“Today?” Syp was stunned. “But Eiske said I could stay for a while.”

“Today,” Solrio said firmly. “It’s not safe for you or Eiske like this. Someone tried to kill you both. Someone destroyed his property. You’ve both been in a fight. It’s simply not safe, Syp.”

“Can I help him repair the chickenhouse before we go?”

The two adults looked at each other. “No.”

Eiske tried to push the emotion out of his voice. “I’ll get it, Syp. You need to go. I want you to be safe.”

“But what about you? It’s not safe for you either!”

“The Protectorate will provide armed guards for Eiske until the situation calms down.”

“Will I still get to see you?” Syp’s voice wavered, and low-pitched, rolling chirrups came from its throat.

“Let’s talk about that with Sage Elvan,” Solrio tried to reassure Syp. “I’m sure we can work something out so you can remain in contact. The two of you are going to transport to Eiske’s to gather your things. We will transport to the Tower of Ridali in an hour.”

***

The three stood at the edge of what appeared to be a small working farm. Several roosters crowed from inside a shed. A young woman met them at the door.

“Welcome to Ridali Farm. How may I serve you?” she asked with a smile.

“We’re here to see Sage Elvan,” Solrio answered.

“I’m Taryn. I am the sage’s assistant. It's expecting you,” she said quietly.

Syp was still in awe at seeing the tower. The multicolored stones of the tower had reflected the morning light and the beauty was breathtaking, Syp thought. “The tower is huge!” Syp blurted.

“It has one hundred fifty-six steps, twelve levels and fifty-four windows. This is a good place to leave your things for right now,” she said to Syp.Syp put down the case it carried and slid the backpack off.

Taryn led the group through a wide foyer toward the desk where a blue-skinned man sat at a computer.

“Here are your visitors. Do you need anything?”

“Would you make us some tea? And bring a plate of those fruit pastries we had at breakfast. Thank you.” The sage towered over its guests. “I’m Jan Elvan,” it smiled. “You must be Syp.”

“Yes,” Syp didn’t know what to say. The sage studied its expression, hair, and apparel.

“I’m Solrio Nansen, from the Protectorate Enclave. And this is Dr. Eiske Bonnema, Syp’s uncle.”

“Uncle? You have an uncle?”

“Yes. Doesn’t everyone?” Syp responded.

“We give titles of respect to our Stafriez family and community. ‘Uncle’ is an honorable title in other races. Syp shows great respect for you, Doctor.”

“Yes, it does,” Eiske agreed.

A bell rang across the room. “Excuse me for a moment.” The sage went to a huge desk. It studied a computer screen and began to type. As Syp, Eiske and Sorio waited, Syp was overwhelmed by the urge to run. “I’m so nervous,” it whispered to Eiske.

“Your anxiety might be well-founded,” the sage spoke from across the room. “I have high expectations for those who become part of my household. I expect that you will listen carefully, obey without questioning, and not spend time in trivialities.” It picked up a tablet and went to a small table. “Please join me.”

Taryn returned with a tray of teacups and the teapot, left, and returned with a plate of pastries. “Sage Elvan, is it customary to discuss things during the tea, or should I wait?” Solrio asked.

“We will talk as we eat.” Taryn spoke as she filled the cups. “Let’s begin with how long this child will be with us,” she said.

“Taryn, you are not in charge! Let’s begin with a bit of background of why you have come to me, Syp.”

“My parents don’t want me. They’ve declared that I’m an adult, and they sent me off their property and away from the family. Eiske granted me sanctuary when I asked for it. They are angry with Eiske for helping me. Someone tried to kill us, and my father and brothers tried to hurt us in a fight. Someone broke into Eiske’s house while we were gone. They painted threats and killed all the baby chicks. If I leave, maybe they’ll leave Eiske alone. Please grant me sanctuary.”

“This is not a Protectorate-sanctioned facility that grants sanctuary. This is my home. You are safe here. Tell me how old you are.”

“Five years and a few months.”

“The family you lived with sent you out to be on your own?” Its voice was incredulous. “Your schooling is unfinished and your metamorphosis has just begun. Have you studied Stafriez history?” Syp shook its head no. “The great writers of the world? Conflict management? The animals of the planet? Planetary landmarks?” Unhappily, Syp shook its head over and over. “What do you know?” it finally said, exasperated.

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“I had earth science, mathematics, the history of the planet, writing, health and safety, and physical activities.”

“That is the curriculum of the school in Pencadick Rill?”

“Yes.”

“It leaves much to be desired.” It clinked its cup onto the saucer. “Have you begun your training in magic?”

Taryn watched as Syp reached for the cup of tea and realized that Syp hadn’t even had a swallow. She took Syp’s teacup to the kitchen and returned with it and a second teapot. She filled Syp’s cup with hot tea.

“Drink this,” she said to Syp. “It will help you relax. Sage Elvan, it is obvious that the expectations were different. You received your first wand at age two. Maybe that happens at age six on the rest of the peninsula, Doctor?”

“It varies from household to household. Some families have never used magic. They cannot teach what they do not know,” Eiske responded.

“Syp, did your parent use magic?” Sage Elvan demanded.

“Magic was never discussed or used.”

“But you know what it is. You are aware of what a person can do with it.”

“The only thing I’ve experienced was from a charm of protection that I was given. I watched Eiske activate it when we camped overnight in a tent. A man shot his gun at us, and the charm protected us.”

“Surely your parent used magic in the kitchen.”

“No.”

“Let’s talk about your self-defense training,” Taryn changed the subject.

“Self-defense training?” Syp echoed.

“You know, boxing, using weapons, martial arts, and so forth.” Syp had no idea what the sage was talking about. "What exactly did you spend your time doing, child?”

“I helped with meal preparation and clean-up. I helped with the laundry, sewed and mended clothing, mopped the floors, cleaned the cooking area and worked in the garden. I did my schoolwork, but couldn’t see very well, so it took me a long time.”

“That’s it? You’re five years old and those are the only things you did?” the sage was perplexed.

Solrio tried to soften the situation. “What did you do when you weren’t doing chores?”

“I went out to the garden and the woods. In the winter, I was encouraged to read. It was awkward and frustrating.”

Sage Elvan had been looking over the reports that Solrio had created after each time she was with Syp. “Why did you choose to come to me, Solrio?”

“Your name was brought up at the Stafriez pod meeting. The others stated that you’ve worked with apprentices. What do you think?”

“I think we have a lot of work to do,” it said quietly. “Syp may stay in my care. It will receive self-defense training, magic instruction, be taught Stafriez self-care, outdoor skills, and how to use currency. I expect it to learn a craft. I would like it to accompany me when I’m travelling, so it learns about the people of Zuphreon.”

Syp’s head spun. How would it do all those things? Maybe it would be better with Eiske? It looked at Eiske, then down at the table. “I can’t do that to him,” Syp thought. “He needs to be safe! I have to make this work.”

“Thank you, Sage Elvan,” Solrio said quietly. “Syp needs a calm, steady presence. I’ll continue to work with my people to track down its parent. I have papers that we’ll need to fill out.” She paused.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“There are several problems. The first is that of its identity.” She looked at Syp. “You are no longer Syp Bron. Have you thought some more about a new name?”

“I have. Jal, Jomari, or Doren.”

She typed on the electronic pad in front of her. “None of those names are used by anyone in the planetary registry. What is your decision?”

“Jal Jomari.”

Solrio filled out a form. When she was finished, she said, “Now, regarding your status. You were acknowledged and entered into the Protectorate records as an adult when you were granted sanctuary, since you had been formally ‘loosed.’ That is a status that I cannot change in your identity record. However, you will show respect for the Sage and do as it directs you to, even when you do not agree with it. In this household, you are the child, until the Sage declares that you are an adult. Do you understand what I’m saying, Jal?”

“Yes, I will be respectful.”

“I will give you a new computer and you will continue with the studies that you’ve started. I expect to hear from you weekly. There’s a brief format that I’ll send you to use. I have all kinds of resources available, and I may recommend one from time to time. I’ve arranged for you to receive a small amount of currency regularly, so that you can learn to handle your own finances.” Solrio looked at her list. “I don’t know how to handle this next item. Sage Elvan and Dr. Bonnema, we need to work together to determine how Syp, I mean Jal, can stay in contact with its uncle.”

“We can communicate electronically, Jal,” Eiske proposed. “Perhaps Jal can visit on a weekend now and then,” he said to the sage.

“We can arrange that. Generally, after a few days of travel and work, I return home, and we have several days to rest. I will communicate with you electronically.”

“The next thing on my list is the search for Jal’s genetic parent and the information that we have assembled from various sources. I’m sure Jal will share what it knows with you. I have several things that I can check into and will provide updates regularly. You may visit your grandparents, Jal, but you will not have any contact with Haerm or Geldou Bron or any of their children. If they are in a business when you enter it, turn around and leave. If you are somewhere and they enter that building, they should leave. Is there anything else that we need to discuss? I’ll let you think about that for a moment. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

When Solrio returned to the group, she had a sheaf of papers. “Jal, the components for your computer are sitting with your belongings at the entrance. This is for you, Sage Elvan.” She went through the documents with it. “Here are your identity documents, Jal. I’ll contact the Honorable Bahansir and have your name changed in their records. When I receive your Stafriez identity card, I’ll have it delivered. Let me do this,” she held an electronic device to Jal’s shoulder. After a moment, it beeped. “Your identity marker has been updated.”

“Identity marker?”

“Each person, when it is born, is given an identity marker. It contains that person’s name, medical history, and contact information for a family member. You didn’t have one when you came to us. Dr. Inoday put one in your arm as you slept.” Solrio picked up her things and slid them into a leather case. “I have great confidence that this will all work out. I look forward to hearing from each of you. I’ll return in ninety days and we’ll assess how things are going.” Sage Elvan walked her to the door and she thanked it for its support of Jal, then left.

Jal and Eiske sat at the table looking at each other. “It’s time for me to go too, Jal.”

“Eiske,” Jal struggled to speak. “Eiske, please be careful."

“You can be sure I will.”

“Thank you for helping me.” Jal walked him to the door.

As he turned to go, Eiske saw the worry on Jal’s face. He caught Jal by the sleeve, then embraced it. “We’re going to be okay. Things will calm down. We’ll see one another. We can talk whenever you need to.”