Hey, I'm back! And better than ever. (Or at least, much better now that I'm done with school for the year.) And I'm very happy to have more time for writing and reading and all that. This chapter and the next really dig into the main conflict, so I do hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER EIGHT

EXPECTATIONS

Set into the outermost reaches of the western wing, the Library received the full heat of the White Sun every morning. A wall of windows poured light over every surface, gleaming in the glass displays of Earth-that-Was artifacts, spilling across cherry oak tables, their dark-grained surface broken only by the holo-screens set into the wood.

Inara gave up on the notes spread in front of her. She tilted her gaze out the window, to the sun-saturated view of the valley below, cradled amidst the mountains. The beauty was little more than static, melting into insignificance, as the news bulletin from the day before crept up to the surface of Inara's mind.

The Independent Faction had released a Manifesto. Leaders from over a dozen planets, apparently, had signed it. Including Shadow. And then there was the surveillance clip, of another attempted takeover of a peacekeeping base: violence, desperation, cut short by the calm voice of the news anchor insisting that Parliament's negotiations regarding Unification would proceed unchanged.

With a sigh, Inara gathered all her notes into a folder, and stood up. She crossed the room to the individual work area on the far wall, and slipped inside the first open carrel, pulling the crimson velvet curtains closed behind her. Settling down before the screen, she opened the Portal with a few taps of her fingers.

"Welcome, Inara Serra, to the House Madrassa Library Archive. State any subject or search term to begin."

Inara hesitated, then said, "Shadow, planet."

The House symbol spun for a moment, before a basic information profile appeared. The computer started in brightly, "Shadow orbits the protostar Murphy, in the outer ring of the Georgia system. It is the second highest producer of agricultural goods in the Universe, after Hera, and the most populous of its neighboring planets. Shadow's capital is Ferrous, with a population of-"

Inara closed out of the page, shaking her head. The same dull, faceless statistics they'd glossed over in their Composition of the Universe lectures.

An idea occurred. "Refined search, news articles," she requested.

The symbol spun again, before presenting her with a list of headlines. The first dozen results spoke of nothing but the Independents. Lacking any details beyond the damage to Alliance property and how many arrests were made.

An article from a smaller news corporation caught Inara's eye, despite the fact that it was three years old. The headline cried: 'Animal rights crisis on Shadow: Horses abandoned amid property turnover.'

Inara's brow furrowed. "Property turnover?" she murmured.

She opened the story, and waded through descriptions of the "majesty and strength" of Shadow's horses, all the way to the fourth paragraph, where the reporter grazed the real cause of the dilemma.

"These perceptive, intelligent creatures have lost their homes in a widespread wave of evictions, many due to tax evasion perpetrated by their owners. Local officials find themselves overwhelmed with the logistics of processing the animals, and profiteering businesses have taken advantage of the situation to buy horses from the government in large numbers. 'Most of 'em are headed for the slaughterhouse,' one former rancher tearfully admits."

Inara's mouth dropped open. It stayed that way as she read through to the end, searching for more quotes from Shadow residents. There weren't any. The article ended with a plea to "our compassionate, animal-loving readers," to open their hearts and purses for the cause.

Inara frowned. She read back through the article, and her eyes stuck on "…widespread wave of evictions, many due to tax evasion…" She recalled what her father had said, about the Independents' refusal to pay taxes.

But if refusing to pay meant losing their homes, and their horses, then why would they? Inara shook her head. There has to be something else…

"Inara," a breathless voice shocked her back to the present. "So this is where you were hiding! I've been looking everywhere."

She whirled around, to find Riz tumbling through the curtains of the study carrel. Inara shot to her feet. Half unconsciously, she blocked the screen from view.

"I wasn't hiding." She knit her brow. "What is it?"

Riz stumbled to a halt, leaning against the wall. She managed between gulps of air, "I overheard… the Priestess asking for you… ten minutes late to your shadowing session. You need to get to her chambers. Right now."

Inara blanched. "Oh, no." Panic expanded in her chest. She turned back to the computer, to close out of the Archive portal, and turn it off.

"What were you doing in here, anyway?" Riz demanded. "And what is the matter with you? Since when do you lose track of time?"

Inara spun toward her. "Look, I appreciate the warning but I don't require a lecture on punctuality right n-"

"Inara?"

They both snapped their heads toward Priestess Song, peering through the curtains of the study carrel, one brow arched. Her eyes landed on Riz. She smiled. "Tabitha. Good morning."

Riz winced at the sound of her real name. "Good morning, Priestess." She bowed.

The Priestess narrowed her eyes, ever so slightly. "I do hope you haven't been running through the halls again."

Riz clamped her mouth tight. Her chest still heaved under her uniform, pale cheeks crosshatched with red. She shook her head. "No, Priestess, never," she breathed. "Just walking. Very quickly. Um."

Priestess Song turned her gaze to Inara. "I need to have a word with you. Shall we take tea together?"

Inara bit her lip. Nausea rolled through her stomach. She dipped her head. "Of course."

The two of them followed the Priestess out of the Library. Before parting ways in the corridor, Riz grabbed Inara's hand, and gave it a squeeze. Her eyes said, 'Good luck.' Inara managed a nod in return, before Riz let go, and scurried off.

Inara fell into step behind the Priestess, willing her heartbeat to quiet its executioner's march in her chest. The Priestess stopped a passing attendant, to request in Chinese 'tea for two, in the Portia Room,' then continued into the eastern wing. At last, she stopped outside an open door, and gestured for Inara to enter first.

Inara didn't have much occasion to venture into the eastern wing. It functioned as a reception area, where Madrassa residents could meet with guests: female relatives, visiting Companions, or prospective trainees. Only instructors and current trainees passed through the courtyard to the western wing, where the classrooms and examination salons were located. Both upper levels of the House were devoted to living quarters, a space for trainees alone. No instructors or visitors, not even family members, were allowed upstairs.

The Priestess alone had dominion over the entire House. If she wanted to speak with Inara in the seclusion of the reception area, but not in the intimacy of her own parlor, it was for a reason.

Inara realized her hands had curled into fists, and forced them to let go. She took her seat on one of the cushions by the window, but didn't even glance outside, watching the Priestess closely. Min took her time sitting down, arranging blue robes, dotted with tiny white blossoms, around her. Her smooth, symmetrical face betrayed no emotion.

At last, Inara couldn't hold it in any longer. "I'm so sorry I was late. I was studying in the Library and I lost track of time, I- I regret the disrespect I have shown you." She pressed her hands together at her chest and made a bow of apology, as deep as she could. She held the position, breathing hard through her nose.

A hand cupped Inara's cheek. She looked up. The Priestess lifted her chin, coaxing her back upright. The woman's mouth curled, eyes warm.

"I didn't bring you here to scold you, Inara." The Priestess took her hand away. "Your distraction is a symptom of a larger problem, one you and I must resolve together. But first, you need to tell me exactly what's been going on these past two weeks."

Inara froze under the black pearls of Min's eyes. She opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words to begin.

"I fear," the Priestess heaved a sigh, "that your father's stress is beginning to infect you. Perhaps we should postpone your visits to his estate, until you've had time to regain your focus-"

"No," Inara blurted, a bit too loud. "That is, I mean, I don't think that's a good idea. He needs me." She gulped air, and went on, "I sorted his correspondence backlog for him yesterday, so he could get a few minutes of rest. That's why I was so late getting back to the House."

Unbidden, the stable boy edged his way into her thoughts, wearing his wry smirk. "You're a good liar." Inara grimaced, and shoved him away.

"Your father is a fully capable adult," said the Priestess, brusque. "You should reserve your energy for your studies, and trust him to balance his health and his campaign."

A knock came from the door. Min called out, "Qǐng jìn." The attendant entered with a tray, and set it on the table. Min gave the woman a single nod. "Xiè xiè nǐ."

After the attendant had gone, the Priestess set about preparing the tea. Silence settled, dense as steam between them. Inara accepted her tea, nestling the painted ceramic vessel in both hands. Min drank from her own cup, letting the silence stretch to its limits, before she spoke.

"Your father was appreciative, I imagine, of the probiotic ointment you brought him?"

Inara froze, tea cup lifted halfway to her lips. Slowly, she lowered it all the way back to the table.

"I… didn't give it to my father, in the end." The truth tugged itself out, catching on Inara's teeth. "I saw one of the service on his estate sustain a minor injury, and I- well, it seemed he needed it more."

The Priestess sat unmoving. "You delivered the ointment to this man yourself?"

"Not a man." Certainly not in terms of maturity. "Not quite, anyway," she amended. "He's my age, or close."

Priestess Song set down her cup. "I see."

Inara's heart quickened. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing, Inara?" The Priestess arched her words into the curve of a blade. "That's not a rhetorical question. I want to hear what you feel you've done wrong."

Inara swallowed. "I... I don't know."

Priestess Song shook her head. "But you do. You know the rules." Her voice flattened. "Unchaperoned interaction with outsiders in your age set is strictly prohibited."

"I thought that only mattered when…" Inara reached for a better way to say it, and came up short. "When the outsider and trainee are of equal social status."

"No. Indeed, it matters more when they are not."

Inara scrunched her brow. "I don't understand."

"A person who is not of this world may not recognize its limits. He's less likely to comprehend the boundaries inherent to your position." The Priestess gentled her voice. "You acted out of compassion. But some lines cannot be crossed."

Heat prickled in Inara's cheeks. "I didn't mean to- to cross any lines…"

"One's intentions have little bearing on a matter such as this. Appearances, and duty, matter far more."

Inara bit her lip, hard enough to draw blood.

"If this happens again, you could be expelled from the House." Priestess Song leaned forward, eyes sparking in a shaft of sunlight. "Even I would be powerless to help you." She lifted her tea cup. "It may seem severe, but the rules exist for a reason, and they must be obeyed. Do you understand?"

Inara nodded. "Yes, Priestess." She stole a shallow breath, and finished, "It won't happen again. I promise."

Priestess Song stared at her for a long moment, before she softened. "You are so close, Inara." She spoke just above a murmur. "To your license, perhaps an Apprenticeship for the Priestesshood, to a rich and fulfilling life. Everything you've worked so hard for. You mustn't do anything to jeopardize that now."

Inara picked up her tea, and peered into the dark grains in the bottom of the cup, shifting like sand under waves.

"I won't," she murmured.

The Priestess took a sip of tea. "Good. Now that's resolved, I trust you won't ever be late to one of our sessions again."

Inara shook her head. A hollowness yawned in the pit of her chest. As if something delicate and half-formed, too new to be fully known, had been ripped from her by the root.

Min smiled. "Leave this mistake behind you, and look forward. To your exams, and your future." She lifted her cup, in a toast. "Gān bēi."

"Gān bēi." Inara returned the gesture.

She drank from her cup, deep enough to taste the bitter leaves.

translations:

Qǐng jìn - Come in (formal)

Xiè xiè nǐ - Thank you

Gānbēi - Cheers

So, I have a little speech to make, and I'd really appreciate if everyone who is reading this would hear me out (except those who have already been reviewing, love you guys, stay shiny): Writing a full-length fanfic takes a lot of time and effort. I love doing it, and sharing it here with you, but it's hard to put so much of myself into something and not get much in return. I'm not trying to yell at anyone, I just want to tell it straight. I can see the number of visitors & views, and I've done the math: if even 1 visitor out of every 10 (yep, just 1 in 10) left a review, this story would have almost 3 times the number of reviews it has right now. I know Firefly is a small fandom these days, but all the more reason to support the content creators who are here, right? I also know you all have busy lives, so I'm not asking for epic poems. Just a couple words like "Great! Keep it up!" or whatever would make me so happy. If you have complaints or critique, even better! So go ahead, make my day. (Yeah, that reference is grossly out of context, just go with it.)

In conclusion, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Inara's discoveries in this chapter, and Priestess Song's ultimatum. (And more tea-drinking. *sigh* I promise to put the brakes on the tea for at least a couple chapters.) The next chapter takes us back to Mal, in a very new and different setting, and I can't wait to post it. Until then, I really hope to hear from you, and may you all have a marvelous week! *salutes*