it was supposed to be Sarah's day to signal the raising of the flag, but last night Matron Garrett asked if I would do it since it was my birthday. I looked over toward Sarah when I was asked, when she nodded, I said I would be delighted.
So here I stand, six years ago today I was born, and some woman left me here. Matron Garrett had told me several times that the note left with me only said what my mother wished to name me, so she could keep an eye on me.
As the blue corona of the rising star flares on the edge of crater city, I tighten my lips up on the bamboo reed, use my fingers to block the holes, so the low somber tone is given; once the flag is up, we are allowed to play a melody of our choosing. I played a short piece that comes to mind once in a while.
It seemed to energize the people around the flagpole. There was an eerie calmness along with the feeling that everyone was alert. It gave me a strange feeling.
I fell into place in the line, first of the six year olds. As I passed Matron's office I handed the ebony clarinet to her, and continued to the dining hall, where we were to eat breakfast.
As was the custom here, I was not to help set the table, clean up, or sit in my normal seat. Today, my seat belonged to Matron Garrett, and hers to me.
It took her a bit of time to come to the table, she had a guest in her office, but soon they joined us, we weren't allowed to start eating until Matron Garrett sat down; once she did, we all dug in.
He platinum haired guest stood in the corner, and watched all of us. When I was done, I slid my plate forward, and the platinum girl started picking up all the plates of the kids who were done.
"Are you on punitive detail?" Sarah asked aloud, noting the woman's uniform. She looked at Matron Garrett before answering.
"No. This one has a special assignment here; and I can assure you, this one has received no punishment to acquire it." She looked back at Matron Garrett and I watched as they shared a brief nod, there was more going on here, but both women were being very tight lipped.
After breakfast, I went to the workshop with Sarah and Jeremy; the platinum girl was asked to follow us. It is normal for the new staff members to accompany us, so I didn't think anything was unusual.
"Hey, Amazon, what do you think of the new maid?" I wasn't shire immediately who he was talking about.
"I don't think she is a maid, Jeremy." Sarah retorted.
"She is an android," Joseph, the shop owner, said, "and she is owned, her eyes are silver, not brass." He continued. "Young One, you may enter, talk, and walk freely in here." He turned from her, who had started looking around, to us, "the polite way to aim a comment at her, until she chooses to tell you her name, is 'Young One'. With Androids, especially owned ones, it's used as a title. It is impolite to ask the name of an owned android, there are a few exceptions, such as legal agreements, or when one has been hired or purchased for protecting someone."
"That is most often the case, yes." She replied. "Having our name without our owner's, or their guardian's, permission is seen as very rude, however only our owners are allowed to have our true names; as it is also used as a command, and there are protections against its use by the wrong person."
"All true, Young One. I need to get these kids to work, so please excuse me." She nodded, and he sent Sarah and Jeremy on a mission of organize the bolts drawer.
"Raina, I heard today was your birthday." He said to me, the platinum girl lifted her head quickly and looked at me as though she had forgotten something, she left the room and I heard her talking and helping Sarah and Jeremy.
"It is, Mr. Joseph. I'm six today."
"Well I made something for you, for the last two years of great work."
He pulled a cloth covered square case out of a cabinet, and set it on the workbench I generally use.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"My family has a long tradition of wood carvers. It is considered the pinnacle of our craft to make what is in here. This is my second one I've made, the first being the one I laid in the ground with my daughter."
I walked up to the case and opened it. Inside was a beautifully carved violin. The mix of the finished wooden pieces made this piece beautiful in my eyes.
"I know you aren't fond of ebony, so I found a wood that I didn't have to finish, and was just as hard, to make the fingerboard and the chin rest out of."
The normal instrument had a black or brown chin rest, and an, unfinished, ebony piece carved with a double curve for the fingerboard. Joseph had carved two pieces of linn wood, instead. Linn wood wasn't rare, but finding pieces big enough to make these pieces was. And if carved right, the wood would fluctuate in color as the strings vibrated through the body.
He handed me a small piece of rosin, and I immediately grinned, and took the bow out of its case, and began to play the same tune I had earlier, but this time I felt something in the air, a strange resonance as I played. Joseph grabbed my hand and stopped my bow.
"Child, I know you played that tune earlier, but please don't ever finish it with an instrument made of linn." He looked me dead in the eyes as he said it. I had never seen the playful man, the least bit serious, so seeing him serious, and fearful, I simply nodded and put the instrument away, loosened the bow, and snapped the case closed.
"Thank you for something so beautiful." I said.
Lunch was fairly uneventful, aside from the other presents the fellow orphans gave me, it was a normal day. I played 'happy birthday' on the violin Joseph gave me, and then went back to work.
It was about ten minutes ago, that anothe guest came by the orphanage. A huge man. After a few minutes of Matron Garrett, the Platnum girl, and him in the office, I was summoned again.
The man told me he was Watcher Kiel, and he had things for me, the first was a book, and the second was a staff. When I touched it, the light blue mist that seemed to form around it wrapped around my arm. I suddenly knew this was a deadly tool, meant for war, and I knew that I would know how to use it if the time came.
Mr. Watcher told me that in two hours I would be in some of the most pain I could be in. It scared me, but holding onto the book, I felt somewhat relieved.
He called Matron Garrett January, then told me I was leaving with him.
"I want to stay here, with Sarah, and Jeremy."
"Well, Raina, what if I agreed to adopt them, so they could come with us."
"Wait, does this mean you have adopted me?" I was struck dumb at the thought. How am I important enough to be adopted by a watcher.
"That's all in the book, and it seems you have selected two of your five companions, one selected you." Now we need the healer that is selected, and the one exiled, who follows."
If you are going to need a healer, Natasha is gifted in getting this one to heal, none of the others could heal her well."
"The healer selected. Now we must journey. I have procured a cart, in an hour, you will be in so much pain we won't be able to get you to step."
"Mr. Watcher, why will I be in pain?"
He took the book from me, and flipped to the last page of the forward. He pointed to the eyes of the girl drawn there.
"This will happen to your eyes, but most importantly, a power will rapidly grow inside you. It will age you, and make you look as though you are on the cusp of womanhood." He paused for a second, "your mind will still be 6 year old you, but your appearance will change."
After 20 minutes Outside of town, we stopped walking, and Mr. Watched picked me up and put me in the cart. Not even 10 seconds later, when the headache started, I felt a though he made the right decision bring the cart. Then I passed out.