Before "Deny Thy Father..."
The boy was only fourteen years old, but he already had potential. She could see that in the way he walked, the way he moved, the way his large, calm blue eyes took in his surroundings.
Ever observant. Just what we need.
She sighed, steeling her emotions as she approached. He was a handsome boy, his features retaining a mere hint of the puppy-fat from childhood. She could tell that someday, he would grow into the kind of man who would have women falling at his feet.
Assuming he went along the course she was currently mapping for him.
"Saldam Ar'Aigham?" she ventured, stopping the boy in his tracks. He looked at her, eyes narrowing in confusion – How do you know of me? – and she began, undeterred by his look. "I've come to talk to you about an offer..."
She faltered as she realised he didn't speak English, or at least didn't speak it well enough for a conversation. She could tell by the look on his face.
"I'm sorry," she apologised in Allabinan, continuing as such. "I've been sent to you with an offer from my employer. We've watched you for four years and we think you would be..." She halted, trying to find the words. "We think you would be a great asset to our company,"
The teenager frowned. "What company is this?" he replied in the same language.
"I cannot tell you. We simply..." She sighed, growing irritated with his lack of understanding or her understanding that she may have messed up. "Here's my card with the contact details on it. I don't have time to say any more. Also, learn English while you're at it. Hardly anyone speaks Allabinan any more,"
"Except for you," he countered.
She swallowed. "Except for me," she agreed, "but that's only because, like you, I'm from here."
Saldam frowned, eyebrows drawn in thinking. "What's your name?"
"My name?" She bit her lip so hard she drew blood, her heart rate speeding. Some ancient instinct told her not to, but the rest of her wanted to – albeit, her Allabinan Service name, at least. "Hara'in. My name's Hara'in." She slipped him the card. "Get in touch if you want to come with us. If you want something different from your Sage studies. Yes, we know all about that," she added at the look on his face. "But you cannot tell your parents."
Saldam nodded ferverently, jaw clenched. "I understand. Learn English. Contact you. I mean...I know a bit of the language, but not enough to get me outside Allabinah,"
Hara'in nodded, not really wishing to hear the boy's life story. "Contact me. I will answer." Without another word, she whirled away, willing herself not to look back.
That night, the teenager called her back, a book of Self-Taught English at his fingertips.
And that was how Saldam Ar'Aigham (né Damas Mar Hagai) joined The Service – by the methods a pretty eighteen-year old and a few ambiguous words.
A/N: There will be connections throughout this collection. See if you can spot them. If you can't: remember that there are two key characters in every one-shot. :D
~ Mika