The cold from the outside lingered inside the stone walls of Alara's study. Even the fire, which was crackling loudly in the hearth, was unable to banish the chill entirely from the room. She shivered as her bare feet touched the stone, peering into the framed mirror which stood against one wall.
She had bright green eyes, straight black hair, and thin eyebrows that arched lightly, giving her a look of perpetual curiosity. Her skin was fair all over, and her build slim. So far, the ordinary observer; the extraordinary observer would have noticed that her gaze tended to be distant, as if she looked past the person she was addressing; that her hands had small scars on the palms which her gloves hid; that her accent was a curious mixture of Ancelstierran and the brogue of the Old Kingdom, seldom heard south of the area nearest the Wall. Not that Alara would have been able to discern most of those things herself, as she habitually covered the mirror with a cloth so as not to see her reflection. She knew her features were far from ugly, but at the same time felt aloof and sometimes awkward. She also knew her reserve was unnatural, especially for a girl of her age.
Nicholas had been a year ahead of her and was already in university, but she was almost two years younger - she had started her schooling early, at the insistence of her parents, who hoped to make her into some sort of trophy wife. Or so it had always seemed. When they met at a banquet for the Chief Minister and his family, it seemed to be the perfect opportunity. She was thirteen and slightly envious of the older girls, he was just fifteen and as much of a charming young man as she'd ever encountered. They saw each other over the holidays and during free days at school, or whenever one of them could get away. After a year, their relationship had changed very little, except to become slightly more formal. Alara had always supposed it was because they were both getting older, although she seldom spoke about it unless she was alone.
Now she was preparing to leave sixth form, and nowhere near ready to start thinking of university. Alara had only the most vague idea of where she would end up after the summer holidays ended, but it all had a surreal quality to it. They were both young and foolish, and she was well aware of that fact. But it never seemed quite right to think of the future without Nick in it, as if there was something missing. Her dreams had become more frightening and unusual lately, and she was glad for someone to talk to, even if he wouldn't have been able to understand.
She paused to think about them for a moment. They had been a part of her life for so long- the strange, fragmented but frighteningly real flashes of insight that she had when she was asleep. And not only when she was asleep, as she recalled with a frown. During her history exam, she was interrupted in the middle of an essay about the old hierarchy of power in Ancelstierre by a vision of herself in a boat, going down a river with the spray in her face. It was a nice scenario, and she barely snapped out of her reverie in time to finish the exam before the bell rung. Not all of them were bad, but they merely served to puzzle her. Why would she be alone in a boat, anyhow? And there was no scenery of that sort around Wyverley, she knew. So how could her subconscious have dug something like that up?
"It's a mystery, Llonwyn," she said to her sleeping cat, idly stroking the fur on the top of his head before putting on a heavy jacket and sensible shoes. Nick was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, and he offered her his arm as they made their way out. Alara noted with some amusement that his friend seemed quite overwhelmed by Jacqui, who had attached herself to him in a similar fashion and was chattering away as fast as she could. By the time they reached the tea shop on the outskirts of the village, she was quite out of breath. They found a table after a bit of pushing, and were silent until the first pot of tea had been cleared away and the woman was on her way with another.
"Have you decided on Chelsea for certain?" Nick inquired, initiating the conversation. He offered her the teapot, which she took gratefully and poured herself another cup. Wrapping her fingers around it and peering into the amber liquid slowly, she pondered for a moment.
"Yes and no. I've decided to go to Chelsea if I go to uni at all," she explained. "As of now, I don't know what my parents want. They've listed reasons for and against all my alternatives, leaving it basically up to me. And I don't feel ready to make up my mind just yet."
He laughed, taking a lemon from the container and offering it to Jacqui and Sam. Both shook their heads, and he continued. "Don't feel badly if you don't go to uni. It means I'll be seeing more of you. And Sam here has no plans on university, either. He's got a kingdom to run," Nick added with another chuckle. Sam looked up at the mention of his name and shook his head, slightly embarrassed.
"Thanks for making quite the announcement of it," he said with a small smile. Jacqui and Alara exchanged looks, both about to speak when the owner approached their table, a piece of paper in her hand.
"Is one of you Alara Wydd?" She was a stern, buxom woman with a dark stare which made truant students feel inevitably guilty. Nick looked at Alara, about to ask, when she stuck out her hand.
"That's me. I'd be happy to take that," she said, motioning for the paper. It was marked with the school's seal, and as she glanced out the window she spotted the second-year girl who had delivered it running up the road, hands in her pockets. All eyes were on her as she opened it, reading with her lips pressed together.
Alara,
Your family has asked me to make arrangements for you to leave the school before the end of term. They have received word from some of your extended family, and a guide will be waiting to take you across the border. Your things have been packed to the best of our ability, and whatever you are unable to carry with you will be sent to your home. I wish you safe journey, and please hurry back to the school once you receive this, as time is short.
Headmistress Rookwood
Nick leant over, reaching for the parchment, but she held it close to her and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I have to go. Nick, I'll be sure and write you. And if someone could make sure Jacqui gets back to the school, that would be lovely." She bent down and kissed Nick on the cheek and left quickly, the cold air stinging her skin. As she walked down the winding road that eventually led to Wyverley, her head was spinning with questions to ask once she got there. Extended family? Which border are they talking about, anyhow? It can't be the Wall, I don't know anyone from the North. Why would my parents send me away in such a hurry? Why couldn't they write me themselves?
She pushed open the iron gate and broke into a run, not pausing for breath until she reached the Headmistress' office on the third floor, knocking quite a few younger students out of the way in her mad hurry. Without pausing to knock, she opened the door. Headmistress Rookwood and Magistrix Davis were engaged in conversation, and both started visibly at the sight of her. Magistrix Davis moved toward her, motioning her into a chair and placing a soothing hand on her shoulder. Alara nodded, opening her mouth to apologise for her rudeness, when the Headmistress interrupted.
"Now that you're here at last, I should like to discuss the arrangements made for your trip across the Wall. We have already-"
"My trip across the Wall?" Alara said in disbelief, shaking her head as she did so. "Why on earth am I being sent there?"
The Headmistress folded her arms, unaccustomed to being interrupted. "That will be explained later. As I said, your things are waiting in the entrance hall. Take only the largest trunk you can carry, and rest assured that the rest will be sent home to your family. Magistrix Davis has also taken the liberty of putting together a travelling outfit for you, since your uniform would probably be most inept." She took a paper-wrapped bundle from the desk and set it on Alara's lap, patting it twice. "I wish you good luck, Miss Wydd. That is all." Before she had time to respond, the Magistrix had already taken her by the shoulders and steered her into the hallway, looking very seriously down at her.
"Alara, do you know why you are being sent across the Wall?"
"No," Alara replied somewhat angrily, a trace of fear creeping into her voice. "I just got this letter, came here, got a package shoved into my arms...and now I'm expected to pick up my things and leave my home?"
"Ancelstierre should never have been your home," Magistrix Davis replied, her voice low and somber. "I'm sure you're aware at this point that the Wydds aren't your real parents. They adopted you, but your birth parents were from the Old Kingdom, in the very northern part...as far away from here as you could possibly imagine. You have the Mark of a Charter Mage," she said solemnly, pressing her finger to the scar on the girl's forehead. A tingle of electricity seemed to course through Alara's veins, and she dropped the package in surprise.
"What did you do?" she asked fearfully, stepping back instinctively. "How did you do that? It's just a scar."
The woman merely shook her head, stroking Alara's hair as if she were a very young child. "I have a feeling that in time, they will tell you everything. Until then, I want you to be safe. Stay with your appointed guide at all times, and always remember that things in the Old Kingdom are not like here. There are quite a few things that you know nothing about, and no time to teach you. Use what little Charter Magic I have been able to teach you, if need be." She picked up the parcel and handed it gently to her, turning her so that she faced the dormitories. "Now, we'll say good-bye. I feel certain we'll meet again."
Alara nodded, all the anger being replaced by an uncomfortable feeling of anxiety. Once she reached her dormitory, she unwrapped the string and paper to find a long skirt and thick jacket in very dark blue. She pulled them on, leaving her collared school shirt and blazer intact. Her fingers undid the catch on her name tag, and she set it on the nightstand table, picking up her valise and closing the door firmly behind her. The new clothes felt somehow alien, especially with the other girls still dressed in the uniform. She felt as though she had already left, and no one was around to notice. Not even Jacqui, who was still in the tea shop with that strange boy and Nick...
Nick, she thought suddenly. The first chance she got, she would ask her guide to post a telegram to his house, to let him know that she was alright. Although, would telegrams even work in the Old Kingdom? She had heard that many Ancelstierran electronic devices stopped functioning too close to the Wall. There was certain to be some way of reaching him, however. And with that in mind, she descended the final staircase into the main hallway, trailing her fingertips on the wall and walking as slowly as she could without falling over.
