Aldwyn's Academy by Nathan Meyer Read Free Book Online

the door he’d just slammed.
    Quickly, he realized that the stranger wasn’t an orc, couldn’t be an orc. For one thing, he was wearing the red robes of a first-year Aldwyns pupil.
    But the olive-tinged skin, heavy brow and jaw, and upturned ears were obviously those of an orc. The student regarded him coolly.
    Half-orc, Dorian realized, but even that answer seemed ludicrous.
    Orckind, even half-orckind, wasn’t known for producing wizards. Bloodthirsty shaman of Gruumsh, the god of destruction and turmoil, sure. But a wizard?
    “Hello,” the half-orc student said. “I’m Caleb. It appears we’re roommates.” He looked at the obviously startled Dorian and just a touch of a grin pulled atthe corners of his mouth. “Unless that’s going to be a problem …”
    Realizing how stupid he must look, Dorian blushed all over again.
    “I’m Dorian. Don’t worry,” he joked lamely. “The way things are going, I probably won’t be here that long.”
    He jerked his Heward’s Handy Haversack off his shoulder and threw it onto the bunk he assumed was his.
    Looking around his new room, Dorian took in the details hurriedly.
    It was nice, he had to admit, despite being upset. Should be, for as much as tuition costs, he suddenly heard his father’s voice complain, and he almost smiled.
    Then he remembered how long it was going to be until he saw his father and his smile faded.
    The room was warm, decorated in browns and burgundy.
    There was a bunk bed with a red oak frame, and two desks of the same wood housing big, deep drawers with brass handles. Bookshelves hung on the wall and a large rug bearing the now familiar double As of Aldwyns Academy commanded the center of the floor.
    There was a magical ring gate on one of the desks, and two sturdy but comfortable chairs. Dorian saw a red robe obviously intended for him on the top bunk, next to a pile of various items he knew his mother had packed for him.
    Still feeling embarrassed at being impolite, Dorian avoided looking directly at Caleb. Remembering Helene’s beautiful falcon and Lowadar’s impressive young dragon familiar, he turned back to his new roommate.
    “Do you have a familiar?”
    Caleb shook his head. “No, I don’t even have a homunculus yet. We’ll get a familiar in a week or two at the Festival of Choosing.”
    Dorian nodded and opened his haversack, removing some of his more mundane clothing and school supplies. The box Maverick had given him slid out. He’d forgotten about the present during his fight with Helene.
    Curious, he opened the larger box, revealing almost a dozen smaller boxes. He picked one of them out at random and opened it. Inside, several Stench Stones sat nestled inside packing material.
    “Where’d you get those?” Caleb asked.
    Dorian jumped, feeling guilty.
    “I didn’t buy them! I was just looking around Maverick’s and that spooky eladrin gave them to me. I don’t know why, I didn’t even ask for anything.”
    “Maverick is a warlock,” Caleb answered, coming closer. “It’s impossible to know what’s going on in
their
heads. Also, he’s eladrin which means he’ll always be an enigma to anyone but other elfkind.” Caleb paused. “Or great wizards like Lowadar. But wow, he gave you a lotof stuff. And all of it could get you a massive amount of detention if any of the faculty sees it.”
    The half-orc looked at Dorian, eyes wide.
    Seeing how impressed the other first year seemed, Dorian grinned. Caleb grinned back, revealing oversized incisors, and a chill ran up Dorian’s spine.
    The boy turned away, gazing out the room’s only window, which overlooked the grounds beyond the academy near the Tower of Change Magic. “Or my so-called mentor,” he added, his voice bitter. “I know she’d turn me in just to see me get in trouble.”
    “Who do you have?”
    “Some stuck up elf girl,” Dorian said.
    “Not Helene?” Caleb asked.
    “She’s the one,” Dorian replied. “Why? You know her?”
    “We’ve had