I’m busy putting the finishing touches on Gaits of Magic which releases on 5/21 on all sites, though you can pre-order direct from me and receive it on 5/10. In the meantime, enjoy this excerpt. 

The pendant around my neck chimed. Several screens which had been scrolling the menus and an event calendar between welcome message and faculty introductions suddenly switched to a large hall that must be in the administration building. I recognized some of the teachers, including Instructor Barlowe, the barn manager and riding instructor sitting at tables. The camera panned the room, then settled on Sophi Winterwings, the Academy’s Director. She was tall, elegant in crisp black slacks with low boots, and a white blouse. Her black jacket had the Divine Rein logo on it.

“Hello students,” she said. “Welcome to Divine Rein. I’m Sophi Winterwings, your Director, and we’ll do some introductions here shortly, but I wanted to take this opportunity to go over a few things. We’ll be recording this and it will be on your student portal so you can watch it again, or for our students who aren’t with us at the moment, you can watch it when you do arrive.”

“She’s an elf,” Kelawyn whispered, as if I hadn’t already figured that out.

I listened to the announcements while I finished my dinner. The director talked about the coolers kept stocked with beverages along with minor snacks and grab-and-go meals as well as the beverage dispensers on each floor for after hours. She didn’t mention the magical hall monitors, though I suspected it had something to do with our pendants and maybe other, magical means. The brief remarks concluded and some introductions were given, including Marl Barlowe, the riding instructor. Then, the presentation ended.

A smattering of applause filled the cafeteria before the din of conversation began again. “See you around?” I pushed back my chair and started to stand.

“Yeah. We’ll figure out class schedules or something. Nice meeting you,” Kelawyn replied. She stared at her empty tray. “I guess I better get going.”

“Yeah, me too.” I took my tray to the alcove along the wall where I disposed of my trash, then sent the dishes back to be washed. It was only when I was walking back to my room that I realized I’d forgotten to ask about her horse.

When I entered my room, it was still empty. My roommate hadn’t arrived yet. I wondered where she might be coming from and how many students hadn’t been able to get here before the announcements, which seemed rather like the official opening to the school year. It wasn’t my problem, so I took a moment to stand by the window garden and meditate with the plants, before sitting on my rainbow cushion next to the potted acorn still sitting in its gallon pot on the floor. There was a table packed in one of the boxes; I hadn’t unpacked it yet to put the acorn in its place. I’d decided it could go next to my desk, between the desk and the bed so it would be protected from getting knocked over. I sat, my hands on my thighs, and focused my thoughts on the acorn. Instantly a warm sensation, like being wrapped in the big, thick quilt I used in the winter, surrounded me, and I swore I smelled the arnica cream my mother used on her joints.

I checked the clock. They wouldn’t be home yet, but I sent love and let them know I was unpacking and my roommate hadn’t arrived yet. The mother tree would hold the message until they returned.

Engrossed in my meditation, I didn’t hear the door open behind me.

“Oh. You’re on the floor,” a voice said, startling me from my meditation.

I turned to see who I presumed was my roommate, pulling a glittering black suitcase in one hand, and a cart stacked with blue and black plastic crates with the other.

I gently closed the connection with the acorn, then stood, picking up the cushion and realizing that where my side of the room was awash in greens and blues, she wore black from head to toe. There was an energy to her, a rawness that I couldn’t quite place. She wasn’t elven, and I didn’t think she was a shifter.

“Sorry, I was meditating,” I said. “Can I help you with anything? I’m Lizzi.”

“Corbi. Nah, I’m good.” She finished pulling her cart into the room, then used one black booted foot to kick it closed. “I’m a Venefica Animalis, by the way. An animal witch.” She turned and looked at me, and I realized even her lipstick was blackish-red. “But I really only talk to birds. Corvids specifically.”