Marion Norindale Books

Fierce yet gentle, Lavinia wishes for a better world while doing her best day-to-day to make that happen. She cares deeply for both those she loves, and those who don’t have anyone to stand up for them.

She was adopted by one of Castilla’s most prominent senators, who instilled in her a compassion and a deep sense of activism.

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EXCERPT

“What rhymes with ‘shiver’?” Lavinia tapped her pencil against her notebook. She glanced up at her guards, who sprawled out around her on the patio furniture.

Tiffany frowned, blinking up from her book. “Wither. Sort of…quiver? Liver?”

The girl wrinkled her nose.

“What are you doing?” Jinh prompted.

“Well…” Lavinia tucked a trail of dark hair behind her ear, then reached down to pet the small brown-and-white dog lying at her side. “I’m writing a poem about winter.”

Jinh nodded. “What’s the line you need to rhyme with?”

“‘It makes me want to sit and shiver,’” Lavinia recited.

“Hm.” The man scrunched his eyes.

Tiffany leaned back, draping her arm over the back of the wicker sofa. “Well…there’s also…uh…um…”

Lavinia paused in petting Patches to scribble something down in her notebook. “I’ll think of something—but I appreciate your contributions.”

The back door squeaked open.

“Mail call,” Lavinia’s third guard, Thomas, announced as he stepped out onto the patio. “There’s something for you, Vinny.”

A frown wrinkled the girl’s lips.

Thomas grinned as he handed her the envelope.

Lavinia gasped. “Oh—this is my acceptance letter, isn’t it?”

She grabbed up her pencil and worked the tip of it under the seal.

“Here.” Tiffany held out a hand, and the girl placed the envelope within it. With a single tap, the woman cracked the seal.

“Thank you,” Lavinia chirped.

Ms. Lavinia Reyes:

You are cordially welcomed in your upcoming attendance of the House of the Scroll. Enclosed is a list of supplies necessary for purchase, as well as the courses available to first-year students. All course selections must be submitted no later than the first of Kaechim. Please be prepared and present on campus no later than Dechri, Julichème first.

We look forward to your joining our community.

Thank you,

Demille Thorncrown

Headmistress of the House of the Scroll

She had known this day was coming.

But it was just another reminder that her childhood would someday come to an end—and life as she knew it would be altered forever.

Lavinia scrunched up her lips and tugged at her hair.

“You okay?” Tiffany laid her book on her lap.

The girl tore her gaze away from the letter. “What? Uh…yeah.” She dropped her eyes as a swallow passed down her throat.

Patches whimpered, settling his head on Lavinia’s leg. The girl set down the letter long enough to dig her fingers under his ears. His tail whapped at the sofa.

“I’m really excited about school and all. It’s not that, it’s just…” Lavinia bit down on her lip. “I’ve kind of gotten used to the way things are. When I go away and start to learn magic…things are going to—change.”

Her guards exchanged a glance.

Tiffany reached out to lay a hand on the girl’s arm. “No matter what happens, you’ll always be safe.”

Lavinia appreciated the warmth of the woman’s words. Her guards had protected her for all of her life.

But she couldn’t fight the fear that they wouldn’t be able to shield her from all of the horrors lurking at the edges of her world.

* * *

That evening, Lavinia fetched things around the kitchen while Jinh prepared dinner. Tiffany and Thomas had stepped out to circle the perimeter.

“I’m home,” a tired voice called, muffled behind the clatter of cooking.

Lavinia perked up, then scampered out of the room and down the hall.

In the foyer, her father stripped off his suit jacket.

He smiled and bent down to swoop his adopted daughter into a hug. “Hi, sweetie. How was your day?”

“Good.” Lavinia loosened her arms on his neck, then edged her teeth over her lip. “I got my letter today.”

“Oh?” Carson slung his jacket over his shoulder, grabbed up his briefcase, and began to stroll towards the kitchen. Lavinia followed, drifting into his side. Carson glanced down at the girl. “Are you okay?”

Lavinia bit her lip. “Yeah…I was just telling Tiff and Tom and Jinh. I’m just feeling weird about—starting. Like…we all know something’s gonna happen. But it’s just been easier to ignore.”

“Oh.” Carson frowned, then rubbed up the girl’s back. “You’ll be fine. Whatever happens, you’ll always have a home and a family.”

Lavinia wrapped a fist around her father’s shirt, then nuzzled her face into the fabric. He was right…wasn’t he? She could face anything, so long as she had her family by her side. Carson, Tiffany, Thomas, and Jinh would be with her through everything—

No matter what that everything turned out to be.