by Ian Gregoire
Maybe it wouldn’t be long before she was able to read her master just as well, and just as easily, as Fay was able to read her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
What A Difference A Day Makes
For three quarters of an hour, the master and the apprentice continued their discussion of trivial, mundane matters while they ambled across rolling fields, under the late morning sun. They even shared the odd joke or two, revealing to Kayden that Fay had a decidedly droll sense of humour, with a delivery that was frequently deadpan, as befitting of such a stoic personality.
She was surprised to discover that not only was it easy to converse with Fay, it was also easy to let her guard down for her—in a way she wouldn’t have thought possible just a day earlier. The time spent getting to know her master was so engaging, she didn’t even realise how much time had elapsed until she and Fay were bypassing Timaris. The town lay a short distance away from Antaris campus, so they were on course to arrive back on campus within the next quarter-hour.
“We will be arriving back at Antaris in a little while,” said Fay, “and there is something I must discuss with you before we get there.” Her more familiar, formal tone had returned; the campus administrator was back.
“Oh, all right,” Kayden replied uncertainly.
“In light of recent events, I think we can both agree there is little point in you continuing your level seven studies.” Kayden did agree, though she was immediately concerned about what was being implied. “You are already far in advance of where your colleagues are, and passing the end of level tests will be no trouble for you. That being the case, with the next holiday just over three weeks away, I will arrange for you to take the tests then.
“You are also ahead of the level eight apprentices, but it is too late in the year to join their classes. However, I still want you to take the tests this year, so this is what will happen once the holiday is over and the final term of the year begins. I will condense the level eight syllabus into a single term, and I will personally instruct you so that you may take the end of level tests at the same time as the other apprentices.
“You will commence the new year as a level nine apprentice, and begin your studies along with all the other level nine apprentices. You will complete the full year, like everyone else, and will take the end of level tests at the same time as everyone else. Likewise, come the following year, you will complete the full year of the level ten syllabus before taking the end of level tests.
“Once you have passed all the tests—and I have no concerns about your ability to do so—you will be officially inducted into the Order.” Fay paused briefly, looking intently at her. “Only then can I teach you all the things I cannot teach you at Antaris.”
Kayden was pleasantly surprised, and gratified. Fay’s proposal meant she would complete her ten-year apprenticeship in just seven years. She would be twenty-one years old when she was inducted into the ranks of the Order, making her the youngest ever inductee by two years.
“Thank you, Master,” she said earnestly, gazing back at Fay with appreciation.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Fay cautioned. “It is possible I maybe causing you problems with some of your peers on campus. My plans for you could be interpreted as favouritism.”
“It’s probably too late to worry about that, now, Master. It was recently brought to my attention that there are already rumours circulating around campus that I am your favoured apprentice.”
“I suppose that’s not too far from the truth,” mused Fay. “And taking you with me to Temis Rulan will no doubt solidify that perception.”
“Even so, I won’t allow anyone to view me as a teacher’s pet,” Kayden said defiantly, though she felt there was no reason for anybody on campus to regard her as such. There was certainly no justification for doing so, from her point of view.
“Speaking of the trip to Temis Rulan,” continued Fay. “I want to remind you, one last time, that you are not permitted to talk about it once we return to campus. No matter how much your friends pester you to tell them, they cannot know the location of Temis Rulan, how you got there, or what you saw and did while you were there.”
Well, this is awkward, thought Kayden, neglecting to keep the feeling of awkwardness from her face.
“What is it, Kayden?” Fay inquired.
“I don’t actually have any friends, Master,” conceded Kayden, “so there’s no need to worry about discretion on my part—I don’t have anyone to tell.” She was surprised by how much it bothered her to have to admit that.
Fay looked at her with disbelieving eyes. “What do you mean you don’t have any friends?”
Although she didn’t particularly want to elaborate, there seemed little point holding back now.
“When I became an apprentice I had no interest in making friends. I was too focussed on completing my apprenticeship so I could seek revenge for my mother, so I didn’t bother.”
“It’s not too late for you to make some friends,” said Fay sympathetically.
“You can’t really believe that, Master!” replied Kayden, her incredulity at the suggestion readily apparent. “I’m the most disliked apprentice on campus. You must have noticed all the bridges I’ve burned over the last few years.”
“Then build some new ones.” Fay made it sound ridiculously easy in that matter-of-fact tone of hers.
“What about Neryssa Mirandi? I thought the two of you were quite close? She certainly seems to care about you.”
Kayden thought about that for a moment. It was true that since being permitted to join the level seven apprentices, Neryssa was the one person who had really gone out of her way to be welcoming and friendly. “I guess Neryssa is the closest thing to a friend I have on campus at the moment,” she acknowledged, hesitantly. Unlike several others apprentices she could mention, Neryssa had never expressed any jealousy or hostility towards her.
“Well that’s something to build on, wouldn’t you say?”
“Maybe.”
She didn’t want to get her hopes up, though she was now resolved to making the effort to establish a genuine friendship with Neryssa as soon as she returned to Antaris.
“You might even find there are one or two other apprentices you could befriend,” appended Fay.
Kayden couldn’t understand where Fay’s apparent optimism was coming from. Try as she might, she couldn’t think of anybody else who was potential friend material. Although… “Well…I suppose Sinton Akasha could feasibly become a friend,” she ventured. “I know he respects me, at least.”
Fay’s response was a smile—she had made her point it seemed.
With Antaris now visible in the distance, Kayden decided to return the conversation back to Fay’s plans for the progression of her training. As she was only going to be a level seven apprentice for three more weeks, she questioned the necessity of having to attend all her classes in the interim. Fay immediately nipped in the bud the idea of those classes being skipped; Kayden would have to go to all her remaining classes, as normal.
A short while later, they were within two hundred yards of the south entrance of the campus when Fay stopped in her tracks, prompting Kayden to do the same. She turned to face the apprentice head on.
“Kayden, there’s one more thing I want to say to you before we get back,” she said earnestly.
“Yes, Master?” replied Kayden, with subtle apprehension in her voice.
“All the people I count as friends call me Fay.” Holding her hand out to Kayden, Fay added, “I hope you will do the same.”
Staring wide-eyed at her master, she was at a loss for words.
“Of course,” Fay continued, “it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to do so in the presence of other people while we’re on campus, but when we are alone, there’s no reason why we cannot interact on a first name basis.”
Kayden reached out to clasp Fay by the forearm. “I would be honoured, Mast… I mean… Fay,” she said solemnly. For several seconds she maintained
her grip on Fay’s forearm while holding her gaze. Just a day earlier she wouldn’t have believed it possible, but it now seemed she had finally established her first friendship since becoming an apprentice—with Fay Annis, of all people. Yet more surprising than that was her intuitive conviction that Fay would be her greatest friend in life.
It was Fay who released her grip first.
“Let’s get going,” she said brightly.
The pair resumed walking, side-by-side, the rest of the way to the south entrance of the Antaris campus. The four Sanatsai sentries on duty greeted them with smiles, allowing them to enter the grounds unhindered. The clock tower, in the distance, let them know the time was fast approaching half past Eleventh Hour—Kayden had missed the first class of the morning, as expected, and the second class had begun over an hour ago so it was too late for her to attend that one as well. Fay instructed her to return her weaponry to the armoury then proceed at once to her dorm room, and await the midday bell announcing the commencement of the lunch hour.
Kayden made her way towards the armoury, with Fay remaining at her side since it was on the way to the administration building. While pondering the appropriateness of initiating any further small talk with Fay on campus grounds, her breath caught in her throat when she spotted Sister Daria among a group of five Sisters congregated outside the infirmary, a short distance ahead, on the left. Any hope that she and Fay could walk past the building unnoticed were quickly dashed when, as they drew nearer, Daria’s eyes locked on hers. The look on the woman’s face was subtle enough to go unnoticed by her colleagues, but apparent enough for Kayden to discern how happy the woman was to see her back.
“Oh no,” she murmured.
“What is it, Kayden?” asked Fay.
She glanced at her master.
“What am I supposed to do about Sister Daria?” she implored urgently. “How am I supposed to tell her I’ve been using her—that we can’t continue to see each other any more?”
“You’re not going to tell her anything.” It was not the answer Kayden was looking for. “Sister Daria is no longer your concern, I will deal with her myself.”
Kayden wanted to voice her concern about how Daria might react to the end of their illicit relationship but she refrained, as it seemed rather presumptuous to mention the woman was in love with her, given Daria had never actually said as much.
“Is she going to be in trouble?” The guilt she was feeling seeped into her voice.
“Yes, Sister Daria is in trouble,” affirmed Fay, in her matter-of-fact tone. “How much trouble remains to be seen.”
Kayden didn’t want to think about what that might entail. Though she didn’t believe for a moment she was the only apprentice in the history of the Order to embark upon an illicit sexual relationship with a member of campus staff, she certainly wasn’t aware of any such liaison being discovered. And with no precedent to look back on, she had little idea of what kind of punishment Sister Daria could expect to receive.
As master and apprentice drew closer to passing by the infirmary, Fay uttered in a low voice, “Do not look at her. Keep your eyes straight ahead and go directly to the armoury.”
Before Kayden could respond, Fay veered away towards the gathering of Jaymidari, leaving her to continue on towards the armoury alone. She didn’t look back when she heard Fay say, “Sister Daria, I have an urgent matter I need to discuss with you, could you follow me to my office?” but she was relieved there was no hint of rebuke in Fay’s voice, nor any indication Daria was in trouble. The last thing she wanted was for the other Sisters to start speculating about what Daria had done. Knowing her luck they would guess correctly and spread the gossip all around the campus.
A short while later Kayden arrived outside the armoury. Only now did she risk peering over her shoulder. She saw Fay and Daria walking side-by-side several yards behind her. The two women appeared to be speaking casually, so she doubted Fay had already mentioned what she wanted to discuss with her counterpart. Certainly the look on Daria’s face suggested she had no idea what she was walking into. Kayden quickly entered the armoury to avoid catching Daria’s eye; chances were, the guilt and worry on her own face would give the game away.
Inside the armoury, she was greeted warmly by Master Solen who was very surprised to see her back on campus so soon. While she returned her weaponry, the Sanatsai tried to quiz her about the trip to Temis Rulan. She was unsure if the prohibition to speak to her fellow apprentices about her time in Temis Rulan was also applicable to her instructors, but she erred on the side of caution. Fortunately, Master Solen was accepting of her response that she wasn’t permitted to talk about any of it.
Once she had finished catching up with Master Solen, she departed the armoury and made her way to the women’s dormitory wing. Returning to her dorm room, she found it empty, as expected, and proceeded to one of the windows to catch sight of the clock tower. There was just under quarter of an hour to go until the midday bell sounded. She stepped away from the window then walked to her bed to lay down and wait, trying not to dwell on the conversation no doubt taking place between Master Fay and Sister Daria. Like Fay had said, Daria was no longer her concern. Instead, she thought about what she was going to say to Neryssa when her roommate returned to their dorm. Was she capable of making two friends in one day?
She would find out soon enough.
Fay was seated behind the mahogany desk in her office, looking across at Sister Daria sitting in one of the chairs opposite. It was apparent Daria still hadn’t figured out why she was in the administrator’s office.
“Sister, let me cut to the chase,” she began. “I know all about your illicit relationship with Kayden Jayta.”
She noticed the blood draining from Daria’s face and the change in her demeanour; the woman was starting to fidget uncomfortably in her seat.
“I know about the clandestine meetings to instruct her in matters you had no business teaching her, including—but not limited to—how to make a siphon cloak, potentially endangering her life.”
She waited for some kind of denial of the allegations but none was forthcoming.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“I… I don’t know what you want me to say,” said Daria. “There’s nothing I can say. I know I have transgressed campus rules and must now pay the price for it.” She took a breath that appeared to stiffen her resolve and regain her composure. “So, you needn’t drag this out any longer than necessary, just tell me how you intend to proceed.”
Fay placed both elbows on her desk, interlocked her fingers, then rested her chin on her hands.
“As tempted as I am to simply report your indiscretion to Sister Idelle, and have you transferred from here, you are a valued member of staff—one I would hate to lose,” she said. “So, before making a final decision I’d like to hear your version of events. There are always two sides to every story, and I know Kayden is not entirely blameless in this.”
Daria began to squirm in her seat again.
“Fay, what do you want me to tell you?” she said, shamefaced. “Without going into the details…this beautiful creature, young enough to be my daughter, offered herself to me and I was to weak to resist temptation. But, even on the rare occasion I was able to summon the strength to say no to her... Kayden just has a knack for getting me to do whatever she wants.”
Fay didn’t doubt for a moment the truthfulness of the latter part of that statement. She almost felt sorry for the woman. Once Kayden had set her sights on her, Daria probably had little hope of keeping the apprentice at bay. But that still didn’t absolve the Sister of responsibility, especially as she no doubt got what she wanted from Kayden in return.
“I hope you understand that Kayden being young and beautiful, with an uncanny ability to get under people’s skin, in no way mitigates the seriousness of what you did?” said Fay. “You know well the rule prohibiting relationships between apprentices and campus staff. And, frankly, you went beyond that.�
� She paused for a moment to allow the rebuke to sink in. “However, I bear some culpability in the predicament you find yourself in.”
Daria looked confused, as Fay hoped she would. Technically, she was in no way to blame for the Sister’s misconduct, but offering to take some of the responsibility gave her the pretext she needed for not reporting the matter to Idelle…yet.
“I don’t understand,” confessed Daria.
“As the administrator here, it is my duty to be aware of everything that happens on campus. The fact that you and Kayden have been carrying on under my nose for well over a year means I haven’t been paying nearly as much attention as I should.” Which was true as far as it went. “But from this moment on, that changes. As a result, I am suspending your punishment…for now. I am placing you on probation until the end of the year. If you can demonstrate to me that not only is the relationship over, but also your willingness and ability to keep your distance from Kayden for the remainder of her apprenticeship, I will not inform Idelle of your egregious indiscretions.” Fay could see the uncertainty written on Daria’s face; it was necessary to drive the point home.
“You are not to speak to her nor interact with her in any way. If, for any reason, she needs to visit the infirmary, she is to be attended by one of your colleagues while you excuse yourself. Am I making myself clear?”
Seeing the expression on Daria’s face caused Fay to suspect, for the first time, that the relationship with Kayden had been more than just physical—for Daria at least. It clearly meant more to the Sister than Kayden had let on.
“Would it make a difference if I said I love her?” asked Daria, meekly.
Fay stared long and hard at the other woman.
“Yes. Yes, it would,” she intoned after a drawn-out silence. “It would make things much worse for you.” She raised her chin from where it rested on her hands, unlocked her fingers, then placed her palms down on her desk, leaning forward. “So, I suggest you don’t say it…and don’t even think it. If you are feeling that way, then I’m telling you to stop. And if you’re harbouring hopes that once Kayden has completed her apprenticeship you can resume a relationship with her… Well, technically that might be correct, but if I were you, I would abandon such hopes.