The Second Siege by Henry H. Neff Page A

sick because he’s never been exposed. It didn’t affect me as much, because of what I went through last spring.”
    Actually, Max thought his experience in Marley Augur’s crypt was enough for a hundred Acclimations. The aura radiated by the undead blacksmith had been a far more malevolent force than the nausea-inducing presence of the woman’s ghost.
    “Bob, did you know about this?” asked Mr. McDaniels, turning to the craggy-faced ogre.
    “No,” said Bob. “I have never heard of one being Acclimated so young.”
    “Yeah,” said Max hastily. “Most students do this when they’re eighteen.”
    “Just before they’re assigned,” added Bob, frowning now as he diced another basket of tomatoes.
    “Assigned to what?” asked Mr. McDaniels.
    “Official duty,” said Bob ominously, with an anxious glance at Max.
    “Over my dead body,” breathed Mr. McDaniels, removing his apron and heading for the door.
    “Dad,” cried Max. “Where are you going?”
    “To find Ms. Richter,” huffed his father, disappearing out the swinging doors.
    Max groaned and buried his head, listening to the static that now hissed from the radio.
    Despite his father’s angry departure and an exhausting afternoon, Max found it impossible to resist the splendor of the Welcome Feast. The Manse was lit from within like a jewel as thousands of candles flickered from carven alcoves, casting a rich gleam on silver polished to spotless perfection. Students filed into the dining hall by class to take their seats, looking as scrubbed as the silverware in their formal uniforms. Max took a seat next to David, whose brow was furrowed in furious concentration as he wrestled with his crooked tie. David grunted hello as Max craned his neck at the tables where the Fourth Years were taking their places. Max scoured the faces until he found Julie Teller, a pretty girl from Melbourne with whom he had exchanged letters over the summer. His stomach clenched into a funny knot as Julie met his eyes for a moment before she quickly looked away and resumed a conversation with the girl next to her.
    “Julie, Julie,” muttered Connor, taking the seat next to Max. “What’s going on with her?”
    “I don’t know,” said Max. “I thought something—I mean, we wrote each other and stuff this summer—but she walked right past me in the foyer.”
    “Women,” said Connor sympathetically. “I can’t figure them out either, mate. Hey, Lucia?”
    Lucia’s dark eyes flashed at them from the far end of the table.
    “Why won’t you go out with me?” called Connor.
    “You are a filthy pig-dog,” said Lucia with cool disdain, eliciting peals of laughter and applause from a gaggle of nearby girls.
    Connor shrugged and turned back to Max.
    “See? By the way, Mr. Sikes took care of everything—those Sixth Years don’t know squat about any witch. They probably don’t even remember who Cooper is!” he added with a chuckle.
    Before Max could reply, there was the clinking of spoons on crystal as Ms. Richter swept into the dining hall, followed by three adults Max had never seen before. They took their places among the faculty and staff, Ms. Richter’s proud face looking happy but careworn in the candlelight.
    “Please stand,” she said in a clear, strong voice that filled the great hall.
    Max stood, glancing at David, who had abandoned his tie and stuffed it in his pocket.
    “This is a House of Learning,” said Ms. Richter, “and today is the Day of Return, when teacher and pupil reforge their bonds and resume their progress on the path.”
    The faculty and students raised their glasses.
    “This is a House of Learning,” she continued, “and today is a Day of Remembrance, when we gather to honor our past, embracing both its joys and sorrows.”
    Again, the glasses were lifted in salute.
    “This is a House of Learning and today is a Day of Renewal, when Rowan welcomes a new class bringing with them life and promise to grace these halls and