Storm Called

by Susan Copperfield

  Elana circled the reception desk and sat, typing at the keyboard. “I’ll take care of this and update you as soon the work is done, sir.”

  “Excellent, Elana. Mrs. Goldman, he’s all yours. Give him a good hiring bonus, write in a clause for ownership of What’s the Story, Morning Glory and purchase her at current market value for a good-quality ranch horse. Stipulate all care, fees, and boarding are the company’s responsibility for the duration of Mr. Laycal’s employment with us. Also, the company will be paying for his riding lessons and necessary ranch attire. Start his salary at median for his skill sets in the middle caste brackets; you’ll have to review our licenses to see what we can do, but push the envelope as much as possible. That should be close to his actual value. Use your best judgment.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mrs. Goldman replied. “Please follow me, Mr. Laycal.”

  While I meant to obey without delay, it took ten minutes and Elana’s help to escape the filly determined to stay with me no matter what.

  Chapter Four

  Mrs. Goldman led me to a spacious corner office, invited me to sit, and dumped a thick stack of papers in front of me. “This is our employee handbook, and by the end of your second week with us, you’re going to hate this thing almost as much as I do. The rules are simple: don’t touch other people’s stuff without their permission, be polite, don’t discuss salary figures or bonuses with other employees, and show up to work on time. If you’re going to be late, call Elana.”

  I poked the stack of papers, dreading the hours I’d spend reading through the entire thing. “There’s almost two inches of paperwork for that?”

  She laughed, reached over, and removed half the stack, holding it up. “This section is dedicated to talent use within the company. It’s a lot of liability warnings and procedures on what happens if someone uses their talent in the office. As a horse empath, none of this applies to you.”

  The employee handbook made me wonder what else those in the upper castes had to deal with on a daily basis. “Is it specific to certain talents?”

  “Oh, yes. There’s a section for each talent class. Empaths have it easy compared to most; unless the empath is strong enough to bond, in which case they have a lot of strict rules to prevent accidental bonding. That’s not an issue for you. Elana was hoping you’d have a flare to give that little filly a fighting chance. It’s rare to find horse empaths who haven’t had a lot of exposure to horses, and horse empaths in their element don’t usually flare. Did you flare? It’s impossible to tell, but we’ll see how it works out from there. Elana’s soft-hearted when it comes to her horses. She won’t give up on any of hers unless there’s no hope. That little filly was getting close.”

  “If she can’t walk well, she’d probably die anyway, right?”

  “Exactly. She’s still young, but as she grows, the weight on three hooves instead of four will ultimately lead to her death. That’s part of why it’s so hard to rehabilitate a horse with a broken leg. Most horses don’t take to the slings well, and the odds of successfully nursing a horse through a break without magic are lower than anyone likes. And a single treatment for a broken bone is over a hundred thousand using magic.”

  I winced at the total. “That’s a lot.”

  “It is for all of us. And it’s a decision we’ve all had to make at some point.”

  Somehow, I’d forgotten I dealt with horse-crazed Texans who would throw down a hundred thousand to save a horse—and that horses were worth more to them than those in the lower castes. “She seemed lively to me.”

  “That’s all because of you, Mr. Laycal. She started bouncing around about the time I estimate you reached the elevator, which isn’t bad range for a horse empath, especially a stunted talent like yours. It’s a pity you weren’t bumped for training. Everyone needs horse empaths, and with that range? You could’ve developed a good talent if given the chance.”

  I remembered my parents worrying I’d disappear like other horse empaths. “That’s why Mr. Darmill wants me to work at his ranch, right?”

  “It’s a mutually beneficial agreement. At first, you’ll help with the sick horses, boosting their morale and giving them a fighting chance. You’ll learn to ride, too, which is another benefit for everyone. Once you know how to ride, you can help train the younger horses. If you’ve got the knack for it, you may ultimately become a trainer. Most try to start their horse empaths young, but some things can’t be taught. You’re ahead of the curve, honestly. You’re comfortable around us. Most of the lower caste empaths turn tail and run. We’ve had interviewees run for the stairwell within the first five minutes of arriving. You’ll be the only person on this floor who doesn’t have elite ranking.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that at all, but after having handled a princess in my apartment, I believed I could cope. I’d survived a surprise visit from a princess. What was a floor of elites compared to that? “What do I need to do?”

  “For now, sit tight. I need a few minutes to evaluate the salary proposal I was given this morning, adjust it to Mr. Darmill’s specifications, and send it for approval. While I take care of that and get you entered into the system, go over the handbook. Once I’m finished, we’ll deal with your work attire. We’ve already scheduled a tailor to come in, and he’ll bring over something temporarily until your fitted suits are ready. This is something we do with all employees; we’ve found company-provided clothing minimizes caste issues. Us elites whine we can’t wear our favorites, but those in your caste work better with us because they’re wearing the same exact stuff we are. Good clothing adds confidence. You’ll make out like a bandit. Because your hiring bonus stipulates you’ll be working at the ranch and taking lessons, the company will handle those expenses.”

  At a loss of what else to do, I pulled the handbook closer, mumbled my gratitude, and began to read.

  I’d never fully comprehended the gap between the castes until Mrs. Goldman handed me my hiring proposal. No, it wasn’t a gap. It was a canyon no man had hope of crossing. My hiring bonus exceeded two months of my old pay, I’d gain access to a company credit card and a pass that would allow me to shop in the same stores elites did, and the instant I signed, the little filly I’d accidentally named would be mine. I’d save away every cent I could, assuming all good things came to an end and the company wouldn’t be caring for my horse forever.

  Without them, I couldn’t afford a horse in need of surgery.

  Then the reality of my new salary stole my breath.

  If I maintained my current lifestyle, I’d be able to retire. Not only would I be able to retire, I’d be able to retire at fifty with enough left over to enjoy my golden years. I’d be able to do what my parents only dreamed about; they’d work until they couldn’t any longer.

  Somehow, my soured fortunes had transformed into the sort of luck I’d never been able to hope for. Working the night shift would be hard and take its toll, but for the first time in my life, I could look forward to what life had to offer. I’d never escape my caste, but I’d accomplished what I’d set out to do the day I’d dedicated myself to my studies.

  I’d be paid to cook. It didn’t matter I’d have to do manual labor at a ranch and otherwise become a gopher. It’d be worth it. I’d worked hard, thankless hours to clean dishes in a kitchen.

  For however long I worked at Sundale Reserves Industries, I’d be the king of a kitchen, and I’d rule through the appetites of the elites I’d feed. I thought on it for five whole minutes before I signed the documents.

  Before the ink had a chance to dry, Mrs. Goldman claimed the papers, likely to cut off my chance to doubt my choice. She smiled. “Training begins immediately, but we understand there are often difficulties adjusting to an evening shift. I expect we’ll need to give you two weeks to transition. That’s something we’ve learned from members of the security team; sudden changes to shift can lead to poor work performance, which resolves as soon as the employee has a chance to adapt.”

  It amazed me the
company was even aware the shift from day to night schedules could cause problems. “It should only take me a week. I’ve done it before, and I had an erratic shift with my previous employer.”

  With a disdainful sniff, Mrs. Goldman opened a drawer, sifted through the papers, and pulled out a form. “I’m of the opinion your former employer was, and pardon my bluntness on this issue, a complete idiot. Anyway, all employees are enrolled into health insurance through our company, and we handle the monthly fees. Fill out this form, and make sure you include all allergies and health conditions. We’ve found removing the financial stress of health insurance makes for better, happier, and healthier workers—and that pays off for us in the long run. I’ll make you an appointment for a general check-up. It’ll be done during your regular hours. Unless you need special testing, the doctor comes to the office to minimize the disruptions.”

  As I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone to a doctor, I did my best with the form, pleased to discover it consisted of my name, address, hair color, eye color, weight, height, and a box for any known ailments. Once again, Mrs. Goldman claimed the sheet before the ink had a chance to dry.

  “Last but not least, there’s the matter of your retirement benefits. You have several options, but most enroll in a four percent investment that the company matches. I recommend you do this. It’s a good way to start your retirement portfolio. Many apply their year-end bonuses into their fund, too. And yes, everyone receives a bonus. The amount you receive is based on your work performance.”

  There were retirement funds? I’d been under the assumption everyone used savings accounts to prepare for retirement. I would need to do some research into it, but with no other idea how to broach the subject without looking like an uneducated idiot, I replied, “I’ll do whatever you think is best.”

  “I’ll make you an appointment with one of our financial advisors to explain your options to you and enroll you into one of the packages. I’ll leave a note saying you also will have a horse you may wish to invest in. Retirement funds don’t let you draw out any earnings until you reach a certain age, but there are other investment types you can use, too.”

  “Thank you.”

  She waved away my gratitude. “We’ll be thanking you soon enough. Don’t worry about what you don’t know or understand, Mr. Laycal. Men in your caste don’t earn expanded education without being intelligent and driven. Don’t misjudge your value due to ignorance. You likely have no idea what I’m talking about, but you’ll learn. It’s rare we find ideal candidates during a search for a new employee, but I think we’ve struck gold with you. Good employees are hard to find. Once we find them, we take care of them so we don’t lose them to another company.”

  I suspected they’d have an easier time finding ideal employees if everyone in my caste had a few more chances to prove themselves without magic getting in the way. “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “You’ll likely not like the next part of today, but you’ll love the results. Our tailor loves a good challenge, and new employees are his chance to shine. The hassle is worth it, and you’ll only have to do this twice a year. That’s something, right?”

  Once again, I had no idea what she was talking about, but I decided I’d grin and be a good sport about my ignorance. “It sure is.”

  I hoped she’d never understand what it was like to wear her clothes to death, aware she’d rarely be able to afford new clothes once a year even if she wanted to do better for herself.

  Just as I had the day I’d learned I’d been accepted for expanded education, I’d make the most out of a miraculous opportunity.

  The tailor was an older man with wispy gray hair and a top hat, and I couldn’t tell if he needed his cane to help him walk or planned on using it as a weapon. I’d seen friendlier looking sharks, and he circled waiting for his chance to strike. Mrs. Goldman shook hands with him. “Thanks for coming, Alexei. This is Mr. Laycal, and he’ll be working on the executive floor.”

  “You ask miracles of me. Again. Why must you ask for miracles?”

  Instead of being cowed by the man, Mrs. Goldman grinned. “You’re good at performing miracles, that way. I’ve been authorized to give you a bonus if you can teach him proper etiquette for the floor. We’re going to try to install a proper closet into his office if one will fit.”

  “Make it fit,” the tailor ordered.

  She laughed. “Who is asking for miracles now? I’ll do what I can. Take good care of Mr. Laycal for me.”

  A sea full of sharks in bloodied waters seemed a lot safer than staying with the tailor, but I stood still, resisted the urge to run, and waited. Mrs. Goldman left.

  “You’ve got nerve, boy. That’s good. You’ll need it. What’s your name? And not that formal crap they like to shovel around here.”

  “Pat.”

  “All right, Pat. Here’s how this works. Everything she just said? Ignore it. You’re thin. If I dress you like you are now, a month after working at the ranch, and you’ll bust your seams. You need to fix your diet and get in some exercise before I can really dress you. Ranching’s hard on a body and on the clothes.”

  I’d seen myself in the mirror enough times to doubt I’d ever be anything other than thin. “I have doubts I’ll ever be anything than scrawny, sir.”

  “You’ll be scrawny but muscular. Once you’ve put on some definition, the ladies will fight to have a touch, mark my words. When I’m done with you, the elites will be modeling you to sell their best horses, just you wait and see.”

  Sundale Reserves Industries employed oddly friendly lunatics. I had no other explanation for the insanity taking root in my life.

  The next time an interview involved a fitting, I’d flee the kingdom. Alexei desired perfection, and I was the canvas for his work. He recruited several minions who brought clothing close to my size. In what I viewed as my only piece of good fortune, he liked my boots, ordered his minions to measure my feet, and promised I’d have a similar pair for work.

  Except better.

  Alexei needed everything to be better.

  Several hours after beginning his work, Alexei clapped his hands, which summoned his herd of helpers. “Put him in the classic black, orange tie, and oxford. The rest of you, get this packed. Give him a week of ranch, casual, and work attire while we get the rest of his clothes fitted properly. Margie, drop a word to someone they’ll want this lad for sale pictures.”

  “Yes, sir,” one of the women replied, and her flinty gaze locked onto me. While I considered Alexei to be a shark, she reminded me more of a hurricane, ready and willing to flatten anyone in her way.

  The other assistants scattered, and for a hopeful moment, I thought they might forget about me in their rush to do Alexei’s bidding.

  Margie, much like Alexei, liked grabbing her victims by their ears if they didn’t move fast enough. I dodged her grab and hustled to keep her from having an excuse to give my earlobe a twist.

  My mother must have learned the ear twist from Margie despite Margie being close to my age.

  Twenty minutes later, dressed to Alexei’s standards, Alexei and Margie herded me to the reception. The horses were gone with no sign they’d been there, and Elana worked at her desk.

  “This will have to do until next week,” Alexei declared before abandoning me to my fate, and Margie followed him.

  Elana chuckled, taking her time looking me over. “I think you’re going to fit in just fine, Mr. Laycal. I’ll have to remind the ladies to keep their admirations to after hours. No wonder Alexei was asking about a photoshoot. You don’t have a pretty boy face, but you’ll turn heads when dressed the part.”

  I worried for Elana—and everyone else becoming caught up in Alexei’s scheme to showcase me with horses. “I’m not really model material.”

  “You don’t need to be. You’re a solidly good-looking man wearing a suit. You’re someone most can relate to, and otherwise an obtainable. Sure, model-pretty men turn heads, but an average man with a good build and a
nice face sells horses—and you’re going to earn a fortune selling horses.”

  “I am?”

  “The horses sell for a lot, and you’ll be offered a percentage of each sale. You’ll ride the horse to show their paces, do a little footwork, and bring attention to the animal. It’ll be a side job for you. You’ll like it. Everyone enjoys taking a turn showing off a good horse. If you’re into horse rescues, the auction houses do volunteer shoots to keep promising animals off the meat market.”

  While I considered myself a Texan, I came to the conclusion I understood little about horses, their handling, and what happened to them outside of the ranches and shows. “I didn’t know that happened,” I admitted.

  “I figured not. You’ll learn as you go, so don’t worry about that. I’ve got your security badge, and I’ve called for a car to take you home. According to our schedule, you have class tomorrow. Can you be here at eight?”

  “I’ll need an hour for cleanup after; I have a tuition deduction for staying late.”

  “Nine, then, and we’ll talk to the school about the cleaning work.” Elana stood and picked up a briefcase. “This has your laptop, your phone, and your papers inside, and the case is yours for business use.”

  With a laptop and phone to worry about, I was grateful I wouldn’t have to return the briefcase. “Thank you, Elana.”

  “Within a week, everyone on the floor will be thanking you. Enjoy the rest of your night. I’ll see you tomorrow night, and I’ll give you a full tour of the building.”