by W. J. May
“Getting a wee bit frustrated, Ms. Kerrigan?” Headmaster Lanford stood at the head of their table. He appeared calm, almost oblivious to the reaction of the other students. His eyes held understanding without pity. “Would you care to join me on a walkabout?”
Yeah, I have some questions for Mister Combover. “Fine, let’s go,” she snapped, and then hastily added, “Sir.”
Chapter 4
Unwanted Answers
Rae and Lanford walked in silence. Rae grew more and more nervous with each step. She wanted answers, but now that they were outside, away from the expressions of strangers who knew more about her than she did, walking next to the one person who might have all the answers, the idea of asking seemed daunting, even scary. As they passed a sign marked Turret Hall, the headmaster started a seemingly pointless monologue about the campus, pointing at buildings with his cane.
“Turret Hall is the music and arts building. The Scriptorium is the English building and also includes the library with the history of our ink and gifts. Some of the gifts and ink stamps are documented on ancient scrolls dating prior to the Tudor era. Each dormitory is also equipped with a reference library and copies of the special ink charts and markings.” His fingers drummed a rhythm on the silver head of his cane. “This path here will lead you to the Oratory. That’s where students study their gifts and improve their skills.”
Rae nodded but said nothing. At the moment, she didn’t give a damn where classes would be.
They turned down the path, and Rae stopped to stare at the Oratory. Built in red brick similar to the other structures, this building was none-the-less distinctive. Ivy stretched across the tall, almost chapel-like octagon shaped building. The way the ivy grew, it seemed to emanate from the walls. She’d never seen anything so magnificent. The view belonged in the painting of a master artist. It was such a tranquil scene compared to the anger simmering inside of her.
“I’ve been wondering,” the headmaster murmured. “Did your parents teach you about their tatùs?”
Rae froze, one foot dangling in the air. He said parents, plural. That wasn’t a mistake. Both her parents had gifts? Yet another thing about me I didn’t know, told to me by a stranger. This isn’t fair! Why was she the only one who didn’t know this stuff? With rage surging through her veins, it took an effort to speak without screaming. “My parents never had a chance to tell me anything.” She shrugged, trying and failing to set her foot down on the ground normally rather than stomping it. “I was only six when they died in the fire, so I don’t remember much.” Most of her memories felt like dreams now.
Lanford stared pensively at the head of his cane and gave a slight nod. “Of course, the fire. How about Argyle? Has he explained anything to you?”
“Uncle Argyle?” He’d better not be bloody marked as well. “No, he never told me about any of this.” Plus, he likes talking in ridiculous proverbs. “I think Guilder’s made a mistake with me.” Rae felt all the different emotions of the day rolling inside her. The fear and confusion, the suspicion and frustration, the wonder and disbelief…it all started to overwhelm her. And to top it off, she hadn’t heard any of it from someone she actually knew. Anger began to override all the other emotions.
Lanford smiled and patted his combover down. “No, Ms. Kerrigan. You are, most definitely, the right person. Your mother only had one child, and that was you.” He tapped his finger to his lips. “I’m not shocked your parents didn’t have the chance to explain, but I’m quite surprised Argyle never took the time to enlighten you.”
“Yeah, join the club.” This seemed more important than a talk about the birds and the bees, which was, of course, another topic never broached.
The headmaster released a long, heavy breath. He pointed to a nearby bench with his cane. “Shall we sit? I think it’s high time you learned a bit of your own history.” Rae sat down heavily, realizing her posture, and most likely the expression on her face, made her look like a petulant child, but at the moment, she couldn’t help herself. Despite everything, she noted that for his large frame, the headmaster settled easily, almost lightly, onto the bench. “It’s time to shake that family tree up a bit, eh?”
Shake the family tree? That sounded like something her uncle would say. Rae gingerly balanced herself, paranoid the bench might topple over from his weight. It seemed likely. Having something other than her emotions to concentrate on allowed her to calm down. She needed answers. And apparently, Headmaster Lanford had them.
“Did you know your father and Argyle attended Guilder together twenty-three years ago?”
Rae shook her head so slightly she wasn’t sure the headmaster even noticed. She planned on having quite the conversation with her dear uncle next time she saw him.
“Though your dad was a year older, they were best mates. From different ends of the country, your father from Manchester and Argyle from Edinburgh. Both started Guilder at the same time.” Lanford sighed. “School was very easy for your uncle, so we put him in a higher level. The two boys immediately became good friends. Both were extremely intelligent and promising young lads. The school couldn’t have been more excited.”
“So they were buddies.” Big deal.
“We were concerned about your father. He quickly grasped the concepts, but also argued with our ideals.” Lanford shifted and ironically, Rae didn’t feel the bench move. “He vehemently disagreed with the idea that we should be unvoiced about our gifts. However, most of us – I was a young professor at the time – felt he’d outgrow his rebellious stage when he received his ink.” The headmaster stared straight ahead, as if watching an old video replay.
“What happened?” Rae spoke in a quiet voice. The curiosity began to turn into dread as it settled in the pit of her stomach. Not sure I want to hear what happens, but scared or not, I need to know.
“Argyle influenced your father in a positive way. So it came as quite a shock when, a few months after Argyle’s fourteenth birthday, he informed us he’d be leaving.” Lanford smiled and patted Rae’s arm. “I remember him as a young boy, always a mess – clothes, hair, room…everything except his thought process. That always remained in perfect order. Brilliant lad. I’m sure he still is.” Lanford cleared his throat. “Apparently, Argyle had an older sister who’d just turned sixteen and been gifted. His father wanted him back home to show her everything he’d learned.” The headmaster smacked his cane across his knees. “Damn it! Such a good lad, and it was a shame to have to let him go.”
“My mom? But how? If Guilder gives you the tattoo, how’d she get it?”
Lanford looked as surprised as Rae felt. “Guilder doesn’t give you the tatù. It’s inside of you and blossoms on your sixteenth birthday.”
Her eyebrows shot up and she tilted her head. “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say. So they just appear like magic? How does that work? But Lanford was already talking so she kept quiet.
“Ink stamps tend to be patrilineal; passed down to the men of the family. Most gifted also will only have one child. It may sound silly to you at the moment, but with this power comes responsibility. It’s simply easier this way. Some will try for a second child if their first offspring is a girl. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“I th-think so.” Rae nodded. “Males are usually marked, but instead of Uncle Argyle, my mother got it.” You put the girl child out in the wilderness to be eaten by wolves. Rae bit her tongue to keep from saying her thoughts out loud.
“Correct. Your grandfather had been such an asset to this country during the Second World War, we had high hopes for Argyle. At the time, Guilder didn’t allow girls into the school, so we were never able to work with your mother.”
Rae couldn’t believe her mom had a superpower…or her dad. Oh yeah, Dad… “What about my dad?”
“Your father, Simon, turned sixteen and received his ink – a unique one. Unfortunately, he continued to fight against the teachings of the school. It seemed that without Argyle here, he became more s
elf-absorbed.” The headmaster paused. “The summer Simon’s father passed away, he went to stay with Argyle. He planned on returning to Guilder for his final year, but he met your mother, Bethney. I guess they fell in love. The school, your grandfather and your uncle all opposed their dating.”
“Why?”
“It’s…well…it is believed to be dangerous.” Lanford fidgeted with his cane. “That’s one of the reasons Guilder remained an all boys’ school. It was thought best not to create challenges in our young adolescent boys’ lives when they’re challenged enough with what they have inside of them and gaining control over it.”
What? How does that make sense? Rae itched to interrogate Lanford, but cautioned herself against it. Skip it, don’t ruin the talkative mood, Rae.
“Until now.” What about her mother? Couldn’t she have benefited from the knowledge Guilder had to offer? Maybe she could’ve learned something and saved herself and Dad from the fire. They might still be here today if Guilder hadn’t been so chauvinistic.
“Yes, until now.” The headmaster smiled.
It set her off. Rae couldn’t hold back; her temper flared, hands clenched, she pounded her knees. “What about us? You say you worry about the boys, but what about the females who could use help with their gifting?”
“My dear child, that’s one of the reasons we’ve opened the school to young ladies such as yourself. We have high hopes it’ll go well.”
Still frustrated, Rae rubbed her hands down her thighs, squeezing with her fingers just above her knee, trying to relieve tension with a little self-massage. It didn’t really help. “Devon said the reason Guilder opened its doors to females is because of me. Not some quantum shift in your chauvinistic thinking, but me specifically.”
“Devon is a good lad, and it’ll do you well to pay close attention to him. He’ll help lead you in the right direction.” Lanford’s head bobbed up and down. “That boy has his head on straight and will do very well in life. His power is small compared to some, but his talent is immense. He’s an example to us all – a natural leader the students follow.” Lanford’s chest puffed with pride.
Rae’s eyebrows came together. She opened her mouth to ask her question again.
Lanford cleared his throat, cutting her off. “Now, be patient.” He waited until she closed her mouth. “In truth, you are a big reason for the female enrollment. Your father and mother both possessed powerful gifts. If you inherited either or both of them, it would be unjust to have you learn on your own. What I don’t understand is what your uncle Argyle was thinking by not mentioning anything to you.” His cane pounded the ground, punctuating his words. “He’s a smart man, I can’t for the life of me figure out why he did not say anything to you. This is going to be a very challenging year for you, and I’m glad we’ve a few months before your birthday to help you prepare.” He patted her knee and smiled.
She wasn’t about to let it go that easily. The child deep inside who had been orphaned at a young age and had never quite healed from the experience, wanted answers. “If my parents’ gifts were so strong and powerful, why’d they die? They should’ve been able to save themselves from the fire.” Rae’s eyes filled, but she refused to let any tears fall.
“My dear, there’s so much you don’t know yet. I promise you’ll learn everything we can teach you, but not all of it tonight.” He pressed his lips into a thin line. “I have matters I need to attend to, and I think you have enough information to absorb for today.”
He rose quickly – faster than Rae thought his large frame should be able. She grabbed the arm of the bench, frightened it would topple backward, but was surprised when it didn’t even rock. She checked to see if she could spot his ink, which was useless since his shirt and suit jacket covered his arms.
The headmaster walked a few paces and turned back around. “This is a school for learning and no question is the wrong one to ask. I’ve asked Devon to tutor and help mentor you for the upcoming year.” He held up a hand to stop the question he knew she was going to ask. “It isn’t because we feel you’ll have trouble with your classes. I think, without your background knowledge of the powers, it’ll make it easier for you to ask questions in a tête-à-tête setting.
Yeah, or if it has anything to do with my family, since I’m already a freak at this school. Rae ran her fingers through her hair in frustration as she tried to calm down. The headmaster did seem like he was trying his best to help her. The thought of hanging out with Devon a few evenings a week didn’t sound too bad either. She took a deep breath and tried to let go of some of her tension.
Lanford straightened. “We want to help you understand how you can use your gift to its best advantage. How we can help make this world a better place for everyone. That is Guilder’s quiet oath and the dream for all of its students.”
Rae figured he spoke those words a lot. They sounded well-rehearsed. As she headed back to Aumbry House, she wondered what the big deal was about having both parents inked. Her chest tightened as she began to worry what the rest of her family’s story was.
Chapter 5
Friends?
The next day, the students sat in the dining hall eating breakfast. The tense atmosphere of the previous day seemed like a bad dream. Everyone appeared relaxed and informal, even jovial.
“Julian has a car?” Molly straightened in her chair, eyes bright.
Andy swigged the rest of his breakfast tea, then laughed. “Yeah, a few of us seniors do, actually. I’ve a feeling the school won’t be allowing many of the girls to keep a car on campus – at least probably not in the near future.” He tried, unsuccessfully, to wipe the smirk off his face.
“That’s fine.” Molly raised her eyebrows, a tight smile playing on her lips. “If boys have cars, why would I need one?”
“I think Andy’s just teasing you, Molls.” Rae laughed. It felt great to talk about normal things and forget about all the crap she was dealing with. Waking up, she had decided to leave all the confusing stuff under her pillow and not let anyone see it. She needed to fit in. Having people know so much about her when she didn’t know them made her feel vulnerable, but there was no way she’d let anyone see it. In a weird way, it felt like her vulnerability was the last private thing she had.
“How’s our American gal feeling today?” Andy looked at Rae. “You were…uh…you seemed kinda upset at dinner last night.”
Rae swallowed an oversized bite of scrambled eggs, choking on it. “Yeah, about that…sorry.” She paused, blinking. “I was really jet lagged, and I guess…everyone staring at me…” She let the sentence trail off, hoping someone would take up the conversation from there and not camp out on the one topic she didn’t want to discuss.
“Don’t worry.” Andy nodded sympathetically. “The curiosity’ll die down soon enough. You’re a pretty girl, and there’s a story behind your name. That’s bound to turn some heads. On top of that, don’t forget this has been an all-male school for a long time. It’s an awesome thing to have girls here now.”
Rae’s cheeks pinked at the compliment. Thank you Andy!
My knight in shining…fur…or something.
“Are you up to anything this afternoon?” Andy asked.
Rae blinked, trying to forget her train of thought before she erupted into a fit of laughter. “Madam Cro— Elpis wants us to meet the new girls arriving. Wanna come?” Rae ignored Molly’s giggles at her almost mix-up.
“Sure, but I’m pretty sure the interesting ones have already arrived.” He quickly stood and turned, taking his tray to the collection area.
Molly leaned over to her and whispered, “I think somebody digs you.”
Rae shrugged. “I think he was referring to you. You’d better watch out. He’s hungry like a wolf!”
Molly stuck her tongue out, but put her poker face on when Andy came back.
After eating, they headed to Aumbry House. They sat out front on the large concrete steps. Haley and Maria joined them, enjoying the bright sunshine. A
ndy came and sat between Molly and Rae, his leg touching Rae’s. Rae shifted, moving just out of knee-knocking distance. She didn’t seem to move far enough. Within minutes, Andy’s warm leg brushed up against hers again. As she tried to figure a way to get away from Andy and his warm leg without making a scene, Riley and a younger, slightly-built boy came walking by.
“Hello, mates.” Riley’s eyes roamed over Haley’s curvy figure. A small smile lifted his lips. “You’re a senior, right? What’s your gift, again?”
Molly spoke before Haley had a chance. “She can pass wind.”
“I don’t pass wind,” Haley snapped, scowling at Molly. “I create it.”
Rae rolled her eyes heavenward, embarrassed by both girls. “Cool.” He pointed at the sandy blond guy beside him. “This wee fellow’s Nicholas. He’s like an instructional guidebook. You name it, Nic can put it together without the manual.”
“Handy. What does your ink look like?” Haley asked.
“Like an open book.” Nicholas held his arm out. “The ink is kind of boring, actually, but the talent’s totally useful.” He sat down on the steps beside her.
“Especially when you’re trying to get out of a tough situation,” Riley bragged. “Nic can build a device out of a paper clip and a stick of chewing gum!”
“You sound like MacGyver,” Rae said.
“Pardon?” Nicholas’ eyes grew big and he began fidgeting.
In fact, everyone stared strangely at her.
“You know, MacGyver?” Rae wondered what was up with the weird looks.
She got nothing but silence, followed by nudges and shrugs from the guys.
Rae sighed, wishing she’d just stayed in her dorm room. “It was an old television show in America. About a guy who can get out of tough situations by using whatever’s lying around. Kind of like a private eye – mystery series.” She shrugged. “Maybe you never had it here in England.”