Shadows on the School Grounds (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781468002157)

Miona is used to getting in trouble.

At home, besides her human nanny and her master's big chauffeur, everyone seems to love nothing better than to pick on her. School is even worse, and she collects detentions, and scuffles with the class bully. And just when she thinks the weekend is about to free her of him and his goons, a bad decision ruins that hope in the worst of ways.

And a few days later when she thinks she has her revenge on the gang, she in fact sets herself up for much deeper trouble. The kind that would make her master angry at her, but could also just simply ruin his career, and threaten a fragile peace between the main species of the planet.

This time it is going to take more than her furry friends' help to get Miona out of it alive. She'll need all her wits and her strong sword fighting skills.
And something else too, a very special talent she never knew she had....

Excerpts:

FLYING BACK FROM SCHOOL:
"What are you doing?" Ruhul tried to stop her, but he could only grab the top of her skirt. She was already halfway through, her hands and head resting on the copilot seat, her stomach on its headrest, and her legs on the luggage compartment. He pulled on the skirt to try to force her back into the passenger compartment, but the fabric gave a warning sound so he eased up on it. Soon he had to let go to slow down their speed. "You're going to kill us. Go back to the passenger cabin at once!"
"I can't," she said, sliding further into the seat. Now only her shins were still in the passenger compartment.
Ruhul glanced at her legs and winced, holding back a new command. "Now what are you gonna do?" he said in a calmer voice. "Travel upside down 'till we get home, or turn around and kick the controls with your feet?"
"I can't stay like this," she protested, the blood getting to her face. "Can't you catch my feet?" Then she slid down as slowly as she could, trying to turn around to see what she could haul herself up with. Her hand went to the copilot controls, but she knew she'd better not use those.
"Don't touch that!" warned Ruhul.
She managed to grab hold of the edge of her seat and pulled.
"Mind your feet, won't you?" Ruhul said in an exasperated growl. "You're on my tail now."

FIRST SWORD GAME PRACTICE:
At one point Miona found herself very close to Poisonohl. "Hey, Fortvallor," he snickered under his breath. "Too bad we don't have the padded gear today. You'll be all black and blue when we're done with you."
"You'll be needing your crutches again," Miona said through her teeth. "Hope you have them close at hand."
Moments later they arrived in front of the large box, both at the same time. Poisonohl pulled one saber from the crate and in the same movement swung it at Miona's back.
But she hadn't taken her eyes off him for more than a second at a time while she was choosing a sword for herself. She pulled a saber from the pack and swerved it with both hands in a parry. Poisonohl's saber bounced off her own with a clank.
The next second both sabers were pointing to the ground and both Miona and Poisonohl moved away from the crate as if nothing had happened.
"Hold on, there!" Professor Musrol said, walking back to the crate. "What was that noise I heard?"