The weekend of the Havenwing Ball arrived. Usually when I returned to Uncle Oruc’s and Aunt Monria’s house after school each day I took time to join my aunt for tea or, if she was otherwise engaged, took tea by myself in the library with a good book to refresh me after my day’s work.
But on the Friday before the ball I raced directly to my room, hastily changed into riding clothes, and rushed to the stables, where that morning I had left a special request with the stable master to have two horses saddled and waiting.

The next week passed quickly. My pupils were settling into their lessons quite well, and I was beginning to feel more at ease in the role of teacher. On the last day of the school week, I received my first evaluation from the school board. I had known it was coming and its approach gave me no end of anxiety, but nonetheless I was delighted to find that the board had ranked me favorably in all areas. I promptly sent their report home in a letter to my family.