by Reiter
“That was, ultimately, for good reason,” Vaiyorl thought, remembering how the grades had, over time, improved. “Somehow he adapted and improved.
“And still, this is only seventy-five percent of his studies,” Vaiyorl thought, deactivating the monitor. He could hear footfalls approaching. The two he had summoned had finally arrived. “The other quarter was kept even from the receptors. Only Praeceptor and Phytos know what those lessons were.”
A knock on the door brought the Duke from his deliberations. The time had finally come.
“Enter.”
The double doors opened and Vaiyorl could see Valian’s hands on them. He pushed them open and he stepped back, allowing Yorlson to enter into the room.
“My word!” the Duke thought, looking into the possibility of tomorrow. “What a difference five years makes!” He would have preferred if they had walked in side-by-side, but the Duke had mastered being satisfied with the victories he could achieve.
Yorlson’s strides were confident and long. He had grown tall, strong, and handsome. He approached his father’s desk and stopped, ushering Valian to a particular chair.
“He’s grown careful,” Vaiyorl considered. “... careful and conniving. The projected image is one of grace and courtesy... but the chair offered to Valian is next to the one my chair is facing. You’re missing out on a strong and sure ally, son!”
“Father,” Yorlson said before taking his seat.
“Pater,” Valian said, placing his left fist over his heart before bowing.
“And Yorlson is not the only cunning one,” Vaiyorl concluded. “Valian knows of my interest in the Old Earth languages, as it was also an interest of Zeu Rex. I wonder if he knows I am most familiar with Latin. Still, one method was applied as a control... I cannot say the same of the other.”
“You called for us, Father?” Yorlson said after a moment, and only then did the Duke realize that he had not yet spoken.
“Yes! Yes, I did. My apologies. A matter is most pressing on my mind and I’m afraid I am a bit distracted. But, I am with you now.
“To put it simply and succinctly, I have been appointed as the Lead Emissary for the Empire at a conference regarding New Eden Technologies and the technological developments of the Middle Rim.”
“Congratulations, Father!” Yorlson said, getting up from his chair. “Oh, this is splendid news. Isn’t this wonderful news, Valian?”
“I am happy for you... if you are happy for yourself,” Valian said softly.
“Then be happy for me, Valian,” Vaiyorl replied. “It isn’t a simple matter, but it is one that I am looking forward to. This will require me to be away from the estate for a prolonged measure of time.. bringing me to the point of this meeting.
“I must decide who will handle my affairs while I am away.”
“Ah, good, the Duchess will be going with you then,” Valian quickly concluded.
“Yes. Yes, she will. I have decided to name Yorlson as my Proxy. His word shall stand as my will. Now, if you will excuse me, there is a matter to which I must attend immediately.” With that, the Duke was up and out of his chair, quickly walking out of his study. The doors had not yet closed behind him when Yorlson’s head started to turn, smiling over at Valian.
“I am sure this comes as a shock to you,” Yorlson said in a very cool tone. Valian said nothing as he got up from his chair, making his way out of the room. “Have you nothing to say to your Lord before leaving his presence?”
Valian paused for a moment, but opted to say nothing and resumed his exit. Yorlson laughed as Valian walked down the corridor.
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
(Rims Time: XI-4804.11)
The door opened and he stepped in, standing just inside his bedroom, waiting for the door to close and lock. He stood there for a few moments, waiting for the rest of his world to fall apart. When it failed to do so, Valian took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. A very subtle knock at the door made him smirk and shake his head.
“Please, not right now,” he said calmly.
When he could hear metal tools picking at the lock, Valian sighed and walked away from the door.
“I see you,” he said softly. “Corner of the wall and ceiling... just over the book on Olasson poetry.”
The section of the wall started to shiver before Boris changed to his most often assumed appearance; that of a ball of orange, brown, and black fur. He came away from the wall, landing on Valian’s shoulder. The young man smiled, scratching the top of the ball, making Boris shiver as he chirped.
“Yes, the colors and contours were excellent. This time it was your texture. The light bounced differently off of you than it did the rest of that area.” Boris chirped again and Valian chuckled and he walked further into his room. “Yes. It appears we both still have training ahead of us... if his lordship will allow it.”
The door opened and Kethgeegan walked in just ahead of Annodia. They both wore their concern openly... but Kethgeegan was smiling, tapping the door. “You changed the lock!” he stated.
“Yes, and it only added a few seconds to your time. Well done.”
“What happened down there?” Annodia inquired.
“Always to the bone of it, right?” Valian said softly.
“Do you know of a better way?”
Valian snorted. “Not for you, Annodia. I suppose it’s – like it always is – a matter of perspective. When it rains, the farmer rejoices... the outdoor performer grimaces. But they both know it won’t rain forever.”
“Ugh,” Annodia grimaced, “why did Jorkethian have to teach you Philosophy?!”
Valian frowned at the comment, but he did not speak on it. Instead he removed Boris from his shoulders and secured his mind. “This I get from someone suffering from arachnophobia,” Valian said, looking intently at Annodia who met his eyes with equal concentration.
“They know we’re here!” Ulreejun declared as he stepped through the wall to Valian’s left. “Attack! And Kethgeegan is it!
“A bit of assistance, if you please, Brick,” Jorkethian thought, lifting his cane toward his student; the sunstone flaring to life. The rug Valian was standing on came up from the floor, becoming a bag lifting him up to the ceiling.
Lyndreesa Z’Bassai, Kethgeegan’s Praeceptor, smiled as she ascended up through the floor. The Power Armour Specialist had turned in a sufficient military career, but it was not exactly considered remarkable. Her resume as a Praeceptor was not distinguished, but she had come recommended by Jorkethian, which was all the Duke needed to hear.
Her instruction had had nothing to do with what she was known as publicly, and everything to do with her true passions: alacrity. The woman was fast and nimble... and a master of skills best applied in the shadows and away from the eyes of the commoner. Kethgeegan had proven to be a most eager student who had performed so well that Lyndreesa had been forced to augment her intended curriculum.
The woman moved on Annodia, lashing out with her energy whip in an attempt to entangle the young woman’s ankles. Though not as quick at Kethgeegan, Annodia was by no means slow. Her cartwheel was perfectly timed and the energy whip burned into the floorboards.
Seeing the two masters’ points of entry, Kethgeegan charged, jumping over Valian’s bed and racing to the far corner. He could see the figure of Churzoviaro, the large Shatter Caster who was a graduate of Seranos’ teachings, coming through the wall. “Oh no you don’t!” Kethgeegan yelled, jumping up and planting both feet into the man’s chest. With a wide-eyed look of surprise, the large man fell back through his portal. “That’s one!”
“Counting victories during a fight?” Ulreejun whispered, stepping toward the named target. “Endure this count!” Pointing his cane toward Valian’s bookshelf, the entire top level came off the shelf, flying toward Kethgeegan.
“Too slow, old man!” the young man yelled, jumping up from the floor, twisting, flippi
ng, and splitting his legs. He landed on the floor after successfully dodging the wave of books.
A ripping sound caught Jorkethian’s ear and he smirked. “The Bladed Hand,” he thought, sending the next shelf of books at Kethgeegan. He had little hope he would hit the nimble fox, but he did not want to turn his back on an unengaged opponent.
“My Boris to your Brick,” Valian whispered, coming out of the carpet-turned-bag trap. He tossed the ball of fur toward his Praeceptor as he came down from the ceiling.
Jorkethian lifted his cane to intercept the pet and guardian he had come to know and have genuine affection for... when he was not involved in a contest such as this. Before Brick could make contact, Boris lost his fur, becoming a purple-colored mass of flesh that split into a circle, falling around the Finishing Master. It had been a feint, a false attack, and now the Phytos had the advantage.
“Never fight a superior head on,” Valian thought, recalling one of Jorkethian’s secret lessons. He landed on the floor and stayed low, spinning to sweep his teacher’s feet out from under him. Jorkethian gave a brief yelp as he fell to his side.
“And my friend could use a weapon,” Valian said, grabbing and pulling Boris up from the floor. As the creature came away from Jorkethian, it grabbed onto Brick and snatched the cane out of the man’s hand. “To you, Annodia!” The cane arched across the room.
Without the left sleeve of her shirt, Annodia jumped up from the floor – dodging another slash of the energy whip. She caught the cane, flipped, and landed on one foot and one knee, using the cane to pin the whip to the floor. Once the energy pulse had run its course, Annodia grabbed the whip and shouted, “Kesurgi!”
Lyndreesa did not know the language, but she had seen the practice of a Chi-Shout many times. Opting not to test the young woman’s augmented strength, Lyndreesa released the whip and put her hands to her weapons belt.
Ulreejun wanted to applaud, but the engagement was not yet over. Still, the Phyti were all performing well. Any lesser opponents would either have to see that the tide had turned and withdraw or suffer defeat.
“But we are not lesser, are we, Brick?” Jorkethian thought as he started to extend his hand toward his cane. He could feel Brick waiting for the command, as it was eager to be away from the young woman, but Jorkethian’s hand was cut by passing paper.
“Ow!” the man yelled before he suffered cuts to his arm and face.
“Can’t call... that damn stick ... with an... unfocused... mind!” Kethgeegan asserted as he continued the barrage of hurled pages.
“This fight is proving expensive,” Valian thought, yelling as he charged Lyndreesa. As he expected, he caught her attention; receiving two hurled daggers. He caught the first, spinning as he did so. Boris smacked down the second as purple tendrils sprouted out toward the woman’s legs.
“Ewww!” Lyndreesa shouted, jumping to avoid the entanglement attempt. The tip of her energy whip touched against her stomach and Lyndreesa landed, cursing at how she had been distracted by the shape-changing creature. The delivered energy pulse robbed her of the ability to move.
Annodia smiled as she turned to face Jorkethian.
The Praeceptor looked around the room. Both his student and Churzoviaro’s were ready to press him, and Kethgeegan had already picked up a second book. Slowly, his face lit up as he smiled, clapping his hands together. “Will you accept my yield?”
“Only if he pledges fealty!” Kethgeegan shouted, causing his friends to laugh.
Valian quickly waved off the possibility as he approached his teacher. He lowered his head, touching his right knee to the floor.
“Your yield is accepted only if you found my performance adequate,” Valian said softly.
“Then we are in trouble, Phytos,” Ulreejun replied, placing his hands on the young man’s shoulders. He ushered Valian to stand. “... because, with the exception of your awareness, that performance was exemplary!”
“Really, Lyndreesa?!” the Shatter Caster complained, re-entering the room. “You taught him how to hurl cutting paper?!”
“Don’t start with me,” the woman returned with just as much fire. “You taught your Phytos the Chi-Shout!”
“I did no such thing!” Churzoviaro asserted.
Annodia’s head dropped and her gaze lowered to the floor as Lyndreesa turned to look at the young woman. She watched as the student made it a point not to look her in the eyes.
“You,” Lyndreesa said with a proud smile. Annodia looked up, rolling her lips into her mouth. “Well played.” The woman walked directly over to Annodia and wrapped her arms around her. “Well played indeed!” The two embraced for a moment and Lyndreesa laughed, stepping away to put her hand on the younger woman’s shoulder.
“Lyn,” Jorkethian said, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
“What?
“Lyn,” the man said again, opening his eyes and frowning at the Praeceptor.
“Well, I didn’t want these young upstarts thinking they were masters,” Lyndreesa explained, handing the young woman her bracelet.
Annodia gasped, taking back her jewelry.
Jorkethian folded his arms while he kept his eyes on Lyndreesa. He sighed as his head tilted to the side.
Lyndreesa sighed in frustration, handing Annodia back her necklace... and her identity card... and her belt... and finally her bra. Annodia gasped, snatching back her belongings.
“I don’t think any of them are in fear of that, Lady Praeceptor,” Ulreejun said, giving a friendly glare to the woman.
“The partition is to your left,” Valian said softly and Annodia quickly followed his lead.
“I can’t believe she did that,” Annodia said softly. She stopped short of the partition and turned to look at Kethgeegan. She pointed him and said, “And don’t you ever touch me again!”
Jorkethian and his Phytos could not keep from laughing out loud. Valian, however, did manage to take one of his shirts and toss it over the partition. Churzoviaro chuckled but his mirth came from looking at the look of shock on Kethgeegan’s face.
Ulreejun shook his head and waved to get the attention of the Shatter Caster. “Churzo, if you would be so kind,” he said, motioning to the torn-apart book and ripped rug.
“Materials easily enough mended, my lord,” Churzoviaro said, casting the necessary incantation to restore the items.
Jorkethian summoned his cane and returned the hurled books back to the shelf.
“Thank you, Master,” Valian said softly, his face losing its smile.
“And there is the opponent you have yet to counter.” Jorkethian said softly before looking up at his colleagues. “Will you give us this room, please?”
Acknowledging the request, Churzoviaro ushered everyone to the door. “Still, Lyndreesa... cutting paper?!”
“What? We had completed our studies for the day... we were both bored... and he was supposed to limit it to playing cards!”
“But of course! The fault lies with him then!”
“Indeed it does,” the woman insisted. “And that first throw? He could’ve put an eye out with that one.”
“And those burn marks I had to remove tell me that your whip was set to a mild stun?” Churzoviaro asked with a knowing smirk on his face.
“I just got that thing back from the technician,” Lyndreesa complained. “He still hasn’t worked out the kinks!”
“Just walk woman!” he said, shoving his friend who laughed as she walked out of the room.
Valian managed a smile as they left. He then looked up to see Annodia wearing his shirt. Without speaking, she nodded, thanking him for the clothes. Valian returned the nod and the young woman made her way to and through the door.
“Shall I start, or will you cut to the heart of it?” Ulreejun asked, walking over to Valian’s desk. He pulled the chair out and took a seat.
“I don’t really have a valid reason for my anger, Praeceptor,” Valian started. “I am the Duke’s ward, nothing more. Yorlson is his son. The co
ntrol of the household should go to him. I just...”
“Just would have hoped he would have at least mentioned you?” Jorkethian asked.
“Would that have been unreasonable?!” Valian snapped.
Ulreejun nodded. “Unreasonable in the short term? No. In the long term... most definitely. Fortunately for you, Duke Vaiyorl is a long-term thinker.”
“What do you mean, Praeceptor?”
“Speaking in the manner you would have preferred would have helped your position in this house while he was away. But your place is not here and he would have tied you to the house, constantly going cannon to cannon with Yorlson. You have bigger and better things to do.
“First, allow me to say this: your armour is incredible, Valian. It is nearly flawless and in all my time I have never seen one so young with such a solid base. But you do have one chink in that armour and it too is remarkable. Your dedication is-”
“Something I thought we agreed we would not discuss,” Valian interrupted, looking uneasy.
“I agreed not to question it, Phytos. And I still don’t... but you should. Your dedication to this family-”
“My family!” Valian asserted. “My parents died protecting them, believing that it was something worth their lives.”
“Yes I know.
“I’m not blind, Master!”
“Yes you are, Phytos. You still think Yorlson won the Test Tower Race.”
“He did!”
“No, Phytos, he finished first!” Ulreejun snapped, his silver skin gleaming in a light all its own. “You won the Test Tower! Assemble the witnesses of the event, boy, if you dare. Count the number of them that will start talking about how the Duke’s son won and continue to do so after they start talking about what you did!” The two stood there for a moment, realizing that their voices had climbed in volume which was against their nature together. Ulreejun took a deep breath before speaking again.