A/N: I hope this is a little better than the last one. The
plot was inspired by Harry Potter, more or less, but I've taken a minor part of
the third book and made it the entire basis for this one.
Disclaimer: They're not mine (I know this is a vague pronoun
reference, but by saying "they" I release myself from the responsibility of
listing: characters, locations, culture…oops, I wound up doing it anyway).
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
I've been a
very poor correspondent this summer, but I was busy with other things. If
you're doing anything interesting (as you should be about this time of year),
I'd like to hear about it.
This
summer, Willin has been putting a lot of time into learning archery. I'm quite
proud of him; he's coming along nicely, and I'm sure it will be a useful skill.
Aliania, on the other hand, has been having a lot of trouble learning to heal
broken bones. Her teacher tells us to give her time, but maybe she'll never be
a first-class healer.
Classes
should be starting by the time you get this letter, so tell me how you're
doing. And you know what I want to hear.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
I got your
letter exactly two days after classes began. In every class, the first thing we
did was have a test on what we learned last year. We do this at the beginning
and end of every year, but now that I'm in my third year of studies, everything
was a lot harder.
I'm glad
Willin is good at archery. I've tried it here, and I'm no good, so he must have
inherited your skill. But I happen to agree with Aliania's teacher—broken bones
are difficult for healers to mend, and she's made astounding progress in a
short amount of time. I think she'll grow up to be a fine healer, even if she's
hit a spot of difficulty.
Ozorne
introduced me to two students his age or a little older. Their names are Malin
and Deradir (we call him Derry for short). Both are specializing in battle
magic, and they're very good. My teachers talk about them all the time, even
though they moved on to higher classes a few years ago.
Anyway,
these two are preparing to make a presentation to the University Directors. I
had no idea why they would do that, so Ozorne explained it all to me.
There are
always new things to be discovered. If a student does a lot of original
research in a particular area, he or she can present it to the Directors, who
decide if they should award the student credentials, and often a job teaching
the subject. If you don't want to teach (or if, more likely, your innovation
isn't enough to warrant an entire new subject), you can ask them to make it a
part of another class. Even if it never becomes anything but a topic of
discussion among academics, I think it makes you feel good to know that your
discovery was recognized and your hard work rewarded.
I have to
go study now, but after I see Malin and Derry's presentation, I'll tell you
about it.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
I hope you
never do one of those presentations to the directors. I think you'd probably
botch it up royally if given the opportunity. Besides, I can't imagine what
kind of thing you'd discover.
You'd
better have kept in practice during the summer and passed all your tests. After
all the ruckus you caused last year, you should have the academic success to
make up for it.
Speaking of
academic success, I received your school report from last year and your marks
were quite satisfactory. Continue to do as well and I will be pleased.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
I'm glad
you found my teachers' remarks to your liking. I passed all of my tests with
flying colors and we are now beginning to work on new spells. When our teachers
gave us the syllabus for the year, Ozorne and I were amused to see that we've
already practiced a lot of the spells in secret.
I would
never present to the Directors. It sounds like a nerve-wracking experience.
Besides, I don't know when anyone has any time for individual research with all
the work we have to do.
But Malin
and Derry's presentation went very well. They found a weak spot in a frequently
used protection spell and devised a way to shatter the entire spell with a very
small amount of power. It's amazing that no one ever realized this before…on
second thought, maybe not. It's necessary to hit the shield in exactly
the right place with only a little magic, and usually when trying to break a
shield one will use a great amount of power.
When I asked
them how they found out about this, they wouldn't tell me. It's funny how well
everyone around here guards his or her secrets. Maybe someone should do a
psychological study of academics and mages.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
I have very
little interest in the goings-on of your magical community. I understand how
enthralling it may be for you, but I can hardly begin to understand what you're
doing. Explanations just don't do magic justice—you'll have to come home
eventually and show me.
However,
please don't stop writing to me about your studies. I need to make sure you're
working hard at everything.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
It's very
hard to tell you how much I'm learning when I can't tell you what I'm
learning. But I'll try my best…if I talk too much about magic, you can just
ignore it.
The other
day in Master Reed's class, he had to give us a particularly long lecture on
water manipulation spells (these spells allow powerful mages to create tidal
waves, but we were just moving water around in a bowl). By the time he was
finished, there were only ten minutes left of the class, which isn't really
enough time to do much. So he told us we could have a little fun.
The next thing
we knew, everyone's skin (except for Master Reed's) had turned a nice shade of
pink. He grinned and pretended he couldn't remember the counter-spell. So
Ozorne made his hair, which is past his shoulders, stand up straight. For
revenge, Master Reed stuck Ozorne's chair to his behind, so that when he stood
up, the chair was still attached to him. I used the same spell to sandwich
Master Reed's head between two large books.
Soon,
everyone was playing pranks on each other right and left and the entire classroom
was in pandemonium. I had just spread a skunk-odor smell over the room when the
door burst open and the Headmaster of the University came in.
He was
really, really mad. He gave Master Reed a long lecture on proper control of
students, and told him it was shameful that he had let the class get so out of
hand, and things like that. But Master Reed admitted that he had started it, as
a little break from work for us.
That made
the Headmaster even angrier. He put up magical shields around himself and Master
Reed, and they blocked out most of the words, but we could still tell that he
was positively screaming at our teacher. Through the Headmaster's brown magic,
we could just see Master Reed standing in front of him, looking more and more
distressed as the scolding progressed. Finally, the Headmaster dropped his
shields and stalked off.
Master Reed
looked like any one of us after being harangued by a harsh teacher. He told us
that everything was fine, and that we should go to our next class and not worry.
I feel
really bad for him. The Headmaster can be formidable when he wants to be, and I
don't think he's ever given anyone such a harsh talking-to.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
It sounds
like your irresponsible Master Reed finally got what he deserved for his
negligent teaching. It's a shame the Headmaster had to criticize him like a
dog, but that's what happens to bad teachers.
I can't
believe you were foolish enough to get involved in that disruption. Don't you
have any common sense at all? Any idiot knows not to make his teacher's
fingernails grow, or whatever you did. You and your friends are just lucky that
none of you got in trouble. If I were the Headmaster, none of you would be able
to sit down for the bruises on your backsides.
At the very
least, I hope you did a good job moving the water around in your bowl.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
Master Reed
is not a bad teacher! In fact, he's one of the best. Not just because we all
like him, but also because he's good at explaining things in a simple way. And
you'd be calling me an equal fool if I had refused to do what Master Reed
wanted me to do…you would say that I was being insubordinate or something.
The week
after the incident with the prank war, we went back to Master Reed's class and
did our water spells. But he was acting so oddly that I couldn't concentrate—he
didn't greet us, he didn't tell us any funny stories, and he barely made eye
contact the whole class. I kept sloshing my water over the side of my bowl, and
he came with a towel but didn't even speak to me. I wonder if he's under the
University's probation or something.
The Empire
made another conquest in the south; it's what the teachers were all busy doing
last spring. We're going to start learning about the new region tomorrow in
history class. Ozorne tells me it has a really interesting culture. I can't
wait!
Derry and
Malin are going to come around next week to teach everyone what they found out
about the shield spell. They also get an extra credit toward earning their
robes. My next protection class is tomorrow afternoon, so we'll be one of the
first classes to learn.
Ozorne
offered to teach me to ride after I write this, but I think I'm going to go to
the library instead and find a book on astronomy. It's a class the University
doesn't offer until fifth year (I think), but I think it's a useful subject to
know. It's supposed to be clear tonight, so I figure it's a good time to start.
I'll let
you know how Malin and Derry do…on second thought, you probably don't care. And
I did an excellent job with my water spells, thank you very much.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
I've given
up chiding you for your cheek. But I do remember that last year I said we should
stop arguing about Master Reed, so we will. And I would like to know how your
friends' lessons went.
I find it
quite interesting that with all the studying you mages do to learn about your
Gifts backwards and forwards, there are still things about magic left to be
discovered by teenage students. I'm not disbelieving you; it's just something
interesting to think about. I guess that's why they say, "there's always
someone with better magic." It must be true if we haven't uncovered everything
you can do.
Hasn't your
empire made enough conquests? How can one emperor possibly keep such far-flung
lands in line? Personally, I think it would be much simpler to split the
Carthaki Empire into more manageable pieces, but I suppose it's a perfect
challenge for a power-hungry man.
I always
forget this…is astronomy about stars and planets, or is that astrology? And
which one has to do with predicting the future? That one sounds like a waste of
time, so I hope it's not what you're studying.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
Overall,
Malin and Derry's presentation went very well. Malin, at least, may make a good
teacher someday. Unfortunately, Derry was a bit less smooth in his lecture
style. During the demonstration, he accidentally used far too much power and
caused a minor explosion (see, I'm not the only one!). Luckily, Malin had done
his shield properly and no one died. After that, everything went pretty well as
long as Derry let Malin do the talking. Which, after his first stuttering
delivery, he did.
It's
actually not that unusual for students to make discoveries. There will always
be something left to discover; the uses of the Gift are infinite. They stretch
far as man's creativity.
I happen to
agree with you about the state of the Empire. There's a lot to be said for a
small country, or at least a geographically compact one. News can take months
to get from one end of the empire to the other. And you're lucky your letters
aren't censored—I have a sneaking suspicion that outgoing ones are, but Ozorne
won't tell me. What you said, a good academic point, might be interpreted as
treasonous.
But I did
like learning about Alará, the new addition. They're very big on music, and
have created all kinds of magical instruments. They also have a secondary
language based on dance—it's similar to what Master Reed once explained to me
about how bees communicate. Of course, they just use it as ritual. I'm planning
on writing an extra credit paper on Alaranian dance and its symbolic magical
meaning.
Astronomy
is the study of the stars and planets, you were right. The books I've been
reading also go into the constellations and what myths are behind them,
something I find very interesting. There's also a bit of information about
other things in the sky, like the sun, comets, meteors, and the moon.
Master
Reed's class was today, but he wasn't there. Our mathematics teacher filled in
instead. When Ozorne and I asked where he was, we never got a clear answer. I
have a feeling something is very wrong.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
Don't get
yourself worked up. Master Reed is probably sick. It could happen to anyone.
About your math teacher, well, maybe they didn't tell him and he was
embarrassed that he didn't know.
I'm glad at
least one of your friends did a passable job at his lesson. Do you think the
other one, Derry, didn't research the project as well as he should have? Maybe
he just took the credit for Malin's work.
I would
like you to know that I did not forget your birthday this year. This
letter will probably reach you within a few days of it. And I haven't lost
track either, you're going to be fourteen.
As a
birthday present, Aliania sent you a large jar of her home-brewed headache
cure, which she says you will probably need since you read so much. She says it
also "has restorative properties for when you overextend your Gift," but I
haven't the foggiest idea what that's supposed to mean. You mages are in a
world of your own.
Willin drew
the label; he spent days and days on it. It's not terrible, but it's not
exactly a candidate for the emperor's art collection. Maybe I'm being unfair.
His penmanship is extraordinary for a young child. Actually, it's better than
yours.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
I've just
turned thirteen, but I give you credit for being close. And at least you
got the day right.
I think that Willin's label is
beautiful and Aliania's herbs are indispensable to me after a long day. Tell
her that I shared it with my healer friends, and they think it's a masterpiece.
It turns out Derry has an acute
fear of public speaking. He contributed to the project, but was unable to do
the presentation (when they presented to the directors, he chickened out and
pretended to have lost his voice).
And also, you assumed that my math
teacher is a man, but she's a woman.
Ozorne,
Laas, and I went to Master Reed's office to see where he had been during class.
We found him half finished packing up everything in the office. Ozorne demanded
to know where he was going.
Sadly, he
told us that he had been "removed from his position," or, in other words,
fired. It all dated back to the prank war incident; apparently a teacher who
lets the kids have fun once in a while threatens the academic-ness of the
University.
We all
protested, but he told us there was nothing we could do. He says he's going to
go back north, to where he comes from. He says he'll miss his animals the most,
since the majority of them can only survive in a warm climate.
Laas was
the most upset of us all, probably because as Master Reed's assistant, they
know each other the best. He kept insisting that they couldn't just kick him
out like this.
"The only
thing that can save his job," Ozorne said once we had dejectedly left his
office, "is some kind of loophole in the rules of the University."
The three
of us have been spending too much time together. We looked at each other for a
few seconds, then turned right around and headed to the library.
We spent
all of lunch in there, but we didn't find the right book. We have a ton of work
tonight, but we're going to go back tomorrow evening, and the next night, and
the next, until we find something. Master Reed is the best teacher at the
University, and I'm not going to let one fuddy-duddy Headmaster drive him away.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
It's not
your responsibility to overturn the Headmaster's decision. I understand your
disappointment, but I'm sure that there's nothing in the University rules that
will permit a few young students to overturn a dismissal. Besides, it's not the
end of the world if a teacher you like gets sacked.
I also
happen to agree that an institute of higher learning is no place for pranks—and
after all you've told me about magic, it's probably not a safe thing to do,
either.
Don't you
have studying to do? If you're so worn out by the end of the day that you need
a headache cure, why do you have time to go chasing around after a rule that
doesn't exist?
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
Our nights in the library got
longer and longer, but we couldn't find a thing. We were so worried—Master
Reed's boat leaves in three days. But last night, I fell asleep over a book and
when I woke up, the rules for the dismissal of teachers were right in front of
me (except for the ones that were printed on my face—some older ink formulas
aren't as permanent as modern ones, but let's not go into that).
It's all
right for the Headmaster to dismiss a teacher with no reason, but a majority of
the Committee of Directors has to agree with his decision. In this case, that
was easy, because many of them don't like Master Reed's loose, familiar
teaching style.
But here's
the loophole (we knew there had to be one): if the teacher wants, he or
she can contest the verdict with a petition signed by as many of his or her
colleagues and students as possible. If the petition gets more than twenty
signatures, the Directors have to give the teacher a hearing. And this time,
the vote to dismiss has to be unanimous.
These rules
have been around since the beginning of the University. There's no way the
Directors can deny Master Reed a hearing, not if we get twenty signatures
(which should be absolutely no problem, considering his popularity).
After
classes today, Ozorne, Laas, and I are going to find Master Reed and tell him
about this. I'm sure he knows, but he probably just forgot. I don't think we
should have any problem winning the appeal; there must be at least one Director
smart enough to realize that his "scandalous" teaching is effective.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
Whatever
you're going to do, I'm sure it's totally ridiculous! If, as you said, a
majority of the Directors don't like Master Reed, then there must be a reason!
Maybe this was just an excuse to dismiss him, not a reason. I'll bet he's done
bad things you don't know about.
Just
because you can get 20 students to sign a piece of paper doesn't mean it will
have any effect on the Directors. That rule is probably just a formality.
Why don't
you go do something useful with your time? And, by the way, happy midwinter.
Your marks are in the mail as we speak…I'll soon see how much of your studying
time has gone into foolish pursuits.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
Happy
midwinter to you, Mother, Aliania, and Willin! I sent you a rug that I bought
in the city, but I invented a spell to put on it. In the package, it will be white,
but if you tell it to be another color it will change. And if you want it to be
darker or lighter, all you have to do is tell it. I haven't had a chance to
test it out on people without the Gift, but if you make sure that you speak
clearly, it will probably work. I also sent more sweets for Willin and Aliania.
Whatever
you think, we're going to go through with our plan. We didn't get a chance to
visit Master Reed until the day before his departure. It was really shocking,
to see his office—which is usually filled with books and all kinds of
interesting creatures—totally bare.
At first he
didn't really believe that we could do anything. But when Ozorne showed him the
law (he pretended that he had been the one to find it, not me. I was annoyed,
but under the circumstances it would have been wrong to make a scene), he began
to get as excited. He really loves teaching here, and, like he said, he'd miss
his animals.
Ever since
then, we've been collecting signatures on the petition. Well over 100 students
and teachers signed! But, as Laas pointed out, it doesn't matter how strong
support Master Reed has if the Directors unanimously reject the appeal. Since
Ozorne's a prince, he thinks the best thing to do is to just talk to each
Director separately and find out. But to Laas and me, that's about as natural
as slapping the Empress on the behind. Students who don't happen to be royalty
don't really count for much until we're fully trained.
It's almost
midnight, and I have my first astronomy class. Ozorne went and talked to his
teacher, and he said that even though it was technically against the rules,
there was no harm in letting me sit through the classes, especially if I'm
interested. But I'm not actually enrolled, so you don't have to pay for it, and
I don't get marks. I also don't get to sleep through my eight o' clock lesson
tomorrow like the older students do.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
Congratulations
on getting to take a class for free! I'm very proud of you. I'm also quite
happy with the assessment of your progress that arrived in the mail last week.
You teachers have nothing but good to say about you, and you're the top student
in several classes. But don't get haughty about it, because it may be only a
temporary position.
Since you're
obviously the point in your stupid plan where I can't stop you anymore, I might
as well wish you good luck. I happen to agree with Ozorne that the quickest way
is to go directly to the Directors (no pun intended).
The rug is
beautiful. Your mother has tried it out in every room in the house. Your
brother and sister enjoyed the sweets, but Aliania said something about them
being bad for the teeth. Apparently, not too bad, because she ate just as many
as Willin. I wonder if all this healing training is ruining her brain.
I know I'd
given up telling you not to trust Ozorne, but do you really want a friend who
takes credit for your achievements? Maybe he'll take advantage later in life,
when it really matters. I'm not going to give you any more advice, but I will
warn you to watch out.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
Aliania is entirely right: the
sugar that's in sweets can rot your teeth if you eat it too much without ever
cleaning it off.
Anyway,
Ozorne won the days-long argument, and we decided to go to the Directors one by
one, starting with the head of the Committee. Well, our meeting with him was
very interesting, let me tell you!
He never
would have let us into his office if it weren't for Ozorne. Laas and I were too
nervous to say anything so Ozorne did all the talking. I thought he presented
out point very well, and the head Director pretended to be listening. Then
Ozorne said very nicely, "Sir, do you plan on voting to uphold Master Reed's
appeal?"
The
Director laughed in our face. When he was done, he told us that he has very
little respect for a teacher who lets young students fight his battles. He also
admitted that he doesn't much like Master Reed anyway (for no good reason). He
then asked us if we were planning on talking to the other Directors about this,
and we all nodded. Then he shooed us out of his office, saying that he had important
business.
We've
definitely decided to talk to the other Directors, but this week we have a lot
of tests, and we need to put every spare second into studying. Master Reed says
he'll schedule a date for the appeal hearing.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
It sounds
like that Committee head has the right idea. What do three boys think they can accomplish
by annoying the Directors? You should all give up now, while you're not in too
much trouble.
Tell me
that you won't go around lobbying for votes. It's a hopeless case. I know
you'll be sorry to see your teacher go, but I tell you, there's nothing you can
do about it.
If you can
pull your mind back to important matters for a minute, I wish you would think
about your future. What kind of job will you find when you're out of school?
How can you put this fancy education to work for you? Your course of study
isn't exactly leading you into anything obvious.
Let me know
when you think of something. I also want to hear how you do on your exams.
Your father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
I'm very
sorry, but I completely ignored your advice about giving up on Master Reed.
Ozorne, Laas, and I have gone around to about five of the directors so far and
asked them how they expected to vote.
Many of
them used almost direct quotes from Master Mohari (that's the head of the
Committee of Directors), basically saying they didn't like his teaching style.
I've told you before; they think he gives us students too much freedom. And I
still maintain that as a good thing.
One man,
though, a northerner called Master Cobury, acted very strangely. He listened to
our entire argument, and then shook his head sadly.
"I'm sorry,
boys," he said. "I'm going to have to vote to reject the appeal." When we
pressed him for more information, he sighed and whispered something to Laas,
and put a spell on him—the Death-Sealed Secret. The instant Laas told the
secret, he would die. It was a serious spell, one we wouldn't learn for years
and years.
I'm not
really sure about my future right now. But Ozorne says that when he's emperor,
he'll give me a job as his chief mage. That's a pretty good position, don't you
think?
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
Although
you may be friends now, at your young age, Ozorne will definitely surround
himself with important nobles and not minor mages when he is an emperor. I
suggest you work on a back-up plan.
From the
conduct of the Directors you have spoken too, I would guess that there is more
to Master Reed's dismissal than meets the eye. You should stay away from things
that you don't understand.
My guess
about Master Cobury is that he once had Master Reed as a teacher and remembers
how much fun he was, but realizes as an adult that it would be best for
everyone if the University found a better teacher for whatever Master Reed
teaches. There's nothing strange about that.
Try to grow
up someday. Adulthood would really suit you.
Your Father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
I
disregarded almost all of the information in your last letter, and Laas,
Ozorne, and I finished talking to the directors—well, those who would let us in
their offices, anyway. They all seem to be siding with Master Mohari. Ozorne
and Laas have completely given up hope, but I'm still stubbornly working on
Master Cobury. Meanwhile, Master Reed is living with friends in the city and
they've found a mean, strict, and boring teacher to teach his classes.
The appeal
is scheduled for the fifteenth of March, which gives us only a few weeks to
prepare. Only one person is allowed to argue for Master Reed in front of the
directors, and since we've done so much for him, Master Reed requested that it
be one of us, and the directors agreed. Ozorne thought it should be him, since
he's the prince, but I convinced him that Laas should have the chance, as
Master Reed's assistant. Ozorne grudgingly agreed.
The
teachers have stepped up the work, since I'm approaching the end of my third
year and it's much more serious from here on in. They promised us that there is
always a huge drop in enrollment for the fourth year, but of the students who
come back, most will achieve some kind of credential (unless they die; I told
you it was more serious from now).
So, I have
a lot of work to do before I go to bed. I'll write you again later, but
probably before the appeal (depending on when your letter gets here).
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
I've said
it before and I'm saying it now: you'd better not die, not after I've put so
much money into your education. Keep up with your work, and don't do anything
foolish. Why do I find myself repeating these two phrases?
If you
picked the fifteenth of March for the appeal, you need to brush up on your
mythology. Or, at the very least, your history.
It scares
me that a group of three ignorant students can reverse the decision of the
headmaster, but I know I've said enough on the topic.
On the
bright side, Aliania's teacher said that there's nothing else she can learn. I
think that's rather impressive for a girl her age…which is ten or so (she
doesn't make a big deal out of it the way you do). Is there any way she could
take just one term of classes at the University, to round off her education?
She could room with you, and you could help her.
Get back to
me soon.
Your Father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
The appeal
is tomorrow. I'm so nervous I can't sleep, which is why I'm writing you at one
in the morning. I had to shove dirty clothes under my door and plaster them
around the cracks with a sticking spell, since we're not supposed to have
candles lit this late.
In our
current events class, we learned about some magical happening up in the
Tortallan desert, but I wasn't really listening. I was just thinking about all
the things that could go wrong tomorrow, and how unlikely it is that we'll win.
On the way back from class, Tristan (who doesn't have Master Reed and isn't
really interested in his case) was babbling about ancient spirits and Tortall's
Crown Prince, but I couldn't make much sense of it.
I can't
think of anything else to say to you…there are things happening (like the disaster
in battle magic class with the roses, the corncobs, and that stupid caribou
tail), as usual, but I'm currently viewing the world by asking myself, "what
does it have to do with Master Reed?" After the appeal, maybe I'll be able to
give you a real update.
I'm going
to sneak to the library under an invisibility spell (something I learned
illegally after sneaking to the library last year…go figure) and see if I can
find any more information for Laas tomorrow. My poor friend was so nervous that
he hasn't been able to do anything today but read through the notes again and
again. He won't even speak to us, and went to bed without dinner.
I'll tell
you how it goes, obviously. But what's wrong with March fifteenth?
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
You're
giving me butterflies in my stomach just reading your letter, and I don't even
care about the outcome of this case. Well, maybe I do, but not the way you and
your friends do.
But I know
you're setting yourself up for failure if you don't get a decent night's sleep.
This letter will arrive too late to stop you, but I hope you hear your mother's
voice in the back of your head, telling you to get your behind under the
covers.
You didn't
mention anything about Aliania and the University, but I'll forgive you this
once. You'd better have some solid information in your next letter.
Good luck
tomorrow. I hope Laas doesn't do anything stupid. And don't get your hopes up
about the outcome…like you said, it's unlikely that you'll win.
Your Father
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Father,
Thank the
gods that the appeal is finally over! I wrote you a letter about it but then
yours came and I had to rewrite some of the stuff in it, so this is a new
letter.
I finally
fell asleep around dawn on the day of the appeal, which left me two hours to
doze before I had to meet Ozorne, Laas, and Master Reed. Thanks to a wonderful,
wonderful substance called adrenaline (ask Aliania), I was wide awake and ready
to go, as was Ozorne, but poor Laas hadn't been able to sleep at all and could
hardly keep his eyes open as we went over his notes one more time.
At nine o'
clock, we went to the same room where Malin and Derry had presented to the
Committee of Directors only four or five months ago. Laas and Master Reed sat
next to each other on a bench facing the entire Committee, with the emperor and
the Headmaster in the middle and about three feet higher than the rest of the
Directors.
After some
preliminary statements from the emperor, the hearing began. Master Mohari (the
head of the committe, you remember), made a brief argument in favor of Master
Reed's dismissal. Master Reed refuted the argument, and then the Headmaster
spoke.
Next, it
was Laas's turn to get up and say his piece. Ozorne and I, seated right behind
him and Master Reed, waited anxiously.
After a few
seconds, mumbles began to break out in the audience, and the Directors looked
annoyed. Laas turned to me, face white. "I can't," he said, and thrust the
notes into my hands.
I sat
stunned for a second. "If Master Reed has no one to speak for him, let the
Committee vote…"
"Wait," I
said, but my mouth was so dry no sound came out. I swallowed and shouted again.
"Wait!"
Heads
turned to me, and I ignored them. I slid out of my row and took the floor in front
of the directors as the noise level fell.
I can't
even remember how I started, but I know it was bad. I wasn't ready, and I
hadn't practiced. I clumsily repeated a few of the things Master Reed had said
and took a seat on the front bench, redfaced.
"If Master
Reed's advocate has nothing more to say," Master Mohari said, smirking at me,
"the floor will be opened for questions, first for Master Draper, and then for
Master Reed.
I numbly
got to my feet again, and answered one question from each Director. Most of the
questions were dictated by tradition and had an automatic response. Only one
question veered off the beaten path.
"Master
Draper," Master Cobury said, "would you say that Master Reed deserves to be
dismissed?"
Finally, a
question with an answer that I had repeated daily to every director! Hesitating
a second, I launched into the short speech that Ozorne, Laas, and I had
perfected over the last few weeks, complete with hand gestures and pauses to
let the facts sink in. It was really quite effective, or so I gathered by
watching the audience.
After my
superior performance, it was back to answering the questions I had read about
in books. Finally, there were only two people left: the Headmaster and Master
Mohari (the emperor doesn't ask questions; he's just there to make the whole
thing seem more official).
The Headmaster
asked me if I knew that Master Reed had not been following the recommended
curriculum? I sighed. "Yes, sir, I am aware of that fact." I self-consiously
shuffled my notes, and my eyes fell upon a page I had never seen before. Laas
must have written it himself, I thought…but a moment later, I read a shocking
sentence. I glanced anxiously at Laas, but he was still alive. Even so, I knew
that I had just read Master Cobury's secret.
At last it
was Master Mohari's turn. He didn't look at me, but glared at Master Reed with
surprising malice. "Tell me why I shouldn't fire your beloved 'teacher' and
throw you out of the University to boot!" he demanded of me.
I did
something that you probably wouldn't be proud of me for, but I have no regrets.
I fixed him with my fiercest stare and repeated the secret I had just read.
"Because if you weren't blackmailing all of these Directors, they would do the
right thing and vote against Master Reed's dismissal!"
The
audience gasped collectively. Master Mohari scowled at me, but I was too angry
to care.
"You heard
me, sir. You know something about all these men, and you're using it to bend
them to your will."
Master
Mohari grinned evilly at Master Cobury. "But I am still on the side of justice.
This man," he gestured to Master Cobury, whose face had turned chalky white, "
is a traitor to the Empire, who's been helping slaves escape."
The emperor
gasped. "I never thought I'd be stabbed in the back by a man I considered a
friend!" he cried to Master Cobury. "Helping slaves escape?"
"Speaking
of betrayal," said Master Cobury, glaring at Master Mohari. " I thought we had
an agreement."
The rest of
the Directors looked extremely nervous.
"I thought
the same," replied Master Mohari, "until you asked your question, and I knew
you would not keep to your end of the bargain."
"But you deceived
me!" said Master Cobury, fear giving way to anger. "So I have no reason to
remain loyal to you. " He sat up nervously in his seat. "I vote to uphold
Master Reed's appeal and restore him to his position."
"Ignore
him!" Master Mohari said, a slight edge of panic in his voice. "Your Imperial
Majesty, this man is a traitor to you! He should be locked away and deprived of
his Committee seat!"
The emperor
frowned at the two directors. "But you, Master Mohari, were aware of this
transgression, were you not?"
"But…your
majesty…" the head director stuttered. The emperor took no notice, and motioned
to his guards.
"Seize
these two men and lock them in the dungeon," he said casually, sitting back
into his cushioned chair. "They shall be dealt with tomorrow."
"Your
Imperial Majesty?" the headmaster said timidly. The emperor glanced mildly at
him. "May we deviate from the University rules a bit and begin the voting
process immediately?" The emperor nodded.
"The move
has been made to dismiss Master Lindhall Reed from his position as a teacher at
the Imperial University of Carthak," the headmaster read formally. "An appeal
has been made by Master Reed and his students to overturn this decision. All in
favor of letting the discharge stand, say aye."
The room
was silent. "I hereby reinstate Master Reed as a master of this University," he
said. Some of the Directors looked slightly disappointed, and some looked
relieved.
I wonder if
this is how governments operate. It was an interesting experience, but not one
I think I'd like to have every day.
Love, Arram
@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@
Dear Arram,
I found
your activities rather interesting. At least you weren't technically breaking
any rules this year, and if you have your favorite teacher back, you can stop
bothering me about him.
I have some
sad news. Your Uncle Numair has passed away. I don't think you've seen him for
ages, but he's the one who went away to the City of Magic to become a mage.
Apparently, he was quite a good one but the theory of magic to the actual
practice.
Your mother
was much closer to her brother than I was, and she is grief stricken. I want
you to come home, not permanently, but just for a few weeks. It would mean a
lot to Mother.
Make sure
you can keep up with your work while you're away.
Your father
A/N: Reviews. Pleeeeeeeeeze???????????? I want to know what
you thought and what you think I should do for the next one.
