Disclaimer 1: This is fanfic. That means I do not own any of it. I just borrow it to play with for a little while and let people see the pathetic results if they really want to.
Disclaimer 2: I'm not making any money from it. It's just for fun.
Disclaimer 3: What isn't borrowed is all made up. None of this is real or most likely at all realistic. Please don't trust any of the information in here. Most likely you know more about whatever I'm writing about than I do.
Disclaimer 4: Attitudes, views and opinions expressed by the characters or in the story are not necessarily those of the author. Even when writing Science Fiction or Fantasy I do not tend to attempt to create perfect/better worlds in which everybody gets a happy end ... or whatever is best for them. Please accept that some characters will have a bad ending or be unhappy.
Disclaimer 5: I intend no insult to anyone. If I offend anyone I'm very sorry. Please understand that it was an accident as I tend to be very clumsy in these things.
Chapter 20: Tales and Meeting Rooms
It was awfully cold in Zzr's temple. Even Cirke on her litter was shivering.
Should the dead be able to shiver?
The litter started to move forward towards the flames.
-Wait!- Jesse cried. -Are you really sure she's dead?-
-Of course she's dead.- Gattler said. -We're all dead. Why did you kill us, Jesse?-
The flames flared up suddenly engulfing everything, cold as ice.
-I didn't! Don't burn them! Don't go, Gattler! Don't go!-
But Gattler had already disappeared into the flaming pit and another figure was rising from below, sparkling with diamonds. A figure that the flames couldn't burn ... Zzr himself! The destroyer of everything.
-You have been very helpful to me.- Zzr said and as he stepped towards him Jesse finally saw his face.
-Ettar?- He whispered. -But ...-
-Of course.- Zzr said. -Did you think I could walk among mortals under my own name? Foolish child. But you have been an excellent tool. I couldn't have done better myself, thousands, millions of children. Ah, but now your work is done.-
He reached out to kill Jesse and Jesse screamed ...
... and awoke.
-Sorry.- He panted. -Just a nightmare.-
There was some grumbling, but Irozz silenced it quickly.
-We knew it would happen.- He stated. -We were warned.-
-I'm still sorry.- Jesse assured him. -If I could stop it somehow ...-
Actually, quite possibly he could if he dared take the risk. Moku had let his alcohol preventive run out and at least not said anything about his pain medication not being compatible with alcohol.
Was it worth going back to drinking, though? Did he want to go through the withdrawal again? Could he even afford to cloud his mind with alcohol while among the Elhessare?
-Well, you needn't have worried about Istar in any case.- Maktez cackled. -He's still asleep.-
Jesse stared into the darkness in he direction of Istar's bed. He could only see the outline of his lying form, though. Still, if he were awake he'd correct Maktez, wouldn't he?
-Let's not wake him now then.- Irozz decided. -Shut up and get back to sleep. You, too, Maktez.-
-Right after I've had a little snack.- Maktez announced and walked towards the door.
Well, they seemed to take it quite well at least, Jesse decided. That didn't seem worth the risk of testing his current reaction to alcohol.
He closed his eyes hoping he'd fall asleep again, but the picture of Ettar surrounded by flames rose before his eyes again.
What the hell was Ettar doing in his nightmares anyway? He'd never figured in them before his return from Arthame and now he kept appearing. And the same was true for ice. Up until then his dreams had almost always been of fire, but since then this was actually the first time that there had been flames ... and they had felt like ice, not fire.
'I can't be afraid of Ettar.' He told himself. 'I just can't afford that.'
Of course the man had come closer to killing him than anyone ever had before. The only time he'd been closer to death had been the disaster of the battle of Yuma and then it had been the explosions that he himself had caused that had almost killed him. It hadn't been any person, just fire ...
And he'd been having nightmares of fire ever since. Now he had nightmares of Ettar and ice, because Ettar was the Icebird.
So that was it? That was the answer Iktrz and Lutaz were looking for? He was afraid of death? Death as symbolised by fire, Ettar and Zzr the destroyer?
He was just a miserable little coward, then?
No! No, he couldn't be! He was a Commander of the Outrider army. He could not afford to be afraid of death.
Still he resolved to avoid thinking about Zzr as much as he could in future. Maybe there was a god of courage in battle? That seemed to suit the Outrider mindset and would be just the thing Jesse needed. He'd have to look into that tomorrow.
Even though he lay awake for a long time trying to calm his thoughts he never heard Maktez return. Either the old man could move extraordinarily silently when he felt like it or he had lied when he'd said he'd return to bed after his snack.
There was no way to be sure because when Jesse woke up most of his dorm-mates had already left. Apparently they hadn't seen any reason to wake him and upon closer inspection it made perfect sense. He was here to rest and recover. There were no important duties he ought to attend to. He could sleep as long as he liked.
Jesse pushed himself to the edge of the bed, found his crutches and after a few failed attempts managed to get to his feet. If he had the chance he still liked to shower in private, though he didn't like to admit to such Fleshling sensibilities.
After that he needed to find himself some breakfast and perhaps, if he wasn't too exhausted, get somebody to show him the rest of the house.
While Jesse found that he was walking much better than the day before exploring the whole house turned out to be an overly ambitious goal. He managed to see an entire floor, but then needed to climb the stairs to get to the next. Stairs weren't nearly as practical as ramps, he decided halfway up. A ramp wouldn't have been as big a problem.
Unfortunately town-houses tended to have stairs since those took less room than ramps. He'd have to ask Irozz whether the Elhessar clan-hold was to have ramps.
By the time he'd reached the next floor all Jesse wanted was a rest so he asked a passing servant whether there was some comfortable place to sit nearby.
-Sure.- The young woman said brightening immediately. Apparently she liked the request. -All the elders are out on the terrace over there sharing tall tales. They are very entertaining ... especially when one hasn't heard them before.-
Jesse gave her a look.
-They tend to repeat themselves eventually.- She explained. -So it gets less interesting if you've grown up with them. But you're a stranger to the clan. I bet your elders tell different tales.-
-Probably.- Jesse allowed. -I didn't grow up with them either, though.-
He'd mostly spent his time training and with his siblings when he'd visited Varen since the adults hadn't felt he was old enough to join them. So this time he was considered elderly then? Well, it couldn't hurt to get an idea of how old Outriders spent their days and he really wanted to sit down for a while. He'd get up and find some younger people to hang out with once he was rested.
The terrace turned out to be an excellent place to spend a warm sunny morning like this. It was well equipped with comfortable chairs, arbhes tables and even a small bar that offered refreshment fruits and cold drinks.
Nobody there seemed surprised or dismayed when Jesse joined them and at second glance this wasn't surprising either. There were almost as many crippled as elderly people here, though some of them qualified as both. Most of their faces were familiar to Jesse, though there also were some that he couldn't remember seeing before.
At first Jesse assumed that they were people newly returned from the vapour chambers, but then he remembered that so far the devapourising had focussed on strong young people who'd be useful in the construction work and now people that could be pressed into service as soldiers. The elderly and crippled would of course be saved for last when they could be brought into finished clan-holds that offered every possible comfort.
These strangers had to be common members of he clan that usually kept in the background at meals and didn't go about much outside of them.
When Jesse arrived Maktez was going on about the mistake of making Istar weapons master again, but few of the others seemed to agree with him.
-What would you have wanted him for then?- An old woman demanded. -Afrar perhaps? A fine one he'd have made. Probably would have sold us straight out to Mithgath, Istar would have. That's what.-
-Ai no.- Said one of the old cripples waving his metal arm about to emphasise his statements. -Master of ceremonies, of course. And Irstz for weapons master.-
Laughter all around.
-That certainly would have done for all our proud traditions.- Ghetze, who as far as Jesse could tell was some kind of great-aunt on the maternal side to Jean Claude, said. -You young folk leave little Istar right where he is. That one's no good for anything else, but he's sure good at that.-
-Irozz and Irstz are quite capable fighters as well from what I've heard, though.- Jesse threw into the mix just to see what would happen.
-Oh you stay out of what you know nothing about, youngling.- The old woman declared promptly.
-Yeah, you do that.- The cripple with the metal arm agreed. -You leave it to old cooks and chamber maids to decide.-
More laughter.
-Ah, let it be.- Ghetze waved a hand dismissively. -It's an old argument and it's never led us anywhere yet and never will. Go on and tell us how you got your injury instead. There's a story we haven't heard, yet.-
Jesse would have preferred to hear some of their tales first so he'd know what the accepted tone and level of detail was, but he couldn't very well refuse. Oh well, they'd be sure to want to hear all about the situation on Arthame that they could.
Indeed he had no sooner started his story than somebody asked him to describe the world itself, its cities, vegetation and people. This didn't differ much from what the younger clan members usually wanted to know and Jesse felt on quite safe ground there. Perhaps he could even get through the story without thinking of Gattler too much.
Somehow Jesse ended up staying until it was almost lunchtime and might have remained even longer if Jensz hadn't come looking for him.
-Oh, here you are.- She told him not bothering with any greetings. -What are you doing here?-
-Resting my foot and trading war stories.- Jesse informed her. -Was I supposed to be doing anything else?-
-Well, I thought you'd want to get started on planning Jean Claudesz birthday.- Jensz explained. -We don't have all that long and I expect once you're better you'll want to go on excursions and see a bit of our world, so we'd better get this out of the way now.-
-I'm really not quite sure how to do it, you know.- Jesse told her. -I've never even seen a birthday ceremony before.-
-Oh, it's quite easy, really.- Jensz declared. -All you really need to do is weave the bracelet and decide where we do it. And what order people attack in of course. That might get a little tricky. So where are we going to meet and who should be on the committee?-
-I don't know.- Jesse admitted. -I suppose in a meeting room, but I don't know where there are meeting rooms in this house. The only one I've seen is the big one in the shelter.-
-Well, that one's out of the question.- Jensz declared. -Entirely wrong atmosphere and way too big.-
-So tell me one that's just right and we'll take that one.- Jesse promised, but apparently things didn't work that way.
He had to go with Jensz to look at several different meeting rooms on several different floors and pick one himself. Of course this procedure involved going up and down a lot of stairs and they ended up being late for lunch because Jesse needed to rest again before he could manage another flight of stairs to get there.
-Why don't we just take the last room we looked at.- He suggested when they finally sat down at the table. -It looked perfectly fine to me.-
In fact, they had all looked more or less the same. Jesse had absolutely no preferences, except that he'd rather not use one on the top floor due to the number of stairs on the way there.
-Oh, but you haven't seen them all, yet.- Jensz declared. -How can you possibly decide without having seen all the options?-
-They are all fine with me.- Jesse assured her.
-What are you choosing?- Irozz inquired with mild interest.
-A meeting room to have a meeting in.- Jesse replied. -Unless I got it wrong and we're also having Jean Claudesz birthday ceremony in there.-
-Why no, of course we aren't.- Jensz protested immediately. -We need something bigger for that. And with less furniture.-
-Take the orange meeting room.- Irozz told them simply.
-Oh, but that clashes horribly with my hair.- Jensz replied promptly.
-Excuse me?- Jesse asked her. -Do we intend to have a meeting or are we having our holo-pictures taken?-
-You will take the orange meeting room.- Irozz growled.
Jensz rolled her eyes.
-Yes, Afrar.- She said meekly however.
Perhaps, Jesse realised, he had to be more decisive with her ... but it would be hard when he didn't know what needed to be done and what options there were.
-A pity Razzle isn't here.- He said half to himself. -He'd know how to do this efficiently.-
-Razzle is not welcome in this house.- Istar growled.
-And he'd mess up the ceremony completely.- Irozz declared. -He always insists on doing weird stuff that has no place in a traditional ceremony.-
-Weird stuff?- Jesse asked him. -What kind of weird stuff? I thought he rather respected tradition.-
-Where it suits him.- Irozz explained. -Where it doesn't he disregards it entirely.-
-It's not quite that.- Irstz intervened. -He is quite untraditional in the way he runs his dorm, but apparently that suits its members and Istarsz dorm is available to those that prefer the traditional way. There is supposed to be variety to allow people to choose a dorm they will feel comfortable in. With birthday ceremonies he doesn't actually go against tradition, but borrows those of others, mostly scientists. I ... actually quite like to see those as well, but obviously we can't have that for Jean Claude. A pity we couldn't get Razzle in for Jenszsz birthdays, though. That would have been very fitting.-
-They were ridiculous enough as it was!- Istar snapped. -Sorting blocks like a child's puzzle, indeed.-
-It is traditional to give a scientist at least one scientific task to solve.- Jensz returned. -And it wasn't a child's puzzle. The trick was to figure out by what scientific characteristic the blocks had to be sorted in order to activate a door mechanism.-
-So you have to do tasks as part of the ceremony?- Jesse asked rather surprised.
-To get there.- Jensz explained. -For Jean Claude that will mean having to fight his way past people, but in a traditional scientist ceremony the tasks are more intellectual than physical. Usually you have to start by figuring out where the ceremony is even held.-
-That sounds like fun.- Jesse declared.
-It does allow for a lot more variety than the warrior tradition.- Irstz confirmed.
-That's Razzlesz usual argument.- Istar growled. -That just fighting is too boring.-
-Sometimes it can be better to out-think an opponent rather than outfight him.- Jesse pointed out.
-Too slow and boring ... unless of course one is such a wimp as you and Razzle that one can't be sure of one's victory.- Istar declared.
-I thought your traditions also favour survival?- Jesse challenged. -Why choose a direct attack in which soldiers will be killed if you might be able to trick your opponent into letting them pass unharmed?-
-Boring.- Istar declared.
-I see.- Jesse commented. -You really are a one trick pony as I keep hearing. Quite impressive when seen in your own field for the first time, but ... how did Nemesis put it? Mediocre at best everywhere else.-
-What!- Istar snarled.
-Oh, he meant no insult to you.- Jesse told him sweetly. -He was merely explaining why I'd better look to Razzle for an example of the sort of Commander he wants me to be rather than to you.-
-Istar trained Nemesis himself.- Irozz said sharply.
-I know.- Jesse confirmed. -That's exactly why I asked him why he'd point me at Razzle instead. And make no mistake, Nemesis is very grateful for what Istar taught him. He merely thinks he'd have learned even more from Razzle. Until now I didn't quite understand why.-
He smiled at Istar.
-You certainly are doing very well imitating his way of speaking.- Irstz commented. -Though I rather doubt that that is what Nemesis meant for you to learn.-
-Ah, but how would I learn from him if I don't understand his vocabulary?- Jesse challenged. -He does have a way of passing it on to people, though. His tank crew is just as hard to understand as he is and the rest aren't far behind.-
-Soldiers do tend to imitate their commanding officer.- The clan psychologist entered the conversation. -As clan members tend to imitate their Afrar. A useful phenomenon if one leads by example.-
-I fail to see what use talking in a way nobody can understand is.- Istar snarled.
-Of course you do, Pussycat.- Jesse told him. -Of course you do.-
-Peace!- Irozz ordered finally. -Let's not have a fight at the table.-
-It wouldn't be much of a fight.- Istar declared.
-You'd hurt a poor cripple?- Jesse returned indicating his crutches.
-I said peace!- Irozz roared. -Be silent and eat.-
Jesse shrugged and ate. The food here was better than on the Warworld, though it didn't compare with that on Arthame ... or Varen. Very little of it was likely to have been grown on this world and delivered fresh to the kitchen this morning. Most probably had been brought in from Arthame in fact.
He wondered how long it would take for this to change. When would Rukkat be able to supply itself? And after that? Would it go on to export fruits itself? If so how would that affect Arthame and the Uthene? Would Una know the same superfluity of money that Gattler had been used to?
Or would she grow up a hostage on the Warworld and never see the planet that was technically her home?
Much to Jensz annoyance the children swarmed Jesse the moment he got up after the meal and carried him off to the garden to make good on his promise to tell them of his adventures on Arthame.
Mindful of their elders' wishes Jesse did his best to focus on tales of fighting, strategy and tactics, then described the flora and buildings. The tale of the cat couldn't be avoided for long, though and once he started on funny anecdotes he discovered that Jenny was just as interested in Ramszet's 'miniature T'Hone'.
This was rather unexpected as the thing had been quite disgusting and Jesse thought he'd described that adequately.
-Oh, but why did you kill it?- Jenny protested. -You should have taken it to the scientists for study.-
-What? Jenny, Arthame is an Outrider world. That creature is sure to be very familiar to our biologists, especially those living on Arthame. And I didn't really kill it. I just threw it away. It probably crawled into a crevice and felt quite at home there since that's most likely where it's meant to live if it crawls into machinery by accident.-
-How do you know it isn't meant to live in planes?- Shent asked. -If that's where it was it's probably where it belongs.-
-Animals do not belong in machines.- Jesse informed the children sharply. -It doesn't do either the machines or the animals any good. Both the plane and the creature are quite lucky to have survived the creature's mistake.-
-I like planes.- A little girl decided. -I'm going to be a pilot just like Ramszet.-
-That's a very good career.- Jesse praised her. -And Ramszet will be very proud to hear that you want to be like him when I tell him.-
-You're going to be a stupid laundress just like your father.- An only slightly older girl informed her. -You're just a commoner.-
-Is Ramszet a good pilot?- A little boy wanted to know. -He doesn't sound good at repairs.-
-Commoners can become pilots if they want to.- Jesse explained hastily. -And very many do. Like Azpet. He's a commoner and a very good pilot. And yes, Ramszet is a very good pilot, too. He's very brave and loyal and always obeys his orders. ... Did I tell you how Ramszet almost caught Ettar after he'd escaped me?-
-But he isn't good at repairs.- The little boy repeated.
-He is a pilot, not a mechanic ... and not a tech officer either. Tech officers do repairs sometimes, so if you want to learn to repair planes you should become a tech officer. It's very difficult, though. One has to be very smart.-
-Is Ramszet very smart?- The first little girl said climbing into Jesse's lap.
-No.- Jesse had to admit. -He isn't at all smart. He's strong and brave and loyal, a very good soldier, but he wouldn't have made it as a tech officer. So you see, it was all for the best that he didn't try to repair his plane on his own. He might have broken it even more.-
-You broke it even more.- The second girl pointed out.
-I'm not a tech officer either.- Jesse admitted.
-Is Commander Razzle?- Someone asked.
-Yes, as a matter of fact he is. That's why he knew how to repair the plane.-
-Commander Razzle is really smart, isn't he?-
-Yes, he is. Do you want to be like Commander Razzle someday? That'd be an excellent goal, too, you know, but you've got to be very, very talented.-
-Does one have to be very, very talented to be like Ramszet?- The little girl in his lap asked.
-No, Ramszet isn't that unusually talented.- Jesse said. -He just worked very hard at the Academy and picked all the courses that suited him best. Anyone can do that ... if they have the strength and bravery to be a soldier. Some people don't, of course, but then they should not go to the Warrior Academy at all.-
-No, I don't want to be like Commander Razzle.- The other child decided. -Commander Istar doesn't like him and he's a bastard.-
Jesse cuffed him over the head lightly. He probably hardly felt it being used to the usual brutal Elhessar punishments.
-If you must talk about that at all, say shadow child. The other word isn't polite.-
-I don't want to be polite and Commander Istar says it, too.-
-They can become laundresses then. I'll be a pilot like Ramszet.-
-Commander Istar is a big, strong Commander and people can't just hit him.- Jesse informed the uppity child. -You are not. And yes, such people should become laundresses or cooks or scientists or accountants. There are a lot of things that need doing.-
-Or exobiologists.- Jenny stated with a sigh. -I want to be an exobiologist.-
-But you can be a soldier.- Jesse claimed. -It's in your blood.-
-I don't know.- Jenny said. -I mean, I'm really good at fighting, but marching and formations and theory, not so much. And I'm much weaker than my hand to hand training partners, too.-
-They're usually boys.- An older boy argued. -Boys are stronger than girls. I bet you'd be just as strong as the rest of the group if you didn't fight so well your Afrar pairs you with the very strongest so they'll have a chance fighting you. That means you're really, really good, not bad.-
-I think I'd fail History.- Jenny said shrugging that explanation off. -There's a History exam at the end of first year, isn't there?-
The older boy nodded.
-There was. But maybe we'll have different subjects when they finish building the new Accademy here.-
-Do you want help studying History?- Jesse offered. -I never learned Outrider History so it'd be very interesting.-
-No.- Said Jenny. -I don't want to study it. I'll just fail.-
-Then don't complain if you do fail.- The boy said. -Everybody else studies History. I bet even Commander Razzle did despite being a b... shadow child.-
-Actually, Commander Razzle studied really hard.- Jesse said. -He always wanted to be the very best in his class. And he knows a lot of history that even other officers don't. That's the sort of stuff really successful Commanders are made of.-
-You said it's Ramszet that studied really hard. Commander Razzle was very, very talented.- Another child complained.
-One doesn't exclude the other. They both studied really hard and Commander Razzle was also really unusually talented. That's why he became a Commander and Ramszet only a Subcommander. He's not talented enough to make Commander so that's the best he could achieve.-
-Subcommander's not bad.- One of the smaller boys said. -My Mummy wants to become a Subcommander. She's senior Wing Leader now.-
-Subcommander is very very good.- Jesse assured the boy. -And so is Wing Leader. Very few people make Subcommander. That's why Ramszet had to work so hard.-
-Well.- Said Jenny. -So I won't make Subcommander then. I don't like History. It's all stupid stuff about stupid spears and light signals and formations. I hate formations. I'm always in the wrong place and then the older kids yell at me and never tell me where I ought to be. If they told me, I'd just go there and they wouldn't have to yell. Bet I'll be horrible at it at the Academy, too.-
-We could practise formations in the garden now.- The older boy suggested. -We like to teach the little ones so they already know when they start the Academy. You'll tell us if we get it wrong, right?- He asked Jesse.
-Sure.- Jesse promised.
He'd much rather have seen their History books, but helping the kids practise basic formations probably counted as furthering their military interests as well.
-Not now, though!- Jensz was standing in the door. -We really have to start planning Jean Claudesz ceremony now. Go play with your toys for a while. Or study.-
The kids grumbled, but did leave when she started slapping them and Jesse resigned himself to party planning in the orange meeting room. Now that he thought about it, orange probably clashed with his hair as well.
The room turned out to be perfectly acceptable, though a bit large for just two people to meet in. This problem however would apparently soon be remedied as Jensz' first question once they had sat down was who else would be joining them.
-Well, Commander Gaspar wanted to come to the ceremony, but he wasn't sure he could leave the Warworld for that, so he'll hardly be able to come to preparatory meetings.- Jesse told her. -Commander Razzle is still on Arthame and apparently not welcome here anyway. Point ... Did we re-establish the spaceline?-
Jensz shrugged.
-I haven't heard anything about it. If you haven't either ... well, we could ask Afrar. Commander Istar, I mean. He should be as up to date on the military situation as anybody on this planet can be.-
-I guess Jean Claudesz old teammates all went to Szurat with him?- Jesse asked her trying desperately to think of anyone else Jean Claude tended to hang out with.
Gattler was dead, Grammis and Vanquo had joined the enemy. Lutatz and Jean Claude never had seemed at all close. Considering that Jean Claude hadn't graduated that long before Jesse had joined the Outriders it probably wasn't surprising. Most likely Lutatz had already been retired from active duty by the time Jean Claude had joined the dorm.
-Those that are on our side, I expect.- Jensz agreed. -I don't think we'll have much luck with active soldiers unless someone happens to be wounded.-
-Old schoolfellows?- Jesse suggested. -From before his Academy days obviously, since the Academy guys would be active soldiers now.-
-Uh ... I remember there were some that used to come over sometimes. I thought they were horribly annoying little rats and didn't really bother to remember their names. It's not like he'd have seen much of them later if they didn't go on to the Academy with him, though.-
-And if they did go to the Academy with him, they are active soldiers.- Jesse completed. -Wonderful. How about scientist friends? I never saw Jean Claude hang out with scientists much, but he must know some, right?-
-He's a soldier.- Jensz declared. -Why would he hang out with scientists? I only spend so much time with soldiers because they're my relatives.-
Jesse sighed. Having scientist friends seemed so very natural when Razzle spoke of it, but on the other hand he'd be surprised indeed if he learned of Mohawk or Ramszet having even just one scientist for a friend. Jean Claude wasn't stupid, though. Surely he could have a conversation with a scientist without either party being bored out of his mind.
-I suppose we're stuck with relatives then.- He decided. -There should be some of about Jean Claudesz age among Istarsz troops, right? He has known those all his life. And then there are the ones that should be at the Accademy, but aren't. They're not all that much younger. Some are older than me.-
-He hasn't taken any special interest in any of them, but I guess we can ask. Those that were in his dorm on the Warworld will definitely have to come.-
-Well, that's something. Then ... maybe some of the old people that he likes particularly? The kids like to listen to their tales, don't they?-
-Yes, but again, I don't think anyone took a special interest in Jean Claude or he in them. He's an awfully self-contained person.- Jensz said with another shrug.
-Irstz did.- Jesse informed her. -He told me that he made a particular effort to direct Jean Claudesz interests when he was a boy and fears that that might be why Jean Claude decided to become a spy.- -Uncle Irstz is a terrible bore.- Jensz opined.
-Are you sure? He seems the smartest of the three brothers to me. ... No disrespect for your Afrar, but he's not much given to deep thought. I'd have thought you'd like Irstz.-
-Why, because I'm a scientist? If you need to know, I like third cousin on the paternal side Tholek. Jean Claude doesn't, though, so that's no use.-
-Right.- Jesse agreed. -But we'll ask Irstz. He's also master of ceremonies so he'll know best what the traditions are.-
-I know what the traditions are.- Jensz insisted.
-And maybe we can get Gaspar to take a holiday for this after all.- Jesse continued. -He seemed very disappointed that he might not be able to be at the ceremony and maybe the rebels' retreat will allow him time for a break. Do you know how long such re-groupings usually take?-
Jensz shrugged.
-No idea, I'm no soldier. You should ask Afrar ... No wait, don't! Maybe we shouldn't even have Gaspar even if we could. It might make Afrar suspicious and if he ever starts to think Jean Claude and Gaspar might be more than just dorm-mates ...-
-Suspicious of what?- Jesse asked her quite perplexed. -More than ... I'm Jean Claudesz companion and Istar knows that. There's no reason in the world he should think it might be Gaspar. And if he did he'd probably be pleased. At least Gaspar is fully Outrider and an old blood noble. Why should he mind?-
-Oh, of course he wouldn't think that. But if he knew that Gaspar and Jean Claude ... you know, he'd get seriously worried about the future of the line. Though I'm not sure why there has to be anything to it, because everybody does at some point and Jean Claude told me it's all casual and it couldn't be anything more, because Gaspar never is serious about anyone. But I guess it'd look serious if he were to be part of the committee, especially when he ought to be on the Warworld preparing for the next rebel attack.-
Jesse took some time to piece that together. Was Jensz assuming that Jean Claude and Gaspar were having a sexual relationship? But that was ridiculous. Jesse had known both of them to date girls. Gaspar had even as good as admitted to being into Fleshling women, which, Jesse concluded, must mean he liked his girlfriends petite and young. Quite possibly Fleshlings were particularly appealing to him, because they were perfectly legal at an age when they still looked like children to Outriders. Gaspar could go after them without having to feel guilty for even feeling the desire.
Would Gaspar go after an under age Outrider girl? Jesse sincerely hoped that the answer was no, but clearly such cases weren't entirely unheard of among Outriders, or else what had happened to Razzle's mother? Surely if her pregnancy had been the unfortunate result of an affair between two teenagers they would have been made to marry and Razzle would be perfectly legitimate, though born without permission.
And why would Istar mind if Gaspar and Jean Claude were having an affair? It wasn't like that could lead to an unwanted pregnancy and surely if Outriders had any prejudices against same sex relationships Jesse would have heard a homophobic slur or two before now. He definitely knew plenty of swearwords of a sexual nature.
On the other hand if he was his companion's lover it suddenly made perfect sense that Gaspar had visited Jesse in the hospital wing and done his best to keep him entertained. He'd done it as a favour to Jean Claude, of course!
But then what of all those girlfriends?
-What?- Jensz prompted. -Say something.-
-I'm still trying to figure out a way to get Gaspar here. Without drawing any undue attention. I think Jean Claude would want him to be part of this, don't you?-
-It's too risky. He wouldn't want Afrar to find out.- Jensz opined.
-I don't know. I mean, Gaspar did give me his hair, so he'll have that, but does that make up for Gaspar missing the actual giving?-
-You'll do the giving anyway.- Jensz stated as if it were an established fact. -Gaspar wouldn't dare get in the way of that and Jean Claude wouldn't want him to.-
-Maybe, but Gaspar should still be there when he gets it. That's the established mode, isn't it?-
-Est ... If you're trying to make fun of me!- Jensz jumped up quite suddenly and advanced towards Jesse in a very menacing fashion.
He started at her.
-What?-
Oh, damnit, scientist or not, she was still a fully trained Cat-of-War.
-Whatever did I say that sounded like a joke at your expense? I mean, I was talking about Gaspar and entirely serious.-
She sat down again.
-Maybe we can get Point and Brunhilda to come, too.- She suggested. -Then it wouldn't be so obvious that Gaspar left his post for the ceremony. He wouldn't be the only one at least.-
-Why would we have Brunhilda at Jean Claudesz ceremony? He doesn't even like her.-
-Doesn't he? I never heard him say anything about her.-
-Well, it's not like they're at each other's throats all the time. They don't meet much outside of strategy meetings. He doesn't like it when she stands next to him during those, though. But he'll just go stand somewhere else.-
-Go stand somewhere else? What of his assigned place?-
-What assigned place? There aren't even any chairs except Nemesissz throne. We just stand wherever we like.-
Jensz frowned.
-That can't be right. I'm very sure there's a proper order Commanders stand in. There was a tale about it when I was a kid. I think Great-Great-Uncle Huktz used to tell it, but I don't remember exactly how it went or what the rule was. I was only seven or eight when he died.-
-When your elders die.- Jesse asked with a sudden start of realisation. -Do their tales die with them?Don't other elders tell them again?-
-No, why would they? They have their own tales.-
-And they aren't written down either?-
-Whatever for?-
-To preserve them past the third generation. So old lessons don't have to be re-learned over and over again, so knowledge and traditions aren't lost over time.-
Jensz stared at him.
Razzle would have understood. Razzle would have known. Razzle would have explained ... something.
-I think.- Jesse decided. -Instead of practising with the children I'd better spend this time talking with your elders and writing down their tales so future children can read them instead of having to hear the tales of their living elders over and over again.-
-Writing's for artists.- Jensz protested. -And those are just silly old tales to amuse little children.-
-Those tales prepare the children for the Academy.- Jesse tried to explain. -And I owe a debt to your clan's children.-
He had promised to help them practise formations today, though, so rather than look for the elders right away he went and found Jenny to tell her that he was free to play with them now.
Jensz remained behind to write a list of relatives that should be part of their committee. He'd have to trust her to choose people that really meant something to Jean Claude rather than ones she herself liked.
Jenny wasn't at all delighted with the proposal, but her dorm-mates were quite enthusiastic and soon had a large enough group of children together.
Organising units proved to take some time as the first idea, to just assign people of roughly the same age to the same unit, turned out not to be practical. The youngest children were too clueless what they were supposed to do and didn't even manage to form a line.
Jesse stepped in and declared the oldest children officers whose duty it was to ensure that their young soldiers were in the right place. This resulted in a lot of yelling and some punching and kicking necessitating a reminder that the youngest soldiers weren't being disobedient but 'ill instructed' and in need of directions rather than discipline.
This proved to be a new concept to most of the children and Jesse spent some time elaborating it.
-A lot of very brave soldiers are also very stupid.- He explained. -A good officer needs to know how to recognise when a soldier doesn't understand his task and how to make the instruction simple enough for him. That way a lot of soldiers that seem useless at first glance can be made very useful. Once he does prove himself useful it is important to tell him so. This will make him feel proud of his improvement and makes it more likely that he will tell you next time he isn't sure what he should do. If you yell at him or punish him for being stupid he'll just try to hide it and most likely do something wrong.-
-Soldiers don't need to be smart.- A girl told him. -That's for musty scientists.-
-They don't.- Jesse confirmed. -But they need to understand what they are supposed to do. Now, let's try that again and this time, officers, explain to your soldiers and make sure they understand.-
-It might be a bit early for them to start officers' training.- Irstz appeared at Jesse's elbow.
-Quite likely, but I think we're about to see who's got some basic talent in that way and who absolutely doesn't. And the youngest do need guidance to participate in these exercises.-
-You needn't have made them.-
-I didn't. They wanted to. And I do think it is likely to be useful. At least Jenny was complaining that she's afraid of failing the subject.-
-I note that Jenny isn't here.- Irstz pointed out. -And she'll receive a full year of professional instruction before she will be tested. Instruction that starts at the very beginning.-
Indeed she appeared to have slipped away.
-Should I have made her? Maybe she's studying History instead. She said that was worrying as well.-
-That ... is unusual. It isn't considered a difficult subject. You don't need to be particularly smart, strong or skilled. The only students I've known to have trouble in it before had very noticeable problems with their memory. Jenny doesn't ... and she will receive instruction in it before she is tested as well. She'll be fine.-
Jesse shrugged.
-Then maybe she's just hit a rather contrary phase in her development.- He suggested.
-Now that isn't unusual for her age at all.- Irstz confirmed Jesse's suspicion.
So puberty didn't actually come noticeably later to Outriders than to Fleshlings.