stone benches.
Britea idly wondered if people came here to relax or to train. Looking at the pond made her want to wield, but she knew that would be frowned upon. The blue sky was clear, but her teeth chattered at the mild chill in the air. Autumn was fast approaching, and she wondered if her father was getting ready to set sail with the Windrider .
The walkway was strangely deserted, probably because everyone was in class. To be honest, the thought of joining a class was scary. Would she be put in a class with much younger students or one with older, more arrogant wielders?
She shook her head as she neared the library. The custodian at the front desk frowned as Britea approached, and she glanced at the name on the plaque on the desk.
“Custodian Mitra. My name is Britea…” her voice trailed off when the librarian put a finger to her lips. When she resumed speaking, she made sure to lower her voice. “I’m a new student, and I’m here to get a library card.”
The librarian nodded silently as she produced a form for completion. In less than three minutes, Britea was registered and in a possession of a library card. Now she had the chance to marvel at the Syla College Library.
And it was impressive.
A soundless “wow” escaped from her lips as she took in the towering bookshelves in the massive chamber. She had never seen so many books in her entire sixteen years. This was her idea of dying and going to heaven. It took a few minutes before she remembered what she was supposed to be doing.
She found the social studies and history section and pulled out a few heavy hardbound books. After a few minutes, she started with the book titled, The Social Structure of the Malaquey Republic, 11 th Edition ,by Thozas Belling.
Britea tried to think of possible questions from Instructor Shelley.
Let’s see . How is Malaquey governed?
Well, everyone knows the current monarchy consists of His Majesty Wilhem of House Taros, his wife, Queen Ariande, and their three children, Wiltran, Crystal, and Aren .
Next possible question . Why is Malaquey’s government unique? Answer: even though it’s a monarchy, the king’s power is counterbalanced by his elected ministers and lords. They can veto any orders the monarch makes, though that’s rare.
What other powers do the elected officials have? The ministers can also use their veto when choosing the heir to the throne in the eventuality of the king’s demise. This veto power has only been used once in the entire history of Malaquey, and historians state such a decision prevented a civil war. Britea sighed when she realized she’d have to find the name of that particular monarch and the time frame.
What of the military? The Malaquey military has three divisions: navy, army, and…wielders? Britea blinked when she read the text. She had never considered wielders would be part of Malaquey’s military. Britea was starting to learn that many things about wielders weren’t part of the curriculum in schools outside Malaquey. At that thought, she realized something had been bugging her since she had left the warden’s office.
The Wielder’s Creed. The secret one she had just learned, especially the part that stated no wielder should discuss matters of the school with outsiders. But the Windrider’s assigned wielder, Ken Lanfor, had. Britea had never met the wielder, but the Windrider’s First Mate Melina had had a lot to tell Britea about wielders thanks to what she had heard from him.
Had he committed a crime? Should she report him? Britea shook her head. That wasn’t her call. Besides, she had never even seen him.
“Novice D’Tranell?” The whisper almost made her jump in her seat. The stern-faced librarian was right behind her. “You are to report to Warden Asteros’ office at once.”
Britea gaped at her. Why the summons? She was too scared to ask. “Um…can I borrow these books?”
The librarian smiled. “Of course.”
#
Britea was winded by the time she got to the warden’s office. It was a long walk, and she had tried to run while weighed down by the heaviest books she had ever seen. That hadn’t stopped her from wondering why she had been summoned. Was it her dah? Was it the Windrider? Had something awful happened?
She took a deep breath before she knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Britea entered to find the warden was once more not alone. Three official-looking individuals in the navy-blue uniforms of the Malaquey Navy stood in the middle of the room: one woman with iron-grey hair and two men, one middle aged and the other a handsome young man with a blond ponytail. Warden Asteros was seated.
“Britea, these officers are from naval intelligence: Lieutenant Commander Elizea Trent, Lieutenant Commander Peras Nell, and Lieutenant Harto Flay.”
They’re here about Kahl, thought Britea. Strangely, she was worried they could hurt him even though he was far away. Kahl had risked a lot by helping her and the crew of the Windrider escape the Namiran raiders. She hoped he was somewhere safe.
Elizea smiled at her, but that didn’t allay her fears.
“Ah, so you’re the young wielder we’ve heard so much about.”
“They’ve been to the Windrider already,” said Warden Asteros. Britea saw Lieutenant Flay frown at the warden as if annoyed he had spoken.
Even Elizea’s smiled dimmed a bit. “Yes, we have, and they had an interesting story to tell us. So, we’re here to verify it.”
“But you must have the Namiran prisoners,” said Britea.
“You mean the ones you and the Dyhaeri conveniently saved?” asked Harto in a tone that made her narrow her eyes.
“What do you mean ‘conveniently’?” She spoke more sharply than she’d meant to, but something about the young lieutenant set her teeth on edge.
His gaze was intent as he replied. “They attacked your ship. You were within your rights to leave them to die, and yet, you didn’t? Why?”
“They were seeking aid, so we helped them.”
Harto’s eyes narrowed, and he opened his mouth to speak, but the older male official started coughing. They all looked at him.
“I believe we started this off poorly. Let me get a drink of water, and then we can start afresh.” He shot a look at Harto, who seemed to back down. Peras took a sip of water while Elizea directed Britea to a seat. The three naval officers remained standing.
Britea didn’t like the position she was in. She suspected they were trying to scare her.
And it was working.
“Now, why don’t you tell us about the events on the day you first wielded?” started Elizea.
Britea was startled by the question. What did that have to do with the Namiran attack on the Windrider?
Nevertheless, she complied.
“It was a day after a wedding in my village of Weldaros, and my sister and I were having an argument. I felt an odd sensation build up in my chest, and when I lost my temper, I wielded at her.” The naval officers looked at her sharply while the warden looked bored.
Britea continued. “But at the last minute, the water veered in two directions away from her and hit the wall behind her. That’s when she ran screaming for our parents.”
Harto narrowed his eyes. “And that was the first time you’d wielded? No one taught you before you boarded the Windrider ?”
Britea glared at him. Was he calling her a liar ? “Yes, Lieutenant. That was the first time, and to answer your second question, I had no instruction before I boarded the ship.”