Orenda did not expect Quiroris to personally lead her to her room. She would have thought, being in charge of the entire school, that he would have more pressing matters to attend to, and was beginning to understand the dangers of underestimating her own importance. She hoped that her accident at the bathhouse would not permanently mark her as a danger in the minds of all adults.

The room was pleasant at least, possibly the most pleasant that Orenda had ever seen. There were four distinct areas but no dividers between them. Each had a pretty wrought iron bed, a large wardrobe, a desk, and a basin. Three of the four were decorated in different styles, with toys, books and other knicknacks littering every available surface. The fronts of the wardrobes, in particular, had been plastered in a variety of images that greatly interested Orenda, but she knew nothing of the people who had hung them.

Quiroris stood in the doorway and spoke to someone in the hall.

“Yes, in here, please,” he said, and Orenda was interested when two women entered. The first was the healer she recognized from the first night, who had been standing over her when she awoke, but the other was an earth elven woman completely unknown to her.

“Oh, I’m so glad to see you up and moving around!” The healer said.

“Yes, as are we all,” Quiroris agreed, “Orenda, these are Doctor Vabilla and Professor Ronala. I thought you may like to have female authority figures present while I went through your things.”

“Why would you do that?” Orenda asked as she clutched her sheet more tightly.

“We go through everyone’s things, Orenda,” he explained, “We have to make sure that no one brings anything dangerous into the school. This is routine. I should have done it last night. I… should have done a lot of things differently last night.”

“Then I’ll need to give you a medical exam,” Dr Vabilla said kindly, “I’m still concerned. You nearly drowned.”

“I haven’t got anything dangerous!” Orenda snapped.

“I believe you,” Quiroris said, “But it wouldn’t be fair to the other students. I’m not here to judge you, only to make sure everyone is safe. You have to understand that.”

Orenda didn’t know what to do. She briefly considered just zagging between them and running, but she didn’t know how far she would get or where she would go. She tried to remember everything that she owned- inside would be her spare clothes, the package with the sari and money, the book on fire elves, the notes she had taken on the book, and, she thought, little else. There was nothing inside that would connect her to the Knights of Order. All those things were in her pockets. Having taken this inventory, she decided that the best course of action was to just let them go through it. The worst thing they would discover would be the money.

“Very well,” Orenda decided, “But these things are mine. I won’t have them taken.”

“We don’t steal from our students, Orenda,” Quiroris seemed insulted, “Normally we send contraband back to the family, but in your case, I’ll simply keep it, safe and locked away, and it will be returned when you graduate. Besides, I don’t think it’ll be an issue,” as he untied the sheet he began to separate her things, “I don’t think you’ll have anything.”

He made a face and picked up a stick of charcoal in two fingers, looking at it as if it had offended him, and Orenda hoped it stained his gloves.

“The steam has destroyed… you put this priceless book in with… ugh,” he tossed it back down onto the sheet, “Can we have her things laundered? Please? Someone get a servant up here?”

Professor Ronala stepped out into the hall and Orenda heard her ringing a bell. Quiroris took off the glove that had been stained and opened the package.

“Whatever you had been writing or drawing has been steamed past recognition,” he said, “I’m sorry, Orenda. But if you like art, we do have a wonderful program to help you hone your skills. Please, please, if you want to keep this book, take better care of it.” His eyes grew wide and he asked, “What is this? Is this silk? Where on xren did you get this?”

“It was a gift,” Orenda said, “The merchant said it was a sari, that it was the style of the fire elves and I should have it because I am a fire elf. I didn’t know how to wear it, so I left it in the-”

“Holy he-” Quiroris said, cut himself off, and began again, “This is a… great deal of money.”

“Yes,” Orenda said, “It is mine.”

“Quite worldly money,” Quiroris said, and Orenda felt his anger stewing again, “Where did this come from?”

“Are you in the habit of asking your students where they get their money?” Orenda snapped.

“Most of my students don’t get their money from thieves!” He snapped back, and Dr Vibilla put a hand on his shoulder.

“Felaern,” she said, “A word. In the hall.”

He nodded and the three adults left. Orenda moved quickly to the package and drew out a handful of coins. There were so many that she estimated the size, and took as many as she thought would not be missed, then quickly shoved them between the mattress and the frame of the bed. She took everything from her pockets except the fire crystal and stuffed it as far back as she could. Her main concern was hiding the notes from Gareth and Susan, and she smoothed the blankets back perfectly, then went to listen at the doorway.

The adults were speaking so quietly that she couldn’t even make out sparse words. She thought that they had anticipated her eavesdropping and gone farther down the hall to avoid it. So she returned to the bed and wondered what she should do with her medallion. She should probably hide it, but she hated to be without it now. It was the only real clue she had to anything, the only link she had to other fire mages. She would not let them take it. She would burn them alive first.

She hesitated too long and the adults solved this dilemma for her by walking back inside.

“Orenda,” Quiroris announced, “We’ve made a decision. We will take this money and put it into a student account for you. You’ll be able to pay your tuition, your room and board, the repairs to the bathhouse, and, if there is anything left, you’ll be able to make purchases on campus, at the student bookstore, the dining hall, things like that. I won’t pay for the bathhouse until after we’ve gotten you outfitted today. There is a list that we give to all students,” he reached into his robes and produced it, “Please, after your medical examination, go and pick these things up.”

“I don’t know what you expect me to do with that information,” Orenda told him, “I don’t like you taking my money, but I feel as if there isn’t much I can do. You seem to do well when you’re dealing with people in powerless situations.”

“She’s been this contrary every time we’ve spoken,” he said to his colleagues as if Orenda was getting on his last nerve. “Orenda, please empty your pockets, and I’ll leave you in the care of Dr Vibilla.”

Orenda took off her cloak and threw it onto the bed, then turned the pockets of her dress inside out. The fire crystal was all that remained inside, and it hit the floor with a soft tinkling sound. Quiroris bent down and picked it up. Orenda was afraid he would pocket it, from the greedy look in his eyes, but was pleasantly surprised when he handed it back to her.

“Be very, very careful with this Orenda,” he said softly, “I’m going to commission a focus for you, as soon as I can. It’s dangerous to cast from a crystal and your magic is more dangerous than most. I only don’t take this because I know it has great sentimental value for you. Please, Orenda, look at me.” Orenda met his eyes and he continued, “Please show me that I can trust you.”

Orenda nodded and Quiroris stood and began to fill a purse with the coins in her package. She watched him pick up one piece, in particular, and grimace as he studied it. Orenda saw that it was flaked with something copper-colored and dried, something that had once been a thick, red liquid.