down the hallway. Brock followed the sound to find Tipper standing with his clothes soaking wet, water all over the floor. Libby was covering her mouth as she laughed. Tipper looked toward Brock, his eyes open wide. Slowly, his face broke into a grin.

“
What happened?
”
Brock asked.

Tipper glanced toward Libby, who was still laughing. His smile widened as he turned back to Brock.

“
Well, I was trying to move a tub, and I guess my hands slipped. I stumbled backwards and fell into the other tub.
”

Libby
’
s laughter calmed.
“
You should
’
ve seen his face when he fell in. His arms were flailing around, splashing water.
”
She laughed again, mirth in her eyes.
“
It was the funniest thing I
’
ve ever seen.
”

Brock smiled. How could he not?

Tipper grabbed a towel and began drying himself.
“
So how did things go at the Academy? Were you able to convince them to accept you?
”

Brock nodded.
“
Yes. You
’
re looking at the newest student of the Academy.
”

Tipper clapped Brock on the shoulder.
“
That
’
s awesome, Brock. Congratulations. When do you start?
”

“
I
’
m to return there in thirty days for the start of the new school year.
”
As Brock said it, he remembered that Tipper wasn
’
t allowed to come with him.

“
Tip, I
’
m sorry but you can
’
t come with me. We need to figure out where you
’
ll stay.
”

Tipper glanced at Libby and then back to Brock.
“
I
’
ve got that figured out already. Dory guessed that might be the case. She said that she could use another set of hands to help around here. She offered me a job, working for room and board.
”

Relieved, Brock smiled.
“
That
’
s great, Tip.
”

Now recovered from her fit of laughter, Libby put her hands on her hips.
“
If you two are done congratulating each other, we have a mess to clean up here before the guests in room four come down for their bath.
”

Tipper nodded.
“
Right. Do you have a mop handy?
”

CHAPTER 37

The days passed slowly. Brock was anxious to move into the Academy, and the wait seemed torturous.

The extended stay at The Quiet Woman had cost him most of his remaining coin, but he wouldn
’
t need it once he was in the school anyway. The accumulated wealth had not lasted long, but it had gotten him the new life he desired.

To make the time pass faster, Brock helped Tipper prepare his new accommodations. Dory couldn
’
t afford to give up a guest room, needing those for income. Instead, the small storage room attached to the stable would become Tipper
’
s home. They spent the better part of two weeks clearing the room out, repairing holes in the wall and floor, repairing the roof, and giving it a good cleaning. After adding a bed, a table, and a small chest of drawers, it seemed livable.

“
What do you think, Tip?
”
Brock asked as they surveyed the fruits of their labor.

Tipper nodded.
“
This will do.
”
A tear slid down his face.
“
My own room. I
’
ve never had a room of my own before.
”

Brock clapped his friend
’
s shoulder. In the five years he had known Tipper, the homeless boy had never complained about living on the streets.

“
You won
’
t even have to beg for food.
”
Brock smiled and added,
“
Although, the smell from the horses is likely to spoil your appetite anyway.
”

Tipper smiled as he wiped the tear away.
“
That ain
’
t nothin
’
. I
’
ve had to sleep with worse smells.
”
Tipper shrugged.
“
If I keep the stable clean, it won
’
t smell that bad in here anyway.
”

With Tipper moved out, Brock
’
s last days at the inn felt lonelier. The eve before he was to leave, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep as he anticipated starting his new life. When the sky began to lighten, he had already bathed, shaved, packed, and headed to the kitchen to grab a quick bite for the road.