Elffled entered the art classroom with a sense of great trepidation, casting a timid glance at her surroundings as her heart began to pound. Fear consumed her mind – fear of the unknown, fear of the attention of strangers – making it difficult to concentrate and focus. Some of the students were already seated, while others were milling about the room, finding their places on the thick, tufted cushions which were ordered in neat rows upon the floor. Since the instructor had not yet called for order, the room was filled with the low din of greetings and idle chatter. Three of the Rohirric maidens, considering the art class the best choice out of the options they had been given, filed into the chamber behind Elffled, all sharing the same feelings of uncertainty. Elffled's gaze fell upon Rufina, who was waving for her to come over, and she felt a sense of relief wash over her. It was always good to have a friend to help one navigate unfamiliar waters.

"I am so glad you decided to try the art class," Rufina remarked, smiling. "But where is Hild?" She looked past Elffled to the entrance of the classroom, as though expecting to see Elfhild coming through the entrance.

"She decided to take theatre instead," Elffled explained as she sat down beside Rufina.

"A daring choice; your sister must be quite brave!" Rufina’s bright blue eyes shone with admiration. "I cannot imagine performing in front of a crowd."

"I tried it once, and did horribly." Elffled shuddered with embarrassment as she recalled her ill-fated theatrical debut at the Midsummer Fair back in Grenefeld. Needless to say, she did not win any prizes in that contest of talent.

"Perhaps you will tell me the tale – although there are some things which one longs to forget." Rufina chuckled knowingly when she saw Elffled's discomfiture. "Art and theatre are both good choices here at the School of Industry. The art students paint props and create backdrops for theatre productions, so the two classes often work together."

"What a clever idea," Elffled mused, thinking that the School of Industry seemed quite orderly. Of course, they were in Mordor, where everything was about order and control.

When all the students had gotten settled in, Mistress Neshinara, the art instructor, stepped forward to announce that it was time for class to start. "While I am well acquainted with most of you, I do see some new faces today." She beamed at the Rohirric girls who had chosen to attend her class, her full, burgundy-stained lips turning up in a broad smile. "I wish to welcome our new scholars, who have come to us from distant lands."

As a way to familiarize herself to the new students, Mistress Neshinara told the class a bit about herself. While the other novices already knew their teacher's story – and others from her life as well – it was the first time that the Rohirric maidens had heard this particular tale. Her family had originally hailed from the Far Haradric kingdom of Ka'savay, where they had been devoted followers of an order which worshipped the Giver of Gifts. When tidings reached them that the Great One had returned to reestablish His domain in Mordor, they had packed up all their belongings and set off on the long pilgrimage north to Nurn. Well-educated and fluent in several languages, Neshinara's parents became translators for a prominent merchant guild in Turkûrzgoi. As a child, Neshinara showed a great aptitude for art, and soon she was apprenticed to a master illuminator at the Library of Turkûrzgoi. Deciding to branch out in her studies, she later attended the University of Turkûrzgoi, where she studied painting. After a long career as an artist and illuminator in the service of the Great Eye, she became a teacher at the School of Industry.

When she had finished her story, Mistress Neshinara instructed the more experienced novices to continue working on their projects from the previous day while she turned her attention to the new students. She started out their education by introducing them to the tools of the artist's trade: charcoal for sketching, pots of pigments, containers of powdered acacia gum to be used as binder, water to dilute the paints, brushes of various sizes, cloth scraps for practice work, and parchments for more advanced compositions. After preparing several paint colors upon a ceramic palate, she began painting swatches upon a large piece of tattered fabric. She identified the primary colors and explained how to make other colors by combining the primary ones, how to make a shade lighter by adding white or darker by adding black, and how to make muted tones by mixing complementary colors together.

The students were given aprons to protect their uniforms as they experimented with mixing colors. As Elffled worked, she marveled at the differences in painting mediums used in Mordor and Rohan. Back in the Mark, she had used pigments made from common plants, charcoal, and soil, and mixed them with egg yolk and water to make tempera. She could tell that the pigments used at the School of Industry were of much higher quality, for they were far more saturated in color than anything she had ever used before. There were other differences between the acacia gum-based paint and egg tempera. Besides being brighter and more vibrant, the acacia gum paint developed a satiny finish as it dried, unlike the flat, chalky appearance of tempera.

How surreal it felt to be engaged in such a pleasant task after enduring months of suffering and toil! As Elffled glanced around at her surroundings, gazing upon the colorful paintings displayed upon the walls and observing the other students studiously engaged in their work, she wondered for a moment if she were dreaming the whole thing. Perhaps she was really lying upon the cold, stony ground of Gorgoroth, lost to fitful imaginings as the orcs grunted and growled upon the periphery of the camp. Inspecting the progress of each of the new students, Mistress Neshinara paused in front of Elffled, complimenting her work and giving her an encouraging smile. Elffled felt tears welling up in her eyes. What if she were to wake up at that moment, and this pleasant dream would be lost forever? She would rather sleep, and live a life of illusion, than go back to a waking world filled with endless horror and woe.

From the moment Elfhild had discovered that the School of Industry offered a theatre class, she had been intrigued. After all, she considered herself a bit of an actress. As a child, she had put on plays with her brother and sister to entertain her family during the long winter nights, and at the age of fourteen, she had tried her hand at acting before a public audience at the Midsummer Fair. That performance had been a disaster, and she had never returned to the stage after that. Time and maturity had apparently improved her skills, however, for she had managed to convince the uruks in Durraiz' band and the goblins of Kafakudraûg Cavern that she was insane. Over the course of her captivity, she had also learned how to tell convincing lies, and she supposed this could be considered a form of acting. At first, she had done this with great hesitation, for she had a strong sense of honor, and she wished to remain true to it. However, she had learned through many unpleasant experiences that it was far less painful to tell her enemies pleasant falsehoods than it was to be defiantly honest, especially when it came to voicing resentments and grievances about being enslaved. No one cared what a lowly thrall thought anyway.

Elfhild looked around the classroom, shocked to discover that she was the only Rohirric maiden present. Apparently, the others had chosen painting or martial arts, and she was the only one to whom the theatre called. This discovery made Elfhild feel a pang of unease, for she had hoped for the familiarity of her own countrywomen in the absence of her sister. She did recognize Koairy, the young woman who had recited the daily announcements that morning, but since she had never actually spoken with her, she could hardly be considered a friend. Judging from the uniforms of the other students, Elfhild concluded that the class was comprised of both novices and apprentices. She could not help admiring them, for their hair and cosmetics were flawless, and a few were wearing beautiful jewelry. They all seemed very self-assured, and she wondered if she would ever have their confidence.

Turning her gaze from her fellow students, Elfhild continued her study of the classroom. She noticed that a small stage had been built at the opposite end of the chamber. Wardrobes and cabinets for costumes, wigs, cosmetics, and small props lined either side of the room, while larger props and scenery pieces had been stacked against the walls. While everything was neat and tidy, there was an element of orderly chaos, a manifestation of the spirit of creativity.

The door to the theatre classroom opened, and the vivacious Mistress Sa-li entered with a grand flourish. An undercurrent of excitement coursed through the room, and several students murmured their enthusiasm to each other; one even let out a cheer. Obviously, Mistress Sa-li was a popular teacher at the School of Industry.

"Good afternoon, students. I am quite happy to meet those of you who are new and welcome back those who have taken theatre classes before." She gave them a dazzling smile that showed off her small, perfect teeth. "For our newcomers, I must inform you that this class does not meet year-round. Instead, we work towards perfecting our skills for our main production of the year, and then we rest for a time. We are not completely idle, though! During this period of rest, we keep our skills sharp through workshops and skits, or by entertaining Shakh Esarhaddon and his wives when they request our talents. Today marks the first day of class for all of you, both those who are experienced actresses, and those who are new to the craft. After a month of practice, we will be preparing for the next production, 'The Dissatisfied Prince.'"

One of the students – an apprentice, by the appearance of her uniform – spoke up respectfully. "Has a date been set for the play?" The young woman was quite lovely, with golden tan skin, wavy chestnut brown hair, and olive hazel eyes.

"Not yet, Anahilli. I did not want to risk choosing an ill-omened date, so I have consulted with leading prognosticators and haruspices, and they have advised me of the most favorable days. Shakh Esarhaddon will need to make the final decision, however, and since he returned only this morning, I have not yet discussed the matter with him." Sa-li knew Esarhaddon disapproved of the practice of consulting seers ere making plans, but she feared tempting fate more than earning his displeasure. She would be devastated if the play were a dismal failure because she chose the wrong date! Turning her attention back to the class, she continued her orientation speech. "Our last production was in December, before Shakh Esarhaddon had to leave for the North. While an exact date has not yet been set for the debut of 'The Dissatisfied Prince,' it will be sometime in early spring of next year."

Everyone's attention was drawn to the doorway of the classroom, where two students had just entered with trays of fruit cordial and pastries. "I thought that you all might be in need of some pleasant sustenance, so I arranged for refreshments to be served," Sa-li told the class as the students distributed food and drink. "Now you can listen while I tell you more about the theatre, this class, and myself."

As Elfhild nibbled upon a lemon-flavored pastry and sipped honeydew cordial, she listened to Mistress Sa-li's lecture. The theatre instructor was quite animated, sauntering back and forth in front of the class as she spoke, her long skirts swishing rhythmically. She explained that the yearly theatrical production at the School of Industry provided an excellent way for students to practice their skills, even if they were not performing upon the stage. Seamstresses and embroideresses were needed to create the costumes; weavers to create curtains and backdrops; artists to paint the sets and decorations; stagehands to help prepare the stage, change scenes, and adjust lighting; and volunteers to provide the performers and stagehands with refreshments. Even the farm workers got involved with the production by constructing stages, sets, and props.

"Now that you know all about the importance of theatre at the School of Industry, I shall tell you about myself." Pausing for a moment to allow the anticipation to build up in her audience, Mistress Sa-li began to tell the story of her life. "When Shakh Esarhaddon found me, I was a poor dancing girl working in a tavern. You may wonder how I arrived at that state when I tell you that I was born into a wealthy family." She glanced down at the many rings which adorned her fingers, admiring the way the light reflected off them. "Since childhood, I had been betrothed to a distant cousin whom I had seen only once. The husband of one of my friends was a very handsome man, and whenever I saw him in passing, I yearned for him. One afternoon I was in their garden, waiting for my friend to return from the house. I looked up from my embroidery and there he was, but my friend was nowhere to be seen. He invited me to walk with him deeper into the garden, and I could not refuse him. After that passionate afternoon, we carried on a torrid affair."

Allowing a moment for her listeners to revel in her sensational tale, Sa-li continued speaking. "We had to be very careful, for young maidens of wealthy families are closely watched. I would go to the marketplace, and while my handmaiden was occupied with looking at goods in a merchant's stall, I slipped away and lost myself in the crowd. When I had made good my escape, I went to a room that my lover had rented from a man whose silence had been bought by money. We were caught one afternoon by some men whom his wife had hired to follow him. That was the end of the affair, and it caused quite a scandal. I had dishonored the family, whose name was an old and honorable one. My father banished me with nothing but the clothes on my back and a few coins given to me by my mother."

"Oh, Mistress, that is horrible!" one of the students exclaimed.

"With nowhere to go, I was forced to become a vagabond and take whatever work I could find, often dancing in taverns to earn my bread. One of Shakh Esarhaddon's agents happened to be in a tavern where I was dancing, and he was so impressed that he offered to buy me from the owner. 'She is not a slave,' my employer laughed. 'I pay her well, but maybe you can pay her more. You will have to ask her. She is a free woman.'

"There were no hard feelings, and I think the tavern owner was glad to see me move on to better things. That is how I came to be here at Shakh Esarhaddon's villa. I became one of his dancing girls, and was later put in charge of the dancing troupe at the School of Industry. I have always liked to try new and different things, and often devised elaborate choreographies which included feats of acrobatics as well as dancing. Sometimes I even incorporated brief comedic acts in my performances, and in these short skits was my idea for a theatre born. I asked Mistress Juna to name Linnet, one of my best students, as the new Mistress of Dance, for I did not have time to teach both classes. I have held this position for five years, and with each passing year, the performances become even better." Sa-li smiled at her audience. "Do any of you have questions?"

Clearing her throat, Elfhild spoke up hesitantly. "Does the theatre class perform in nearby cities or villages?" While she did have an interest in the stage, she was not certain about performing for a large audience. Not yet, anyway.

"The theatre program at the School of Industry exists primarily to entertain Shakh Esarhaddon and his family. While sometimes we put on skits and vignettes to amuse guests, we seldom perform for the public," Sa-li explained. "The students of this class are amateurs, not skilled performers. However, those with exceptional talent may go on to become actresses upon the stage. Do you have any other questions?" She regarded Elfhild with curiosity.

Elfhild licked her lips nervously. "I – I cannot read. How will I learn the things I am supposed to say?" A blush of shame spread over her cheeks, and she averted her gaze. Why did she ever ask such a silly question? Now all the other students would think she was backwards and ignorant.

"You do not need to know how to read," Sa-li answered reassuringly. "Once you understand more about your character, you can make her your own, improvising what would be appropriate for her to say. Really, I should not say 'her,' because we portray both men and women, even animals and monsters. By the way, I dream up many of the plays myself, and so I can help you with the interpretation of the character you are playing. For that matter, you might be able to think up better things for them to say than I can. Here, let me give you an example." She turned to the rest of the class. "Would any of you care to volunteer for a brief skit?"

"Mistress, I will try." A tall girl, slender as a sapling, rose to her feet. She moved with an agile grace, her supple figure resembling a boy's as much as a girl's. Her skin was a soft tan, her light brown eyes were shaped like almonds, and her dark brown hair was long and straight.

"While I know that you have been a student here for a while, this is the first time that you have attended my class," Sa-li remarked, looking at the girl with approval. "Please introduce yourself to the other students."

"I am Haya, a novice," she replied in a shaky voice.

"Well, come along, Haya. Let us see if I can make an actress out of you. Come up here." Sa-li motioned for the girl to stand beside her in front of the class. "Here is the plot of our little skit: You are selling a donkey that is old and broken down, not good for anything much more than glue. Even though the beast is worthless, you want to try to get the most you can out of it, so when a prospective buyer comes to the market, you must convince him that he wants to buy the donkey. I will portray the part of a man who is browsing through the marketplace, and you will be the owner of the donkey. Do you understand, Haya?"

"Yes, Mistress, I think so." Haya took a deep breath and stood up straighter.

Sa-li put her hand on Haya's shoulder and turned the girl to face her. "Now you take care of your 'donkey' while I walk through the 'marketplace.'"

"Yes, Mistress." Haya closed her eyes and tried to concentrate upon the character she was to portray, what sort of man he would be, and how he would behave.

Sa-li walked almost to the door and then turned and sauntered around the room, her hands behind her back, stopping from time to time to browse an invisible stall. Occasionally she would pretend to examine something, then frown and shake her head. "What inferior merchandise! It is unbelievable what they try to sell in the marketplace! The quality of goods deteriorates every day!"

All this time, Haya had been pretending to groom an imaginary donkey, stopping every once in a while to examine its hooves. She was exuberant when Sa-li paused beside her.

"Good master, this is the finest donkey in all of Turkûrzgoi!" Haya exclaimed. "If you buy it, you will never be disappointed!"

"Buy it! Why indeed would I buy it? I thought perhaps you had brought it to market in the hopes you could give it away to someone," Sa-li replied, sounding disinterested.

"No, no, good master." Haya put her hand on Sa-li's arm. "Out of the goodness of my heart, I am prepared to offer this magnificent animal at a very low price, only because I have come upon hard times."

"No wonder you have come upon hard times, if all you offer for sale are other animals in the same sad straits as this one. Shameful!" Sa-li retorted, jerking her arm away from Haya's grasp. "Never would I buy such a mangy, flea-infested beast! What do you take me for, a fool?"

"Never, Master, would I think such a thing of you!" Haya exclaimed, appalled. "I think you are an individual of rare intellectual abilities, well-versed in learning and erudite in deep matters."

Sa-li puffed her chest out proudly at the compliment, and Haya looked over at the audience, a subtle smile of self-satisfaction upon her face. "Master, this beast has many attributes!"

"Name me one."

"It is very strong and can run like a gazelle. Look at this magnificent creature!" Haya gestured towards the empty space before her. "See the intelligence upon its noble face! Look at its lines! What a fine carriage, and its confirmation is superb! It is not sway backed, nor is it spavined, and it has good wind. I cannot say enough about this donkey!"

"You have already said too much about it, and none of it the truth! What lies and deceit! You should be reported to the Lord of the City for fraud!" Sa-li protested.

"Master, you have pierced me to the heart!" An anguished expression upon her face, Haya pressed her hand to her chest. "I am an honest merchant, and would never try to cheat anyone!"

"You would cheat anyone who was fool enough to buy your wretched donkey! Never have I seen a more woebegone animal." Sa-li shook her head, her face twisted in disgust. "Everything you have said about the pathetic creature is a lie! Now begone, you rascal!" Sa-li turned and started to walk away, but Haya caught her by the arm.

"This fine beast will carry you all day with a smooth, steady gait. Besides that, it can do tricks!" Haya stroked the imaginary donkey's neck.

"Tricks, you say? I always enjoyed watching trained animals," Sa-li remarked as she stroked a nonexistent beard, taking a newfound interest in the donkey.

"Certainly, master. This donkey will amaze you with its extraordinary feats!" Haya placed her foot in an imaginary stirrup and threw her leg over an imaginary saddle. She walked around the room, her legs spread apart, her hands upon unseen reins, convincingly imitating a rider upon a horse. The old donkey groaned with every step, giving slightly to a foreleg.

"The only thing amazing about that display is that the beast can walk at all. What about its so-called trick?" Sa-li demanded impatiently.

"We will come to that," Haya replied, dismounting from the donkey. "I was just showing you its gaits. Now for the spirited, intelligent animal's tricks." She stepped back from the donkey and raised her hand, apparently a signal for the donkey to perform.

A look of displeasure contorted Sa-li face and she squeezed her nose with her fingers. "Peww! The wretched beast just broke wind! Is that your idea of a trick?"

"No, no, that was an accident, I swear!" Haya raised her hand up again. Suddenly, her eyes widened in horror, and she threw her hand to her mouth. "Oh no! My donkey just collapsed!" She squatted down and tried to revive the beast, but to no avail. She shook her head and looked up at Sa-li. "The donkey is not dead, merely sleeping..."

"Yes, it sleeps forever!" Sa-li, as the prospective buyer, cried indignantly. "You unscrupulous dog! You would have taken my money and given me an animal that was almost dead!" Grabbing Haya by the neck of her dress, she pulled her close to her face and bellowed at her. "You lied to me, you little weasel! I am going to turn you into the city guard!"

"But, good master, I never lied," Haya protested, grimacing at the tension on her neck. "I told you the donkey had good wind, and that was no lie! Now pay me what I asked!"

"I will pay you to leave me alone, you scoundrel!" Sa-li mimed opening a pouch and counting out coins in Haya's outstretched palm. Then she stormed away to the cheers of the students in the audience.

When Sa-li returned, she was clapping for Haya. "An outstanding performance, my dear! I am very proud of you." She turned to the rest of the class. "Now that you understand more about acting, you have learned that you do not have to know how to read in order to entertain. While we have never pretended to be a professional troupe of actors, if I may say so, we do produce some very fine plays." She smiled, remembering some of the theatre group's past performances, but then she frowned when she saw the afternoon light slanting through the window. "The day is waning, and I must release you to go about your other duties. I have thoroughly enjoyed today's class, and hope that all of you will return tomorrow. In the meantime, class is dismissed."

As the students rose to their feet, Elfhild was ruminating upon Sa-li and Haya's performance. The plot of the skit – a dishonest horse trader attempting to sell a decrepit old nag to a dubious buyer – reminded her of the disastrous play that she, Elffled, and Eadfrid had performed at their village's Midsummer Fair. When Elfhild had come up with the idea for the skit, she had been inspired by a similar production put on by a traveling troupe of actors who had come from Gondor. Perhaps this was a common plot in other lands besides those in the West? Could there be a universal language of the theatre? This thought fascinated her. She would have to learn as much as she could about these matters.

As the students were leaving the classroom, Elfhild spotted Haya walking nearby and decided to hail her down. Her heart began to beat faster, and sweat beaded up on her palms. How would this pretty Nurniag regard her, a foreigner from a distant land? At least Haya was a fellow novice, so that implied that she had been at the school for less than three years. So perhaps that made them more or less equals? Elfhild was not certain. Mordorian culture was still so new and confusing for her.

"You really did a good job up there on the stage," Elfhild remarked breathlessly as she caught up to the other girl.

Haya paused, smiling. "Thank you; it was my first time acting. I saw last year's production of 'The Star-Crossed Lovers,' and I was utterly enchanted with the story. Like the poor young man who was driven mad by all-consuming passion for his beloved, I fell in love with the theatre that night, and have felt its bewitching call ever since." With a wistful sigh, she clasped her hands together in front of her chest.

"Ah, I am not familiar with that story," Elfhild admitted sheepishly, her cheeks coloring. "Perhaps you would tell me more about it?" She hoped that Haya would not consider her ignorant for knowing little about the plays which were popular in Nurn.

Before Haya could answer, three other girls approached them. Haya bowed slightly in greeting, and Elfhild followed her example. She recognized Koairy, the school crier, but the other two were unknown to her.

"Oh, Koairy, I was wanting to speak with you when you had a chance," Haya remarked, her voice filled with barely contained exuberance. "What did you think of my performance?" Though her eyes were bright with excitement, her cheeks were flushed with a slight self-conscious unease from her first time upon the stage.

"You did wonderfully!" Koairy replied, clapping her hands together. "I have told you for some time that you should give acting a try." She turned her attentions from Haya to Elfhild. "You are one of the new students who were brought here yesterday," she remarked, her gaze roaming over the shorter Northern girl in a scrutinizing fashion.

"My name is Hild." She bowed politely in greeting. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance." She felt herself tensing before the three higher-ranking students, and her hand nervously clenched around a section of her skirt.

"Welcome to the School of Industry." Koairy gave Elfhild a warm smile. "I hope you enjoy it here. In case you did not know already, I am Koairy, and it is my duty to give the announcements at meals. I also have been studying under Mistress Sa-li for three years now. This is my friend Esma, who also shares a love of the theatre." Koairy gestured to a tall, somewhat plump girl with light tawny skin and a mane of curly black hair which was held back from her round face by a periwinkle headband. Esma greeted Elfhild with a friendly smile, her dark kohl-lined eyes sparkling. "…And this is my friend, Anahilli. She was a stagehand in last year's play, but I convinced her to try her hand at acting this year." Koairy motioned towards the second girl, who was much shorter and curvier than her two friends, with a body shaped like a bottom-heavy hourglass.

Elfhild inclined her head respectfully. "It is a pleasure to meet you all."

Esma stepped forward and took Haya's hands in hers. "We all wanted to tell you what an outstanding job you did upon your first try at acting."

"You make an excellent horse trader," Anahilli giggled, gazing upon Haya with awe.

"Dishonest, but still excellent," snickered Esma.

Koairy turned back to Elfhild. "Do you have any experience in acting, Hild?"

"Some," Elfhild admitted, recalling her trial by fire in the goblin cave. She did not want to think about that terrible place, though; such dark memories were better left in the past, buried beneath the sands of Gorgoroth.

"Oh, do tell us more," demanded Esma, who looked as though she might burst with curiosity. Elfhild suspected that Esma had a streak of bossiness, and was the type who ate up gossip like a starving man wolfing down a meal.

"My brother, sister and I once put on a play at the Midsummer Fair in our village." Elfhild did not mention the fact that the play was a disaster, with everyone getting stage fright and forgetting their lines. These Nurniag girls did not need to know everything about her or her past.

"How exciting!" exclaimed Haya, clasping her hands together. "What was the play about?"

"The skit actually had a similar plot to the one that Mistress Sa-li and Haya just performed," Elfhild admitted. "To be honest, I was quite surprised when I saw their performance, because it was so familiar."

"What an odd coincidence!" exclaimed Koairy, her eyes wide with astonishment. "I must confess I know little of the theatrical traditions of the West."

"I played a dishonest horse trader, while my sister was the buyer," Elfhild continued. "My younger brother portrayed the horse." She smiled wistfully, remembering that day which felt so long ago. While in the past she had tried her best to forget her embarrassing debut on the stage, now it was a treasured memory. The threat of war had been far away then, and everyone was alive and well. She wished she could return to those happier days, but they would have to remain in the realm of memory.

"I do hope you will continue with theatre lessons," Koairy told her, a smile of welcome upon her face. "Mistress Sa-li always puts on the best plays."

Anahilli took a step towards Elfhild and Haya. "Would you two like to eat supper with us?" Her voice was softly imploring.

"Yes, then we could get better acquainted," Esma added, nodding approvingly.

"I would be glad to join you." Elfhild's gaze fell upon each of the four girls, each one so different in appearance and personality, but all united by their shared love of the theatre. "Is it all right if my sister comes along as well?" Though she would have preferred to eat supper alone with her new friends, she knew she would feel guilty if she did not invite Elffled to come along as well.

"The more the merrier," Koairy laughed, her dark eyes twinkling.

As Elfhild and her four new friends headed towards the great hall, she felt a sense of joy and contentment warm her heart. Although it was only her first full day at the School of Industry, she felt safe for the first time since the war began.