School in Hastelan, chapter 46. (Patreon)

Hard to believe this one is nearing the big five-o, but here we are. Enjoy some medieval school shenanigans.

I was more able to read today; classes were now over, and I had gathered some time for my study, despite the mild interrogation of my seniors.

Soon, a matter of a few ten-day, and we would be learning of the world of nobles, from how they thought to kingdom management. Etiquette was included, of course, so as not to give offense, yet many of us had already had such lessons from friends or patrons under the pressure of what invitations and attentions we may have received.

These lessons were meant mainly for the rest; those who had no sponsors for them or special talents requiring them to work directly with such quality moved among us.

My own friend Lady Istha was a good example of this; she had no outstanding invitations to this Duke's capital residence or that Marquiss's crumbling castle, so she needed far less attention in that respect.

We had still seen to her education after all, of course, yet some did not even have such friends as we to rely upon. There were always those who needed help of one kind or another, and could not receive it for one reason or another.

Even now, the solitude of one's own chambers were best for many, and I would say my own self be included among those.

I would rapidly grow tired of the hermit's path, of course. Yet as things stood now, I felt put-upon by all those around me. Even as they all needed my help, I could not help how my thoughts twisted along darker paths. Everyone needed some time alone.

I would not have any such time soon, however. The expected knock came, a light and polite thing which would be easy to miss in a larger space.

The knock told me who it was, of course. So I was not surprised to find lady Serapis on the other side of my door. "Good even lady Serapis. What brings you this fine day?"

There were others behind her, of course, yet I chose not to single those out. I would act as if only the sacrificial lamb that had been made to knock was by herself.

"Gossip," my friend declared without shame. I stepped aside with a flourish, and she swept in, the others following as so many vengeful ghosts after a cursed man.

The door was shut again and chairs and stools were moved according to the whim of others while I did my best to make tea, as a good host should.

"So, what news brings you?" I knew, of course, yet I could not let my friends go completely unchallenged.

"Your news. Do tell us what those others desired of you." Lady Serapis seemed to know more; there was a look of expectation.

"You already know. They desired to know my accounting of recent events, and what I thought of the matter. I told them rightly that I did not know what to think of such things, as I am but a newly minted servant of the Goddess. This seemed to mollify them, yet they did not share any such thoughts of their own on the matter, which I felt was ever so slightly cruel."

"Rightly so," lady Serapis agreed. "I should like to know as well. Yet those two, I do not suppose they will answer such."

My chance! "Who are they? Do you know?"

Lady Serapis nodded. "They are well-known in some circles. Lady Ezing is well known as a solver of mysteries, one who knows. It was she who was behind the arrest of the mad baron some years ago."

The mad baron was the tale of a worthy who would torture and put his own peasants to death. The high court had found no provocation, no reason at all for his crimes. Even I had heard of such things in my remote home.

"The good lady Fletching is known as the 'coursing hound of the order'. She has been behind much of the good fortunes in war and peace we have had of late, with her canny diplomacy and useful skills of war."

What were such luminaries among us doing here, asking after me? Such words, such deeds, made no sense at all.

"My dear Lady, you are a big deal after all!" Lady Delia exclaimed, at last entering the fray of utterances.

"I am not so sure I like that," I could not help but mutter. "Even so, I suppose any such messages by the Goddess require our best and brightest."

"Even so," lady Nells declared, as loud as ever. "It would not do to get whatever sign we have received wrong."

"Indeed," lady Istha agreed. I am certain even more of us who we do not know are working upon the cipher the Goddess left us."

There was no such cipher, save the why of it. The message itself was simple enough. Yet, others did not need to know such; I knew that was the case as well, with a certitude, which defied my normal thoughts.

Lady Delia sighed: "It was enough for us to be questioned as well, on what we had seen. The enforcing arm of the Goddess seems very interested."

I could hear the unspoken words: 'mayhap too interested.'

"There is little else to share, in truth. Can we not leave the matter for now?" My earnest entreaty seemed to be heard well.

Or mayhap it was the tea that I was currently pouring; the liquid seemed to be of more than passing interest.

I would presume it was the tea.

"So, what other events have taken place? Surely more has happened."

"Ah, well... it seems lady Sabina has claimed another victim," lady Nells blurted, then tasted her tea. Her face brightened, which I took as approval over my meager skills.

"Truly? lady Delia asked. "She does seem to collect them, as one would strange animals."

What was this? Had lady Sabina hurt someone, or even worse?  "Whatever do you mean?"

"Lady Sabina breaks hearts as a knight might break skulls," lady Delia explained. "This very morn, a noble came to the gate to meet with her. He left sporting a blackened eye, and by all accounts, it was a blow well struck."

What? "Will she not face punishment for such a thing?"

Lady Nells shook her head with a smile: "No, her family outranks his, and he is but a third son, even if she is but a student now. Such ranks do matter, and the fool dare not take issue with anything the good lady chooses to do. Even if the action was undue... and by all accounts it was not. Few know for sure what he said, but all who witnessed the event agree that it was nothing good."

A fool then. Holding one's tongue was a skill needed for life, no matter what your station.

"This happens often?" Lady Istha asked, stealing my words before I could utter them.

"Lady Sabina will be rich when she leaves us here, and is connected. Her nobility is without question. Even more important to some, it seems, she looks the part, even before the full measure of the Goddess's sacrifice is upon her."

The answer from lady Serapis seemed to cut to the quick; lady Istha rubbed her arms and seemed to hunch in on herself as she gave a little "Oh."

That could not stand. "Peace, sister. We are who we are, and we will be who we will be. There is no cause for concern, as you may yet outshine us all."

"Well, outshine most of you lot," lady Nells declared. "I for one shall be the best of all of us!"

"Most vain you mean," lady Delia answered. "Your head shall certainly be larger than all of ours combined!"

The careless words and jesting had the desired effect, as lady Istha smiled and forgot herself. Lady Nells shared a knowing look with me, even as she threw her nose into the air: "Green is such a terrible color in someone! You're just afraid of my genius!"

"Genius, is it?" Lady Serapis intoned. Then she made a show of it, looking closer: "I can see it... if I squint."

Then she shut her eyes completely.

Even I could not stay steady in the face of such an assault.

I was not alone, we all laughed together, cares forgotten for a moment.

I was about to sip my own tea, judging it cool now, when lady Metis, heretofore silent, looked to me, then to lady Nells, and shut her eyes. She did it apurpose!

I managed not to spew tea upon my guests, yet only just. "Most naughty of you, lady Metis."

Said worthy smiled and answered, "I regret nothing," because of course she did not.

Merriment aside for now, we sipped in pleasant silence.

The lady Serapis cleared her throat again. "We have yet to be visited by the two."

Of course, she meant those investigating the sign. What would that mean? Why had they not been questioned? Surely the omission had some import. Could it be as simple as simply not having time yet? It could, yet my heart screamed it was not so; why allow my friends to meet with me if so? There was a chance we would come to an agreement on things, much as is happening now. Would that not be injurious to any investigation?

"Surely you will be called. Mayhap on the morrow."

"Mayhap," lady Serapis answered, clearly not believing it to be so.

"There is no need to worry in any event, as we are blameless," lady Metis asserted with some measure of courage.

"In any event, we will not solve this in a day, and I feel we are not meant to," lady Nells mused. "We should head to the gardens and enjoy what sun the day offers us, rather than coop ourselves up here in this stifling confine."

She was not wrong. "Even so, I applaud your ardor. I agree with you, and here I have the authority to see it done. Come then, and let us enjoy what blessings the world and the Goddess have for us."

I opened the door, and my friends moved past, almost before I could turn to behold them. Empty tea cups twirled upon their saucers; those acting were so fast.

I turned back from turning the lock on my door to find them already some distance down the hall, not quite making enough speed to draw the ire of others, yet with more than enough effort to leave me behind. A jest of some kind, and one I would not rise to; I resolved to walk at a sedate pace, a proper pace, with my back straight and my head held high.

They met me at the door of course, and opened the portal as I neared, pouring through as if drops of water from a leaf before shutting the sturdy wood in my face. I was not to be deterred.

I opened the door to find them all waiting again, as if nothing were amiss and naught had happened.

We all headed to the garden in silence; my friends all closed ranks around me, smiling all the while. They would not cause any more mischief, would they?

They did not. We reached our customary spot in the garden and the benches therein. It was clear, as it always was.

"So, what shall we discuss?" lady Delia asked.

There was little to share, as we had already spoken of matters of all import to us.

"Oh! There is a new merchant on Stile Street, near the Osan dress shop. I've yet to be in; I heard from lady Flis they sell such mechanics as water clocks and other such knick knacks of interest. She said they even have those special glasses that allow one to see far."

That sounded most wonderful. The wonders one could see with such a glass! There must be even more wonders to find there. "We should go!"

Lady Serapis nodded, as rapidly as I'd ever seen her, and I could hear energy within her coming to the fore: "Indeed. At earliest convenience."

Lady Nells also nodded along. "I could always use another visit to a good dress shop."

Of course.

It seemed more than a little... silly, to be buying things so oft like this. To simply buy clothes in order to have more clothes, more dresses. To never wear the same dress twice, as I've heard many of us say in the halls... lady Nells among them. It seemed so flippant.

Even so, I would go. It was one of few sources of amusement we had, and mayhap there would be some music or show upon the street. I had not seen such, yet lady Delia had swore that they existed.

I would go looking for them before the weather turned completely. I had heard they were more common the closer one went to the docks, as ships oft brought mummers and glee folk.

I had no work planned for the next ten-day. Even so, I could be asked some time later. I would have time to learn. Mayhap it was even time to buy books of my own... I could ask both lady Matrona and lady Serapis for titles they valued.

Lady Metis bowed into my view: "Thoughts?"

"Books," I gave the answer, and she groaned.

"Of course it would be books. You should take a care; if you keep reading all those books, you shall turn out like lady Serapis."

Lady Serapis and I shared a look. "I fail to see a worry," she intoned.

A jest took me: "I too fail to see a worry," I intoned, in my best mimic of her voice.

She raised a brow at me, and I raised one back.

Lady Delia's jaw dropped. "No, not two of them!" she exclaimed.

I could no longer hold my laughter.

"She strikes back, and it is an effective one," lady Istha said.

"I knew she had such inside her," lady Nells agreed. "And more, I shall wager."

"Not much more," I shared. "I am unarmed in most battles of wits."

I was not, yet it was best that most thought so.

"You give yourself too little credit; looking for flattery?" Lady Metis asked.

"No, I can receive any measure of honeyed words from those who know me not. I wish only honesty from my friends."

"Well said," lady Serapis intoned. The others nodded their own agreement.

"The birds are normal today. Seems dull." lady Delia opined.

"You might ask them to sing as they did. They may listen," lady Metis said.

"Pardon, birds, might you sing for us?"

They did not. Some sang, yet most, the closest, stayed silent or took flight at our noise. Those which had not already.

"It seems we are out of either luck or favor."

No there was more luck to be had. The birds that took flight circled, and circled around a singular roof in the distance. One that I could see from over our wall - which meant anyone upon it could see us. Such as a certain person known to favor roof walking, mayhap.

I could see no such thing, of course, not from this distance. The glass from a shop might well come in useful sooner rather than late.