Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel, #1)

by Connie Willis

She pointed to the distorted shadows the fire cast on the walls as it flared up. Rosemund’s, oddly elongated, ended at the shoulders. One of the redheaded boys ran over to Agnes. “I have no head either!” he said, jumping on tiptoe to change the shadow’s shape. “You have no head, Rosemund,” Agnes shouted happily. “You will die ere the year is out.” “Say not such things,” Eliwys said, starting toward her. Everyone looked up. “Kivrin has a head,” Agnes said. “I have a head, but poor Rosemund has none.” Eliwys caught hold of Agnes by both arms. “Those are but foolish games,” she said. “Say not such things.” “The shadow—” Agnes said, looking like she was going to cry. “Sit you down by Lady Katherine and be still,” Eliwys said. She brought her over to Kivrin and almost pushed her onto the bench. “You are grown too wild.”