Evelyn was still able to remember the meeting room as clearly. Her mind had blown like fire, and though the leaders had not looked down, she had caught the shock in their eyes, the doubt they tried to hide. For the first time, she had not been quieted, and everyone knew it.
The days that followed had a strange, new feeling. Wherever she went, the young fighters gazed up at her. Others displayed slight cues of respect, slight movements that were hesitant, as if fearful of being discovered. Some were courageous enough to speak a little more openly. "You handled it nicely that night, my lady," one of them murmured after practice, his voice both proud and worried. Evelyn smiled and thanked him, but her heart stung. Respect was an elusive thing in Ravenclaw. It could bring hope, but it could bring strife, too.
