“Ah, but that’s where you’re mistaken,” Rodriguez said triumphantly. “Every spell has a counterspell. And thrallweave, though it’s taken as innate vampire magic, is still a spell–though one frequently believed species-specific. It is, in fact, not species-specific. Non-highbloods can master thrallweave...”

“You’re saying blightborn can work thrallweave?” the headmaster interrupted, his face credulous. “Impossible.”

“Not impossible. With diligence and hard work it can be done. Though very few mortals have an aptitude for such magic, it’s true,” Rodriguez replied. “In fact, we used to teach such a class here. It was offered to highbloods and select blightborn. Secondary Level Thrallweave, I believe it was called.”

“And I suppose you’re one, are you, Gabriel?” Professor Sankara’s interest seemed genuine. “Have you mastered thrallweave? How very impressive. But then, I’d expect nothing less from you.”

Professor Rodriguez flushed a little just above his worn collar. “I haven’t, no. Not really.” I got the distinct impression he was lying. “But I do have experience with the opposite. Thrallguard.”

“Thrallguard?” I burst out, unable to contain my excitement. “Is that what it sounds like?’

“It’s a defense against thrallweave.” He looked at the headmaster. “One which every dragon rider used to receive proficient training in.”

“That was long ago,” the headmaster said.

“True. But I’m sure Lord Drakharrow would like his pet rider–” I bristled but said nothing. “To receive every possible educational opportunity that the riders of old had,” Rodriguez said.

“You’re suggesting you train Miss Pendragon is this thrallguard spell?” the headmaster said. “Professor Sankara has just successfully argued that she should take his Advanced Weaponry class. With that plus her regular classes and study periods, I’m afraid Miss Pendragon will have enough on her plate.”

“I’d be happy to add another class, Headmaster,” I said quickly. “Maybe I could replace one of my other less suitable classes, like Restoration? Or I could go during lunchtime or after classes are finished. I’d put in the work. Whatever was needed. I swear I would.”

“She sounds enthusiastic to me, Headmaster,” Sankara said with a grin. “Little wonder. If there’s a student out there so determined to do her harm that they had her climb one of the dragons during your speech, then who knows what they might try next? Perhaps Rodriguez is right and it’s not such a bad idea. Just a little unusual.”

“Unusual, yes, but I do have other pupils. She wouldn’t be the first,” Rodriguez said quickly.

“Your first and foremost duty is to teach the classes you’ve been assigned, Gabriel,” the headmaster said coldly. “Not to facilitate your own side projects.”

Rodriguez colored. “Of course. Which I do. But school rules stipulate a professor is allowed to hold private sessions. And I do this for a few select pupils. You might be surprised to know that so far, all have been highbloods.”

I watched as Professor Sankara and the headmaster looked at one another.

“Not as surprised as you might think,” the headmaster muttered finally.

“I suppose it makes sense that some of our elite students would want to be able to guard against the use of thrallweave,” Sankara agreed. “After all, the most dangerous enemy a highblood can face is another highblood.”

My heart was beating fast. It sounded as if this “thrallguard” was something only the most elite highblood students could afford to take private lessons in. And it also sounded like Professor Rodriguez was one of the only non-vampires who knew how to teach it. If not the only one in the entire school.

I wondered how he had wound up so skilled in thrallguard himself. But I wasn’t about to ask. Not in front of Headmaster Kim.

“Paranoia,” the headmaster said dismissively. “Highbloods rarely use thrallweave upon one another. Most of the time it doesn’t have a high success rate.”

“Yes, but when it does...” Sankara shrugged. “When the great houses have been at war with one another, having a highblood from another house under your power could be the tipping point between victory or defeat. Enthralled highbloods make powerful spies.”

“As did thrallweaved riders,” Rodriguez pointed out. “And Miss Pendragon is the only rider in existence. The only rider blood in Sangratha. What if one of the great houses tried to steal her away from Bloodwing? You know Lord Drakharrow has many enemies.”

Headmaster Kim and Professor Sankara exchanged another look.

“That is true,” the headmaster said finally. “Very well. You may train her in this art. I’ll permit it.”

I wanted to clap my hands together in glee but restrained myself. Learn how to block Regan and her coercive attacks? Yes, please. Perhaps, eventually, I could even figure out how to teach this skill to other students, like Florence and Naveen.

“Excellent. You’re making the right decision. Miss Pendragon seems a quick study. I’m sure she’ll catch on fast. And then she’ll be much safer at Bloodwing. We want her to be competitive with the highblood students, after all, don’t we?” Professor Rodriguez said confidently.

I raised an eyebrow at him. Was he really going to sing my praises after how furious he’d been at me just the day before? But it didn’t matter. I was just grateful he’d shown up and made this offer.

Over the next half-hour, we finalized the rest of my timetable. Then Headmaster Kim rose to his feet. “I have a meeting with some of the board members in a few minutes. I’m afraid we’ll have to wrap things up.”

“Of course,” Professor Sankara said. “Miss Pendragon, I’ll see you at our next class.”

He swept out of the room, his long purple robe trailing behind him.

“I’ll escort Miss Pendragon to the refectory,” Professor Rodriguez offered. “Breakfast is still being served. She can grab something before her next class and I’ll set up a time to begin her training.”

“I’ll have an updated timetable delivered to you later this morning,” Headmaster Kim told me as he hastened from the room.

I followed Professor Rodriguez out into the hall. Now that it was past eight-thirty, the corridors were bustling with students moving towards the refectory or heading towards class early.

“What was that in there?” I asked, after we’d taken a few steps away from the headmaster’s office.

Rodriguez glanced at me. “What do you mean?”

“I mean...” I tried to say it in the right way. “You were furious at me yesterday. Suddenly you’re showing up to save me? I don’t understand.”

He frowned. “I might object to you personally. That doesn’t mean I wish you physical harm.”

“How kind of you.” I risked rolling my eyes. “Does that mean I still have to write that essay?”

He looked amused. “Yes.”

“But you think what Regan did to me was wrong?”

“So it was Miss Pansera. Interesting. I figured as much.”

“Shit,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

He looked over at me. “Did you tell the headmaster?”

I shook my head. “Why bother? I highly doubt she’d get in trouble for it. She’s a highblood, right? Do they even punish them?”

Now he really looked amused. “You’ve caught on pretty fast considering it’s only your second day.” He pursed his lips. “So Miss Pansera told you to ask me about dragons and healers, huh?”

“Shit,” I said again. “Please don’t say anything to anyone. Clearly you were already well aware she was a huge bitch. Look, I just want to move past this. If I have to do the essay and clean your storeroom, fine. I get it.”

“You have to do the essay because it’ll teach you things you ought to know. As for the storeroom...” Rodriguez ran his hands through his hair. “You might not have time for that now,” he conceded. “We’ll see. It already looks better than it did before, in any case.”

“Do you really tutor other highbloods in how to guard against thrallweave?” I asked, curious.