The Wizard Heir Read Online Free PDF

met overhead,
sieving the light into frail streamers that scarcely colored the ground. The
air hung thick with the scent of green things long dead and half decayed. They
drove through dense woodland until the trees thinned and the light grew.
Glimpses of water and a freshening of the air said they'd reached their
destination.
    They pulled up before a large cedar-and-stone building
separated from the water by a broad boardwalk. A long dock ran out into the
harbor. Several sailboats bobbed alongside, sails furled and tied to the masts.
    “This is the administration center,” Dr.
Leicester explained. “The cafeteria, gymnasium, library, commons areas,
and other student services are all in here.” He drove a hundred yards
farther and stopped in front of another building. “This is Gareth Hall.
Most classes are held here, with the exception of physical education, art, and
music. We've been in session for several weeks now, so you'll have some hard
work ahead of you.”
    Art and music shared their own building. It couldn't
really be called a campus—there wasn't enough open space for that. Each
building stood isolated in its own clearing, the forest crowding in on all
sides, as if struggling to hold it at bay. The tall, straight trunks of trees
marched away until they collided in the gloom.
    All of the buildings were of similar construction, as
if the school had erupted, fully formed, out of the ground. It was a jarring
contrast to St. Andrew's, with its ancient stone lecture halls, bell towers,
and green lawns, the mountains framing every vista. And UTS—he shoved images of
the city out of his mind.
    “You must see a lot of wildlife here,” Seph
observed, because Dr. Leicester seemed to be expecting him to comment. Middle
of nowhere, he thought.
    “A little bit of everything: moose, bear, wolves,
deer. The raccoons and bears can be a problem.” Leicester laughed like it
didn't come easy. It was hard to imagine this man presiding at a fundraising
dinner or glad-handing parents.
    They stopped in front of a more modest three-story
structure, stone and glass and cedar, similar in design to the other buildings,
but on a smaller scale. “This is your dormitory.” He handed Seph a
key card. “You're in suite 302. Need help with your luggage?”
    “No, thanks. I'm fine.” Seph climbed out and
retrieved his bags from the back seat.
    “I'll arrange for one of our students to give you
a full tour before Monday. If you're hungry, you ought to be able to find
something in the cafeteria in the admin, building.”
    Seph wasn't hungry. His headache was worse. He felt as
if someone had been beating against his skull.
    “Swimming is at four thirty,” Leicester
said. “Change into your swim gear and follow the signs to the cove.
Everyone will be down there, and you'll have the opportunity to meet the other
boys.” The headmaster didn't give him a chance to argue. The van lurched
forward, spitting gravel from beneath its wheels.
    Seph looked around. Sunlight painted the tops of the
trees, and here and there a break in the canopy overhead allowed it to
penetrate all the way to the forest floor. Otherwise, the ground was bathed in
a cool green twilight. Leaves shuffled overhead and branches rattled in the
wind. A squirrel scolded him furiously from a nearby stump. He was already
chilly, even in his hoodie. Maybe this was swimming weather in Maine, but not
where he came from.
    Wherever that was.
    He slung his bags over his shoulder, ignored the
elevator, and climbed three flights of stairs to his floor. His room was at one
end of the building, rather isolated, off a short corridor. Leicester hadn't
said anything about a roommate, and Seph wasn't surprised to find he had a room
to himself. Students at expensive schools were used to their own space and
plenty of it.
    Each school he'd attended was captured by single image
in his mind: the cavernous great hall at Dunham's Field School in Scotland; the
view from the bell tower at St.