We didn't have time for a formal war council. The moment we returned to the academy, bloodied but alive after escaping Mordain's trap, I knew we had minutes at best before they regrouped and came after us.

"Barricade the eastern gate," I said, moving through the courtyard at a run. Students scattered to follow orders. "Double the watch on north and south walls. Pull everyone back from exposed positions."

"What about the western approach?" Lysandra called from where she was already organizing ...