Immediately Louise's gloom perked up into inquisitive happiness. "Oh, wonderful! What did you get me, Jess?"
Jess merely grinned and shook her head, humming with contentment, glad to make Louise smile again.
Louise grimaced. “Please don’t try to sing, Jess. It’s not good for my ears.”
Twilight snickered, and Jess stuck her tongue out at him. “My humming is just fine, Twilight. Louise just has sensitive ears. From listening to jaded cats too often. Right, Louise?”
Louise laughed. "Actually, I like Twilight's voice. It's very melodious and professorial."
Twilight looked smug. Then blinked. “Bloody hells.”
Jess laughed. “He does like to lecture a lot.”
Twilight pouted. “This is all highly irregular.”
And then Jess smiled proudly, showing Louise the prize within her own corner of the garden.
Louise gazed in awe at the tiny apple tree happily growing in its carefully constructed crevice, filled with lush soil and a steady trickle of water that kept the loam at the perfect degree of dampness. Gently, Jess plucked one of the apples off the tiny tree, solemnly presenting it to Louise, who gripped the Calenbry Gold in trembling hands, gazing upon it in awe. "Jess, it's one of your family’s apple trees! But it’s so small.”
Jess smiled and nodded. "It's a cutting from my favorite tree back home, and the small crevice I carved out of the rock for it assures it will always be a dainty little thing." Jess gently stroked the rich earth at the base of the tiny tree's roots. "But the soil is lush, and with proper care, it will always bud forth the sweetest apples you ever did taste."
Louise bit into the perfectly ripe apple, her eyes gazing wide as she savored what Jess knew was a wonderful complexity of sweet and tart notes trickling down her throat, happily devouring her mouthful before passing the juicy apple for Jess to share. Jess took a crisp bite herself, and gave a contented nod. The apple was perfect, as she knew it would be. She then passed the apple to a stunned looking Lady Vaila.
“Saints above, this is delicious, Jessica.” She continued to gaze upon the little tree with an odd mixture of wonder and disbelief.
Louise nodded happily at her mother. “Isn’t it wonderful? Jess gave me an apple tree!”
Jess hugged Louise close. “I did indeed, dear one. It is yours, now. Care for it well.”
“But Jess, it is in full bloom, with perfectly ripened apples, completely out of season. How is this even possible? How can it even generate this number of apples? And why have I never noticed this little wonder before?” Lady Vaila shook her head, as if unable to accept the evidence before her eyes.
Jess grinned. “It was a surprise for Louise.” As if that was all that needed to be said.
Louise nodded happily. “Isn’t it the best present, Mother? Now I can have apples whenever I want!”
Lady Vaila gave a helpless little laugh before impulsively hugging her favorite student. “It is a wonderful gift, dearest Jessica. My daughter and I both thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”
Her gentle regard left Jess speechless, the concerned gaze of a mother as she brushed Jess's cheeks. "I cannot tell you how furious I am at the injustice being carried out, how much I detest the vile proctor involved." She sighed. "And still, for all that, I could do nothing to sway the minds of bitter professors whose pride matters far more to them than the well-being of dozens of souls who would otherwise succumb to illness, without your tinctures. All it took was one corrupt man to give impetus and direction to their bitterly nurtured grievances."
Lady Vaila bent down, gently kissing her daughter on the forehead. “Not for all the gold in Erovering will I let any of those spiteful instructors harm your precious gift, nor any of the myriad plants blossoming so fruitfully, thanks to our dear Jessica's love and care."
Jess nodded. "Besides, we all know that only very special people tend to find their way into our garden. Anyone with malice in their heart, even a trace? Will just find it too much of a bother to climb up here."
Louise grinned. "Only really nice people can come up here. And Father. He's not really nice, but the tree doesn't seem to mind. Are we going to pay our respects now?"
Lady Vaila’s smile was filled with maternal pride. “Indeed we are, dear one. And I know that you know the ceremony by heart, yes?”
Louise hummed happily even as she held both her mother and Jess’s fingers in her tiny little fists, leading them to the very back of the garden, where it became one with the rocky face of the mountain their college had been carved from. For there grew an exquisite shoot of a tree both wondrous and primal, and Jess could never recall exactly what breed of tree she gazed upon, remembering only that the exquisite tree seemed vibrant and real, even as the rest of the world twisted into dream and shadow.
Twilight was always ready to poke her out of her reverie, should she lose herself in contemplating its leaves and branches for too long, and she would always laugh off the odd melancholy she felt upon gazing at its pristine form. It was a bittersweet melancholy she felt so keenly even at that very moment, tears freely flowing from her eyes despite her smile, gazing at little Louise solemnly performing their ancient ceremony.
It was a ceremony Jess had witnessed seemingly by chance that first year, Lady Vaila staring at Jess with naked surprise when she had first caught sight of the solemn rite being performed. It had been a curious yearning in her heart that had woken her up out of a sound sleep that night, leading her to the garden with tears streaming down her eyes, her heart pierced with a tender poignancy that had shaken her profoundly, even as she witnessed Lady Vaila in the middle of her ritual, little Louise sleeping gently in her crib nearby.
Jess had understood at once that the rite was symbolic of something profoundly precious, that went far deeper than simple herbalistic tradition here at the school.
“Bless us, shoot of the Great Tree. May the fruit of our efforts always ripen to perfect sweetness under your tender care.”
Lady Vaila hugged her daughter affectionately as Louise bowed a final time and stepped back from the tree, the ceremony complete at last.
Almost tentatively, Louise's warm palm squirreled into Jess’s own. “What did you think, Jess? Did I do okay? Does the tree like me?”
Jess's approving nod eased all worry away. "Of course, dear Louise. How could the tree not love you?" Gently, she kissed Louis's cheek. "I have to go now, Louise, but please know that spending time with you and your mother in our wonderful little garden were some of my happiest memories of Highrock."
Louise locked her arms about Jess in a final, fierce hug. "I'm going to miss you, Jessie. I hope you can come back some day."
Jess squeezed back tears. "I hope so too, little one."
Lady Vaila solemnly kissed Jess's cheeks. "Be safe and fruitful in all your endeavors, Jess of the Garden."
Jess grinned through her tears. "You too, professor and friend. It was so good to know you both."
And before another word could be said, Jess dashed for the stairs, by Eloquin's side before Louise would be forced to hear her sobs.
Eloquin's grip upon her shoulder was like steel. Yet it imparted a fierce sense of strength. Comradeship, and purpose. Jess stiffened her spine, gazing at all the world through the glittering eyes of a queen, refusing to lower her head for anyone.
"You did well to remember." Eloquin's quiet words.
Jess swallowed, knowing exactly what he meant. "Even if Malek and I had planned just to head for the hills, wild and free as birds, still I would have said goodbye."
His eyes narrowed. “More than ever, I need you and Malek to stand ready.”
Jess shivered, forcing herself to nod. “We will not let you down again, sir.”
Eloquin nodded as he opened the discrete exit, Jess blinking in sudden sunlight, amazed to behold no less than sixty of her fellows, Squires of War in full regalia, breastplates shimmering in the sun.
“Squires, salute our sister. Her time has come!’
“We will miss you, Jess,” Erica, gazing so warmly at her battlesister. Jess smiled in turn, heart swelling with poignant love for the most petite member of their band who held her blade without a single quiver.
“They are fools to let you go, even if you can’t study worth a damn,” Lucas teased with a smile, nodding as Jess passed him.
“We fought as one, Jess. None of us lost, near a dozen souls saved. Don’t forget that.” Neal's soft words. Gentle eyes locking with her own. A Squire capable of utter ruthlessness, yet ever filled with solemn understanding for those he loved.
“It was an honor fighting under you, Neal,” Jess said, passing under the final sword held aloft, slipping free of the tunnel to see none other than a smiling Dean Echobart, cherubic features lit into a grin.
Larger than life, his bulk was as much muscle as padding, one of the few able to do justice to the robes of office that he wore. Jess had long thought there was far more to him than affable head of their school with a knack for making prospective students and wealthy patrons feel welcome.
And here he was, gazing at her just like she first remembered, a warm nod as she trembled, forcing herself to boldly approach, fearing a look of such sorrow, such reprimand, but only the gentlest of smiles did he give, a pin of silver in his hand.
Jess swallowed, speechless, as the dean solemnly pinned it to her tabard, even as the audience of Squires let loose a cheer.
The dean winked. "It has been something of an adventure, your time at Highrock, has it not?"
Jess blushed and smiled. "It has indeed, sir. It has indeed."
He nodded. "You have served our school, and our nation, long and well. Don't think we have forgotten, or that we don't give credit where it is due." He then solemnly handed her a scroll of velum.
Jess blinked back tears. "I hardly read a single textbook, sir."
Echobart chuckled softly. "And yet still you have earned a scholar's rank in tactics, battlelore, and herb craft. Well done, Calenbry."
His grip gently held her own. "For all that it is time for you to part, you do so with honor. A graduate of Highrock, with letters honoring your strengths."
Jess smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Dean Echobart. This really means a lot to me."
His chuckle was sympathetic, gaze filled with warmth. "You will do well, Calenbry, fear not. Diplomatic kerfuffles aside, you have saved lives, and made allies aplenty. I have no doubt that given time, you will accomplish great things."
He gazed off at the distant fields reserved for Squires alone. "Though graduates in your position find Highrock a... singular experience, you are more than welcome to accommodate yourself in the Squire's field for as long as you like."
Jess swallowed, nodding. "Thank you, sir."
He clapped her shoulder. "Excellent. I shall have food and drink sent your way by a student I trust. Be well, Calenbry. Do keep in touch by letter or messenger, I do like to know how all my students are doing. And of course, Master Enchanter Rens wanted to make sure you stayed around at least long enough to witness his upcoming ritual. The man actually thinks he can catch a glimpse of living dream. Imagine that."
With a farewell smile, he left a speechless Jess and made his way back into the keep, sixty Squires, blades resheathed, bowing before him, all of them then turning as one and bowing to Jess a final time before immediately disbursing, heading to the training grounds, flowing away as if they hadn't just said goodbye to one of their own.
In that moment Jess felt keenest envy to be among their number once more, with no more cares than surviving another day at the school she loved.
Jess turned to Eloquin, feeling the weight of her entire future pressing upon her, just knowing that her mother would be there to pick her up and take her home within days of getting word of her leaving school.
"Come, Jess," he said, clasping her shoulder. "Let's get you situated, then I have my students to see to, and you and Malek had best prepare."
44
Jess sobbed as she held Malek close, Eloquin saying not a word as he walked away from the shelter that would serve as their home, for however long they chose to say.
"Bloody fool," Jess scolded, "I didn't want your life ruined too."
Malek just smiled, squeezing her tighter. "There was no way in hell I was letting them get away with doing that to you, after all you have done for Eloquin, for this school." He sighed. "If Eloquin hadn't lost his temper, assigning you that penitent robe; if Alex and his friends hadn't been so stupid as to follow mad whim, collapsing exposed and vulnerable, easy prey for enemies who so easily discovered what was to be their clandestine mission; if Hatsk wasn't a spiteful sadistic monster, so vicious he would whip and expel a drugged victim just for the savage pleasure of it... If any of those twists of fate had not occurred, we would not be in this pickle."
Malek sighed and shook his head. "But they had. Too many cards stacked against us, led by that bastard who felt nothing but spite and hunger to see you fall. And how convenient that no trace of that woman he had flogged can be found, here on the road or at town, just hours away. Hours that would have been a torturous eternity, death so easy in such a state, and that monster should burn for what he did. But with no proof, not a shred of evidence..."
Jess glowered. "I should have known, when I found her in the baths."
Malek frowned. "What exactly happened in the baths? That part I know you told me, but I can't quite remember.
Jess opened her mouth, then was deathly still, an icy shiver running down her spine.
"I don't know," she whispered at last. "I had thought, but, I know I had met Sable and Mord down there. Sable was out of sorts. I think Mord and I helped her somehow, a rare truce between the two of us, since we both care for his sister. Then we escorted Sable back to the healers to be by Liam's side."
Jess shrugged. "There must have been a reason for us to leave the poor drugged woman, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. At the time we thought her drunk ourselves. Only later did we understand that poison was in play, the same as with Alex and his friends."
Malek nodded. "That is serious. It implies the same vipers that drugged the poor woman have ties to Velheim. But who were they?"
Jess grimaced and shrugged. "I wish I knew, Malek, but if I ever knew, I recall it no better than any of a thousand dreams I've had."
Malek nodded. "If only we could find some evidence of his foul play."
Jess nodded. "The blade Duggin tried to kill me with. Of course Hatsk conveniently left that out of his declarations of wrongdoing on my part."
Malek grinned. "Then we only need to find this blade, no doubt like a score of others, and what a fool's errand that would be. No doubt Hatsk or Duggin have hidden it well already."
Jess chuckled bitterly. "No doubt." She fondly stroked her brother's cheeks, admiring his forethought, equipped near exactly the same as she was.
"Malek, I will never be able to thank you enough, just for caring enough to watch over me, when it would have been so easy too..."
Malek scowled. "What, forsake my battlesister who had fought so furiously to save my sorry hide on more than one occasion? A girl whose back I've guarded all these endless months? Don't insult me, Jessica de Calenbry. You mean far too much for me to trade you off like some piece on a board. Now let's make use of the training blades Eloquin was thoughtful enough to leave for us as well as our camping gear. The weather's perfect, not a cloud in the sky. I think Eloquin means for us to be ready. Let's not disappoint him, whatever the future may hold.
Jess nodded, saluting her brother-in-arms with her waster, refusing to let his sacrifice be for nothing. Malek wanted to stay every bit as much as she did, in case a porthole
really did open to realms of dream and wonder. Whereas Jess felt mounting dread, her shieldbrother brimmed with excitement, and the hours passed with the clang of steel, the grunt of trained warriors grappling and rolling, the animated chatter of old friends conversing upon a thousand different topics even as they said not a word about the obstacles before them.
Jess felt it every time the picked up their wasters as the days slowly passed, bitter regrets washing away as she accepted that there was only this task, this moment, and how she reveled crossing blades with her dearest friend, the furious frenzy of steel against steel, each striving to seize the Vor, each surprising the other with feints and strikes from oddest angles, striving to be worthy of the weapons they wielded.
Both turned, blinking and heaving, a hard-fought bout just ended, Jess successfully hip-tossed before being lifted up by his powerful arms, gazing at a grinning Neal, laying a sack down by their feet.
"I swear, never have I seen your blades move so fast. And I know you both swung with power to match." Neal smiled. "It's a pleasure to watch you two spar."
Malek grinned. "What's in the bag, Neal?"
Neal shrugged. "How should I know? It was here when I arrived." They all grinned at that. "How are you two getting along?"
"Well enough." Jess swallowed. "Dear Abe stops by every night, sometimes in the morning as well, dropping off food much welcome after a hard day's sparring, for what else do we have to do, save gaze at the field all day, as pretty as it is?" She sighed. "I could focus on nurturing the grass til it was as thick and bountiful as fields blowing in lands endless miles south of here, but I doubt our master would appreciate my efforts."
Jess blinked and swallowed, holding back sudden tears. "Your master, I mean."
Neal smiled, pretending he hadn't heard her gaff.
"I hope these armaments that I know absolutely nothing about fit you both. Be well, Jess and Malek. Here, or in the world at large, we will meet again and share many a drink and tall tale, I'm sure."
With a final wave he was off, the field quiet once more.
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