School in Hastelan, chapter 54.

Here we are. Expect one more before I leave, for sure. I'll try for two of course. For now, enjoy this one:

The morning's chill was deep, and the water had a crust of ice held within the basin today. I wished to be back under my blankets already. The heavier robes did little.

No, I would resist the siren's call. Even should the sting of fresh water turn my skin itself to ice, I would do as I must.

I finished and wasted no time leaving. My own chamber was clearly not one of those that had a pipeline to the fire down below us all. I would need to be more diligent in seeing to my own comfort.

How such a chamber could be as chilled as my father's humble hut back home in the village was beyond my ken. It could only be the difference between stone and wood and the chill which could soak into them.

I would add some small solution to my chamber today. Something more than the normal.

There was much snuffling and sneezing this morning in the hall; I was not the only one who was affected by the cold. The main hall was as chilly as my own chamber, even as it had more fires attempting to warm it.

I sat and huddled, my heavy robes finally beginning to feel somewhat warm. My friends began to trickle in among my sisters, and take their own seats.

Lady Delia and Lady Metis both looked smug, their twin smiles of satisfaction and lack of heavy robes a clue that something might be amiss.

Both sat, and from my own seat, I could feel the heat they made, even with no flame near. I had to ask: "How?"

"Our gift, of course. Even without ready fire, we may hold such warmth within ourselves." Lady Delia answered. Yes, she was very smug. "It is as easy as breathing."

Truly, both had reason to feel satisfied. Could they also keep themselves cool in the heights of summer? I would not ask now; I would not like the answer.

Lady Istha was also smiling. At my glance, she nodded. "We of air can do somewhat similar, by moving the very air around us. It is not as good as these mobile fires beside us, yet it saves us from the worst of it."

What could I do? Cover myself in dirt, mayhap. I do not think the matrons would appreciate such efforts. Nor would the nobility, should I appear before them as less than clean.

Lady Delia's elbow gently tickled my ribs. "I know what you're thinking. Truly, you have the better of us. You need only think upon it. Well, and then use your gift, which is more than some of us might do."

Lady Delia's gaze was firmly upon Lady Sabina as she said this, a clear flag of war. Lady Sabina knew naught of what we discussed, yet felt our watchful gaze and returned it with much interest.

I smiled to assure her from a distance that I at least meant her no ill-will... surprisingly she returned it briefly before turning again to her own circle.

"I do not understand how she views me so when we have so little in common."

Lady Delia heard my mutterings, and answered. "You are genuine, and all of us feel it. Those of us who grew up less so are drawn to such."

I was genuine? I was myself. How could anyone be other than who they were? Was there truly such a thing that all the nobles did? I had been told as much, even before my arrival; the count and countess had both said as much.

Even now, I could not fathom it. Surely all who said as much were embellishing the truth.

"You have made her doubt again," lady Serapis intoned, already giving the greater share of herself to her latest book.

"Ah, my apologies, lady 'Rine."

Lady Nells struck lady Delia on the shoulder. "Do not apologize, you will only make it worse. Lady 'Rine, do not listen to lady Delia, she has gone mad with power! All her heat has gone straight to her head!

I would take the advice of my friends and ignore them for this moment. "I shall ask permission for us all to leave this place when we might. It shall have to wait until late this very day, yet I am reasonably certain we might achieve a trip to the forest beyond the city, if only a small one."

Lady Nells shook her head. "That will be quite impossible. It shall have to wait for the days we own. Any foray into the forest would take an entire day - however we might be able to convince the powers that run our lives that we need a trip out, afore we all turn into mushrooms or potatoes."

Not much of a jest; the Goddess would not allow any of us to become foods unless she willed it herself.

"I shall attempt that argument, and we shall see what lady Matrona thinks of it," I replied.

The food was arriving, and it was more what I was used to at the village now; small loaves of bread and porridge. The choice for quenching thirst were down to two; tea or water.

Well, there was also wine, if you were lady Nells or like her. I found the time too early for such.

Lady Nells was already making a face to show her dissatisfaction. "I loathe porridge."

"What would you rather?" I asked.

"Pastries, of course!" came the ready reply as the platters, pots and bowls were set before us. The scullion frowned as he went about his work. Lady Nells either acted as if she did not see, or truly did not.

"I do not think the cooks could make so many pastries in a day," I opined.

Lady Nells shrugged. "A hearty stew then. Anything at all is better than porridge, and porridge is even worse when plain!" She declared dramatically, and loudly enough that all had to heave heard.

The matrons above us looked very disapproving, even as their own table was served what appeared to be the same porridge we were.

I caught myself shrinking from the attention, and straightened. It was unbecoming of me to do so; after all, I had done nothing wrong.

The real culprit was as unrepentant, matching stare for stare as best she might. Even so she still appeared diminished by the exchange, or mayhap the effort.

The words did have the effect of quieting the other tables, however, and we sat in silence until the prayer. Then for some time after, even lady Nells turned her attention to the porridge. She contented herself with only the occasional sound to express her displeasure. I did not doubt that she would return to her room quickly as she could and wash the taste away with some pastry of confection she might even now have hidden away. I could not deny that I was tempted to do so myself, even as part of me wished to hoard my foodstuffs against the creeping tide of the season.

So I ate what was provided, and gave another prayer for the Goddess while I did so. I was blessed, almost beyond measure, and I would do well to remember.

I finished and moved my crockery so that the scullions could gather them with more ease; there was still bread aplenty among the tables. I could not eat another morsel myself, and yet there they remained, while the rest of us were also finishing.

There would be much for the hapless and unlucky among the city this day. I should like to see the workings of it, one day. I resolved to ask once again; surely I would have time for it now that the crush of class has passed somewhat?

The line formed, with all of us filing out to our chores. I followed those I was supposed to, and found myself in the kitchen. My old place awaited me, and the many pots. There were fewer today, and all were of the same size.

The work took longer today, as I must needs crawl half inside the pots and scrub, and any bits of porridge that had dried needed to be removed by force. As such I was one of the last to leave this day, and by the time I had my heavy robes were wet and covered with things it was best to not be covered in.

I would need to hurry; I should like to change before being seen by any matron.

I opened my chamber when the last few of my age were leaving theirs, books and materials firmly in hand. I would have to be quick.

I shucked my robes and tossed them onto the chair, then shucked the other set as well, and wriggled into a fresh set that held no water within them. My journal and charcoal were waiting my pleasure upon my desk, and I grabbed both and left. I would clean later, once the risk of being tardy had passed.

I still locked the door, of course.

I turned to find lady Matrona before me, in the hall, her hands clasped before her, waiting silently.

"Lady Matrona."

Lady Matrona took my bow and greeting with her normal aplomb, a noble given her due.

"Lady Katerine," was her measured reply.

I settled in to walk beside her. There was no risk of being tardy now; I could hardly be considered so if my instructor entered the same time as I.

"It has come to my attention that some of you should like to leave," lady Matrona said at last, her voice coming back to us slightly in the empty hall.

She paused to allow me to admit my part in whatever she had heard. I did not know who she had spoken to, so I could not know what plans she was now knew of.

Still, what else could she have heard? "It is so. My friends and I would like to venture outside, in search of some knowledge or clue to lead us to our vision. There was also some mention of trips into the city to do some or other. I am not quite certain what you might have heard regarding these matters."

"I spoke to lady Serapis," lady Matrona admitted. This told me less than the worthy beside me knew, mayhap.

Her next statement told me more: "She mentioned a foray into the city, in order to do what may need doing, such as finishing your work at the docks. A show of force, she titled it."

That sounded like noble words. "Will that not draw the fire of those who wish me harm?"

There was little doubt now that I was the target of someone.

"It may," lady Matrona admitted. "Yet the idea is sound. We simply march upon the docks with so many of our own that anyone who wishes you harm will have little chance. I will be discussing the idea with my sisters this very night, but I wanted you to know now that we have not forgotten the events of that night."

"I had no doubt of it," I reassured her. "If we have not done such a thing already, there must be a reason for it."

After all, if we could, we would be doing our duty by the crown as quickly as possible. It was unlikely the king, just and pious man that he was, would long tolerate even our best excuses.

"There is. The answer to that is manpower. We lack the knights and sisters present to show such force as to make any foray, even one into the city, free of risk. We can gather those forces, yet that shall take time."

"It would be easier to ask the nobles to offer some assistance. Mayhap even the King."

I paled; my foolish thoughts had been blurted aloud! My traitorous tongue!

Lady Matrona favored me with one of her smiles. "You are correct, there are nobles aplenty in the capital, and the King has many trustworthy knights in his employ. That is also a matter we shall all discuss tonight; I find some merit in both ideas, yet we shall see what the others say. For now, you may simply rest assured that we are thinking of the problem."

We had entered the hall, the class waited patiently before us. "Of course, thank you for your regard and concern, lady Matrona."

I favored the worthy with my curtsy, as was expected, and took my seat upon the stones. Instantly, I felt the connection with the stone and earth itself, even through my robes.

Many of my fellow students looked curiously between our instructor and myself as she began the lesson. It was clear they wished to know what matter we had discussed.

In return, I gave a shrug; clearly, I could not say here. Even if what we discussed was no secret, there was a strictly held custom against such discussions during learning time.

I was somewhat certain that what lady Matrona and I had discussed was no secret; after all, she had told me readily enough, and I was merely a student. Even if I was to be directly involved with the entire operation, I was just a first year.

I did as bid, learning my words the best I could. I liked to believe I was getting better, and so far I'd had no remonstrance. That I knew the word remonstrance was itself some progress, and I would continue.

In the fullness of time, we finished, and I waited as lady Matrona made her escape with a knowing wink. She knew, seemed to care not. Permission, of a sort.

"Can I have a moment, lady Katerine?" one of those who I knew to be as interested in the comings and goings of those around her as lady Nells, was the first to strike.

I gave a slight bow in order to be polite as I answered: "You may. I shall have to be elsewhere soon, however. What might I be able to do for you?"

Some few others, not quite the entirety of us, happened to linger as a few left to other places or chores.

"Might I ask what you and lady Matrona were discussing as you entered? You seemed... charmed by each other. Were you having some form of argument?"

Ah, how silly. "Nothing of the sort. We were discussing measures to catch the recent assassins that plague us, and so free ourselves from the risk we presently live under."

"What measures could there be, other than to rely on the watch?" one of those present asked, then colored as her pretense was ruined by the words.

"We can see to them ourselves. Our knights can do the job and keep us safe, and catch those who mean us harm if they should show themselves. We had not gotten farther than that in our discussion."

"Hmm, that would not do if the culprits were to go to ground."

But of course, it would not. They could wait, and in time, we would need reduce any force we could create. Yet I was certain that they would not. They had tried to kill either my friends or I with a full company of our best around us. They were not the brightest torch among us - or they were desperate, for whatever reason.

"This is true, yet that can be true of any of it. They could be in wait even now and not appear until a year hence."

It wasn't as if the watch had any shortage of men in black cloaks to search for after all, and we had the bodies of those who had tried the last. Surely we were sharing such clues with the watch as we had, yet we could do the same job as they.

Did my peers know of the bodies? I did not think such was a secret, yet for those here not to mention them seemed an oversight.

"We have killed them afore," lady Bifton, the one to speak first, declared. "We may certainly do so again."

"Even so!" Another called, breaching decorum. It was lucky for her that none of our seniors were in the room, or she would be called to task immediately.

Lady Briar, that was her name. She was from a small fishing village north of here, if my memory served.

Even so, I agreed. "Yes, and we will do so again."

Those who served the Goddess did not take such threats lightly.

"It is a relief that some plan is being considered. I should like to leave here sooner or late." Someone said firmly; I did not catch who did so.

I could not disagree. "Yes. That was the whole of our discussion. Now, I must go; I have matters to attend. Have a good day."

I curtsied slightly to mark my end to this discussion and left with as much haste as seemed polite. thankfully, none called to stop and question me more, instead turning to each other and beginning the debate on what might be the best course to take.

My friends must be waiting for me, even now. What would they like to discuss, I wonder? Would it be the same? Even if not, I must tell them. Better they heard it from me than others, after all, since I was involved.

We were to meet at the room of lady Serapis. We would, in the fullness of time, meet at all of our living spaces. Lady Istha was next on that list, and I knew she felt some small fear over her duties as host. It just so happened that the elders among us had more experience at such things, and so had taken to the duties more than the rest of us.

Aside from the time when everyone would invite themselves to my room, of course.

I knocked, and was promptly pulled inside. "Greetings, lady 'Rine." the chorus sounded before I could properly right myself. I glared at lady Nells, the offender of the moment, and made a show of adjusting my robes as the door swung shut behind me.

"Greetings, everyone. I bring some news."

"Oh? That is a noteworthy thing. You seldom have news among us." Lady Nells replied with a wide grin. A gesture to show she was not serious.

What she was not serious about was left up to me to decipher. I oft had news for us, so that must be her jest. Hopefully. With luck.

I once again outlined the discussion lady Matrona and I had, taking in the wide and approving eyes of my companions. Finally, finishing up with: "It is good to know those above us have also been pondering these problems."

Lady Serapis looked thoughtful; her had showed clear hesitance as it poured tea. "It shall not be so easy as all that. For one, even as the knights and chosen are gathered, they may be ambushed as they do so, piecemeal. This may be part of a larger plot to weaken the church from within."

I... had not thought of that.

Lady Delia favored lady Serapis with a mild elbow, and myself with a smile. "There is no need to worry; those who decide these things are quite crafty, and they will know of the possibility as well. Proper steps will be taken."

Lady Serapis rubbed her side and favored lady Delia with a look, yet did not gainsay her, so that was likely correct.

"Even so," lady Nells was quick to agree. "Things like this have happened before, to our sorrow. We are well versed in how to counter such warlike activities, and even so one knight of the Goddess is worth five of any other. They shall find us the toughest nut to crack."

"Yes, yet they try." lady Istha agreed, morose.

Lady Nells waved the statement away as if it were foul air. "They always try. Some kingdom or other, or the empire, tries every handful of years. They forget, and need to re-learn bloody lessons."

Her grin as she passed a cup of tea my way was savage, more fitting on a knight or even a brigand than a noble or a chosen of the Goddess.

"How many times?"

Lady Nells turned to me. "Pardon?"

I covered my lapse with a sip of tea. "I did not mean to speak; my apologies. Yet I was lost in wonderment; how many times has something of this kind happened before?"

Lady Nells shrugged. "Countless times. Mayhap over a dozen in our lifetimes alone. Mayhap more. There are entire tomes of such... incidents throughout history."

I managed to keep my counsel this time. Even as I wondered on the marvel of people doing such things to each other. Why was the world so? Why could people just... not be so? Why should we all struggle so, against each other?

It did not matter. I need not worry about such things yet, and my wishes would not alter the people around us. It would not change that some fool from beyond my ken who knew me not at all still sought my life over some power or complaint that had yet to become reality in any way.

I should deal with the world before me, and not the world I wished for.

A finger poked my forehead. "You'll give yourself most unladylike wrinkles," lady Delia warned.

"So, should we discuss the subject of the day?" Lady Istha stated with a sip of her own.

Now I was curious. The way lady Istha spoke made it seem as if the matter at hand was not a normal matter. Or at the very least, a matter we did not normally discuss.

This time was a more normal and controlled utterance: "What is it?"

"A matter we do deliberate quite often," lady Serapis intoned. "You."

Me?!? "Oh? And what do you all deliberate about me?"

What could they say about me? What would the matter be with me? Had I offended in some way?

Lady Delia's arms crossed from behind in a hug. "Now now, nothing like that. Only good things. Right now, the subject for the night is a discussion of you and how you have grown."

How I had grown? But I hadn't. "I have not grown a single mark since I arrived."

The arms withdrew, and lady Delia brought herself into view. "Exactly. If you have grown at all, it has been in the most blessed direction possible. Did you not notice?"

"I did not? What do you mean?"

Lady Delia  leaned forward, and traced the line of my nose with her finger. "This - and this, and this."

So saying, her finger poked areas; my waist, my arms, and my head.

"She is saying you have started to become your true self. What the Goddess intends. You have not shied away from the duty which calls you, and it has begun to leave its mark upon you," lady Serapis intoned.

Truly? I stood and rushed to the mirror I knew lady Serapis possessed, in her washroom.

I saw no difference in myself, even squinting.

Lady Delia came up again, behind me, pointing. "Your nose. Look closely at your nose."

....It might be somewhat thinner, by a trifle?

I was at a loss. Even if true, how was I to feel about such progress? Was fear fitting?

"Whoa, steady." Lady Delia caught me as my feet betrayed me, saving me from a tumble to the floor. "It is a good thing. A marvelous and right thing, even."

"I.... had not expected to see any such for years. For most, it takes years."

"You have been most active," a somber lady Nells stated. "As you know, that has an effect."

I looked again, even as I regained my feet. "I must admit, I do not see it. I think I look the same."

Lady Istha and lady Delia shook their heads together. Lady Delia went further: "You have changed. Grown smaller, less hewn, if I may be so bold. However, the last to see changes in one is oft themselves. We, who see you somewhat less and have more time apart from your visage, will notice the difference more."

"If you do not  trust our eyes, or your own, then ask our superiors. Lady Matrona should be able to tell you true, or the knights who have escorted you in the past. Even better, the nobles whom you have met should also be able to weigh in."

"Alright, alright, let's not whelm her. This is not supposed to be such a weighty meeting," lady Istha said, hands out as if to ward away blows. "Please sit, lady 'Rine, we meant no evil or offense. We were simply happy, as your friends. You are going first to the place where we all must go."

I sat, my feet still somewhat wobbly. Surely not; it was too soon, was it not?

The conversation turned to lighter topics, and I did my best to take part, also marking my friends even as they politely ignored my questing eyes, looking for some small change in them. Changes that I could not see, despite my best efforts.