Judgment of the Elders

by Gregg Schwartzkopf

  Be careful what you wish for.

  ##

  That night before falling asleep, Cass found himself wondering about Lynera for the first time since his exile. He hoped she was doing well. She was his student and he viewed her success as vicarious victory for himself. If Lynera did well at least Cass had done one thing right.

  But if Joan could have doubts about him based on a single disturbing dream, Lynera was probably questioning her long loyalty after Cass’s public demotion and dismissal from the Realm.

  “Great Mother’s blessing girl.” he muttered to himself. “If you give up just because I’m not there to push you I’ll… ”

  Then it hit him that there was nothing he could do. Lynera was on her own now. He hoped that he’d do better by Joan. The old Cass would have gone drinking with companions if worrisome thoughts like these began intruding on his mood. Cassandra wasn’t old enough to drink, but just the right age to sulk.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Friday morning, Trina stood outside the school building with clenched jaw and a lump of stone where her stomach normally rested. She’d rehearsed her speech a dozen or so times in the mirror, but still dreaded looking Peter in the eye. Several groups of students walked passed giving her looks of general recognition, as if they thought they should know her but didn’t remember why. She’d said goodbye to Jess and Tanya already, telling them she had something to do and would see them later. She saw Cassandra walk by and waved. At last, Peter, the Twins, and Amanda Lipton walked up and made to move past her without comment.

  “Peter, can I talk to you?”

  Amanda stopped first and gave Peter a light punch on the arm. “What? Another one?” She turned to the sophomore and invoked the nickname. “Give it up Chopsticks. He only has eyes for me.”

  Trina blushed but did not give ground. “This has nothing to do with flirting, Amanda. I need to… ” She glared at Peter. “I need to renegotiate our deal.”

  Tim and Tom looked sidelong at their mentor hoping for a cue about responding properly. Amanda looked back and forth between Peter and Trina, clearly curious about the girl’s meaning.

  “Tim… Tom… can you please make certain Amanda gets to homeroom all right?”

  “Oh no, I think I’d like to hear this,” said Amanda. Then she experienced an unexpected cold shiver. The look Peter gave her could melt iron, but she’d survived that look before. Something else alerted her that the situation had gone from interesting to dangerous.

  I realized then why Amanda Lipton was at the top of OLAM’s pecking order. She always knew when her insults struck a nerve. She knew when compliments were stoking an ally’s ego or being perceived as mere flattery. She could uncover a teacher’s funny bone or target an enemy’s fear. Amanda was an empath, and she didn’t even know it.

  She knew when to retreat, however, and let the Twins escort her away.

  “Just what do you think you’re doing?” asked Peter.

  Trina took a deep breath and met her tormentor’s gaze. “I’m not playing your game anymore. I told my parents about the beer last night. I’m not telling anyone else unless you post those pictures. Then you and I can offer our explanations to the principal and see who comes out on top.”

  Peter just glared at her for several heartbeats and then said, “We deleted the pictures.”

  “You mean you’ve just been bluffing?”

  “If you told on us we didn’t want any evidence on our phones to trip us up. It doesn’t matter. I have something better than fake photos on you now.”

  Trina thought hard about any other transgressions she might have committed. She couldn’t remember any, until she thought about the suggestion box. “I only wrote that note because of the beer pictures.”

  “And they don’t exist anymore. As Tim, Tom and I never accused you of drinking, there’s no reason to suspect the pictures ever existed. Your whole story sounds pretty fanciful, especially when you have to admit, you did write the suggestion.”

  A tear of frustration trickled down Trina’s cheek as her resolve collapsed. She had worked up her courage and defied the unassailable senior. Now she stood defeated. “So I’m still under your thumb.”

  “You don’t get off that easy.” Peter turned and stalked away, leaving Trina to review all the horrible implications of her defiance. But Peter’s true wrath was directed elsewhere. In his estimation, Trina wouldn’t have spoken up if someone else hadn’t publically challenged him. Peter resolved that Cassandra Forest had to pay.

  ##

  Cass and Trina were in gym when the younger girl was called to the front office. That left one side of the volleyball match down a person, so the girls switched to sit-ups and push-ups. The boys continued their basketball game without even acknowledging the announcement.

  Cass joined about half his classmates in the showers, but quickly discovered what the faculty already knew: ice cold water strongly discouraged lingering and looking. Everyone got in, scrubbed down and got out. Teeth chattering, Cass dressed and headed for his next class before the bell rang. He thought he’d see Trina at lunch.

  Tanya and Jess were already seated when Cass arrived in the cafeteria. “Where’s Trina?”

  Jess responded, “She was sent home for the day. Her mom was here when she got called to the office.”

  “Do you have any idea what happened?”

  Tanya just shook her head but Jess said “She’s been kind of withdrawn lately. She said Peter Goodkin was bugging her about some mistake she’d made. It might have something to do with that.”

  Cass was curious, but Trina’s two best friends clearly didn’t know what was going on. Peter Goodkin was unlikely to tell him and there were not enough clues to figure it out on his own. He thought he might bring it up with Rodger, but whatever went on between Peter and Trina was none of his business. Goodkin and the Meeks Twins were nasty but they were just behaving like teenage humans. He liked Trina well enough as an acquaintance, but felt he couldn’t worry about every student. Rodger and Joan were a large enough handful.

  ##

  That afternoon the Meeks brothers had swimming lessons at the local YMCA. It gave them the opportunity to consult regarding Peter’s latest obsession. With the Petrov girl neatly dispatched, the Goodkin wrecking ball aimed squarely at Pixie. Tim and Tom felt this was a major mistake, but could not convince Peter to turn aside from his course.

  The twins thought that their misgivings would stay between them. Swimming was their sport and Peter stuck with track. But when they emerged from the locker room after practice Amanda Lipton was waiting for them, doubly intimidating in a dark blue tank suit. “Good afternoon boys. Can we talk?”

  Tim and Tom nodded as “no” didn’t seem like a viable answer.

  Amanda got straight to the point. “What’s going on between Peter and Chopsticks?”

  Tim gave a weak smile. “Petrov? That whole thing is over. We were teasing her and she got all upset at Peter. Peter doesn’t put up with that from sophomores, so we got her in hot water with Gunderson. It’s over and done with.”

  Amanda, given her unique ability, knew this wasn’t the whole story. “I wish he’d just leave the underclass rabble alone.”

  Tom retorted, “You don’t take any garbage from them either.”

  “I confront troublemakers directly. Peter is too fond of elaborate revenge and you two enable him. You’re sure this business with the piano prodigy is done?”

  “Finished,” said Tim.

  “Anybody else on his radar?”

  The twins were silent for a few seconds too long, so Amanda demanded “Who?”

  The responded simultaneously, “Forest.”

  Amanda stalked away muttering “Stupid, stupid, stupid. Doesn’t he know crazy will bite you in the ass every time?”

  ##

  Saturday after breakfast, Cass met with Rodger downtown and they went to visit Joan. She was still spending most of her days in bed, keeping her foot up. Hopping about on crutches was bot
h uncomfortable and ungainly. Joan felt a little uneasy having Rodger in her room while she sat propped up on pillows in a nightgown and robe. She only knew the boy because he followed Cass around. Still, she felt relieved to have company. No one else from school would visit.

  “Have you recovered from your choir tryout?”

  Cass nodded. “It has taught me the value of avoiding beverages with very low pH values.” He glanced at Rodger. “See, I was listening.” Attempting to look downtrodden, he continued addressing Joan. “I’ve accepted the disappointment. I am rejected by the faculty and bullied by seniors. You two are my only friends.”

  Rodger cocked his head to one side. “I thought you tried out for choir hoping they’d reject you.”

  “That’s not the point, Rodger. I’m trying hard to be gloomy here. Stop spreading sunshine all over the place. You are sad for me, aren’t you, Joan?”

  “I was feeling sorry for myself, but your pathetic attempt at unhappiness perked me right up. Thank you Cass, you’re a good friend.”

  “Glad to be of service. But not too glad.”

  Rodger looked back and forth between the two girls for a minute and then observed “This really doesn’t bother you, so why pretend that it does, and then clue Peter in that it doesn’t?”

  Cass considered the question. “Well, I guess I had this small-town notion that urban America would be big and intimidating. I thought I’d need to be dark and dreary to fit in. If I was too happy and bubbly, people would take advantage of me. I’m starting to think that isn’t true.”

  It was a fairly decent lie for Cass, considering it was off the top of his head. It helped that he believed the last part. He wasn’t going to bluff the Elders and it seemed pointless to try anymore.

  ##

  Esmeralda found very little about the Mortal Realm appealing, but there was one pleasure there that did not exist in the Realm of Fae: coffee. She stood among the trees of Palmer Park sipping the hot, brown beverage from a paper cup. Soon she would return to rosehip tea and clear spring water, but she would miss the morning rush afforded by this slightly bitter brew. Just observing her reaction to it made me envious.

  She would not miss the crush of people, however. Humans swarmed everywhere. In her opinion, our unrestrained reproduction meant there were far too many of us and we all seemed to gravitate to the same small venues. The park was very popular on Saturdays, particularly before winter weather set in. Because she was viewing the crowd as a whole, Esmeralda failed to pick out Magolyn until it was too late for retreat.

  “Good morning Esme, I hope your stay here has been pleasant.”

  Esme saluted her fellow Alfaran with the disposable cup. “I’m finding small amusements. It’s nice of you to ask.”

  “You haven’t, by chance, noticed any Grimel Kin about have you? We had some issues at home last week that seemed to fit a pattern consistent with a tinkerer.”

  “I can’t say that I have,” Esme replied stiffly. “But they are attracted to human settlements, so it doesn’t surprise me that this crowded little island has a few. Were you able to get rid of it?”

  Magolyn remained silent for a few seconds before responding, hoping to find a crack in Esmeralda’s demeanor. “The problems seemed to have stopped, but I’m not sure if it was my wards or just boredom on the Dream Dweller’s part. Do keep your eyes open while you remain here. You still plan to depart when the Gate opens, don’t you?”

  Esme smiled sweetly. “Yes… but the moon is just full tonight so I’ve a couple weeks to wait. Perhaps I’ll see you again.”

  “You can count on it.”

  ##

  Officer Cleghorn watched the two women part company. This was their second meeting and he surmised that the older woman was somehow part of a larger picture.

  He’d reported his observation of the small, hairless, pointy-eared creature fleeing town to his sergeant, requesting permission to investigate further. Instead, his superior told him to take a week off for rest and recuperation. So he sat in civilian clothes observing the crystal gazer. He knew there was something odd going on and the fortune-teller must have something to do with it. Cleghorn didn’t trust the occult and he really didn’t trust foreigners.

  I hoped he’d get bored before he became a problem.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Rodger and David spent the afternoon at the movies enjoying a testosterone surge from giant robots failing to destroy a plucky group of humans but succeeding in destroying a lot of real estate. They then shared pizza and dissected the film for errors in their respective scientific interests. Rodger arrived home around five o’clock.

  His Aunt Anne met him at the door dressed in a simple black and white cocktail dress that ended two inches above the knee. Her hair was pulled back in a long ponytail revealing two small garnet studs imbedded in her ears; the same set she’d worn through high school. Dark blue eye shadow and ruby red lipstick contrasted sharply with her otherwise juvenile appearance. She was just twenty-seven and worked as a hostess for a local tavern restaurant catering to the college crowd.

  “I’m running late kiddo, but there’s pot pie in the freezer.”

  “David and I had pizza.”

  “Smart thinking on your part. Of course, smart thinking is what you do. Homework done?”

  “Come on! When has my homework ever not been done by Saturday evening? I do need to ask you a question though.”

  She checked her make-up in the entry hall mirror. “What’s up?”

  “If a girl says she likes you but just wants to be friends… ”

  Anne looked up at her nephew in utter shock. “There’s a girl.”

  “She’s not my girl. She just moved into town recently and… ”

  “Oh my God! You’re a science geek who plays video games. I wasn’t supposed to have to deal with this yet. Did you get condoms from the school nurse?”

  “At Our Lady of Perpetual Help?”

  Anne leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. “Oh right, I suppose not. I’m such a crappy parent. What was your question again?”

  Rodger started over. “If a girl says she likes you but she just wants to be friends, what does that mean?”

  Anne thought for a moment. “It’s not the best thing she could say. Either she’s got her eye on someone else, but wants to keep her options open or she’s recently decided that romance sucks and she doesn’t want any relationship that goes beyond friendship. Your best bet is to be a good friend and hope she realizes all your good qualities.”

  Rodger sighed. “What good qualities?”

  His aunt smiled. “Dude, you have a lot of good qualities. You’re loyal and smart. You’re going to get an excellent job. You’re occasionally funny. These are all things girls want, when they are twenty. High school girls want excitement and popularity. Sorry about that.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Gotta run. Enjoy MMORPGing.”

  Anne dashed to the car leaving Rodger to his own devices as she had almost every Saturday night for the past four years.

  Rodger lay on his bed listening to music. He would normally be at the computer playing one of his games or reading a science book for personal pleasure. Tonight he had no desire for distraction. He intended to wallow in self-doubt.

  The focus of his musing was Cassandra Forest; a fascinating, confusing, frustrating, adorable fracture in his ordinary life. She certainly wasn’t a science nerd, but a geek in her own fashion. She was blunt to the point of insulting, but she never meant to insult you. Her voice was pitched like a police whistle, but he was always happy to hear it. If only she weren’t so focused on finding a bad relationship, she might look to him for a good one.

  Then again, he wondered if she would. He wasn’t exactly a girl magnet. He was tall and lanky with sincere brown eyes, but his nose was too big and he had chronic acne. Worse, he couldn’t form a sentence when nervous. He had no trouble expounding on chemistry and physics; even in front of a classroom. Face-to-face with a human female however, he was a
n inarticulate jumble of nerves. It was amazing Cass talked to him at all.

  But she did keep talking to him, so maybe there was hope. Peter Goodkin seemed to think Rodger might have a shot with Cass and Peter knew a thing or two about girls. Then again, Peter held a grudge against Cass, so why would he help Rodger win her?

  Cass wasn’t just any girl. She was the very definition of unique. She had expressed interest in Peter because he was a bad boy, but then soured on him because it was too easy to see he was a bad boy. She even inquired about David hoping he might be secretly wild and clever enough to conceal it. David only wished he was wild. Cass clearly thought Rodger was a nice boy; a close friend, but not boyfriend. As always with girls, Rodger was unsure what Cass really wanted.

  ##

  I looked in on the occult shop thinking I’d find Esmeralda there doing readings, but she hadn’t arrived yet. Lucas was busy with his newly acquired manuscript.

  On the advice of an antiquarian book dealer who was part of the shop’s network of suppliers, Lucas purchased an acid free preservation box for his treasure. He started looking for storage facilities that could maintain a constant humidity year round. Long Island was not the driest environment on the planet. The shop had an air conditioner and a dehumidifier, but Lucas was seeking better control than that.

  Lastly, he obtained latex gloves to carefully page through the text so he could take notes. The printer-scanner used by the shop required laying the book out flat. He didn’t wish to risk the binding.

  He had placed the book in its secure container and tucked it away under the counter. He was shelving some other texts when he turned, responding to the bells announcing the arrival of a customer.

  “May I be of some help, sir?”

  Lucas could see the gentleman standing in the entry, but only a blurred impression reached my crystal. The newcomer was shielded.

  “Good evening Mr. Holter. I represent the new owners of this establishment.”