House Hydra: Ashton & Barclay & Open
Barclay was right again. Ashton did like knowledge. He thirsted for it, all the knowing in the world that he was missing out on. Like someone was keeping great treasures from him and all he had to do was ask for it. People at the school had an amazing pool of wisdom to impart. The students, he learned, were no exception. Their wisdom was sometimes in the spilling of their own secrets. These students bled secrets that Ashton would have been unwilling to share with anyone, but somehow they felt safe telling their peers. It was an adjustment going from a life of solitary living in a cave with only the unhatched egg of his brother for company to living at a boarding school with a throng of other people.
He did not want to stand out. It would draw unwanted attention. Ashton tipped his head at Barclay, swallowing down his pride some. The witch was human, as far as Ashton knew, and he was intelligent and quick. The dragon knew Xanthippe wouldn't approve, but he opened his mouth and asked anyway, "What would you suggest, then?"
He'd been watching Barclay in return, wary of him since the day before. Watching and waiting.