Slowly, Aiden worked his way into the shower area and removed his clothes, letting the warm water move over his sore muscles and wash most of the grime away. It was always important to wash up before going to the baths because they were shared, and it made it easier if the water stayed clean for a longer time.
He picked one of the steaming tubs empty of other students, slipping into the hot water slowly and closing his eyes as he sat down on the wooden bench. Glowby actually submerged himself, flickering through several lavender colors that made the water glow. In the fairly dim light of the room, it was relaxing. Despite how hungry he was, he needed to unwind a bit and think about what had happened last night and today.
He brought his wet hands up, covering his face and rubbing at the enormity of the situation as it washed over him. What was he going to do? He should have just kept his head down and never gotten to know any of them. He still didn’t know why he’d done it. He knew it was just going to cause issues when he reached out for that stone, but he had done it anyway and now had to live with the consequences. And on top of all of that, now Oya Dihya wanted him to be a student in her class? He didn’t think he was going to live out the week at this rate.
“What am I going to do?” He groaned to Glowby, feeling him floating just under the surface of the water. He was startled when a voice answered, following immediately by naked feet stepping up on the damp wooden steps and splashing into the tub. “Just keep smiling and don’t stop for anything, Orphan Boy.” Shocked, Aiden looked up and watched at Ashrak slipped into the water, letting his hair pool around him as he laid back. There wasn’t a smidge of fat on him, and despite being lean, he was muscular like a swimmer. He gave out a loud sigh before smiling his roguish smile. “That’s the most important part, don’t stop, and damn sure don’t admit to anything.”
Aiden just watched him. He knew he should just nod and not speak, but everything caught up with him then. His anger bubbled to the surface, sparking and flashing as he spat out, “What do you know about it? You’re a lord,” he half-snarled, irritated at Ashrak’s cavalier attitude at daring to advise him of anything. “A duke’s son, even. When have you ever had to worry about anything?”
Ashrak’s smile disappeared as he pushed himself back into a fully sitting position. His eyes appeared dead as he stared at Aiden coldly. Aiden was sure that Ashrak was going to kill him, and to accentuate that feeling Glowby shot up out of the water, glowing a dark red and hovering between the two like some sort of watch hound. Despite being imaginary, Aiden was thankful his friend was here to see him die. However, Instead of lunging across the bath in an attack, the dead look disappeared as Ashrak shook his head and smiled, chuckling low in his throat.
“You know, I thought at first you were going to be a momentary distraction. Just some bumpkin wandering by that happened to be in the wrong place to provide amusement. But now,” Ashrak watched Aiden with narrowed eyes and a slow grin turning up one side of his mouth. “Now, I’m not so sure, Orphan Boy.”
Aiden shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what Ashrak was talking about but not liking it. “What do you mean?”
Ashrak shrugged and settled back down into the water, putting his head back and watching Aiden through his half-slit eyes as he relaxed again. “Well, that is the question, isn’t it. What does it mean? You come out of nowhere, and suddenly you have a whole gaggle of nobles making pacts and running around in a panic. For you, some twit of a commoner. It’s very interesting indeed.”
Frowning, Aiden pushed himself upright, “Now, wait a minute. You’re not saying that I planned this somehow? Because I assure you, I certainly never wanted to get involved with a bunch of crazy nobles that could kill me with a snap of their fingers.”
Ashrak raised an eyebrow and then chuckled again. It almost sounded manic before he shook his head, putting one of his hands up over his eyes and rubbing them. “See, there, just like that. You just called the son of Duke Brun, arguably one of the most hated and dangerous men on the planet, a crazy noble.” He pulled his hand away and looked at Aiden a bit more intently. “Do you know how many times you would have already died if you had been in my father’s duchy? Just in the two days I’ve known you?” He sneered, “Snap of the finger, indeed.”
Aiden didn’t know how to answer that. He had heard about the Brun Duchy, and the rumors were not kind. Something told him, he was glad they were far away from his own Duchy of Terek.
“But no, I think you are something else,” Ashrak continued, grinning brightly while he settled back into the water and closing his eyes. Though friendly-seeming, the smile left Aiden feeling mocked. “I think I shall enjoy watching what becomes of you, and the further mischief you will be causing. Oh yes, I think it will be quite fun. Far more than I’ve had so far in this damnable cold school.”
Aiden shifted uncomfortably, the warm bath suddenly losing its appeal. He really couldn’t think of anything to say and felt far out of his league with Ashrak. Who knew what kind of court intrigue or politics had been part of his life? One thing was for certain; he was almost guaranteed to have far more experience than Aiden.
Suddenly, he remembered the conversation he’d had in the arena with Chari and the others. The plate! He had no clue if Gavin or any of them had chanced to talk to Ashrak. Maybe he shouldn’t and just leave it up to the nobles. Glowby floated over to the side of the tub and then alighted on the lip. It was a strange maneuver since he usually liked to flit around, but for once he was just waiting and seemed to be watching Aiden think.
Why not him? The thought broke in and raised itself. Why not him? It was his life after all, and if the plate were found, it would be him hanging from a rope or worse being thrown into the tar pits in the center of town. Why should he just sit by and let others, who probably couldn’t think of him as a real person, deal with it?
He looked up in time to see Ashrak watching him with a slow grin on his face and narrowed eyes. Gods, he was insufferable. Still, Aiden met his gaze and took a breath, pushing on. “Ashrak, I… Gavin and the others. They were asking me…” He paused, a cold ripple flowing up and down his spine as fear warred with self-preservation in a variety of combinations.
“Come on, Orphan Boy, out with it. Don’t let mere nobles tell you what to do.” If anything, Ashrak’s smirk became even more insulting, “What did I say about not stopping, eh? Forgot my sage advice already?” Ashrak clucked at him.
Aiden glared and then continued. “They were asking about…it. They had gone back to the room and…it…was gone. Did they talk to you about it?”
Chuckling, Ashrak smirked. “There, now, that wasn’t so hard was it?” Ashrak began to count off fingers. “Let us see… harsh words… disregarding my advice…Oh! And accusing me of stealing at the least, yes?” He laughed heartily, a true look of amusement on his face finally. “By the Circle, Orphan Boy, you would be so dead in my duchy. I’ve known counts who have tried being insulting not doing as well as you are. Even here you’d have been dead a few times, at least you should have been if they weren’t so kind to everyone. See what I mean?”
He threw his hands out expansively. “You are so full of things that I am finding very interesting. But to answer your question, no, I have not spoken to dear Gavin about this or the others. Though, I may have some interesting information…” Ashrak trailed off, his eyes glancing to the sides as if checking to see if anyone was around before leaning in. “Skeeve has not been at the school for a few nights. No one knows where he’s been.” He leaned back when he had finished, giving Aiden a look that spoke volumes before closing his eyes.
Skeeve had been missing? Aiden though, his mind whirling. He didn’t know much about him or why he may take off with the plate but if it was true? If it were true, he’d have to find out. He needed to talk to Chari.
Quickly Aiden pushed himself up and climbed out of the tub with Glowby following along. Ashrak just lay there, not even bothering to say goodbye. Just that same irritating smirk he always had on his face. A
s Aiden passed him, his stomach growled alarmingly. Glowby started, moving away from his stomach as if it were something that was going to bite him. Ugh, he thought, suddenly distracted by the pain in his middle. I really need to get something to eat.
It didn’t take him long to get dried off and then dressed. He’d go to the dining hall, and hope Chari was there. If not, he was sure someone there would know where to look for her. At least he hoped so but one thing was certain. He had to get something to eat before he did anything.
Chapter 6
Thankfully, Aiden reached the dining hall without incident. Not that it should have been, but with the last two days behind him, he was getting a bit paranoid. As he made his way into the dining hall, he looked around but didn’t see Chari. He did see Gavin, Markam and the twins sitting at a table, but decided he didn’t want to sit with them. Markam slamming him into the wall and then being set up to fight a four-meter monster which knocked him out kind of dimmed him on their company for the moment.
He moved along the walls farthest away from them and managed to escape their notice while getting his food. Then he began the important job of shoveling food into his fifteen-year-old body. After he had got his first few mouthfuls, he relaxed enough to chew and closed his eyes, sighing in pleasure.
“No, I have no idea. I’ve never seen or heard of a breeder stone that has ever recovered from being completely drained, Jeffers. Have you?”
The voice of Professor Onyxine floated to him in semi-hushed whispers from behind him. He hadn’t realized he was sitting so close to one of the professor’s tables, having been preoccupied with avoiding Gavin and his friends. Now, here he was with his face going white and listening to confirmation that maybe his dream from last night wasn’t just a dream.
“No. No, and you know I haven’t,” the gruff, deep voice responded quietly, then paused and clicked at her in exasperation. “Damn peculiar I say, Maris. Unnatural in the extreme. We should just ship it back to the main house so they can send us a new one.”
“Are you kidding, Jeffers? They might find a replacement within the next ten months.” She paused, her whisper becoming fiercer.” Might. Or not. They’re not easy to find, and those damn Feldar bastards aren’t exactly easy to get them from. Not lately. Word is that Duke Feldar is giving us the scraps he finds just to keep the rest of the Dukes from calling him out at the council, and he’s got many of them in stockpile hid from everyone. Everyone is stuck.” She growled and then Aiden heard what sounded like silverware being slammed down, though he dared not look.
The only thing worse than overhearing the professor’s talk was getting caught at it. He couldn’t help it, though. Not after last night. Breeder stones never revived which is why they were so protected. He had read about them in Professor Revius’s class, and that is what all the books said. If they ever were drained fully, they were just rock from then on out. Aiden shook his head, eating slowly and straining to hear more.
“Meh, I know, Maris. I know. It’s a hard place we’re in since Duke Noropol started pressing Duke Caiterel so hard and even with the Duchy of Banum weighing in, they’re losing badly. Most of our breeder stones came from their mines before the war. But now with their war raging so close to their mines, no stones of any sort are likely to come from that direction any time soon. Still, it’s not right what happened with that stone last night. It’s glowing more than I’ve ever seen it, like some happy five-year-old or something. Unnatural. I don’t like it. Not at all.”
Aiden heard Professor Onyxine laugh then, a gruff thing that sounded like it belonged in a dock-side bar more than a school. “By the Circle, Jeffers, you are such a fishwife. I don’t understand it either, but I’ll take the chance rather than having to do without. You are right about something; it does seem…happy? I know it sounds crazy, but I’m glad you said it first so I can tell everyone you’re the crazy one.” She laughed again, and Aiden heard what sounded like a punch and a grunt, presumably from Jeffers. “Or, you can go snuggle up to Brun’s brat; he’s not hard on the eyes and in the right light...” She trailed off. “Maybe his dad will cough up one of their breeders if you treat his kid to a few kisses.”
Aiden heard Jeffers growl. “You’re never going to let me forget Welkin Port, are you? It’s been years, and I swear, I thought it was a wench. And you know how much I had to drink that night. Damn the Captain for wanting to leave port that morning.”
“What are friends for, Jeffers? Besides, even Duke Brun is not going to help us no matter how much he wants to get back in everyone’s good graces. Word is their sand fields are five years from producing a batch of breeders.”
Aiden heard a spit after the name of that duke was said, and then a smack as he heard what sounded like Professor Onyxine slapping Jeffers for spitting in the dining hall. As she should. Aiden grimaced, imagining seeing that projectile from the bearded man’s lips landing on the floor. Or the table. Blech.
They both became quiet, letting Aiden ponder what he’d heard. Was it true? His dream? Maybe they were mistaken, and the stone hadn’t been fully drained. Maybe all those experienced engineers had just been drinking, too. Aiden cursed silently to himself as he watched Glowby bob back and forth in front of him. Right. Not a chance. Gods, how screwed was he? Maybe he should just charge into the arena and challenge Oya Dihya to a duel. Get it over with, for real.
Slowly he finished chewing and swallowed, trying to punish his food with as much brutality as he could muster. At least there was something he could boss around, he thought as he pushed some potatoes into the vegetables on his plate.
He looked up just as a student came running into the Hall and ran up to the front, skidding to a halt near him. He turned, watching as the boy stopped and he caught the whiff of wood smoke wafting off of him. Not the kind from a fireplace either, he thought as he noted soot stains on his face. Professor Onyxine, Jeffers, and a few other teachers were already rising, sensing the panic in the boy.
“There’s a fire! A fire just outside of the school gate, in town!” He pointed, gesturing quickly towards where the gate to the school lay. The school itself was an add-on to the town and shared a wall with the castle as it stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the river and harbor. Being so close to the castle, the housing and buildings just inside the gates were well made, being inhabited by the wealthy nobility or merchants that could afford such.
Looking off toward that direction for only a moment, Professor Onyxine quickly took charge. “Jeffers, go get the water wagons and find a team for them. Otara,” she turned to an elderly professor, one who was not likely to be able to help with a fire. “Go to the headmaster’s office and tell them I’m taking everyone from the dining hall to help with the fire. Raise the alarm as you go.”
Both of the others nodded, rushing off and out of the hall to their best ability with Jeffers leaving far earlier than Otara. Meanwhile, Professor Onyxine and the other teachers began to organize the students and orphans into groups. Fire was not a joke since so much of their city was made of wood, and everyone usually rushed to the site of any conflagration. Terek had many public wells, and there were water wagons in many neighborhoods that had attached buckets and huge, manual pumps for spraying water. It wasn’t perfect, but it was what they had.
Aiden wordlessly followed along with Professor Onyxine as she strode out of the hall and headed for the gates. She didn’t bother to look behind her, instead moving with a purpose and if any of her group fell behind, then so be it. As they approached the gate, the smell of smoke and the raised voices of agitated people began to become more pronounced.
Passing through the gates, the roar of the fire reared up like something living, snapping and slamming into them with a life of its own. It had not engulfed the entire house, only licking up one wing of it for the moment, but Aiden could already tell from his limited experience it would be a lost cause. They could see several brightly colored Chivnel working on the shrubs and trees ringing the small mansion, taking them down qu
ickly before they could become food for the blaze. Professor Onyxine began barking orders, meshing the students into several of the already existing bucket lines and all of them started to work in earnest.
The air was already thick with smoke, but it was still light out. Aiden found himself in close to the house itself and near the front door. He watched as several servants worked to remove furniture and other valuables. Most of them were covered with soot and coughing, and he wondered how much longer they could last. There was an old woman near the pile of valuables off to the side, screaming at a well-dressed man who looked stricken and morose.
For the first ten minutes, they lost ground to the rapidly expanding flame but as more students, teachers, and townsfolk showed up they began to have an effect. Not enough of one, but it was a start. He could see Professor Reivus off to the side, tending to people that had been too long in the smoke with several nurses and doctors assisting. Above them all loomed the massive form of Oya Dihya who was taking up the end of one of the bucket lines, tossing water much higher than the others could manage.
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 7
