The Eyebright's Dimension

Chapter Twenty-Two: An Unexpected Entrance

Her stepmother had been horrified to learn that Kasity had not practiced her spinet nor learned embroidery, and immediately set her to starting her first sampler, which would eventually show an insipid picture of a smiling sun on a flower, with the words ‘Patience is a virtue’ in the corner. For the next five days, Kasity had tea at a different lady’s house. Each time she was peppered with questions about the Academy, Aidan, magic, and the like, as she half-heartedly worked on her sampler. Her father postponed his return date, much to Kasity’s annoyance, and much to her stepmother’s displeasure. But after those first dreary days, her vacation took an upward turn. Lander’s invitation arrived on the following Monday. The invitation stated that all Academy students in the Veruna area had been invited, and the families also were welcome to the Lé Estate on the East End of the port. Kasity was so happy to hear from another Academy member that she wasn’t even upset when her stepmother insisted on having her fitted for new ball gowns.

Kasity awoke the day after she received Lander’s invitation to the sound of sleet pounding on the windows and the spinet waiting for her downstairs. She lay in bed in the semidarkness, not wanting to get up. Today would be another boring day. In a couple minutes Malise would knock on the door, signaling it was time for her to get up. Then she would be forced to wear yet another horrible dress and have breakfast with her stepmother in her sitting room. After that would come the terribly boring morning hours during which she would practice spinet and work on her stupid sampler. After the noon meal she would be allowed to read. She had already read most of her assignments many times, except for Combat Basics, which didn’t dare bring to the parlor in fear that her stepmother would pretend to faint again, which she had done after Kasity told her that yes, they used magic on each other.

Then the predictable rap sounded on her door, and Kasity got out of bed, mumbling to herself.

The day went almost exactly as Kasity had predicted it to go. They had the same morning meal as they always did, her stepmother fussing about the tea, Kasity’s attire, the weather, Kasity’s hair, and her father’s absence. The morning in the parlor went by as her stepmother worked on embroidery and Kasity plunked out tunes on the spinet.

The noon meal passed by in the same, dreary manner. After they had finished eating and the kitchen maid had come to pick up the plates, Kasity’s stepmother said, “You’re quiet today, Kasity.”

Kasity looked up. She had been quiet for the last week. Today was no exception.

“Tell me about your school friends,” her stepmother ordered. “Start with that charming Prince. How did you meet him?”

“We’re in the same Cloud,” explained Kasity.

“Oh, yes,” her stepmother said after a moments’ silence. “Your little groups. Go on.”

“So we take lots of classes together.”

“Most charming. Which classes, dear?”

“Theory Magic. Sensory,” Kasity mumbled.

“Don’t mumble, Kasity. It’s unladylike,” her stepmother corrected.

She stood up from her chair and motioned Kasity to follow. Kasity did so, marveling that her stepmother could take such dainty steps with a massive stomach. They went back to the parlor, and Kasity sighed to herself. More of her sampler, she supposed.

She sat down on her usual armchair and stared at the gold and maroon wallpaper. Her stepmother chose the chaise langue and sat directly across from Kasity.

“Malise, bring us something warm to drink,” her stepmother called.

Malise nodded and exited the room. Her stepmother picked up her embroidery from the mahogany side table next to the langue and began working again.

“Magic, you say?” she said after a moment’s silence. “Funny that so many seem to learn it…yet we don’t see it all the time, do we?”

“Light baubles,” said Kasity. “Lots of people use light baubles.”

“And magic for the plumbing and protection and such, yes,” said her stepmother crisply. “But you shouldn’t contradict, Kasity.”

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“Or mutter.”

Kasity didn’t reply.

“So the Prince,” her stepmother said thoughtfully after some more silence. “And Lander, high Lé. Who else have you made friends with?”

“Korinne,” Kasity blurted out, her name rising to the front of her mind.

“Korinne?” Her stepmother frowned. “That doesn’t sound Irinifan.”

“She’s from Cynarris,” Kasity explained. “She’s living here with a sponsor.”

Her stepmother sniffed. “Well, I hope you’re not seeing a lot of her, then. I understand they let peasants into the Academy – pure politics, I’m sure – but I don’t want you rubbing elbows with them. I daresay a couple low nobles here and there won’t hurt you, but really, try to stick to your own class.”

Kasity stared at her stepmother in amazement. “Stick to my own class? There is no class at the Academy!"

“There is always class, Kasity, and one must act their status. You can’t escape who they are,” her stepmother admonished, narrowing her eyes.

“But –”

“We’re not discussing this any longer,” her stepmother said, throwing a hand on her forehead dramatically. “Kasity, work on your embroidery.”

“I don’t want to work on my stupid embroidery,” Kasity said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Kasity, middle Ké!” Her stepmother sounded shocked.

There was a knock on the front door. Malise, who was watching the argument while hovering in the parlor doorway, set her tray down on the table in the center of the room.

“I’ll get that, Lady,” she said, and scurried back out.

Kasity’s stepmother glowered at her, but it was obvious she didn’t want to make a scene in front of whomever their visitor could be.

“Harriet? Kasity?” a voice called, and they both started.

“Father?” Kasity squealed, jumping to her feet.

He took up the entire doorframe, a big, shaggy coat around his shoulders. Kasity ran to him and leapt into his arms.

“My, Kasity. You’ve gotten bigger! And tanner!” he exclaimed, kissing her on both cheeks.

“Kasity,” said her stepmother reproachfully, still lounging on her chaise.

“Don’t get up, Harriet,” her father said. “And how’s the baby?”

“You’re dripping all over the parlor rugs, Karston,” her stepmother chided, but her eyes were soft. “You’ll want your coat off, I expect.”

Her father put Kasity down and shrugged off his overcoat. Malise took it and disappeared out of the room.

“There’s hot tea on the table,” her stepmother said, motioning toward the table next to her chaise.

“You think of everything, Harriet,” her father replied, grinning. He picked up the cup of tea intended for Kasity and took a seat on one of the armchairs, and motioned for Kasity to come sit in his lap. “Now tell me about the Academy, little one.”

Kasity launched into a full-blown explanation, glad for a receptive audience. She told him about the different Clouds, her dwelling, and all her classes.

“…and in Weaponry we practice with staffs, but that’s only because we can’t use conductors, which is what you use when you’re fighting with magic,” she explained eagerly.

“Slow down, Kasity! They have you playing with staffs? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate for a little girl like yourself?” He was smiling, but Kasity felt a stab of annoyance.

“No,” she retorted. “We need to learn. It’s all part of the training, it’s necessary for Combats –”

“Combats?” gasped her stepmother, and Kasity turned around. She had forgotten her stepmother was still there.

“I don’t like the sound of that, Karston,” she whispered.

Her father frowned. “What exactly do you mean?” He looked at Kasity expectantly.

“We – we have Contests. For rankings. And one of them, the most important one, is called Combats.” She hesitated. The atmosphere in the room had changed dramatically, and she didn’t know if she wanted to explain any more.

“That sounds as if they’re training you to – fight each other or something,” mused her stepmother with a high laugh.

“Well, the Academy is a training school,” said her father, frowning. “And military magic is a big part of it.”

“What?” exclaimed her stepmother. “Training for what? Surely Kasity isn’t going to grow up to join the militaries, or worse, Companies!”

“The Companies are doing some very respectable work these days,” said her father. “If not for them our business would have all but died out! I was late coming back home because I met with a couple Belay Company representatives. They’re doing me a very big favor.” His voice began to turn a bit harder, and Kasity winced. She hoped they wouldn’t start arguing.

“That doesn’t mean I would want my daughter going to work for them!” cried her stepmother. “In fact, I don’t want Kasity working like that at all! Don’t you want to see your daughter settled down?”

“Times are changing, Harriet. There are plenty of women, especially in the Companies. In fact, I heard that one of the Company Superiors, the top organizers and leaders of the entire bureaucracy, is female, and a graduate of the Academy.”

Kasity squirmed uncomfortably. She hated when they talked like that.

Her stepmother noticed Kasity fidgeting and called, “Malise, take Kasity upstairs to her room.”

“I don’t want to go,” Kasity protested as Malise poked her head into the parlor.

“Kasity,” said her stepmother in a tired voice.

“We just need to talk for a little longer,” said her father, an edge in his voice.

That tone, combined with her stepmother’s glares, weakened her will, and she followed Malise upstairs and to her room. As she lay on her bed, watching the frozen rain drip down her window, and hearing the voices get louder and louder, she felt for a moment like she wanted to cry.