The Rithmatist

take the final early so he could join his family in Europe, but he was refused.”
    “They shouldn’t get special treatment,” Charlington said.
    “She’ll probably still have to take the test,” Joel said. “It’s not like their lives are easy. No free periods, starting early each day, staying in school through the summer…”
    Charlington frowned at him.
    “Trust me, Charlie,” Joel said. “If something took her away unexpectedly, she’s not off lying on a beach having fun. She might be in Nebrask.”
    “I suppose,” Charlie said. “Yeah, you might be right…” He paused, fishing for something.
    “Joel.”
    “Yeah, Joel. I knew that. Well, you might be right. I don’t know. Professor Harris was sure upset. I just think it’s strange, is all.”
    A few other students reached the quad, and Charlington joined them, moving off toward the springrail station. Joel could vaguely hear him begin telling the same story to them.
    “I don’t believe it,” Joel said softly.
    “What?” Davis asked. “About that student?”
    “About Charlington,” Joel said. “We’ve been in classes together for three years, and he still forgets my name every time we talk.”
    “Oh,” Davis said.
    “Don’t worry about him,” Rose said. “Charlington doesn’t pay attention to anyone who doesn’t have a chest worth staring at.”
    Joel turned away from the retreating students. “Have you picked summer elective yet?” he asked Davis.
    “Well, not exactly.” Davis was the son of a professor, and—as such—lived on campus, like Joel. In fact, he was the only other child of an employee who was around Joel’s age.
    Most of the children of the staff went to the public school nearby. Only the children of professors attended Armedius itself. Well, them and Joel. His father and the principal had been close, before his father’s accident eight years ago.
    “I have a kind of crazy idea,” Joel said. “About my elective. You see…”
    He trailed off; Davis wasn’t paying attention. Joel turned to see a group of students gathering at the front of the campus office building. “What’s that?” Joel asked.
    Davis shrugged. “You see Peterton there? Shouldn’t he be on the 3:15 back to Georgiabama?” The tall senior was trying to peek through the windows.
    “Yeah,” Joel said.
    The door to the office opened, and a figure stepped out. Joel was shocked to recognize the man’s sharply militaristic trousers and coat, both navy, with gold buttons. It was the uniform of a federal inspector. The man placed a domed police hat on his head, then bustled away.
    “A federal inspector ?” Joel asked. “That’s strange.”
    “I see police on campus now and then,” Rose said.
    “Not an inspector,” Joel said. “That man has jurisdiction in all sixty isles. He wouldn’t come for nothing.” Joel noticed Principal York standing in the doorway to the office, Exton and Florence visible behind him. He seemed … troubled.
    “Well, anyway,” Davis said. “About summer elective.”
    “Yeah,” Joel said. “About that…”
    “I, um.” Davis shuffled. “Joel, I’m not going to be spending the summer with you this year. It, uh, turns out I’m not free.”
    “Not free? What does that mean?”
    Davis took a deep breath. “Rose and I are going to be with the group Michael is taking this summer. To his summer home, up north.”
    “You?” Joel said. “But … you’re not one of them. I mean, you’re just…” Like me.
    “Michael is going to be an important man someday,” Davis said. “He knows my father has been preparing me for law school, and Michael is planning to go himself. He’ll want help, in the years to come. Someday, he’ll need good attorneys he can trust. He’ll be a knight-senator, you know.…”
    “That’s … that’s great for you,” Joel said.
    “It’s a wonderful opportunity,” Davis said, looking discomforted. “I’m sorry, Joel. I know this means you’ll spend the summer alone, but I have to go. This is a chance for me, a real chance to move up.”
    “Yeah, of course.”
    “You could ask him if you could come.…”
    “I kind of already did.”
    Davis winced. “Oh.”
    Joel shrugged, trying to convey a nonchalance he didn’t feel. “He let me down easily.”
    “He’s a classy guy,” Davis said. “I mean, you have to admit, everyone treats you pretty well here. You’ve got a good life, Joel. Nobody picks on you.”
    That was true. He’d never suffered from