Eudora, proprietress of Bluebell Inn, welcomed Hattie, and sat her down. Hattie waved away her offer of dinner, as the cakes from Delina’s had filled her up. But she did request a plate for Monte. Eudora gave her the key to the same room she’d used last time, and went back to the kitchens to get Monte his dinner.

Eudora brought out the meat, which Monte nibbled at. He wasn’t ravenous at all, having eaten quite well over the past few days. Hattie watched him and glanced at the other diners, cheerful couples and friends.

The misery overcame her again, so much stronger than before, an internal crash! Hattie was sure her innards had wilted away. Her face grew hot. A tear trickled out of her eye and ran down her old, wrinkled face.

“Monte, I had it all wrong,” she said.

“I thought I was looking for adventure, but that was a lie. What I really want is a new purpose. I want to leave a legacy other than old maid Hattie who scrubbed Derington’s floors for fifty years,” Hattie huffed, and continued, “And Ally and Alex and Balewin and Trina were so sweet, but they don’t really need me.”

The misery reached its peak, “Am I good for anything?”

Monte’s feelings crashed into her then, and as she’d made her own innards feel like they shriveled, the emotions Monte gave her put a zing in her blood. An unwitting smile blossomed on her face.

“What did you just do?” she asked, bewildered.

Monte communicated with clarity at an unprecedented level. With a fierceness, he let Hattie know that he knew very well what his fate would have been had she not come and taken him out of Redshire. Even if she did nothing else, she’d done something to connect them, that’d elevated his thought process and made him something beyond a simple, if clever, gold wolf.

He was happy to know her, to protect her, to be her companion.

“Oh, Monte,” Hattie said, and another tear escaped her, “Thank you.”

And it did help, knowing that. The misery wasn’t as all consuming. But it nagged at her still, like it had in the past few days. Hattie wiped her face and when Monte was done with his meal, they headed upstairs. It took Hattie a long time to fall asleep as she mulled over the events of the past week, and what she was going to do next.

The next day she set out for a local shop and bought supplies for herself, since most of what she’d used during her trip with Ally’s group had been Balewin’s. She bought basic supplies, and then set out for a local apothecary that the shopkeeper had recommended. She made her purchases and walked with Monte to Grocer’s Circle, set her purchases down, and rested her feet.

“Monte,” she said, “I think I want to attend the school here. Trina mentioned it to me, and I can’t deny I have some sort of mage gift anymore, and no one’s drafting me into the army for it, not these days. If I want to leave some sort of legacy behind, our partnership is the key.”

“What do you think? It might turn out awful, but I knew that when I left Derington Holding that things wouldn’t be simple or easy. And we can still go and take a request from the guild occasionally, if you want to go out to the wildlands.”

Monte was fine with this, and nuzzled her knobby old knee. If it would get her out of the mood she’d been in all week, he was happy with it.

“Thanks, Monte. I’ve been playing this whole thing by ear, you know. Leaving Derington was really the boldest thing I’ve ever done. I was convinced I’d die there, having never left. And then…” Hattie shook her head.

“Well, let’s go find the school.”

Hattie picked up the groceries she’d bought. She and Monte began the walk towards the school, which Trina had given her general directions towards, and said any passerby could point her to.

She did ask one young man, and he confirmed she was headed in the right way. Soon enough, the rather imposing building came into view. Derington School for the Mage Arts was made of carved stone, and somehow, it looked to be formed from a single piece of marble. Something only magic could have accomplished. Hattie stepped into the building, her mouth set, and Monte sent her an extra thrill of confidence.

"Thanks, Monte. I've got this," Hattie whispered. She could deal with people well enough. Her newfound crippling sense of self worth was different matter entirely.

“I’d like to speak to the headmaster, or whoever is in charge of admissions,” Hattie said to the first student she found.

The young boy, perhaps not even twenty, directed her towards the school secretary, a middle aged woman who introduced herself as Nancy Gum.

“Hello, Grandmother,” said the secretary, “How can I help you? Do you have a grandchild you'd like me to pull out of class?”

“No, no,” Hattie said, “I’m here to apply for classes. I never had any training, since I wanted to avoid the drafts in my youth.”

“This is...highly unusual. But I’ll give you the paperwork and the headmaster will take over from there.”

“That’s fine.”

“Give me a few moments, while I gather the necessary materials.”

Hattie waited in patience, eyes wandering around the hall around her. The Mage School really was a handsome place. Hattie hoped they'd welcome her.

A few minutes went by with Nancy rustling papers about, and then she handed Hattie a thick stack of papers.

"That's probably going to take you a while," Nancy said. "You can fill it out in the back here next to me."

"Thank you," Hattie walked through a side door and sat down next to Nancy. Nancy didn't bat an eye at the gold wolf who followed Hattie into the small space. Hattie supposed if that the student body consisted of magic wielding teenagers, not much would surprise you.

With the two of them and Monte in Nancy's cubicle, it was a crowd. Monte sidled into the corner of the desk, barely managing to fit, and closed his eyes.

Hattie first flipped through the pages, and skimmed the content of each one.

She borrowed a pen from Nancy and got to work. There were several sections that didn't apply to Hattie, and some information that wasn't asked that Hattie felt might be relevant.

On the back of one such paper, Hattie wrote out her reasons for her interest in the school. Time ticked by, and then she said, "Done!"

She handed the pile to Nancy and thanked her.

"I'll give this to the headmaster now, and let you know when to come back. Watch my desk for a moment," Nancy said, and left.

Hattie smiled and watched as a group of students walked by, with their boisterous laughter and playfulness.

Nancy returned.

"Headmaster Dawson can see you either tomorrow at mid morning, or late evening."

"Mid morning is fine," Hattie stood up.

"I'll pencil your appointment in. Be here around ten tomorrow."

"I shall. Thank you for your time."

"Here, let me get that for you." Nancy opened the door for Hattie.

Hattie left the school with Monte, grocery bags swinging, her spirits a little lighter. She hummed, and decided she'd make a visit to Han, to say hello and get some lunch.

She made her way to the market and found the familiar booth. Han had many customers at this time of day, and a sheen of sweat coated his forehead as he worked with quickness and precision.

The food smelled better than Hattie remembered. When it was her turn to order, Han greeted her with enthusiasm.

"Grandmother! It's good to see you again," he used a cloth to wipe his forehead, "What can I get for you?"

"Those potaotes of yours are quite scrumptious, so two of those and…" Hattie glanced at Monte, "Four of the meat."

Han had noticed Hattie glance down, and his eyes widened.

"You really got a gold wolf! You went to see my brother, did you? How is Fior doing? Everyone?'

"Quite well. Your mother was pleased to hear how...polite you were." Hattie's smile was a tinge devilish.

Han prepared her order, "Ah...haha...thank you for that."

"Grace also served a fruity drink while I visited that I think would be lovely for you to offer here."

Hans eye lit up, "The hibiscus lemon tea? That's a good idea," he handed Hattie the seasoned potatoes skewers and grilled meat, "I'll see about setting that up."

Hattie paid, and thanked Han. She set about towards Grocer's Circle, since it had been a pleasant place to eat the last time she'd been to Han's food cart.

She took the meat off the skewers for Monte and saved half of one for herself. The potatoes were filling.

She and Monte ate in companionable silence.

"Monte, I do hope this goes well. Else I'm not sure what we'll do!"