Chapter 8 – Resignation

It was a surreal feeling sitting in the dining hall. Guards lines the back and side entrances to the hall. Each wore a black uniform that shined in the light. The high table contained two guests of honour. A man with flowing chestnut hair banded in three different ends. He wore robes of the Mysteries, white with gold highlights with a fully coloured Mother’s flower broach pinned to his chest. A woman sat across from him, and the scowl she wore throughout the evening was enough to make grown men shudder. She had dark raven-black hair and her eyes glowed a dark purple in the light. Some of the teenagers tried to convince the younger kids that she was there to claim their souls. Only a few of the kids laughed.

Willam was biased in how he felt, as Julia was in a dour mood as much as she tried to hide it. While some tables accepted the newcomers and continued on with their usual conversations -as Evelyn’s group appeared to do- most of the Carers and labourers were near silent. Julia, before the high table had arrived, had laughed with the twins and received their full account of last night’s happenings. Yet, there was a tension in the corner of her eyes, her shoulders tight as if she was trying to retreat from the room. When the high table had arrived, she appeared truly crestfallen. Her head dropped, she barely replied to the twin’s musings; Willam felt helpless. He was helpless.

Should I see if we can leave? What happened? What does she know? Gosh, I thought everything had been resolved yesterday.

Willam’s table fell silent like the rest, the hall deafeningly so. It was in the lull before the Headmistress stood to speak at her assembly that Willam heard Julia talk for the first time in half an hour.

“What will be will be, all there is is the path.”

The room filled with silence. The black guard hovering too close for Willam’s liking. At some point they stopped being there as the guest’s protectors and started acting as prison wardens. Willam reached for Julia’s hand, for a response of some kind, something to clue him in to what was about to happen. Her hand remained limp in is. For a second, he swore she had mouthed “I’m sorry”. No one but the headmistress and her cane moved.

“Good tidings to all this hallowed Blossom night. I have called this assembly for the fortunate Founding of four of our own. This Founding is of unprecedented nature, I understand that. For years all have been relegated to the Choosing Ceremony for selection, as it was and shall be going forwards. But this twilight we are to honour two special guests, and envoy from the capitol of this young Federation. I present the Hierarch of the Mysteries of Faith, and the Grand Vizier of the Crown’s Council and Court.”

The Hierarch stood and waved to his audience, flashing a handsome smile with a glint in his eye. Willam would recount the man as a predator in man’s clothing; he would never forget that smile from this day, not until another one replaced it at the forefront of his memories. The Grand Vizier stood but did not wave or make a show of her appearance. She nodded as her welcome died down in the crowd, and resumed her seat. There was an edge to her countenance, that Willam was sure of even at a distance.

The Headmistress resumed her speech, a strand of grey-near-white hair coming undone from her tight braid. The vortex of fear in Willam’s stomach filled, fulled by his anxieties. He could barely watch, so he watched his friend. She watched the stage, despite the guards and the pressure in the atmosphere. She’d accepted this was it before Willam even had the chance.

“This ever four of Castoria’s own, four of our family have been Chosen. While I despise the spectacle, I understand that for many of us this will be the last we ever see of our friends, our family. So, with that being said... On this day, the second day of Blossom in the seventeenth cycle of the Great Commonwealth, Austin of Castoria, Evelyn Lackless, Julia Peerdove and Lain Hoenheim have been Found.” The high table applauded, most of the hall did too. But in the midst of it all was a crying child who lost her brother, her twin, to the guards in black. In the midst of it all a table cheered two of their members, shocked and envious of their elevation, but they cheered anyway. And a boy who knew he would be alone all his life watched fate once again confirm that fact.

The four Foundlings stood on stage together, two smiling, two frowning, surrounded by an escort of black guards. They were marched off too their rooms as Willam comforted Melia. He sat in disbelief, shock, awe, resignation, fury, and a host of conflicting feelings. It was over.

What will be will be, all there is is the path.

Willam was halted by the guards. Two of them guarded the entrance to Julia’s room. No matter how he asked they refused to move, they refused to let him say goodbye.

“Please, I don’t think you understand. She’s my best friend. Please ask her, I’m Willam Strange, please.”

One of the guards was a middle-aged woman. Her hair held tufts of grey. Her left arm was wrapped in a set of interconnected plates of armour, on her belt was what appeared to be a sharp sceptre.

“Lad, I can’t let you in. I’m sorry, but this is the policy. You would need to petition my Liege, but until that time I’m sorry.” To her credit there was a hint of remorse on her worn face. Willam decided to believe her. He needed another means of entry.

Willam nodded, turned and left. He heard the guard sigh. They were relieved he had left; he was angry that he had too. Willam found he was quick to do rash things when he was angry.

Running to the outside of the orphanage, Willam employing stealth, made his way through the forest tree-line. Slowly. Without alerting the roaming guards, he made his way to Julia’s window. It felt almost natural to him. He knew where to place his feet to avoid rustling or making noise as he walked. His ears were receptive to the guard’s movements, he was so observant he felt as if the pattern of their patrol was ingrained into his mind. He only came close to being caught once.

A group of guards had been deeper within the forest than he had thought. He was about to panic when a a young and smooth voice echoed in his mind; “Left, underbrush.”

Willam dived to his left, unquestioning. He used the underbrush to form a small hidden grotto around himself. The patrol walked past him without a word. He sighed with relief.

He made it to Julia’s window from there, and was lucky enough to find no guards situated underneath. Thankful for his tall lanky frame, Willam vaulted himself up on to her window ledge. He heaved himself inside, as her window was open.

Julia was staring at her desk, she heard him enter but remained focused on her desk. On it was a vibrant green cactus twice the size of Willam’s dead one. Willam stood on her bed, which sat beneath her window. On it her trunk was packed. She did not turn to speak to Willam.

“Hullo Willam.”

Willam nodded.

“So, I guess this is it, huh? I didn’t think it would come so soon.”

Willam watched her.

“You know, it seems I’m not gonna be able to meet your new friend. I’m sad about that; it’s been a while since we’ve had another friend join our group.”

Willam stepped towards her.

“Remember to take care of Melia, okay? I, like, just don’t know how she’s going to cope without Lain by her side. That’s important, okay. Stay safe.”

Willam opened his arms.

“Because I swear if you stuff that up, I’ll… I’ll…”

Willam span her around and hugged her with all his strength. He hugged her like he would a lifeboat in a storm.

“Julia Peerdove, the Flame of Castoria. We will meet again. I swear it by the Wild Mother and the Stone Father, may they keep me safe and healthy as I pursue this end. May the Star Child bar my path if I err from this goal, as I search again for the road that leads back to you. I will stand beside you once again, Julia. Not as a memory, never the same, but as a friend, an ally. Mark me, we will meet again.”

Willam began to loosen his hold when Julia embraced him fiercely. The strength of her embrace, the warmth of a friend, it overwhelmed him.

“Willam Strange, the orphanage’s Klutz, a beautifully dramatic fool. I hear you. I will be honoured to stand beside you once again; not as a memory, never the same, but as a friend. Until that day comes, I swear to stay healthy and strong, to live as if every day may be my last; I pledge this to you. Thank you”

Together they recited.

“And so, we work, we suffer, we thrive, together…

“As one.”

Willam could not remember when he had started to cry. It may have been when he entered the room, or passed the guards, or at the assembly; he could not remember nor did he care to. As Julia’s tears fell on his shoulders, he knew one truth. Life was unfair, unjust, a chaos that worked in ways beyond his comprehension. It did not care for him, whether he was a king or a pauper. It would not light his path. Reality was not at his service, if anything it would impede his path and his friends.

But he’d be damned if he didn’t try.

In a small orphanage room, a young man and a young woman said goodbye. Their tears were a tribute to their friendship. The embrace they shared spoke of a reluctance to let destiny have its way. As they left a solemn vow hung in the air and in their minds. It was an oath sworn in the face of an uncertain future. They would meet again.

Julia staggered from her room, accepting her friends promise despite her doubts.

Willam, for perhaps the first time in his life, was damned sure of himself.

Goodbye my friend. I will see you again.

It was a marvellous piece of architecture, Liana thought to herself as she awaited her ward. The blue-stone monolith that was the orphanage glistened in the twilight. The sunset’s warm light was refracted off of the blue-stone building. it seemed as if the orphanage was glowing from magick stones rather than by natural phenomena. Lamplights slowly flickered on along the driveway path. Tall oak trees lined the driveway, yet a darkness loomed at the end of the path onto country roads.

Emerging from the large front doors was a set of royal guards, without their emblems of course it was a covert operation, guiding the four newest Foundlings. The first of them was the tall pudgy boy, Austin his name was. Liana understood he possessed a unique Earthen affinity Aurae, of a deep dark blue similar to Castoria’s famous stone. He was as good a candidate as any for a Warden of the future princess as they could find out in this backwater.

Following Austin, slipping between the guards’ shadows was the separated twin; Lain. Now he was an enigma. Oris had been squeamish in disclosing why he chose the boy. He commented that “He possesses a Prismatic Aurae something which I have only encountered in three other individuals in all of the federation. He is mine.” The man had no thought for aptitude or constitution his focus was so drawn to his magickal Artistry it was… At least Liana had checked and the other candidates had some credentials to their choosing. They followed Lain, the soon-to-be princess ushering the boy out of the guard’s shadow.

The two girls departed the orphanage holding hands. Liana’s ward held her head high, basking at the carriages and future that awaited her. Liana stifled a smile. It was good that she was so hopeful, it was easier to instil cynicism after the fact than to expose possibilities to a cynic. The royal candidate however did not appear so hopeful. Her eyes were rimmed red, a bloodier red than her ferocious hair colour. She will be a court marvel, the spitting image of the Red Queen of Ayloria (need to refine lore as to different geography in locations) with the Aurae to match. She had supposedly captured the hearts of many within the orphanage, orphans or otherwise. The Headmistress, despite her unobstructed cooperation, had been reluctant to separate with the girl. A maternal instinct perhaps? A sign of the girl’s charm? Liana hoped she possessed the famous thorns of Castoria’ Wild flower, otherwise such an aptitude for affection will see her targeted at court.

Liana mentally noted to keep track of all who interacted with the girl after her coming out into public; it always paid to be diligent as to the predators at court. They held the easiest strings to pull when the time was right.

The guards directed each Foundling to their respective carriages. The young royal comforted the boy as he refused to go. Oris was within his own carriage but Liana did not doubt for a moment that he was not observing the child’s emotional state. Julia held the boy as she indicated to the orphanage and then pointed to the boy’s chest. Liana could not parse if the royal had used a command on the boy or if it was the flickering of the lamplight. What she did see was child embrace the royal to be and bow to both the guards and then the institution he had called home for several seasons. Without a further word he walked over to Oris’ carriage.

To Liana’s amusement Oris did not allow the boy to enter the carriage. Instead after a moment of confusion followed by frustration and then anger, the boy joined the carriage driver on the front of the vehicle. Interesting, she would have to delve into the Hierarch’s teaching methods at some point.

Turning back to the young royal candidate, she was brushing herself off. Combing strands of hair back, smoothing the wrinkles in her dress, she even asked the guards about how to greet her future family; an interesting candidate indeed. Austin moved to stand beside her when she asked him to help her onto the Espellia’s carriage. Interesting, she may not even know their names; what was the state of Castoria’s education system? More research was required.

Liana’s new ward had a new research task.

“My lady, I am-”

“What is my title?” Liana gave her ward no chance to introduce herself.

“Grand Vizier Isuran, you Chair the Crown Cabinet and preside over the Crown’s Court in the Monarch’s stead. You ascended to your rank two years prior to Federation during the early throes of the War of Federation. In that time, you’ve reformed the Ministries, acted to balance the influence of the Archonage within the political realm and-”

“Stop. Firstly, you will call me Grand Vizier, Your Honour, or My Liege. Secondly, you are now my ward and will refer to yourself as such; you must earn your name and until then you are no-one but my ward and pupil. Thirdly, I desire a report on your education and the state of Castoria’s public services, what you know of the Archon and any information specific to your upbringing that I should know. I don’t care about how you made friends or ruled the roost here, no I need what is most personal to you or helpful to myself in my position. You will have to decide what you share, and if it is not enough then…” Liana let the silence hand in the air. Her ward, to her credit, did not flinch at her commands. “Finally, I need all information you possess on the other Foundlings from your orphanage. Understood?”

“Yes, Grand Vizier.”

“Good.”

Liana turned and entered her carriage. She sat down behind her inbuilt desk, organising her space before resuming her work. Her ward entered; head still held high. She sat across from Liana, separated by her desk.

“Here is your report book. Whatever you write within it will be transferred to my own personal tome,” Liana patted a blue dyed tome, “considering its worth I caution you write what is necessary.”

“Yes, Grand Vizier.”

“Good.”

“Grand Vizier, when would you like my report?” Liana opened a shutter. It was approximately thirty minutes until dusk. Dusk signalled a shift in the schedule.

“You have until dusk-fall to finish the report. Failure,” Liana watched as the girl with haste opened the tome, nicking a fountain-pen from Liana’s side of the desk, “will result in a delay. I do not tolerate delays.”

Liana was proud of her ward’s confidence. She will do for now.

Liana assessed her pile of tomes and selected The Heritage and Heirs of Monarchs. It was time to revise her knowledge of the Red Queen.

Thus, the carriage departed. Castoria’s orphanage left behind as four orphans had been Found this Blossom day. The carriages left the lamp-lit road from the estate, the only light visible was the flickering eyes of the aurochs pulling the vehicles onward.

Four orphans Found; A Princess, a Warden, an Acolyte and Vizier. The carriages rolled onward to their new destinies, wherever they may be.

Only one of them thought of who they left behind.