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cane.
    “Turret Hall is the music and arts building. The Scriptorium is the English building and also includes the library with the history of our ink and gifts. Some of the gifts and ink stamps are documented on ancient scrolls dating prior to the Tudor era. Each dormitory is also equipped with a reference library and copies of the special ink charts and markings.” His fingers drummed a rhythm on the silver head of his cane. “This path here will lead you to the Oratory. That’s where students study their gifts and improve their skills.”
    Rae nodded but said nothing. At the moment, she didn’t give a damn where classes would be.
    They turned down the path, and Rae stopped to stare at the Oratory. Built in red brick similar to the other structures, this building was none-the-less distinctive. Ivy stretched across the tall, almost chapel-like octagon shaped building. The way the ivy grew, it seemed to emanate from the walls. She’d never seen anything so magnificent. The view belonged in the painting of a master artist. It was such a tranquil scene compared to the anger simmering inside of her.
    “I’ve been wondering,” the headmaster murmured. “Did your parents teach you about their tatùs?”
    Rae froze, one foot dangling in the air. He said parents, plural. That wasn’t a mistake. Both her parents had gifts? Yet another thing about me I didn’t know, told to me by a stranger. This isn’t fair! Why was she the only one who didn’t know this stuff? With rage surging through her veins, it took an effort to speak without screaming. “My parents never had a chance to tell me anything.” She shrugged, trying and failing to set her foot down on the ground normally rather than stomping it. “I was only six when they died in the fire, so I don’t remember much.” Most of her memories felt like dreams now.
    Lanford stared pensively at the head of his cane and gave a slight nod. “Of course, the fire. How about Argyle? Has he explained anything to you?”
    “Uncle Argyle?” He’d better not be bloody marked as well. “No, he never told me about any of this.” Plus, he likes talking in ridiculous proverbs. “I think Guilder’s made a mistake with me.” Rae felt all the different emotions of the day rolling inside her. The fear and confusion, the suspicion and frustration, the wonder and disbelief…it all started to overwhelm her. And to top it off, she hadn’t heard any of it from someone she actually knew. Anger began to override all the other emotions.
    Lanford smiled and patted his combover down. “No, Ms. Kerrigan. You are, most definitely, the right person. Your mother only had one child, and that was you.” He tapped his finger to his lips. “I’m not shocked your parents didn’t have the chance to explain, but I’m quite surprised Argyle never took the time to enlighten you.”
    “Yeah, join the club.” This seemed more important than a talk about the birds and the bees, which was, of course, another topic never broached.
    The headmaster released a long, heavy breath. He pointed to a nearby bench with his cane. “Shall we sit? I think it’s high time you learned a bit of your own history.” Rae sat down heavily, realizing her posture, and most likely the expression on her face, made her look like a petulant child, but at the moment, she couldn’t help herself. Despite everything, she noted that for his large frame, the headmaster settled easily, almost lightly, onto the bench. “It’s time to shake that family tree up a bit, eh?”
    Shake the family tree? That sounded like something her uncle would say. Rae gingerly balanced herself, paranoid the bench might topple over from his weight. It seemed likely. Having something other than her emotions to concentrate on allowed her to calm down. She needed answers. And apparently, Headmaster Lanford had them.
      “Did you know your father and Argyle attended Guilder together twenty-three years ago?”
    Rae shook her head so slightly she