The Academy

Prologue

Ophelia’s eyes brightened with relief when Reddy entered their humble shelter. She had two bundles in her arms, each identical to the other save for the color: one was a faint orange, the other a light violet. Her hand was trembling when she reached out and gave him the violet one, and he accepted it with a murmur of reassurance.

“Reddy, what are we going to do?” she whispered, holding her bundle to her chest. A small noise of complaint was heard, but she hushed it hurriedly with a gentle kiss.

Reddy looked at his bundle, carefully separating a few folds of the blankets, and cooed at the little hands that rose up to meet his face. When the small fingers grappled the tip of his nose, he smiled and brushed the hand with a large finger.

“Reddy!” Ophelia hissed, desperate to get the man's attention.

There was a pause as Reddy rewrapped the baby in the blanket. When he spoke, his voice was grave. “We’ll do the best we can."

"But what if it isn't enough?"

Reddy evaded the question by telling her softly, "The only true way they’ll survive is if they don’t know. So I’ll take one. You’ll take the other.”

Ophelia’s eyes filled and she gnawed at her lip. “If we return, we won’t be welcomed. We broke the sacred rules.”

“So be it.” Ophelia cast a startled glance at Reddy. “We’ll work for the future of our children, Ophelia. That’s all we will exist for.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as Ophelia asked, “But Reddy—what if it doesn't work?”

“It will,” Reddy promised her. “Even if we’re torn away—even if we die—as long as the children are all right, that’s all that matters.” His eyes bore into hers. “Isn’t it so?”

Ophelia began crying in earnest, clutching the bundle ever more tightly. A quiet wail rose up as she whispered, “Yes. Yes, it is.”