vignette

Kasn glanced at the clock -- Holy Lingor! It was 20:45, much later than she had intended. But she grinned, thinking my concentration skills are excellent. She ought to be able to wrap up this game in just another couple of moves ... she focused on the pattern, trying to discern the flow and weave of the filaments ... turn it inside out, flip these two, turn this one inside out, flip this and cross these with that one ... there! The pieces finally fell into place as she congratulated herself on another win.

Ji’Ard will be jealous, she thought, but maybe I shouldn’t tell him about my victory. She put the comfloat away and started back to her quadrant. It wouldn’t really be a good idea to make Ji’Ard any more of an enemy than he was now. His father was board commander which meant his schooling was guaranteed, and probably any assignment he wanted as well. That wouldn’t be so bad but he was such a bully -- a petty, mean, back-stabbing, out-for-himself bully who definitely could not be counted on in any of the group assignments. She’d learned to work around him, but it wasn’t easy.

Her parents had been killed three years ago -- her father was squadmander and her mother was shamander and they’d been assassinated on the way to their assignment. It had been devastating to Kasn and she thought she’d never recover enough to finish her studies, let alone finish in good standing. But someone had paid for a companion who stayed with her and helped keep her sane.

She didn’t know for sure, but thought old Ma’Tin had been her benefactor. He was a strange duck. His property was behind her homestead and even though she’d only seen him once, her parents had respected him enough to allow him hunting and mineral rights on their ‘stead. That was unheard of -- sharing minerals especially. Maybe someday she’d know the story behind that respect.

She cut through the trees behind her quadrant, taking the short cut so she could avoid the students and instructors who would be walking hurriedly on their way to somewhere. No sense in being called to attention and questioned. As she hurried along, a niggling thought pushed through from the back of her mind -- it’s too quiet. She slowed slightly and surreptitiously glanced around, trying to figure out the cause of the absence of people and sound. She couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary, really, but thought she’d use the maintenance entrance and scoot up the back stairs just to be cautious.

By the time she reached her room, she was decidedly uneasy. When she thumbed the scan but didn’t hear a corresponding snick from her lock, she didn’t know whether she should even enter her room. Staying in the corridor was not an option however so, barely breathing, she quietly opened the door, looked into her room, and gasped as she recognized Ma’Tin sitting at her desk.

“Elder...” she started to say.

“No child. Say nothing. Come in quickly!” Ma’Tin spoke in hurried, hushed tones as he stood. “You must gather your most precious things into one bag so we can depart immediately. They are coming to assassinate you.”

Startled, Kasn wanted the whole story right now, but knew enough about danger to do as he said. She packed light and quickly threw on a dark shirt and jacket. Ma’Tin nodded, then took her left hand and placed it on a black, spongy grip which was attached to a small instrument in his hands. He tapped keys on the instrument, held her right hand in his and ... they vanished.