Snippet #2450761

As the three got up from the table to walk outside, Skylar called Ryland out on not remembering her name. He felt his cheeks flush a little as he replied, "I, uh... I'm sorry, Skylar. I do remember you, it was just your name that escaped my memory there for a little while." They rounded a corner and finally exited the castle.
 
They had come out into the courtyard, lined with trees and flowering bushes and dotted with round stone tables and wooden benches for studying or socializing. He led the way over to one of the tables and took a seat. It was a nice night. The end of summer evening air was still warm, with a bit of a breeze telling them that fall was not too far off. The sky, nearly cloudless, was now dark and polkadotted with stars, and the moon, nearly full, shining bright enough that they did not have to strain to see around them. There were some shadowed figures down towards the lake, probably other students out to enjoy the last night before classes.
 
Skylar was asking Ryland about his brother. People usually didn't inquire about him, as they were all generally aware of his need for privacy, but if she was taking the time to see how he was doing Ryland wouldn't argue. "Reid? He's doing well. This is going to be his last year here at Orenda. He spent all summer doing this internship with Talonega Bank as an apprentice Curse Breaker. He got the chance to travel to some really cool places doing it. You should see some of his sketches from the places he visited."
 
"I'm sure they don't want to hear about that," said a voice from somewhere behind him. Reid's voice. Ryland had assumed he was up in his dorm room at this point, but when he turned around, there his brother was, sitting at a nearby table in the shadow of a tree, with his sketchbook in front of him and pencil in hand. Had he not spoken, they probably would not have even noticed he was there. Now they they say him, he lifted his hand in a quick wave. "Braelyn, Skylar, I trust you had a good summer." Without waiting for a response, he turned his attention back to whatever he was sketching. How he was able to do that in the dark, Ryland was never able to understand.