Slayers Read Online Free Page B

sunglasses to let her eyes adjust to the light. The room looked like any small office: shelves lined the wall and a large metal desk was parked in the middle of the room. Books, pencils, and photos frames cluttered its surface. A middle-aged man with wire-rimmed glasses smiled as she walked over. He was tall, slightly overweight, and his thick gray hair had a sort of Einstein disarray to it. He had no wrinkles to match the gray hair, though, and it gave him the odd appearance of being both old and young.

    His office window looked out on the parking lot. He had probably seen her struggling with her luggage and sent these guys out to help her. He’d undoubtedly also seen her reaction, and now before she’d even registered, she’d done something wrong.
    Tori wished she was more like Aprilynne, who didn’t care what she said, but Tori felt the weight of her father’s job too keenly. Politicians stayed in office by making friends, not insulting people. Their daughters were supposed to do the same.
    The man held his hand out to her. She’d been wrong about the wrinkles. His eyes crinkled when he smiled. “Welcome to Dragon Camp. You’re Victoria Hampton?” He had the hint of an accent, but she couldn’t place it. British maybe? Australian?
    She shook his hand. “I go by Tori.”
    “Tori, then.” He gave her another smile, which was good news. He probably wouldn’t have kept smiling if he was going to yell at her for assuming everyone at camp was either a thief or a menial worker. She relaxed, but only slightly. Why was she here instead of out in the registration line?
    “I’m the camp director, Dr. Bartholemew. Most everyone calls me Dr. B. It’s easier.”
    She remembered reading about him in the camp literature. He was a professor of medieval studies at George Mason, which was why his class was good for college credit.
    Tori cast a quick glance at the two guys. Both had taken off their sunglasses, and it didn’t make her feel better to see they were both on the extremely warm side of hot—as in, way to make a fool of herself in front of what were likely to be the only cute guys her age here.
    She turned back to Dr. B with an inward sigh.
    “I’ve always admired your dad,” he said.
    “Thanks.” She wasn’t sure whether to be surprised that he knew her father was a senator. Hopefully her mother hadn’t called and made a big deal about it. Sometimes her mom liked to throw the title
around to drum up preferential treatment. Tori could imagine her phoning and saying things like, “You have adequate supervision, don’t you? The boys and girls cabins are chaperoned? It would be such bad publicity for your camp if anything happened to a senator’s daughter …”
    “I’m glad you could join us at Dragon Camp,” Dr. B went on. He glanced at the guys and some hidden meaning passed between them before Dr. B returned his attention to Tori. “I noticed from your application that you signed up for the advanced section of horseback riding and fencing. You’ve done those before?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you didn’t sign up for the tae kwon do class.”
    “I’m already a fourth-degree black belt.”
    “Ahh.” He sent another meaningful look to the guys. “Any other lessons you’ve taken?”
    “Ice skating.” She had been competing since age twelve and had a shelf full of state and regional trophies to show for it. Her coach kept telling her she could go to nationals if she put in more practice time.
    “Have you ever used a rifle?” Dr. B asked. “Gone hunting, perhaps?”
    “I’ve done target practice.” Her father had originally taken her shooting to impress his NRA supporters, but she’d liked it and had kept going. “Why do you ask?”
    Dr. B clasped his hands behind his back and grinned. “I’m always curious to see what kind of people come to our camp. You’ll find you have a lot in common with many of the other campers.” He gestured in the direction of the guys. “Both Dirk and Jesse