Most of the table sniggered, roused by the enthusiastic delivery of Koth’s insult, if not by agreement with it. He continued more rambunctiously, spurred on by his peers. “Come next month, you’ll probably be out cleaning up after horses with the lowest of the low-folk. But hey… I guess the animals won’t care what title you give yourself, as long as you haul their shit outside for ’em!â€? Now everyone erupted. Even Rendel was able to see the funny side.

Elhana, acutely aware of the silence at other tables, would indulge this no further. She embraced her role as a teacher and raised her voice to firmly command every one of her students. “For all of your training, none of you are true technomages yet, I’ll remind you. And few of you will be, if past tests are anything to go by.â€?