“Looks like we made it just in time,” Syman announced as he shook the water from his hair. “We won’t have to worry about being tracked, but I do not feel good being so close to the trail and the horses being left outside. I think we should leave as early as we can and put some more distance between us and the Academy.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Lyra added as she passed out bread and cheese to everyone.

“I don’t understand why we are running away,” mused Walak. “I mean they got what they came to the Academy for, didn’t they?”

“Only half of it,” stated Antello realizing the Walak had not heard the conversation near the drawbridge. “They are searching for Lyra now because…”

“Enough talk of such dreary things,” interjected Lyra. Lyra wasn’t entirely sure why, but she didn’t trust Walak very much. It was not as if he had ever done anything to her or anyone had complained about his dishonesty. It was just a nagging feeling in the back of her mind and she decided to learn more about him before anything more was revealed. His father was very wealthy and he did manage to miss the massacre this morning. Could his father be the wealthy person looking for a mage? “Perhaps we can talk about something more pleasant. Why are you studying magic, Walak? Was coming to the Academy your choice or did your father choose your vocation?”

Antello stared at Lyra in puzzlement, while Syman smiled thinly. Walak sat looking from one to the other and shook his head in confusion. Not fully understanding what was happening, Walak finally shrugged and look down at the cavern floor.

“It was my father’s choice,” Walak finally admitted. “I guess he wanted the prestige of a son attending the Academy.