In Which Lynn Receives News
"Thanks again, Lynn," Kurt said over his shoulder as Lynn set down a large box of papers on his desk. "Although you could have asked one of the students to do it for you, you know. You're a star here, not just a lowly squire anymore."
"There is dignity in service," Lynn said, shrugging her shoulders. "And besides, your students seem rather out of shape compared to me."
"Ah well, the life of a healer isn't quite as physical as mental," Kurt said, reaching into the box and drawing out one of the papers, scanning it briefly. "We've sure gotten a lot of applications in the past month, haven't we?"
"Well, we are the premier learning center for healers all over the kingdom," Lynn said, with an air of pride. "Thanks to the most efficient headmaster in all of the Academy's history."
"A short three-year history," Kurt added. "After its being inspired by one of the greatest healers of all time. Your father would have been proud, Lynn."
Lynn sighed. It had been three years since her father, Versant Eldridge, the 'Greatest Healer' had passed away, leaving her all his research and knowledge. "Yeah, proud of his failed squire-of-a-daughter."
Kurt walked over to her, still shorter than her by a few inches and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, the important thing is that you came back. To Dellour. Besides, being a knight kind of suited you- in a way."
Lynn laughed and playfully punched Kurt on the shoulder. "Now don't go starting that whole tomboy thing again."
"Not saying anything," Kurt said, raising his hands in defense. He turned and went back to his work. "Just that I wouldn't have thought you were a girl when I first saw you back then."
"People can change, too, you know," Lynn said, waving at him as she left his office. "I just might surprise you."
"We'll see about that," Kurt said, smiling, waving her out of the room.
-.-.-
As Lynn left, she gave a deep sigh. The headmaster's office was still in the same place, but she remembered the time when it had been run by another. Chills ran down her spine as she recalled the traitorous Elysium Hawthorne, the founder of the Academy. He had presented himself as a healer and leader, but underneath his pleasantness, he was an Imperial spy, and the first user of biological weapons in war. To think that such knowledge could be used for evil, she thought to herself as she made her way down the stairs to the foyer of the elegant building.
On her way, she was greeted by several of the students. She cordially bowed back to them, some of them she recognized as her students in her practical class. Though she and Kurt were hardly a year older than most of the students, their natural giftedness and hard-earned knowledge made them more than capable of rising through the ranks in the month that they were appointed by the Council of Dellour to teach at the Academy.
Lynn was an instructor for a practical class on treating common illnesses, and handled two dozen or so students. Kurt, on the other hand, thanks to his experience with Hawthorne, was found capable of filling in as headmaster until another of equal or greater competence was found. It would take a while to find such, Lynn thought.
She stopped in front of the large painting that hung in the lobby."Father, is this what you wanted?" she mumbled up to it, sighing deeply.
The gong sounded the end of the day. She could hear the students in their classrooms mumbling loudly and preparing to leave.
"Ah well, looks like it's time to go home," she thought to herself as she walked out the doors into the afternoon light.
-.-.-
Early the next morning, a messenger knocked on Lynn's door. She rushed to answer it, just barely woken up, still in her nightclothes and slippers. The man was dressed as one of the King's messengers and quickly handed her a sealed letter. He rushed off before she had a chance to thank him, mounting his horse to dash off to his next destination.
"I'll look at it later. He didn't say it was urgent," she said to herself as she disappeared back into the only untouched section of her childhood home. She tossed the letter into the knapsack that she would be bringing to class that day.
She was slightly surprised that the messenger had been able to find the entrance; it was at the end of a narrow alley between what was now the town library and the laboratory. Her house had been drastically 'improved' as such thanks to the 'development proposed by Elysium Hawthorne. While she resented the man who began the project, she had to admit that it was doing a lot of good for the town.
-.-.-
She greeted her class as she entered the classroom. On the board were remnants of their lesson yesterday, about treating different kinds of cough with a certain plant that had long been used among traditional healers.
She announced that they would be continuing the topic, and would then have a quiz about it afterwards, "so you'd better pay attention," she threatened as she picked up a cloth and wiped the board clean to start anew.
A student raised her hand as she brought out her notebook from her bag to begin the lesson. Lynn called her, saying "Is there something you want to clarify regarding the lesson?"
"Will we be having our class as usual next week?" the student asked, leaning forward on her desk.
"Well, unless something important comes up, yes, we will have class as usual. Why do you ask?" she answered, turning to her students.
"So you're not going to the Kippernian ball with the headmaster and the others?" the student continued. "I heard the entire faculty had been invited to attend."
"The Kippernian Ball," Lynn repeated to herself. "Now where did you hear that?" she said, rummaging through her knapsack for the letter she had tossed in earlier.
"From another teacher this morning, and she said that most of the faculty were going, so we were just wondering if maybe all classes would be cancelled then."
"I suppose we will be talking about this in a staff meeting, so I can't say anything until we've all agreed. However, considering that it is a royal event, we will be likely to-," she stopped in the middle of her sentence as she skimmed the letter she was now holding, an invitation from the royal family. "Attend a summons by our king for the ball-"
The class cheered for that: no classes!
"-And," Lynn continued. "Royal engagement of Princess Gledae Arland to," she read, painful memories flashing in her mind "-Landen Winthrop."
-.-.-
"it's settled then, we will attend the Kippernium Ball under the king's invitation. Fellow teachers, we shall assemble for he journey in three days' time, here at this building. I will arrange for our transportation," Kurt said, standing up at the head of the long wooden table where the entire faculty was gathered.
"Maybe Lynn can get us good seats at the banquet," another teacher suggested. "She is a guest of honor, after all."
"Yes," another one agreed. "Do introduce us to the royal family, if you will. Maybe we can raise more funds for our projects."
Lynn stood up silently and smiled sadly at them. "I'll see what I can do," she said, forcing a laugh.
-.-.-
"Lynn, wait," Kurt called as Lynn was about to leave the Academy. "I need to talk to you."
"What's this about? Because frankly, I'm not in the mood to talk," Lynn said, not facing him.
"Did you know that Landen was to be- betrothed to the princess?" he asked tentatively.
"Of course I do. The whole kingdom does," Lynn said, throwing her arms out in exasperation. "You have an invitation, too, don't you?"
"Yes, but you look like you're not even surprised. Did you know of this beforehand?"
"Yes-," Lynn answered, her head down.
"Since when, Lynn?" Kurt asked, compassion in his eyes.
"Since he told me. The night before I left the castle."
"Did you come here because of that?"
"It's none of your business what I do!" Lynn suddenly shouted.
"It may not be but I sure as hell want to know!" Kurt shouted back in a surprisingly deep voice.
"Why should you care? It doesn't matter," Lynn said, the lump rising again in her throat, as she sprinted out the door of the Academy, to get away from him.
"Lynn-," Kurt mumbled, clenching his fists. "You matter more than you know."