WhenRinacedtheKeju—theEmpire-widetesttofindthe
mosttalentedyouthtolearnattheAcademies—itwas
ashocktoeveryone:tothetestofficials,who
couldn’tbelieveawarorphanfromRoosterProvincecould
passwithoutcheating;toRin’sguardians,whobelievedthey’d
finallybeabletomarryheroffandfurther
theircriminalenterprise;andtoRinherself,whorealized
shewasfinallyfreeoftheservitudeanddespair
thathadmadeupherdailyexistence.Thatshe
gotintoSinegard—themostelitemilitaryschoolinNikan—was
evenmoresurprising.Butsurprisesaren’talwaysgood.