CHAPTER TWO The Problem with Thorne

Isaure had prepared three arguments, two supporting documents, and one response to every objection she expected to hear.

She had not prepared for Caspian Thorne to make a good point.

The first assessment took place in the academy's debate chamber, where the candidates sat before a panel of teachers and student representatives. Séverine occupied a seat near the front, while Rafe had apparently decided that supporting his friend meant lounging in his chair as though he owned the building.

Isaure ignored both of them.

She stood when her name was called and presented her proposal for improving access to academic resources and student societies. She spoke clearly, answered the panel's questions, and explained how the changes could be funded without placing unreasonable demands on the academy.

When she finished, one of the teachers complimented her preparation.

She returned to her seat satisfied.

Then Caspian stood.

His proposal addressed the same problem from a different direction. He argued that the academy invested too heavily in students who already excelled while overlooking those who needed additional support.

Isaure disagreed with his suggestion that the existing system favoured high achievers. The resources were available to everyone who qualified for them.

Caspian challenged that assumption.

"Availability doesn't mean accessibility," he said. "A student who needs help shouldn't have to choose between asking for it and looking incompetent in front of their classmates."

Several students nodded.

Isaure waited until the questioning began.

"Your proposal assumes the academy has enough resources to provide individual support to every student who requests it. Where does that money come from?"

"By reviewing how existing funds are distributed."

"Which funds?"

He named two programmes whose budgets could be adjusted without disrupting essential services.

She had examined those programmes herself. The adjustments were possible, but they would require careful planning.

"You're assuming both programmes can operate with reduced funding," she said. "What happens when they can't?"

"Then the plan changes. That's why it's a proposal, not a religious doctrine."

A few students laughed.

Isaure kept her attention on the judges.

"The panel will appreciate the distinction."

Caspian answered the next question without looking at her.

By the time the assessment ended, neither candidate had secured a decisive advantage. The judges praised Isaure's structure and financial planning, while Caspian received recognition for identifying gaps in the academy's existing support system.

Isaure had wanted to outperform him.

Instead, she had spent half the assessment trying to disprove him.

That annoyed her more than his result.

"You were good," Séverine said as they left the chamber.

"I know."

"You were also determined to make sure he didn't get a single uninterrupted sentence."

"He challenged my proposal."

"And you challenged every word that came out of his mouth."

"That's what a debate is."

"Not when you're treating the other candidate like a personal enemy."

Isaure adjusted the papers in her folder. "He's a personal enemy."

"Yes, and you still have to beat the competition."

Across the courtyard, Rafe was having a similar conversation with Caspian.

"You enjoyed that."

"I enjoyed winning the argument."

"You didn't win."

"I made him defend his assumptions."

"You mean you made Isaure defend hers."

Caspian continued walking.

Rafe followed. "You know, most people enter competitions because they want the position."

"I want the position."

"And you don't care who you beat?"

"No."

"Interesting. Because you remembered every point she made."

Caspian stopped outside the library.

"Do you have somewhere else to be?"

"Several places. None as entertaining as this."

Rafe headed toward the dining hall, leaving Caspian to his research.

Isaure found the reference she needed in the library's online catalogue, only to discover that the physical copy had been borrowed.

She checked the return date.

Friday.

Her proposal was due Thursday.

"Looking for the Davenford report?"

She turned. Caspian sat at a nearby table with a laptop open beside a stack of books.

"Why?"

"Because you checked the catalogue three times."

"Perhaps I enjoy the catalogue."

"The report's available in the restricted collection. There's a digital copy, but the link is buried under the committee records."

He gave her the document number.

Isaure checked it on her laptop. The report appeared immediately.

She looked at him. "How did you find that?"

"I looked."

"Very helpful."

"You're welcome."

"I haven't thanked you."

"You were getting there."

She returned to the document before he could make the exchange more irritating.

The report contained figures she needed to strengthen her proposal. She downloaded it, made notes, and began reconsidering the funding structure she had presented earlier.

After several minutes, she glanced toward Caspian's table.

He was working through the same committee records.

"You've read all of these?"

"Most."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to understand where the money goes before suggesting where it should go."

There was no boast in his answer. He simply returned to his work.

Isaure looked back at her screen.

She had expected him to enter the competition for attention, privileges, or the pleasure of irritating her. She had not expected him to do the preparation required to make his argument credible.

She disliked being wrong about people.

She disliked being wrong about Caspian considerably more.

The following morning, the candidates received the instructions for the second assessment.

Each would submit a practical plan addressing a problem at Veyrenholt. The panel would evaluate its feasibility, financial implications, and likely effect on students.

Isaure immediately thought of the academic support system.

Caspian's proposal would attract students who believed the academy overlooked them. If she dismissed his concerns entirely, she risked looking more interested in protecting existing privileges than improving the school.

She opened a fresh document.

Across the room, Caspian was discussing his proposal with Rafe.

"She's going to challenge the budget," Rafe said.

"She should. The figures need to hold up."

"You sound remarkably reasonable."

"I'll try to recover."

Rafe glanced at the papers in front of him. "Your plan still assumes the academy will cooperate."

"That's why I'm including alternatives."

"Have you considered that she might be right about the funding?"

"I have."

"And?"

"Some of her concerns are valid."

Rafe waited.

Caspian closed his folder. "You can stop looking so pleased with yourself."

"I haven't said anything."

"You don't need to."

That evening, Isaure discovered the weakness in his proposal.

The committee records showed that one of the programmes Caspian intended to reorganise had already committed part of its budget to a project scheduled for the following term. Reducing its funding without accounting for that commitment could leave the project unfinished.

She read the figures twice.

It was a serious problem, and the panel would notice it.

She could point it out during the assessment and let Caspian explain himself before the judges.

Or she could use the information to strengthen her own proposal, demonstrating that her approach was more practical.

The second option was easier.

It was also the kind of decision she would criticise if someone else made it against her.

Isaure saved her notes.

She wasn't going to protect Caspian from a mistake. He was responsible for his own proposal.

But she wasn't going to pretend the weakness made his entire argument worthless, either.

The next assessment would be interesting.

For the first time since the competition began, she was looking forward to hearing what he had to say.