Princess Academy by Shannon Hale Read Free Book Online Page B

paragraph. Miri’s tongue felt made of clay. She cleared her throat, gripped the book, and began.
    “Our ancestors came from the north and farmed the fertile central plains. They also raised herds of cattle, horses, mountain goats, sheep, and fowl. Along the coast, fishing became one of their most important industries, as it is today.”
    The words seemed to glide across Miri’s tongue, each one falling into place. She had never seen the passage before, but studying the book of tales had made reading anything easier. She stuttered over a couple of words but sounded them out all right.
    “Well, girls,” said Olana when Miri finished, “if the prince were coming tomorrow, you know who would wear the silver gown.”
    Miri felt a grin break her face and had the unlikely impulse to give Olana a hug. Katar’s frown deepened into a glare. Miri swallowed and tried to look modest, but it was too late. Katar was usually the best in the class, and surely she thought Miri’s smile meant that she was gloating. Her victory soured like milk left standing.
    That evening as she returned from the outhouse, Miri halted at the sound of hushed voices coming from the front of the academy. She took a few steps backward, easing her boots through the hard shell of the snow. Whispering meant secrets, and it raised a shiver of curiosity on Miri’s skin. She leaned against the wall and strained to pick words out of the quiet drone. Her own name spoken in a whisper made her feel queasy.
    “. . . can’t stand Miri . . . acts like she’s so smart . . .” That voice belonged to Bena. “. . . never liked the way she hung on Peder . . . becoming unbearable . . .”
    “. . . just lucky today,” said Liana. “She won’t . . .”
    “She’s just fourteen,” said Katar, speaking much louder than the others. “What are you worried about?”
    Bena mumbled something else. Katar snickered.
    “There’s no chance of that. One of the older girls will win.”
    “I get the idea, Katar, that you think you should be princess,” said Bena, her voice scaling higher. “But as long as . . .” She returned to whispering, and Miri could hear no more.
    Miri started on her way again, and the girls quieted as she passed. Liana smiled uncomfortably, Bena glared at the ground, but Katar stared at Miri, her expression unrepentant. Miri returned that stare as though it were a challenge. She had just raised a defiant eyebrow when she tripped on one of the front steps and fell flat in the snow. She jumped to her feet and ran inside, chased by the sound of the older girls chuckling.
    That night, she lay on her pallet inhaling the darkness. It was a comfort to her to be awake as the others slept, as though she elected to be alone, as if she enjoyed it. The bedchamber fire was not high enough to warm her on her pallet at the far end of the room, and she shivered and wished for something to hope for. She closed her eyes and saw the folds of the silver dress twist and shimmer beneath her lids. Her dreams of becoming academy princess wrapped around her and eased the chill.

n
    Chapter Six
    Whiskers taut, front teeth bared
    Shaking breath, round eyes scared
    n
    W inter kept falling from the sky, building up under the windowsills, and crawling with frost over the panes. When clouds kept the sun from burning the frost away, Miri could see the outside world only as a grayish blur. So much time indoors, so much time with no one to talk to, was making her feel wretched. Her body ached, her skin itched as though she were wrapped tight in wool and could not stretch.
    The next time Olana dismissed the girls outside, Esa turned to Miri before leaving the classroom and gestured that she should follow. Miri sighed with anticipation. If Esa forgave her, perhaps the others would as well. Her determination to be just fine alone melted under the bright hope of making everything all right.
    She had one small task first. After waiting until all the girls left the classroom, Miri crept