Red Madrassa: Algardis #1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

unencumbered by societal restrictions.
    The day had waned into late afternoon before they finally reached the small township surrounding the Citadel. “Please, we need help for our companion!” shouted Allorna to townspeople walking past as she pointed at the girl in Sidimo’s arms. “Is there a healer or apprentice nearby?”
    A young man with a horse and cart told her, “I’m picking up an order at the Madrassa. I’ll give you a lift to the healer’s shop.” Gratefully, the three companions hopped into the wagon with the injured girl.
    As the cart exited the town to the east, they got a better view of the Madrassa. It stood on a low, flat-topped tor, slightly raised above the valley floor. Eight grand buildings, irregular in shape, towered above the many other facilities located on Citadel grounds. “Each of those towers,” said Maride as he looked up, with a grin stretching from ear-to-ear, “is dedicated to a sole school and its pupils.”
    Sidimo:
    Sidimo, who had yet to look up, continued to concentrate on the girl in his arms. He felt weak, almost dizzy; but to his senses, she looked no worse for wear, so he continued his vigil.
    They took the unconscious girl to the Healers’ emergency headquarters, which (like all the other specialties) had an outpost in the central building dedicated to the intermingling of the Schools. After the Initiate Wars‌—‌and to some extent, because of them‌—‌the Citadel sought to demonstrate the usefulness of each School understanding all the other Schools’ crafts, in order to better serve their communities as a whole.
    One example, which they later learned the Healing Headmaster was fond of repeating, emphasized that Healing could be augmented by Fire magic in some cases. If a burn victim came in, the healer could tend to the physical wounds and lacerated skin, while the Fire Initiate could draw away the pain and heat caused by the fire.
    Sandcloth-garbed healers, Initiates, and Probates of the School of Healing quickly surrounded Sidimo, Allorna, and Maride as they entered the EHQ. They took the girl into another room and pulled the dividing cloth down, indicating that they expected the other youths to stay outside. She was still unconscious when the healers took care of the burns on her stomach and wrapped her waist in cloth laced with herbs.
    As she lay on the table still unconscious, with a pupil attending to her dressings and the cuts on her face, a Probate came up to Allorna, Sidimo and Maride. “Oh my!” she said sympathetically. “I’m so sorry for your friend. It must have been a terrible journey for you to face the mountains alone.” She looked guilelessly from face to face.
    “Yes. Yes it was,” said Allorna, a little warily.
    “Yes, yes!” nodded the girl. “But never fear, you made it just in time. The admittance exams for this leap year are just about over!” When all three youths looked at her curiously, she said a little uncertainly, “You…‌did come for tests, didn’t you?”
    “Oh, yes,” Maride said brightly, “The Admittance of Harthur!” Sidimo nodded thoughtfully. He remembered reading something about that. Every three years, the Madrassa was supposed to do a mid-year admissions round, to let new blood into each five-year cohort. “We’ve been looking forward to this for months!” Maride continued.
    “Oh, good!” the healer replied. “I’ll just go fetch the Headmaster, then.”
    Allorna and Sidimo turned to look at Maride. “The admittance tests are based on the feats of the homeless student Harthur,” he quickly explained. “Students are allowed to test for admittance once every three years outside of the normal recruitment by Initiates.”
    A tall man came striding toward them; by the badges on his tunic, he was the Headmaster of the Healing School. He cut an imposing figure as he looked down his nose at the three youths standing before him, but the half-smile on his face helped ease their concern. He might