“I spoke to Solrio today. There's been a change in your status," Jan spoke slowly.
“What does that mean?” Jal asked.
“It means that Giel Moti has signed a written release that states it is not interested in claiming you as its child.”
“I'm not surprised. What a jerk!”
“There is something good about this, Jal.”
“What a manipulative, egotistical screwball! How many other people did it do this to?”
“According to the Stafriez database, none. There is something good about this, Jal.”
“Yes, there is. It frees me up to contact Lu Kan without going through Giel.”
“You’re going to pursue this?”
“I have to, Jan. I’m supposed to go to Shifos. I need to know what I’m up against. The information that I’m getting from my dreams and meditation is unclear. Would you please help me?”
"I want you to listen to me. There is something good about this situation, Jal.” Jal looked at Jan attentively. “I have paperwork on my desk from Solrio. If you and I agree, I can apply for permanent custody of you.”
“You would do that? I’m old enough to be loosed.”
“Do you like it here, Jal?”
“Sure I do!”
“Are you ready to have a discussion now, or should we do it later?"
"I guess we should do it now." Jal said, questioningly.
"Very well. If I apply for custody of you and the Protectors grant it, you will answer to me for any of your actions. Going to Eiske will not be an option; asking Solrio for help will not be an option. Do you understand this?"
"Yes. May I say something?" Jan nodded. "Solrio taught me that to solve a problem I had to name it, identify resources that will help, and thirdly, ask those resources. I understand Solrio not being available, but what about Eiske? He's my friend."
"We'll talk about Eiske in a moment. These are my expectations: you will continue with your education and finish the eight grades. We'll work out details for university as we go on, if that's the decision you stick with as we move forward. You will accompany me to work three days a week. The other three days you will work on your crafts, attend weaponry and combat skill training, magic lessons and weekly sessions at the Sanctuary. You will be kind to Aren Moshe, no matter how much he aggravates you. Let's see, what have I forgotten?" Jan tapped its fingers on the table. "Taryn will teach you the various chores that need to be done inside and outside as well as some cooking skills."
Jal looked at Jan in disbelief. “Are you sure about this?"
"Yes. I can’t have children, and I had hoped I would be able to adopt a child when I was younger. I was so busy, and a child would have been neglected. I believed there wouldn't be an heir to the Ridali name. Then you came along and changed everything. You’re interested in studying plants and their uses. I’ve got a farm that could be turned into some sort of experimental facility if you so choose.”
Jal blinked, "We're so different! I’m impetuous, short-tempered, and make messes and don’t clean them up unless I’m in the crafting room. Once I get something in my head, I dig my heels in. I love adventure. You’re the complete opposite! I don’t understand how you’ve put up with me this long!"
“Jal, I enjoy having you here, and at my side at work. I’m offering you a place that you can always come home to. I’m offering you my guidance and companionship. As for us being complete opposites, it seems to me that we are both meticulous about certain things, and are goal-oriented. We both like martial arts, using technology, and being with people as well as spending time alone.”
“I didn’t know you liked martial arts.”
“I didn’t know you’ve been making messes and not cleaning them up.”
“Tarryn never complains. Does Taryn know about this?”
“Not yet. I'll fill out the forms and submit them. When it's official, we'll tell Taryn together. One more thing. Stafriez do not 'loose' their children. Do not expect a ceremony like that to ever happen in this household. I'd like for you to stay permanently."
"What about Eiske? He's been so supportive, Jan. I think he wanted me to say that I would keep the sanctuary open after he was gone. I don't want to let him down," Jal felt his chest begin to ache. "I don't want to let either of you down.."
"Let's talk with him together, Jal. I'm sure we can work something out." Jal's face began to turn red and it began to gasp. "It's okay, Jal. Take a breath. A lot of emotions just went through your body, just like the day we met Giel. Do you need to go for a run right this instant? That seems to be the way you handle this kind of situation."
Jal took another breath then began to blink. It felt like it was going to cry, but wasn't about to do that. Crying was for babies. It was an adult and it needed to act like one. Jal turned away from Jan for a moment, then came back. "Jan, please don't fill out the forms until I've talked with Eiske."
"I won't."
"I still have to go to Shifos, Jan."
"If you leave here for Shifos without my consent, I will discipline you!"
Jal turned away. "I want to ignore this whole thing. I don't want to go hiking somewhere that no one else has been. But I feel like I'm supposed to go! This is about something much bigger than what I want. If you allow me to go to Shifos, talk to Lu Kan Moti, and find out exactly what this is about, I can be done with this whole thing. I will do as you ask, come back and finish school.”
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“I had hoped you would give up the idea of going to Shifos.”
“You go to Shifos all the time,” Jal pointed out.
“Yes, because there’s constant fighting between the Haybuti and the Zibrans. I don’t cross the mountains. Everyone knows it’s incredibly dangerous.”
"Everyone? Someone has gone over them and come back?". Jal asked excitedly.
"I'm sure people have tried. The locals tell the stories. I suppose they could direct us to whomever has tried and returned."
“Maybe Lu Kan has a map,” Jal said hopefully. “If I could just figure out how to get in touch with it, without talking to Giel."
“I’ve been trying to contact Lu Kan.” Jan sighed. "So far, no luck."
***
Master Tawas Gahani yelled, “Back off, Jal! Back off!”
Sanga Chahal lay on the floor, writhing in pain. “I think my leg is broken!”
"Jal Jomari! Get changed and report to my office!"
"Yes, Master," Jal hung its head. "I'm sorry, Sanga."
Gahani called for medical assistance, and Sanga was taken away on a stretcher.
Jal slowly changed back into its tunic and trousers, then stuffed the uniform into a duffel bag. It wandered through the locker room, dawdled in the hallway at the water fountain, and went into the office. There was no one there. It stood, wondering what to do, and finally sat down.
A door opened, then shut. “Jal, what’s going on?” Sage Elvan looked down at it.
“Master Gahani’s going to kick me out.”
“Did she say that, Jal?”
“Not yet. But the last time I hurt someone, she threatened me with expulsion.”
Sage Elvan sat down. “I’m sure we can work this out.”
Master Gahani entered the room. She sat down on the edge of the desk, crossed her arms, and looked angrily at Jal. “I told you to hold back!”
“I did! You asked me to, and I did as you asked.”
“Sage Elvan, I have done my best with this child. It’s consistently overpowering the other students during the practice exercises. Bones are being broken on a regular basis. I don’t know what to do with it. It seems unable to control its strength.”
“Jal just said it did as you asked.”
“If that’s half of its power, perhaps it should become a fighter.”
“Do you have any bigger, stronger members?”
“Jal is the biggest. It is the only Stafriez child on Iragos.”
“Master Gahani, I am withdrawing Jal from your lessons.”
“I hope it will continue the training in martial arts, Sage Elvan. Its strength will take it a long way.”
“It will. I simply need to find an appropriate trainer.”
As they went out the door, Sage Elvan asked Jal, “There were a lot of black hairs in this last haircut, weren’t there?”
“Yes. More than half of them.”
“Are you wearing them in your necklace?” Jal shook its head no. “What this boils down to is that you have a lot of natural strength. Let’s go home so you can clean up. Then we'll go to Nik.”
Once in the office, Sage Elvan had a hard time concentrating. It kept looking at Jal, wondering what to do. Jal glanced up, and their eyes met. Jal took the earpiece out and turned. “Yes, Master? You have something for me to do?”
“No, I don’t. I don’t know who to ask about instruction for martial arts and weaponry.”
“You could ask Zarlesh Barloch.”
“I don’t know this person.”
“He is the First Secretary of the Delegation to Malboaa Four.”
“How do you know him?”
“He requested a plant from the garden when I was seeking locations for them inside. He has pictures of weaponry and martial arts posted around his workstation.”
“At the lunch break, I’d like you to introduce me to him.”
“Yes, Master.”
Jal became caught up in the geography lesson of Manapii of Trazene. Its mind wandered westward to Nacturis and Haybut. Under its breath, it began to chant. “Cumd uxad ve’ne it, U nume rimos, Mi tisa nim rume, Qui om niar egit.”
“Jal?” Sage Elvan said its name several times, but there was no response. Jal repeated the chant and rocked back and forth. “North along the mountains, to the wide river by the Hidden Cave Falls. Cross through behind the water.”
“Jal, are you okay? Jal!” Jal jumped. “Are you meditating?”
“Um, no, Master. I’m studying. Do you see the supposedly uninhabited area of Trazene? Here are the animals that live there. There are actually people living there. They weren’t counted in the census.”
“Does your book actually say there are people there?”
“No, but there are.”
“And you know this how?”
“They are Stafriez. I can hear them. The tones in their voices are different from the bigger group.”
“You’re hearing voices?”
“Of course. Don’t you hear them when you’re meditating?”
“I don’t hear voices.”
“I thought you did. Do you say the chant?” Jal asked.
“The song you were singing?”
“It’s a chant, Master. If you want to learn it, I will teach you.”
“Who taught you the chant, Jal?”
“The voices did. I heard them as a baby. I hear them in the morning when I wake and at night before I sleep. They're louder when I meditate.”
“I see.” Sage Elvan went back to its desk. Soon it was shuffling papers again. It listened to the latest communications from the Haybuti leaders and the Zibran officials. Victor ben Nacri rapped lightly on the door frame. Sage Elvan didn’t respond.
“Can I help you with something, Master Nacri?”
“Yes, Jal. I was hoping that Jan and I might meet for lunch to discuss the situation in New Zaletori.”
“My understanding is that Sage Elvan is available for lunch. It would like to meet someone briefly during that time. Could we delay lunch together for say, fifteen minutes?”
“Certainly. Let’s eat at Summit Brewery. Thank you, Jal.”
Just before the noon hour, Jal led Sage Elvan to Zarlesh Barloch’s workstation. After a brief introduction, Sage Elvan asked Zarlesh whether it was affiliated with a specific weapon and martial arts organization.
“You are looking for instruction for Jal?”
“I am.”
“Toda Uchikyo is an excellent instructor, Sage Elvan. I also serve as an instructor when I am needed. I thought you were already taking instruction, Jal.”
“I was. I – we – I was hoping to find someone of a similiar strength and skill level.”
“I will evaluate you for placement in the classes,” Zarlesh offered. “Is there a reason you are changing instructors?”
Jal looked at Sage Elvan. it didn’t know what to say.
"Did someone hurt you?" Jal shook its head. “Did you hurt someone?” Zarlesh repeated the question, insisting that Jal answer him.
“Yes.”
“I will test you myself,” Zarlesh proclaimed. Before Jal had a chance to think, a time and date were set for a test.
***
Zarlesh Barloch stood over Jal, the stinger sword touching Jal’s stomach as the light on the fighting vest flashed a red light.
“I give up,” Jal muttered. “You beat me again.”
Zarlesh offered it a hand. “You are excellent at the martial arts because of your strength. Your weaponry skills need a lot more training. How serious are you about this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you spend your time in the exercise room, working with weights? A jumping cord? Aerobatics? Calisthenics? Running?” Jal shook its head until Zarlesh got to running. “I would suggest that we begin with aerobatics and calisthenics, then spend part of each session alternating between martial arts and weaponry.”
Zarlesh went to Sage Elvan. “I will take Jal on as a student, with one proviso.” Sage Elvan waited for him to speak. “If Jal complains to you about the training or treatment it is getting from me, we are finished.”
“That means I would agree to let you abuse it. I’m sorry for wasting your time, Zarlesh. We will go elsewhere.”
“I don’t abuse my students! I challenge them to do their best every time. Jal will be exhausted after the first ten or so sessions. As it builds its strength and coordination, the exhaustion will lessen. You saw what we did. I didn’t hurt it. You can come to watch any of the lessons without advance notice.”
“Can you give us a few minutes?” Sage Elvan looked at Jal as Zarlesh retreated from the practice room. “Was that hard, Jal? Did you feel threatened?” Jal shook its head. “It sounds like you will have to work harder at home. Do you want to do this? It's your choice.”
"I have to! I have to be able to fight my way across Shifos! I have to!"