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"Tarnished" (Lorenta) ---------------------------------- Crown Courtyard, Flenceburg Sorcery Academy - November 15 - Afternoon - ---------------------------------- Luncheon with Crown Karon was an affair to be detested - all cool smiles and veiled suspicion, the sort of meeting only a city like Flenceburg could breed. It was a reminder, as if she needed one, that the winds of politics here in her own home were every bit as changeable as in Gerabellum, or Villnore. Things here were slippery, the sharp points of knives hidden beneath silk, gauntlets swathed in velvet - so different from the battlefields elsewhere. Mystina would have scoffed at that... and why not? She was direct, almost to a fault - too caustic and distasteful to amount to much in a city steeped in intrigue the way teabags were steeped in water. Someday, they would be soaked dry and tossed aside. But not today. Today, Karon had deigned to leave her office in the King's Palace and pay a visit to the Headmistress of the Sorcery Academy, presumably to catch up on affairs in the academic world and assert her own friendly advice. In reality, she had come to offer money to the Academy's coffers, hoping to gain a favor for whatever scheme she had brewing in her mind. Lorenta managed to fend her off for one day, but there would surely be another meeting close on the horizon. She would have to choose which path to take then, or risk the Academy; Karon worked for the Treasury, and could easily strangle Lorenta out of her job if she felt slighted. Autumn gold leaves and snow white flower petals drifted down from the trees, settled onto Lorenta's shoulders and in her hair as she passed through the arch at the entrance of the Academy and into the front courtyard. Trees grew tall beneath the crystal dome, their growth controlled by the wild magic of the druids so they would spread outwards rather than up through the glass. They were ancient, their presence majestic, as if they were the only true inhabitants of the building, and the humans were a temporary nuisance. The school was housed in an old palace compound that had been founded in the days before the royal family of Flenceburg even existed. It looked like a castle in its own way, but of what manner she couldn't tell; there were no turrets or guard towers, or battlements in the traditional sense. The walls around it were curved into a circle, broken by five towers that were now used for research. Paths from each tower led to the main building, covered with vines and bordered by rose bushes, so that any walking along would be protected from the elements. The central courtyard she strolled through now was crowned with that crystal net, as if it tried to imprison the forest within. And it was indeed a forest: trees, bushes, and flower beds meandered along the walls and crowded the open space. Lorenta would have been tempted to think the place was some kind of druid temple, if she wasn't so sure they would never take their practices indoors. The students and faculty used it as a study area, sometimes as a picnic ground, or a park, but its original purpose was a mystery. Walks could be followed all the way to the towers from the center of the yard, like the spokes of a wheel, or a magic circle - and perhaps it was just that. But whatever it was, the trees' captivity did nothing to daunt their nature. Fall still fell upon them, winter stilled their branches, and spring brought them back to life again. Those students not willing to brave the plains beyond the city would sate their need for nature here, and Lorenta was no different. She paused on the path to the north tower and stepped aside so she would not block anyone's way should they wish to pass. Caught in the enchantment of the rustle of leaves and the chill autumn breeze that slithered through the glass net above, her worries about Crown Karon and her designs faded to the back of her mind. Peace, the leaves told her. And so it was - she could understand why the light elves wished to remain locked in their forest. "It wasn't just any dream, Alisha. It was beautiful - I've never seen anything so beautiful." Lorenta's eyes drifted open and she turned her head to the side, her reverie broken by the intruding voice. She would move if it sounded too personal - she had no desire to eavesdrop on her students. But she was loathe to return to the heavy atmosphere of the tower, with such peaceful thoughts drifting along the currents in the courtyard. "You always say that." Alisha's voice was light, if a bit strained. "You should paint them the way you always say you will, if they're that amazing." "With what? I don't have the materials. Mother will never pay the extra money for it. Maybe if I take an elective..." The nameless girl sighed. "But it was enchanting. Marble floors that shined like mirrors, and gold chasing on the walls. And the paintings... I wish I could create something as beautiful as that." "There are rooms here in the Academy like that," Alisha replied, sounding amused. "Are you sure you're not just dreaming of school? Or do you plan to become the next princess? I hear His Highness has already gone through two." There was a wistfulness in Alisha's tone that made Lorenta press her lips together, and finger the note still folded in her pocket. She carried it everywhere she went, fully intending to find some way to get it to the girl before it was too late. The caravan carrying her family's possessions - few though they were - would not make very good time with winter so close, but if she allowed herself to wait much longer it would arrive before she could gather the nerve to let Alisha know what happened. This wasn't like her. Lorenta was many things, but she wasn't the type to be squeamish. The girl was nothing particularly special to her, and she was often harsh even with people she liked. Why should this little slip of paper bother her so much? Lorenta had never been very fond of her family. When she'd heard of her mother's death years ago, she hadn't been grieved at all. Her lack of emotion over the ordeal disturbed her more than her mother's absence. Her father's business was now in the hands of a family friend, and though she was entitled to half of his profits, she never pressed the issue, preferring to simply forget the place even existed. Her childhood had not been filled with love or adoration, or carefree days. It wasn't likely Alisha's was either, but the few times Lorenta had been witness to discussions of her family - during her interviews and entrance tests - the girl's eyes had taken on a look of profound sadness. Worry, instead of bitterness, love instead of hate. Her feelings were difficult to understand, but Lorenta didn't want to be careless and destroy them altogether. There was enough cruelty in the child's life already. Another sigh passed her lips, and she resumed her walk to the tower, toying with the little note. She considered finding the clearing the two students sat in and giving it to her right then, but that would be ridiculous - Alisha had another class before the day was over, and her performance was already bad enough. If there /was/ such a thing as a good time to break this news, the present was not it. "Six o'clock, Alisha," the nameless friend called out, and a slender figure in a magenta uniform appeared just ahead, at the mouth of an offshoot path. Her back was turned, showing off a thick cascade of startling gold curls. "Don't be late this time - I don't think Miss Isadole will be happy if we keep flouting the rules to stay up so late." Alisha's response escaped Lorenta's ears, but apparently it was enough for the girl, for she turned on her heel and started along the path ahead of Lorenta, slinging her book bag over her shoulder with a practiced toss. Golden curls bounced, and a idea flashed into the headmistress's mind. "Excuse me," she called softly, lengthening her stride to catch up. "May I have a moment?" The student turned - revealing a set of startling amethyst eyes - and halted, bending in a hasty bow. "Headmistress!" She flushed, a hand going up to straighten her hair and shift her bag. "How can I help you?" Lorenta studied her for a moment, then glanced back to the path. This one was older than Alisha, at least by five years. "Are you her mentor?" "Yes," she replied promptly, and then, with a flash of concern in her eyes, "Is there a problem? She told me what happened in class last week, and-" Lorenta waved her explanation away, turning her gaze back to the crystalline eyes of Alisha's tutor. Her mention of Isadole had been like a light in the darkness - something to spur her on, to help her resolve this task she wanted so badly to be rid of. Matters such as Alisha's were usually handled through the Heads of Departments, and while she didn't trust most of them, Isadole was different - she was head of the division for healing and defensive magic, and if she was in charge of Alisha's dormitory, this task would be much easier to accomplish. She was just as kindly and understanding as she had been during her days as Lorenta's teacher; she would be perfect for this. But Lorenta would still have to be present - it was her responsibility. That dampened her sudden hope. "Alisha's presence will be required in my office tonight ten minutes after curfew. Please be sure that she arrives on time." She paused. "What is your name?" The girl had gone pale, her lip caught between her teeth. "Cora," she said, her voice no longer dreamy. Lorenta offered her a faint smile. "Well then, Cora, please see to it. I will make sure Isadole knows of her appointment - you will not be disturbed on your way." The girl bowed again, knowing a dismissal when she heard it, and inched away before turning back the way she had come and heading for the garden path and - she assumed - Alisha. The atmosphere was not so peaceful, now. As the day waned toward evening, so did the temperature fade from relative warmth to a crisp chill that set her shivering. Lorenta hurried on her way again, this time eager to reach the tower and her classroom, and the blazing fire that would drive away the cold - at least for the most part. Her cloak was sitting on the chair behind her desk, left earlier that day because she hadn't thought she would need it. Obviously, she was wrong. The note crackled, clenched between her fingers. When she reached her classroom, she would have to write another note, this one to Isadole; they would need to talk before Alisha's arrival. Now that the girl was invited to the meeting, she could not forget to contact the head of her division. And if Isadole had other plans... well, Lorenta wouldn't ask her to cancel them. She would simply have to take on the full responsibility for herself, as she planned when she first read the letter. No, she was /not/ squeamish... But there was something about that little girl that tugged at her heart, something that made her want to protect Alisha from this blow that would surely shatter the last of her armor. If she were only able to indulge it... but that would be a cruelty all its own. ------------------------------------ "Tarnished" (Lorenta) By Amber Michelle ------------------------------------ |