The next few sevendays were fairly boring. True to his word, Louis began to attend their swordwielding independent study lessons. Even though his ability was limited, he was very adept at its use.
“I use it during weapons,” he confessed when she asked him about it one evening after class. “I’m not supposed to, since that’s for more advanced students, but I don’t lose as often as when I don’t use it.”
Lora nodded. Her potential was great, she was told, but she still had done little more than set drapes on fire and knock things down with air bursts she did not realize she was creating. She had yet to really do more than just sense the other elements. “Are you going to try to create illusions like Lord Michael and Lord Robert want you to?”
Louis shrugged. “I don’t like wielding,” he admitted. “The only reason I even have lessons is because I’m technically a swordwielder. If I’d come to study wielding, they’d have made sure I didn’t suffocate myself or anyone else with air and then sent me on my way. It seems a waste of time.”
“If it was a waste of time, you wouldn’t be able to use your air as a shield,” Lora pointed out. “And our teachers wouldn’t think you could do more.”
He shrugged again and offered her his arm. “I keep forgetting,” he said sheepishly. “Nobody else goes around like this except our group. We’re not really expected to until we’re adults. I guess it’s good practice.”
“Maybe,” Lora replied. She figured to take advantage of it while it lasted. None of the men in her village led the women around like this, except maybe to and from a dance or if they were courting.
The rest of the term passed quickly. Lora grew to like the sword more and more and got better and better at throwing knives. She continued to excel at archery and enjoyed the one area where she received praise. She continued to struggle with wielding, but was at least able to begin sensing the other elements more consistently. Louis continued to come to swordwielding, but he left frustrated and angry more often than not. He was always more grouchy in general on days where he was required to go to wielding classes of any kind. While Lora would have like to have a confidante in him as she had in Dain, she didn’t think that was going to happen.
On the last day of classes before the summer holidays, Mistress Flora handed out their summer assignments. “Now, all of you are going to be reading this work by Lord Philbert of James Lake. It’s an old treatise of the war with Korlisse that was going on about two hundred years ago. The language is a little different than what we speak today, but you all should be fine with it especially considering you have several months to finish.” She nodded to her assistant to begin handing out the books. “I’ll expect an essay, three to four parchments long, on some aspect of the book you find interesting. You will be expected to use outside sources to substantiate your views. At least two.”
Lora was not paying attention. Mistress Flora always gave her assignments after classes ended. She picked up the book the assistant handed her when classes were dismissed and walked over to her teacher. “What will my summer assignment be, Mistress Flora?”
“You weren’t paying attention,” she said. It was not a question.
“I didn’t think I needed to, since I won’t be reading what they’re reading,” Lora replied, suddenly feeling awkward. She didn’t like admitting to not paying attention.
Mistress Flora smiled. “I did say all of you would be reading the book, Lora.”
“All of us. Including me.” When Mistress Flora nodded, she continued, “The same book. At the same time. Together.”
“Yes,” Mistress Flora laughed. “You’ve caught up to the rest of the class. It’s time for you to join in on the same assignments. Maybe start paying attention in class, hmmm?”
Lora blushed. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it,” her teacher told her. “You’ve been pushed hard over the past two years and you’ve worked even harder. You’ve actually worked harder than any student I’ve ever seen here. In fact, I probably could have put you on the same assignment sooner, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you.” She paused. “The other teachers have commented on you, too, Lora. We’re all really pleased.”
She swallowed. “Do you think that if I keep it up, I could be above the average? Smart even?”
“Lora, I already think you’re smart,” Mistress Flora said, patting her student on the cheek. “You’ve just been at a disadvantage.” She smiled. “Go on now. You’ll be late for Mistress Diane. I’ll see you around. Come to me with any questions.”
Lora nodded and walked out of the classroom. It was unbelievable. Had she really caught up to her classmates? She pondered the question for the rest of the day.
At dinner, the mood shifted between subdued and excited. Everyone was glad to be going on their various summer adventures, but they were all sad to be saying goodbye to each other.
“Lora, are you stuck here again all summer?” Louis asked. When she nodded, he whistled. “There’s got to be some way to get you out of here for a while.”
Catty nodded. “My father said you could come to Arbor Cove. You can share the carriage with me. He said he wrote to your cousins and they didn’t forbid it exactly. They just said they weren’t supporting you there if you chose to go.”
“Or if you prefer to stay, I’ll be here all summer,” Genea put in.
“As will I,” the prince added. “I’m sure we can think of loads of things to do that will keep us in trouble.”
Lora laughed at her friends’ generosity. “I thank you all. It’s very nice of you to include me, but I’ll be staying here,” she said. She made eye contact with Catty. “I worry that if I go anywhere, my cousin will stop paying my board here during that time and forget to start paying it again.”
“Gallivanting about Glimmen it is!” Genea cheered.
There actually wasn’t much gallivanting going on that summer. Genea and Lora met at least once a sevenday and shared a meal together, half of which were at the Academy and the other half at Genea’s father’s house. Lora thought the whole of the Haven Dale keep would fit inside it with room to spare.
Regan was true to his word and visited with Lora about half the times that Genea was there. King Gerald had kept him awfully busy since his seventeenth birthday, which was early in the spring, so they were glad to see him whenever they could. They spoke of anything and everything, sometimes practiced swordsplay, discussed Mistress Flora’s assignment, and tried to stay on top of their studies.
Lora enjoyed all of the visits. She wasn’t nearly as lonely as she had been on any other holiday break. She was included in gossip, minor intrigues, and other things she had always missed out on before. She was nearly giddy with delight.
She was surprised when Lady Tiana paid her a visit. Lora was relieved when she didn’t ask her about her attire. It was nearing the end of summer and everything was too short and threadbare.
Tiana grabbed Lora’s hand and inspected it. “Still being bitten, but not as badly,” she mused. “Well, I suppose it’s a start.” She looked her up and down. “You’ve grown. And you’re starting to get breasts. I suppose you’ll need new clothes then. Have your courses arrived?” When Lora shook her head, she sighed. “Very well. Let’s go.”
Lora blushed bright red. She was mortified. It seemed that Lady Tiana was obsessed with women’s troubles and intimate activities, since she brought it up at every meeting. Lora had hoped to go dress shopping alone just prior to the start of the school year so she was a little disappointed to be going with her. There were still a couple of sevendays to go, which was fine, but she would have liked to go to Mistress Bethany’s on her own.
The walk to the tailor was short and Mistress Bethany greeted them cheerfully when they entered. She inquired about Lady Tiana’s marriage, and Lady Tiana inquired about hers. Lora supposed that was polite conversation for adults. She hadn’t really paid much attention before.
“Well, Mistress Bethany, I wish we were here for small talk,” Tiana
explained. “It’s time for Cousin Lorana to have some new dresses. As you can see, she’s grown and her womanly curves are upon her. She will need suitable underthings, more adult-style gowns, and some undergarments for when she begins her courses. You think that will be soon since she’s gotten hips and breasts now?”
Lora had not thought her face could flame any redder, but she had been mistaken. Mistress Bethany gave an awkward glance toward Lora and cleared her throat. “I have three daughters, and in my experience, yes Lady Tiana. That is usually when they come. You’re right in being as prepared as possible.”
Tiana nodded. “Excellent. Well, plain styles again. Perhaps we might increase the quality of fabric we’re using, especially as regards to her evening dress. Do you have occasion to wear it, Cousin?”
“Yes, often,” Lora replied. “We wear eveningwear every night as part of etiquette practice.”
“Good,” she said. “An excellent habit.” Tiana frowned. “She’s still too young for a formal gown. I guess that’s fortuitous. Next year then.”
Lora wandered off. She knew that Lady Tiana would choose the fabrics she wanted whether Lora had an opinion or not. Case in point, the orange nightmare. She shook her head. She’d noticed her body changing, but tried to ignore it. Her friends were much curvier than she was, so she knew it wouldn’t draw anyone’s attention. Not that she wanted anyone’s attention.
Once the order for the dresses was completed, Lady Tiana accompanied Lora back to the Academy. “You’ll be needing some pocket money now that you’re able to leave the school grounds,” she explained. “You will have an allowance of two silvers per month to spend on whatever rubbish you wish. Or you may save it and purchase something larger. You will not receive more than that.”
“That is very generous, Cousin Tiana,” Lora told her. And it was generous. She had never seen more than two silvers together before. Now she had two silvers in a small purse Lady Tiana provided for her.
“Now, you mind that purse,” Tiana said. “There are pickpockets everywhere in this city. If the money is stolen, it will not be replaced. I’m counting on you to be responsible. Oh, I nearly forgot. Your father and brother send their regards. Shall I bring yours back?” Lora nodded, Tiana bid her farewell, and she retired to the dorms.
Lora wished that Lady Tiana would be more specific about what her father and brother were doing. Were they in good health? Was her father able to do more than his indentured fletching? Was her brother, Shawn, being a help? Shawn would be sixteen. Nearly a man. Was he courting anyone? Gods, was her father? A tear ran down her cheek. It occurred to her that they might have just as many questions about her that went unanswered. She tucked her sadness inside her and began to practice her curtsies.
The parcel with her gowns arrived a sevenday later. Lora had not been paying attention to the ordering, but she couldn’t remember Tiana and Mistress Bethany discussing any violet fabric, but there was a violet day dress. She shrugged and figured that either she had not been paying close enough attention to know what was examined and purchased or that Mistress Bethany had been very kind and was helping her to avoid another rancid egg yolk. It could have been either, so Lora just shrugged and moved on.
The underthings had Lora blushing scarlet yet again. They were a woman’s undergarments. They were trimmed with a small amount of lace and covered much less skin than she felt they ought to. The items for her monthly courses were perplexing, and she hoped she could ask her friends for help when the time came.
Her friends began arriving shortly after her clothes did. They were full of exciting stories of the things they did and the places they went. Catty had evidently traveled to James Lake with her father while he worked with Lord Brandon, King Gerald’s chief advisor.
“He’s a windbag,” Catty declared. “And his son Geoffrey is not much better. Be glad he isn’t here because it would be insufferable.”
“Oh come now,” Regan put in. “Geoff’s not so bad. He’s just a little bit sheltered. His father is in Glimmen most of the year and Geoffrey has had the reign of those estates since he was about thirteen. That will puff up anyone’s importance. Once he spends more time here, that will change. And he will probably come next year. Our fathers mean for him to be my chief advisor when the time comes.” He shrugged and his hair flopped into his face. He was used to a lot of decisions being made on his behalf.
Catty rolled her eyes. “I still say he’s a clod. At least Dain was there to save me.”
“I wonder what you say about me when I’m not here,” Peter said softly.
“Nothing, Peter,” Catty said sweetly. “You’re sweet, humble, smart, patient…”
“I can’t help but notice that handsome was not on that list,” Louis pointed out.
“I thought that was obvious,” Catty told him. “Why should I have to point out the obvious?” She put her hands on her hips and gave the boys her sternest look. “It’s awfully unfair that you are all handsome. Especially because you all know it.”
Regan snorted. “Be still my beating heart!” he swooned. “These three lovely ladies think we humble gentlemen are handsome!” He fell out of his chair laughing. They were in the deserted dining hall, but there were still workers present. Several of them gave their group cold looks meant to tell them to show more restraint and decorum.
Genea and Lora blushed and Catty rolled her eyes. Genea cleared her throat, “Well, I assure you that things here in Glimmen were pretty quiet, as Lora and his highness can attest.” She felt she had to change the subject. It was far too awkward.
CHAPTER 16
Their last few days before classes began were spent merry-making. They went into Glimmen several times, even though the older students had been doing this for a year or more. The older of the group showed the younger the best places to eat and shop and gave them tips to prevent being pickpocketed. Lora had been dismayed to see the prices of everything. In Haven Dale, things were a fraction of the cost that they were in Glimmen. Her two silvers a month, which had seemed like a huge amount of money, would get her very little.
Once classes began, Lora waited trepidatiously for her essay in literature to be graded. It consumed her thoughts. She was distracted in theory of war, for which Lord Cedric scolded her in front of the entire class. She apologized to him afterward. She received a “humph” for her efforts.
Her distraction got her another broken nose in unarmed combat. Peter was mortified. Again. He would not take the praise from Master Karl and fought vehemently against the chastisement he gave Lora. He walked her to the healer’s complex after an argument with Master Karl got him punished.
“Why argue with him?” Lora asked, trying not to swallow the blood dripping down the back of her throat. She wasn’t sure what was less ladylike: spitting out blood or swallowing it. Since swallowing it was making her gag, she settled on the former.
He kicked the dirt as they walked. “Because it’s not right to punish you for being injured and to praise me for injuring you.”
Lora sighed. “You do understand that someday it won’t be me that you’re sparring with?” she asked. “You won’t be yelled at for getting hit. You’ll be dead. That’s why he gets so upset. I wasn’t paying attention. I deserve this. Or worse.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like hitting you in the face,” Peter pointed out. “I’d much rather punch Regan. Can’t hit him when he’s king. Kind of fun to do it now. But he’s not in our class, so there’s pretty limited opportunity for it.”
The worst calamity came in horsemanship. They had begun to ride without their hands in the last term, and now they were progressing on. They were given weapons to use while on horseback for the very first time. The first few lessons were spent learning how to hold the various weapons and shields, after which they would learn the differences between fighting on the ground versus fighting on horseback. Ultimately, they would begin fighting each other.
Lord Ian was shouting for them to move different directions in formatio
n while holding their weapons and changing their weapons’ positions. Ever since they had been learning to ride using only their knees and posture to control their mounts, there had been many falls. Few injuries, but many falls. Lora turned a little bit too swiftly to the left and down she went.
A run of vulgar expletives came pouring out of her mouth as she held back tears. Lora knew her arm was broken even before she was scooped up by one of her burlier classmates and carried to the healer complex.
“Why Lorana,” the healer on duty told her. “You’re getting to be quite the frequent customer here. Young man, tell me what happened.”
“Riding with weapons,” he explained. “She fell off her horse and landed on her arm. She ah…” His ears turned red. “She said some things afterward, and we figured she broke her arm, so Lord Ian told me to bring her here.”
The healer smiled and waved over a more advanced student. “Diagnosis?”
“Um… Fracture of the ulna and radius just proximal to the wrist.” His hands hovered above Lora’s wrist.
“Good, good. Now walk me through the steps of what you will heal and how you will heal it,” the older healer said.
Lora did not care to hear about the exact healing process so she closed her eyes. Dried tears made her cheeks feel tight, but her free arm was strapped down so she could not wipe them away. Her classmate had left nearly as soon as he dropped her off, which was just as well. As the healer fixed her arm, an even more colorful stream of curse words erupted from her mouth.
The healer laughed, checked over her student’s work, sent him off to write up a report on what he had done, and turned to Lora. “You must’ve spent a good amount of time around commoners.”
“Why do you say that?” Lora asked. The line of conversation was making her very nervous.
Common (The Lora Fletcher Chronicles Book 1) Page 9
