Without Rhythm (The Lament)

by P. S. Power

  Pran tilted her head, feeling suddenly stupid and very new.

  "Um, not that I know of. That can change of course, probably without notice." She shifted a little, not able to get comfortable. The muscles in her legs and the front of her hips were simply not happy with her at all.

  Roy smiled and raised his eyebrows as he stood, his tan outfit loose and comfortable looking, but decently tidy, even if he hadn't gotten to do his laundry yet.

  "I'm off to work then. Don't worry, I'm sure no one will make you steer the ship on your first landing. They let me wait until my third." Then he walked away, as if that was a real thing.

  Before she could finish her own bowl of cereal Mara walked in, wearing a clean black outfit, her short hair hanging loosely and looking a little rumpled.

  "Morning Pran." There was no hint of sleepiness to the woman's voice, or face. She seemed very alert, which reminded Pran that she'd better be doing the same thing. It took a few seconds to make it happen again. Roy had been distracting.

  "Sleep well?" The words seemed to be normal conversation, but Pran shrugged and forced a smile. Fake or not, it was always better to seem happy than not. It was in all the performance classes after all. She was a Bard, if only by training and that meant living life as a performance. Putting forward the right image at the right time. Right now that meant she had to seem like a Guardian. Unfortunately she didn't know what that really meant, did she? There were just so few of them.

  "Not really. I had dreams about either being raped or killing people, pretty much back to back." She sounded cheery enough about it though.

  Mara nodded.

  "I figured that it would be that, or dreams of falling. I hate the laundry room here. Especially during the day. What say you do mine for me and I'll... I don't know, teach you how to fight?"

  That got a grunt from the serving pot area, where Clark, who she hadn't seen or heard come in was getting an extra large bowl of oatmeal for himself and some fruit to go with it.

  "Good. Meditation first, then exercise, since we won't need to be on duty with Claire until we're on the ground. Then we need to have someone with the Judge all the time. I can't put a finger on it, but something feels off. A Guardian learns to trust their instincts. It's probably just that thing with the Creedy family, but that kind of situation is very bizarre. It's been a problem for years and no one reported it to us? Even with threats of violence that shouldn't have happened. What else are we missing, if that's the case? How wide spread is it?"

  Mara grinned.

  "Let's not forget to add the part about Pran."

  There was a nod from the larger man in his loose black tunic then.

  "I agree. A school council throwing away a government resource like that shows an extreme unbalance in the energy system. Even if they wanted her punished they shouldn't have acted like that. Or if they wanted to remove her from the pool of potential apprentices for a while, there had to be less damaging ways of doing it. I don't know the Bard rules for those assignments, but I'm willing to bet that they aren't allowed to waste that flagrantly. I know they aren't, because it's our job to see that such things don't happen in other areas. We don't investigate the schools directly, since they're seldom a problem." He ate for a while, eyes toward the wall behind Mara.

  "It could be a sign of something bigger going out of balance in the society. We need to keep our eyes open on that score."

  The early morning exercises were different than Pran had expected. Harder for one thing, with hard poses to hold, knees bent halfway, while making hand gestures and things like that, pushing her body up from the ground slowly for instance. The others did it without any problem at all, but she had to take breaks and then try it again, over and over.

  "Empty your mind while you do it." Clark kept saying, his voice sounding relaxed and dreamy.

  The whole thing took an hour and left her sore again, drenched in sweat, which the others were too at least. Then they practiced fighting, which involved unarmed strikes and kicks to start with, which weren't too different than the stage fighting she'd learned in school. Just faster, more efficient and much smaller. That was the movements themselves, which made the others happy enough, realizing she could punch and kick at all. When they started practicing with her that changed instantly.

  "Without rhythm. Just like the running yesterday. The normal mind tracks things that way, and understands patterns. Move without such things and people won't understand what's going on nearly as well." Clark showed her that with a half dozen very slow, but out of order punches, so she wouldn't have a clue what came next.

  She could see them all, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't block them in time, even moving much faster than he was. She just kept putting her hands in the wrong place. No one expected her to be good at fighting instantly, thank goodness, and they both kept making suggestions for the remainder of the hour. Mara shrugging at the end.

  "Moving meditation now, I think."

  That, thankfully, was just walking in a big circle while trying to pay attention to everything like she had been. It wasn't easy to get right, but not impossible either.

  After that she had to run and shower, leaving Clark's chambers, since they'd been working there the whole time. She was supposed to go directly to Claire's door after that, and wait for the landing. Mainly it was just a chance for her to practice being a simple guard, but she needed to take it seriously. After all, once they were on the ground they had no idea what would happen at all.

  It turned out to be...

  Nothing much.

  Danning was a quiet town and not that big. Along a major highway, but their industrial base consisted of a flour mill that ran off of a decent sized stream and a wood working shop. It had a sleepy quality to it when they rode in to town, Pran not having to run on foot, which was good, since she doubted she'd make the three kilometers if she had to try, as achy as she was. Not moving like a real Guardian.

  The Judge didn't even have to go in anywhere, the Mayor meeting them in the central square, holding a basket of flowers which he handed to Claire instantly.

  "We have nothing to report at all. How long will you be staying?" His tone was pleasant, like he wanted them to come and visit, even if there wasn't anything for them to be doing.

  Claire stiffened ever so slightly. Almost imperceptibly. No one else did, but Paul raised his right hand a bit.

  "We have a three day layover planned. Some goods to offload for your merchants and a new Bard you might want to listen to. He's very good. Full Bard too, not just a music maker."

  The man, who was lean and about sixty or so smiled and clapped a little.

  "Grand! We get very few of those around these parts. Would it be possible to arrange a concert do you think?"

  It was Judge Claire that answered her voice a lot more wary than Pran had ever heard it before.

  "We can do that. In fact, if there is no work for us to do here, we can see to that for this evening? I'm sure Bard Benjamin is prepared. He has a young apprentice with him too... What was her name Daria?" This got directed at Pran directly, which meant something was going on for certain.

  "Um, Pran ma'am. Very talented I hear. It should be quite a show, if we can talk the master Bard in to bringing her as well. If we have time, I mean." She hoped that she got it right. There was clearly something going on there, or the Judge wouldn't have called her by the wrong name.

  "That's it. Yes. We'll see to that this instance. Would it be alright to do that at seven this evening?"

  The Mayor smiled happily and nodded.

  "Perfect!"

  Chapter eight

  They turned the wagon and the carriage around, the horses looking a little annoyed with about the idea, but they'd live, a three kilometer walk not being enough to really tire them and six not being that bad. They'd have to do more later, but that was their job. The old swayback gray on the carriage nickered at them all anyway, as if they forgot to see to her treats properly.

  It
was clear that the wagons and horses traveled with them, but Pran hadn't found a stable on board yet. Then again, she'd only been on one third of the ship and at that on only two of the decks. It wasn't like she'd had a chance to really investigate yet.

  The ride back was slow and relaxed, peaceful even, and they chatted about what they'd do, getting some actual time off like they were. The Judge looked at Pran and smiled happily.

  "Your first port. What are you planning to do Apprentice Daria." The tone was totally normal and no one except Paul looked at her funny at all.

  She decided to play off of that, if she could. Making a full role of it. In school it was a game they played, someone tossed you a scene or character and you tried to live it, as if it were real. The best acting was lived in the moment after all.

  "Oh, well, Apprentice Roy and I are going to look at the market later, if a chance arises. I think I have to stand watch at the ship later, so I'll miss Bard Benjamin and Apprentice Pran's concert. Kind of a shame that, but maybe I can trade out with Mara?" She smiled, looking back at the woman, but got a meaningful head shake in return.

  "Not a chance. Benjamin's been going on about his new apprentice so much I won't miss it for the world. Clark?" The tone was a bit bland but held something edgy too.

  "No. We have a watch schedule for a reason, and you'll get plenty of chances to hear them play later. It's not like they're selfish with their music. I will let you and Roy run into town however, but you can't stay long. I need my laundry done. Can't expect me to do it myself after all." He smiled and watched the road carefully, then without warning jumped out and moved into the brush alongside the road.

  No one acted like it was strange, so she played along too.

  Claire changed the topic a little, her face mischievous.

  "So... You and Apprentice Roy? That seems a likely pair. He's a genuinely good soul. You're sharing a room too... If that doesn't speak to possible romance I don't know what does."

  Paul coughed.

  "Begging your pardon ma'am, but teasing the girl about that isn't kind." He kept looking ahead though, not behind him at anyone. The carriage was open right now, but had a frame so that a cloth cover could be pulled over for the weather.

  Claire shook her head.

  "Teasing? Wouldn't dream of it. Daria and Roy are both about the same age, so it would only be natural for them to take the opportunity. We just need to assure no pregnancy results. Doctor Millis can see to that I think. You should make a point of talking to him about it."

  It wasn't something that had occurred to her before really, since the whole thing hadn't seemed real to her yet, but she was, or had been, an Art school student.

  "Um, already taken care of ma'am. The infertility treatment won't be taken off until after I'm done with my apprenticeship." That was the standard for Bards at least and true. She couldn't have a child until that was removed.

  The female Guardian with them spoke gently, sounding pleased about the topic.

  "Even past that while on duty. You can't be a Guardian and have a family at the same time. Not in the field at least. A few of the ones that want children move to work in other parts of the organization." It was just conversation, but said as if informing the Judge, not Pran.

  Paul grunted.

  "Still, a new topic? I don't need to hear about the future despoiling of my Shipman's Apprentice."

  They did move to another subject then, but Pran was kind of intrigued with the idea. After all, she was, if not an adult, kind of a free agent now, and could make her own decisions about dating and all that. Not that they had time for relationships. It was a little sad, but part of the apprentice process that she'd been told to expect. It was pretty common to keep the kids so busy they didn't get into too much trouble.

  There would be a problem later, if she was going to have to take part in a concert. She didn't have any instruments, not even the ones that she'd made at school. If Ben didn't have some to lend she'd have to stick to singing. Not that she knew if it was a real thing. No one mentioned it at all. She also didn't see Clark, no matter how hard she focused. It was pretty clear to her that he was either using a trick she didn't know at all, or had left them totally.

  When they got to the ship Paul left the horse connected to the carriage, as if expecting to leave again right away, but after setting a wooden brake, everyone walked into the ship rapidly and then went up a flight of stairs that Pran hadn't even seen before, hidden behind a heavy wooden door as it was. It went directly to the top deck, which was big and open compared to the parts of the ship she'd seen so far. At the far end the Captain looked to be reading something. A book of some kind. She looked up when she heard Paul.

  "We seem to have an issue, Captain."

  That wasn't exactly news to Pran, since everyone had been acting so weird, but she hadn't really figured out what it might be yet, if it wasn't a game of some sort. She glanced at Mara, who was clearly in an alert state, meaning that she needed to be trying to do the same. It was hard, given the excitement. Her mind kept wanting to make up stories as to why it might be happening, but honestly she didn't have a clue.

  Claire explained it, the basket of flowers in her hand being presented for all to see.

  "White and red flowers. It's a distress signal from the Mayor. Something is going on in town. What that is I couldn't tell, but we need to be ready to move, if we have to. Guardian Clark is there right now, expecting Apprentice Roy and Pran to come shortly for back up. We should arm them, just in case."

  The Captain nodded and gestured at Paul.

  "Alert stations. Sound it now." After that happened, which required the man to run to a lever and pull it five times, Mina oriented on the Judge again.

  "Now, what do you plan to do with Roy? He's my responsibility and not a Guardian. Not even a Judge." The tone was pretty dry considering everything.

  "But also not someone that would be considered a threat. If we send him and Pran into town they can just walk in and do some shopping in the market. Then, Clark can come and 'find' his apprentice, scold her a bit for taking too long and drag her back here. It gives him a reason to be searching the town if he's noticed."

  Pran nodded.

  "Roy and I can just walk in. Jog in, as painful as that will be. Then we can all be back in time for me to get into make-up. Um, can someone get Ben to have all his instruments ready? I can play them all, but we won't have time for prep work." She didn't think so at any rate. It wasn't like she knew how to sneak or spy, so maybe it wouldn't take all that much time? It sounded like it would be really time intensive.

  The Captain sighed.

  "Don't let my Apprentice get killed. Here... Wait a moment..." She went to a large desk across the room, away from the area that had the ship controls and pulled out a small purse, removing several large silver coins.

  "Try to get some supplies. It's what Roy would be doing anyway. If you need more than this I'll authorize it, but place a hold on it so that Paul or I can go and look at the goods later. Roy will know what kind of things to look for."

  Then there was waving from the woman, as if telling Pran to leave, so she did, since the Captain was in charge of her own ship, but she just waited outside the door, since she really had no clue what she was supposed to be doing at all. Go into town, she got that part, but the rest of it? Was she supposed to spy or collect data or was it just about getting Clark back? It seemed useless to her, but a few minutes later Mara and Claire walked out, leaving Paul and Mina in the main control section.

  Claire nodded to her, as if something significant was happening.

  "It should be safe enough, but if anything looks out of place, leave instantly. Other than that, just go into town and pretend to be a young apprentice that doesn't know what she's doing." There was a concerned air to what she said, like she got that sending Pran might just be less than a perfect idea.

  "Hey, great. I can play that role. I really have no clue what's going on here at all which will make it really eas
y to sell. Is the town... I don't know, why would the Mayor warn you like that? I don't get it."

  Mara shrugged.

  "We don't either. The fact is that it's nearly impossible to control an entire town, but once every ten years or so someone will try to take one over. That we basically have two of them back to back... No. We don't know what's going on. The code used is an old one, which most people know. You have to assume that you'll be watched the whole time, so don't do anything that's out of place. Don't try to watch them back, just go and act naturally. The hard part is that Roy needs to call you Daria now. Can you get him to do that, do you think?" Her short hair bobbed a little as she turned to walk away, Claire following, even though it was incredibly abrupt.

  "Yes. Roy seems smart enough. I think he's in engineering... I..." Pran stopped, the young man jogging along the hallway at them, smiling.

  "Liberty! The First Mate called back and said we were allowed to go into town for a supply run? Is that right Pran?"

  Mara looked a little blank and Claire didn't make eye contact at all. Pran just shrugged.

  "That's right. Say... you should call me Daria, instead of my last name. We have to hurry, or I'll get in trouble with Clark. I have some kind of exercises in the afternoon and if I'm late for them, who knows what he'll do to me."

  That statement got a laugh from Mara.

  "That's true. Clark gets grumpy when the new apprentices don't do everything perfectly, but you should be alright, if you don't take more than a few hours. Go. I'll let him know where you are if he asks."

  They scurried away easily enough, moving out of the craft, its white form hidden a few minutes later by the trees. Pran felt her legs shooting with pain, at first, jogging along normally if a bit slow. It took a while for her body to warm up and she still hurt a lot, but Roy was gasping a lot more than she was by the time they closed on the town.

  "Hey... Let's walk to the market from here?" He sounded half dead, breathing heavily and looking a little ill like he was.