Part 14 (1/2)
Ba.s.sORINE is still trying to find Lasidious. The others on Ancients Sovereign are growing tired of listening to the G.o.d of War shout.
SHALEE is on her way to the local School of Magical Studies. She is scheduled to start training with her new staff.
SAM & MOSLEY are waiting for Sam's teacher at the local School of Weaponry.
Thank you for reading this edition of the Grayham Inquirer
CHAPTER 10.
The Training Blues -or- Should I Say, Bruises?
SHALEE LEFT THE INN smiling about Sam's advance as she searched for the School of Magical Studies. She admired the simple touches of the village. Though the architecture was not anything to write home about, it felt peaceful. Simple things were her pa.s.sion anyway, and although the buildings could use some attention to their design, she saw many areas that displayed intricate detail.
Everywhere she turned, the pride of the village people was evident-a sign perfectly painted, carefully placed stones that formed the mouth of a well, cobblestone walkways that ran from the street to each store front and stoop. The roofs were made of bundled straw, and they were tightly bound to allow the rain to run off quickly.
As she walked through the streets, she came across a young boy who appeared to be no more than 11 seasons. He had in his hand a sharpened pencil of some sort, but it was nothing like she had ever seen. Also, on top of an old, smoothed-over piece of wood, a good-sized piece of parchment had been centered. The boy was sitting on a bucket. He was facing a group of trees that grew a fruit resembling peaches.
Shalee's curiosity got the best of her. She leaned over the young man's shoulder and found herself being led by the arm. The boy guided her to the front of the trees where she was left to pose in front of them.
”Please stay still for a moment, my lady,” the boy said, holding up his hands as if to ensure she would stay in the desired position. ”You'll be my focus. This will be far better than drawing boring, old trees.”
”But I don't have the time, I mean ... the moments. I'm fixin' to go someplace. What's your name, little man?”
”My name is Trace. Please don't go. I promise to capture your beauty.”
Shalee had to smile. He was an adorable child. ”Do you have a last name, Trace?”
”Chaslend, my lady.” The boy grinned.
Trace's cute, chubby, freckled face and red hair made Shalee melt. How could she possibly say no to such an innocent request? ”Well, how darling are you. As long as you promise to get my good side, I'll stay.”
”That's easy. You don't have a bad side,” the boy said through a gap-toothed smile.
”Now, now, now ... you already know how to make a lady blush. You're too young to know how to schmooze a woman.”
”What does 'schmooze' mean? You talk funny. What makes you sound like that?”
”Don't you worry yourself about that. You just go on ahead and draw up your little picture. But hurry. I need to get moving.”
”Yes, my lady.”
A while later the boy turned the picture around.
”What do you think?”
Shalee gasped and thought, Maybe Ba.s.sorine's fas.h.i.+on sense isn't so bad after all. ”Trace, it's beautiful. I don't think I've ever met a young man with your talent. I'll remember you until the day I die. You've filled my heart with joy, Mr. Chaslend.
”I'm glad you like it, funny lady, but I better go before my mother gets upset. I'm causing her to be late. Bye!”
”Bye, Trace.” She watched him run away.
When Shalee found the School of Magical Studies, she stood outside for many moments before she walked in. She was nervous, almost to the point of making herself sick. It took everything she had to keep from turning around and going back to the inn. C'mon Shalee. Stop being such a chicken, she thought. You don't even know what to expect.
The front part of the school was a store. The walls to either side had shelves lined with many things, both creature and plant-oriented. The jars were labeled: Baby Bat Wings, Spider Legs, Mandrake Root, Dragon Scales, Snake Skin, and many other items she had never heard of. She guessed she had an idea what they were used for. One of her favorite TV shows back on Earth was her only frame of reference. The show was about three witches who fought demons in an effort to rid their city of evil. One of the witches had an incredible sense of fas.h.i.+on, but they all used ingredients such as these to make their potions work.
She was not in the store long before an elderly woman, with beautiful, gray hair and soft features, walked into the room holding a staff. The woman's outfit did not accentuate the curves of her body at all. Shalee thought, Oh, my goodness-gracious, I need to call the Fas.h.i.+on Police. If I'm gonna train with this woman, she's got to be fixed. It would be a shame to allow her to squander her beauty by wearing horrid fabrics. Now ... how do I tell her? How do women on Grayham handle tragedy?
The woman's smile was larger than life when she saw Shalee. She rushed across the room. ”You're my new student, Child!” She clapped her hands, and then she reached out to take hold of Shalee's arm. ”Oh, thank the G.o.ds the Peak has arrived. I've been expecting you for many, many seasons, and I've been looking forward to your arrival. My name is Helga Kolinsky.”
”h.e.l.lo ... I think. Ummm ... my name is Shalee,” she responded. ”You say you've been expecting me? I don't see how. I didn't tell anyone that I was coming.”
Helga Kolinsky ”No, no, no, Child. It's not like that. I have dreamt for most of my life that you'd be coming to study with me. I've prepared for this Peak, and I've longed for it since the celebration of my eighth winter season. I have so much to teach you.”
Needless to say, Shalee was unnerved by the woman's confession-so much so that she turned to rush out of the store. But in her haste, she noticed the door was not getting closer. Looking down, Shalee was shocked to see that her feet were not touching the floor. She was frantically moving her legs, but she was not getting anywhere.
Helga laughed as she circled the suspended Shalee. ”Oh, Child. I have known you were going to try that since I was a young girl. I was prepared to foil for your escape.”
Shalee went from surprised to angry. ”You better put me down, or I'll-”
”You'll what, Child?” Helga responded with a soft voice. ”You won't do anything until I let you down, and I'm not going to that until you calm yourself.”
Shalee thrashed about. ”I said, let me down, doggone it!”
Helga remained patient and continued to speak in a soft voice. ”If you will just think for a moment, Child, you'll realize that we've spoken before. You know who I am. Concentrate. Think of our spiritual visits. They've prepared us for this Peak.”
Shalee struggled to the point of exhaustion before she gave up and relaxed. She took a deep breath and then thought back to her dreams. To her surprise, she remembered Helga's face. This woman had been in a number of her dreams, and she remembered speaking with her. In fact, Helga was one of the few beings that had given her a peaceful feeling. Sure enough, the way she had dressed in her dreams was almost as bad as real life, but at least her visions of Helga's attire had been a bit more fas.h.i.+onable. Her outfits were nowhere close to the tragic mess she had on now. The rest of her nightmares had been of creatures, wars and angels who were fighting for her affection.
Shalee relented. ”I do remember you. I don't know how it's possible, but I know you. Can you please let me down now? I'm ready to listen.”
Helga waved her hand, spoke a few words that Shalee did not understand, and then Shalee drifted to the floor. ”Oh, Child ... now that we have that bit of awkwardness out of the way, perhaps we could work on something a bit more constructive.”
Shalee shrugged. ”Okay. Why not? I brought coin for the lessons anyway, so we might as well.”
Helga smiled and then moved beyond a large bear rug that hung across an opening which led to a room behind the store. She shouted loud enough that her voice could be heard through the rug. ”Your coin is not necessary here, Child! You have much to learn, and you'll need to pay attention, not coin. Bring your staff with you, and we'll get started.”
Shalee was cautious as she moved beyond the rug. The room was large and s.p.a.cious. Thick pillows, made of leather, had been stuffed with straw, and they were being used to line the walls. Even the beams in the middle of the room and on the ceiling had been covered. The floor had a different look. Soft mattresses had been placed side-by-side and covered its surface. Shalee grinned. The only thing missing is some gymnastic equipment, she thought.
”This is where your training will begin, Child,” Helga said with beaming eyes. ”Never mind the decor, it tends to come in handy with a new sorceress.”
Shalee looked puzzled. ”I don't know that I like the idea of being called a sorceress.”
Helga's brow furrowed. ”Why?”
Shalee had to search for a response. ”I guess it just sounds wicked. Don't you think?”
Helga shook her head. ”It's just a name, Child. What else would you call yourself?”