Read Haladras for Free Online Page A

Skylar swallowed and tried to keep up as best he
could.
    The headmistress brought him to her office and closed the
door behind him.
    “Have a seat, Mr. Lancewright.”
    Skylar sat down in a solitary chair in front of her large
stone desk. The headmistress walked around behind the desk and sat down. Skylar
had never been so close to this woman before, never had taken notice of her
outward appearance. She was a tall woman, thin as a desert reed. She wore her
pale hair pulled back tightly in a bun which gave her long narrow face, sunken
cheeks and pointed nose full prominence. Her clothes were simple and
unflattering, but impeccable, without crease or wrinkle.
    “Skylar,” she said, sitting perfectly erect in her chair,
hands clasped and resting on her desk. “I have heard about your accident at the
harbor.”
    Skylar flushed slightly. Had anyone not heard?
    “I wanted to make sure that you feel well enough to return
to your classes. You needn’t feel pressure to resume your studies before you
have completely convalesced. I am confident I can arrange an appropriate level
of makeup work from your professors—nothing overwhelming.”
    For a moment Skylar didn’t know how to respond. Was this the
same headmistress everyone avoided at all cost?
    “Thank you, Professor,” he finally stammered out, “but I’m
really feeling much better. Besides, I’d rather be here than sitting at home.”
    The hard line that formed the headmistress’s mouth twitched
slightly at the corners and she sat taller in her chair.
    “Well!” She said with unmasked delight, “I certainly cannot
argue with such an answer. I’m sure, then, you’re eager to get to your classes.
I shall detain you no longer. But, please, let me know if there’s anything I
can do for you.”
    He thanked her, then hurriedly left her office, eager to be
free of that uncomfortable situation.
    When Skylar stepped in his lecture hall, he found that
Professor Valenkr had not yet begun his pedantic drone about Applied
Geophysical Computation. Most of the class was seated, already. He hurried to
find a free seat among the gossiping huddles of students, who all seemed to
halt their various conversations to stare at him as he passed by. He found his
usual seat next to Rolander empty and sat down, exhaling audibly. The
freckle-faced boy beamed at him.
    “Hey, Skylar!” said Rolander enthusiastically. “Feeling
better?”
    Skylar nodded, a bit tired of everyone asking him how he
felt.
    “So, does everyone know about the accident?” Skylar
whispered quietly.
    “There might be a few oblivious simpletons out there.
Outside of those though...”
    Rolander smiled apologetically.
    Skylar shook his head. “Even Professor Meese knows. She
pulled me into her office to talk about it.”
    “She did? What did she—”
    “Hey, Skylar!” shouted a voice that made Rolander halt his speech.
“I heard you helped save the docks when Captain Arturo’s ship got caught on a
tow cable.”
    “Helped!” retorted a sneering voice that made Skylar's teeth
clench. He knew that voice only too well. Drake Blacksands. The most pestering,
contradictory and meddlesome person Skylar had ever met.
    Skylar quickly turned toward the front of the lecture hall,
hoping to see Professor Valenkr. His heart sank. The wordy, monotone professor
was still absent from the hall. Of all the days for him to be late.. .
    Ordinarily Professor Valenkr began his lectures promptly on
schedule, being eager to drown his pupils in the deluge of his vast knowledge.
    “Helped?” repeated Drake, as if the word were vulgar. “He
didn’t help. He was the reason the deck was almost destroyed.” Drake
looked at Skylar with his round face and gave him one of his notoriously
annoying smiles. “Not only that,” he went on, “but he lost his balance while
flying his jetwing and fell like an idiot onto the deck. He almost killed
himself.”
    The entire class erupted with laughter. Skylar began to feel
as if he’d made