Excerpt: From the Ashes

“So you see, I wasn't always a patient person, no matter how much you tried me.” Ambrocius gave her a wan smile, glancing out as they drove along a ridge and there was a view of a white building up against the mountain side.

“Yeah, guess not. We're all mean at some point or another. It's just a matter of if we're sorry for it later or not.”

“Very true.” He gave a nod before indicating the building. “I believe we're almost at the school.”

Bieran turned her head before sliding so she could hang her head out. “Holy hell that thing is huge. Granted Clover's was big but it was higher up in the mountain too. But this is just...damn. How many students are attending? The whole of this side of the continent?”

To say the place was huge was an understatement. It was easily five stories high and that was what was in the front. White marble was used to form the front and worked it's way back to blend in with the mountain said, looking as it it had been pushed out from the moutain rather than it having been building into it. Marble statues of dragons wrapped their way around, all in different positions, looking in all four directions. Two were on the roof of the school, wings outspread to give the front some shelter from anything that might fall straight down. The school front ran a hundred yards across.

She could feel it in the air. There was an almost electrical zap that flowed around the building, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. She gave a shiver and looked around. There was some major mojo going on at this school. She'd never felt this much power at Cecil's school.

“A few hundred, nothing that they can't handle. But then a lot of the students might stay and assist with other classes as well. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from the foul language until everyone has had a chance to get used to you.”

Bieran snickered. “I see you made the correct distinction this time.”

“Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks?” He looked out as the carriage pulled up to the steps and stopped, picking up his cane. “you're going to enjoy it here. There are a lot of interesting individuals that also come here.”

“Oh great, so what you're saying is that we're a school of freaks now?” Bieran gave a smirk.

“I would never say that....to your face.” He gave a chuckle and stepped out when the coachmen put the steps down, helping them both down before getting the luggage from at top the carriage.

“You know you're going to be lonely heading back.”

“Ah, blessed silence. I shall enjoy it. Actually there is someone going back so I will still have companionship.”

“Bow chicka..”

“Bieran, stop.”

She smirked and picked up her luggage, giving a nod to the man who got it down before heading up the stairs. “So, do they know I'm going to show up today or this is a point where you drop me on the doorstep and run off laughing.”

“Someone will be with us shortly. He is someone who has traveled through our village once or twice and stopped for some discussion.”