by Bryant Reil
Kyla perked up as she saw her approach. “Hi Aspen!” she waved, and ran right up. “Where are you going? Where's Eunoe?”
“She's in class. Are you planning on going to the Fall Ball?”
“You know I've been handing these out so much I didn't even think about going myself. I kind of feel like I work there. But sure!”
“Oh, good! We need to find dates.”
Kyla frowned a bit. “I don't think we need to. Can't we just go by ourselves? It'll be fun!”
Aspen thought a date was supposed to be fun. “I've never been on a date. And I don't think it will ever happen hanging out with Eunoe all the time.”
“Oh, yeah. She draws 'em in and scares 'em off. She's like a rose with a bee in it. When do you want to go hunting?” Kyla made a bow-and-arrow motion as she said this.
“Now would be good. She's in class.”
“Sure, I'm tired of this anyway. This job got real easy when I realized no one cares whether or not I actually do it. Let me just prop open my bag and hang it on this tree here, in case someone actually DOES want a flyer.”
The two strode around campus and decided the best place to meet boys was by the proving grounds. Today there was a class practicing combat with staffs, and sure enough, well over half were male. Staff-fighting was elegant work, and Kyla and Aspen picked out a shady spot under a tree to watch. After about twenty minutes, no one had approached to ask them out.
Kyla sighed. “I don't know how Eunoe does it. It seems like so much work to sit here and wish for them to come over. I say we go introduce ourselves!”
Aspen felt apprehensive, but also confident in Kyla's outgoing and friendly attitude, and felt excited about the prospect of making her own social contact. She had never, in her memory, made a friend without Eunoe meeting them first. Even Kyla had been Eunoe's doing.
“The elves there – the blond one and the one with the sandy hair,” Aspen pointed. “Or maybe those orcs. The one on the left is in my singing class. He has a lovely voice.”
Kyla twisted her face as one of the orcs thrust a finger knuckle-deep into his nostril. “The elves.” Aspen shrugged as Kyla walked onto the field.
“Hi!” she called as they approached. Several heads turned, but she walked past them to her targets. “I'm Kyla. This is my friend Aspen. Do you want to go to the Fall Ball with us?”
The boys looked at each other uncomfortably.
“Uh...hi. I don't think so. I mean, I've never met you and all, and I'm already planning to ask somebody else.”
“Oh, yeah? Who?” she demanded.
Aspen was no socialite, but felt it was inappropriate for Kyla to challenge his honesty.
There was a smattering of laughter from others in the class who had gathered to watch. The blond boy spoke. “Look – I'm sure you're a wonderful person and all, but I've never seen you before and I'd feel more comfortable taking someone I know.”
Kyla stomped her foot and put her hands on her hips. “How could you have never seen me before? I'm literally in the square all day handing out flyers.”
Aspen turned red. She seldom felt embarrassed but she was new to this type of social interaction and didn't like being stared at by so many people. “Kyla, they're not interested.”
She grabbed Kyla's elbow to pull her away, but Kyla broke her grip. “Tell you what. If I can beat you at stick-fighting, you two will take us to the Fall Ball. Deal?”
The boys looked uncomfortable with this arrangement, but even less comfortable with continuing the conversation. It was the blond boy who grabbed the staffs and tossed one to Kyla, who flinched and let it drop. She picked it up and planted one end on the ground, with one hand at its center and another on her hip, her feet together and weight leaning on the staff. The boy, meanwhile, had his feet at shoulder-width and held the staff up with his hands apart. Aspen was no fighting expert, but could see he knew what he was doing and Kyla did not.
Her hypothesis proved correct. Kyla was flat on her back before she could respond to the boy's sweeping attack. She picked herself and her staff off the ground.
“Nice one. I didn't say go.”
The boy rolled his eyes but reset his stance. As soon as Kyla said 'Go!', she was flat on her back again. The other students were laughing, except the two boys, who blushed.
“Nice try,” said the blond boy, extending a hand to help her up. “I'm sure there are plenty of other people you can ask.”
Aspen leaned in to whisper into Kyla's ear. “We can just ask the orcs. I'm pretty sure they're available.”
Kyla gave a resigned nod, and Aspen felt she had avoided further embarrassment when Kyla suddenly lit up and beckoned at someone. Aspen turned. It was Eunoe, carrying an armful of DNA.
“Eunoe!” Kyla shouted. “Come over here!”
The two boys, Aspen noted with chagrin, looked even more excited than Kyla to see Eunoe. Eunoe wandered across the verge onto the proving grounds.
“You finished your scarf!” Kyla said. Eunoe just nodded. She had given up trying to explain DNA to Kyla.
“What's going on?”
“These guys promised they'd take me and Aspen to the Fall Ball if we beat them at stick fighting, but I lost.”
The blond boy stepped forward. “I, uh, had someone else I was planning to ask...later...maybe...if you're interested.”
Aspen felt a sudden flush of anger. Eunoe sensed it and gave her a curious look. “Do you even know her name?” Aspen demanded. The boy was taken aback.
“Well, yeah. It's Eunoe, right?”
Aspen turned to Eunoe. “Have you ever even met him before?”
Eunoe shook her head, and Aspen shot an icy glare at the boy. “You told Kyla you wouldn't go out with her because you've never met her, but you'll ask Eunoe?”
Eunoe shrugged. “I told you. Men are shallow.”
Aspen stepped forward and leaned in to the boy's face. “You haven't fought me yet, blondie. I'm going to take you up. Double or nothing.”
The boys looked confused. This time the sandy-haired boy spoke. “How can we double-or-nothing? Are we supposed to take you out twice if you win?”
“If you win, you can go to the Fall Ball with Eunoe. If I win, you two take me and Kyla.”
Aspen glanced back at Eunoe, a little worried she'd refuse, but the alseid looked rather amused.
“Fine.” she nodded. “You two can sort out who goes with me if you win. I don't really care. Anyway catch you later – I have work to do.”
“Really?” Kyla's brow was furrowed. “I don't even know what to say. I did not expect her to go for that.”
“Fine,” the sandy-haired boy replied. “Here.” He tossed Aspen a staff, which she examined with a grimace.
“I'll get my own.”
“Ok. We'll only be here another half-hour, so you'd better hurry.”
***
Kyla was more excited to see what Aspen had up her sleeve than she was about the Fall Ball. Something was up else Eunoe never would have agreed to the deal. Aspen walked into the grove by the stream near the Communications building. It was quiet in here. Kyla expected to find someone relaxing in the tranquil grove yet it was empty except for squirrels and birds. There was little other sound except the muffled noise of people talking and laughing in the square. Aspen walked straight up to a hickory tree in the center of the grove and caressed the bark with her fingers.
“This was one of my first friends when I came. Hickory trees are especially kind, and they have supple wood.”
Kyla had many questions, but before she could speak Aspen started singing in a low, almost sultry tone. Her voice became sharper as it grew to a haunting crescendo. Kyla couldn't understand the words but could feel their power. There was a strange feeling, a tingling, like the souls of the surrounding trees were reaching out. After a minute Aspen's song ended but the feeling remained. She bowed low and then grabbed a knot on the tree and started to pull. A piece of wood drew straight from the trunk. It was long as a staff, but twiste
d along the axis and intricately carved. Aspen gave another bow. She turned to Kyla and smiled but said nothing as she walked back to the proving ground. Kyla knew she was about to see a very exciting side of Aspen.
The boys saw her coming and ended their sparring. The blond boy spoke. “We decided since you made us fight both of you, you need to beat both of us.” Their confidence was a bit shaken. They knew something was amiss.
“Together, or one at a time?” was Aspen's reply.
“If you can beat us both at the same time, not only will we take you to the ball, we'll buy you dinner.”
The sandy-haired boy shouted an objection, but it was too late so he grabbed a staff and started circling. Aspen didn't move. The boys looked leery, likely expecting some trick or magic. So did Kyla. She backed away and sat on the grass.
Finally, the sandy-haired boy took a lunge. It was a test, and not meant to hit Aspen, only startle her. Her lightning defense caught him off-guard and knocked the staff from his hand. He backed away, but she didn't bother to lunge after him.
“Pick it up,” she ordered in a firm voice that more resembled Eunoe.
“Nah – you beat me.” His voice trembled and his legs started shaking.
“You insulted my friend. Pick it up.”
Kyla had never thought Aspen could be so commanding. She kind of liked it, though she didn't feel that she had been insulted. Maybe Aspen was referring to Eunoe? That didn't make sense either. Best not to second guess what was happening inside the dryad's head.
The second boy made a quick step as he circled behind Aspen and tried to thrust his staff into her back, but she swept her staff behind and knocked his away. He didn't drop it, but was clearly uneasy.
“Dryad trick?” the sandy-haired boy asked the blond.
The blond boy shrugged. “No magic!” he said to Aspen.
“Magic? I'm afraid I don't know any magic. But wood is my tool. Shouldn't an elf know that?”
“Yes!” Kyla confirmed, though Aspen's remarkable speed with the staff was news to her as well.
“This isn't fair!” the sandy-haired boy complained.
“Two against one isn't fair?” Aspen replied. Her voice was soft and silky, which belied her look of contempt. “Perhaps if there were more of you?” She turned to the crowd. “I'll make a deal to all of you. Anyone who can knock me to the ground can take my friend Eunoe to the Fall Ball.”
This got some attention. About a dozen more boys stepped forward. They realized, at this point, attacking one at a time might be fruitless, so they surrounded her together. After a moment of sizing her up, one of the orcs ran at her from the side and was quickly tripped to the ground, which Aspen followed up with a knock to the noggin. That might have injured an elf but the orc only grumbled and rubbed his head. Then the crowd erupted. Aspen was attacked from all sides, and people who hadn't responded to the invitation of a date with Eunoe were now grabbing staffs. Judging by the shouts and banter many simply wanted to see what Aspen could do. So far they had only seen a few simple movements, but as they closed in around her, she spun and twirled and thrust and jumped so quickly her opponents couldn't get into stance before she smacked them with her staff and bounded out of range. There was a mixture of sounds from snapping wood to grunts to Elvish curses and thuds as bodies fell to the ground. Some got up again, but most didn't bother. A staff flew just over Kyla's head, followed by a gremlin.
A large and muscular centaur joined the fray as Aspen was knocking down the last of the orcs. Soon it was just a fight between him and Aspen. Aspen got a solid hit right away but he shrugged it off. She followed with a trip but the centaur was difficult to knock down on account of his four legs. He was gifted with the staff as well, and Kyla thought perhaps he was the instructor. He did look a fair bit older than the others. He was huffing and puffing and leaping and swinging mightily with a heavy staff, but Aspen gracefully deflected all his blows. His defeat came when he charged her at a full gallop. He made a thrust as he passed, but Aspen stepped to the side and followed up with a swing to the back of his head. He fell to the ground and rolled because of his speed, and when it was over he didn't move. Kyla shot to her feet, worried he might have been killed, and the students surrounded him. After a tense minute he shook his head, rose, and extended a hand to Aspen.
“Well done. Ilian and Opin – make sure you show these ladies a good time.” And he trotted off. There was a lot of clamor and cheering for Aspen, but she was not smiling.
Chapter Eleven
The Fall Ball
Eunoe settled under her covers. She had managed to procure some grapes and was looking forward to a quiet evening with a book. She seldom gave herself time to read. She traced the crisp new cover with her finger. The spine made a satisfying crack as she opened it, and the pages had a fresh-cut smell.
'Forever hidden in the mists of Laether is a city of pure gold. Many a fortune-seeker wanders lost in—'
There was a knock at the door. Without an invitation Kyla walked in. Eunoe debated setting her book down, but felt Kyla was likely to speak at great length and so obscured the book with her covers so she could read while listening. Kyla usually sat on the floor with Aspen; in fact, she seldom came over after Aspen returned to her oak. But tonight she sat on the spare bed and stared at Eunoe wordlessly. Eunoe set her book face down on the mattress. It was rare for Kyla to think about her words before uttering them, so Eunoe knew something was wrong.
Of course Kyla could only hold silent for so long, and soon she broke the ice with light conversation, describing the fight and how Aspen had sung the stick out of the tree and then had to give it back after, and that it was bonded wood, which meant the tree liked her and united its spirit with her like what happened with her and Eunoe, except just for a short time, and Aspen could do really amazing things if she used bonded wood. When the story was over she fell silent a moment before speaking again, but continued with less animation.
“I think something's wrong with Aspen,” she said finally. “She went all quiet after the fight. I mean, it wasn't a real fight, you know. It was kind of a bet. She was really good but she got all sad at the end.”
There was no question voiced, but Eunoe recognized its presence. “Why do you think that is?”
Kyla shrugged. “I thought you'd know. I only just met her a couple weeks ago. She said something about how those boys insulted us, but I didn't think so.”
“I don't know. I wasn't there for most of it.”
“Well, now I don't want to go on this date.”
“Then call it off.”
“I can't after that! Now everyone's expecting us to go. They all saw it, you know. Did you know that when Aspen melds with the oak tree, it sucks her in like it's made of jelly? I thought she'd walk into it like a ghost.”
Eunoe was accustomed to Kyla's digressions. Normally she would let Kyla wander, but felt this discussion might be of particular importance. “I don't think Aspen really understands social interactions, Kyla. She may have misinterpreted something. On the other hand, she is very observant, so it is also possible she noticed something you didn't.”
“That doesn't help me know what to do.”
“It wasn't supposed to.”
“Oh. Well, could you tell me anyway? I don't want to go to the Fall Ball with a couple boys that don't want to hang out with us, especially if Aspen's going to be all upset.”
“She'll be fine. Aspen has been through a lot, Kyla. She's always been the one left out. It's not easy being a quiet dryad in a Charm of bossy alseids. Whether this date goes well or not, I think she needs it.”
“Why? I don't think she's going to enjoy it.”
“She may not, but she'll learn from it.”
“I don't think it's your job to decide what she needs to learn.”
Eunoe was quiet a moment. Kyla was right, she supposed. She was often Aspen's mother when she just needed a friend. It was a tough role to break. “I suppose, but you two made that bet, not me. Now you're stu
ck with it.”
Now Kyla was silent a moment. “You hate men, don't you? You want her to hate them too.”
“I suppose that's true,” she confessed. She didn't feel she hated men in general, but she couldn't think of many she trusted. More to the point she feared Aspen getting hurt by one of them.
“Why? Most of the guys I know are really nice. My brother can be a jerk, but I push him around a lot so maybe that's why. I pushed him down the stairs in the spring. Got in a pile of crab-apples for that. And my dad's the nicest person I've ever met.”
“Well, you know, today is a good example. Aspen had to use me as leverage to get people to pay attention to her. She shouldn't have to. She's a wonderful girl but everyone ignores her.”
“Because of you!” Kyla accused. “You snub everyone and make them uncomfortable. Of course they don't want to hang around Aspen after that. You're always together! You should have seen her today! She started kinda shy but got real confident real fast! Maybe if you were just a little nicer to—”
“If I meet a guy who isn't just talking to me because he thinks I'm pretty then—”
“But you are pretty! There's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with them thinking that. Don't you think I wish sometimes I were pretty so they'd want to talk to me?”
“Oh, Kyla. You're beautiful!”
“You say that. My mom and dad say that. But no one comes up and asks ME to the Fall Ball! I have to trick 'em!”
It had never occurred to Eunoe that Kyla cared how she was viewed by others. She supposed Kyla carried such a happy and care-free attitude that Eunoe mistook it for confidence.
“I wish people would like me for SOMETHING! I don't care if its looks or my brains or my voice or whatever. I try real hard, Eunoe! I try so hard to be nice and friendly and it isn't easy, you know, but I'd rather be an idiot who gets made fun of than a jerk who makes people feel bad. And, you know, you don't give those guys a chance. You think they're shallow but how can they get to know you if you never talk to them? Yeah, maybe your looks is what draws them in, and yeah, maybe they're stupid for overlooking Aspen and Aura and even me. That doesn't mean they're terrible people. You don't even give them a chance.”
