5
Dear Mum, ran my text. Can we please borrow a couple of your best alchemists. URGENT.
‘Think she will answer?’ said Val.
‘There’s almost no chance of it.’
Val had been waiting in the Academy’s entrance hall when I had finally made it downstairs, the tour having ended several minutes before. Denise must have noticed my absence then, if not sooner, but Val did not seem perturbed. She sat serenely near the door, unruffled. Only I knew her well enough to detect the signs of extreme boredom.
‘Riveting tour, then?’ I murmured as I hurried to join her.
Val gave me a sour look. ‘I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I’ve made for you.’
‘For us, Val. For the cause! Wait ‘til you hear what I found.’ I grabbed her chair and whooshed us out the door, waving cheerily to the woman on reception as
