“Legend states that a babe nourished from the unicorn’s milk will take on the powers of a unicorn. This child is proof of that,” Master Gilbert argued to Master Miriam. They stood in the Forum during the early morning as shadows of the cloisters loomed over them.
The tall silhouettes of the Seven Masters of the Sanctuary fell on the floor amongst those shadows and a sliver of lavender light filtered in from the arched windows. Though Master Gilbert whispered, his voice seemed to echo in the silent halls. He had rapped on their doors ten minutes earlier after finding the baby crying in the fields that morning.
“The legend also says that the sacred unicorn horns would keep its healing abilities when separated, but we now know that to be false. Unfortunately, it took a great massacre for us to find that out,” Master Miriam retorted. She crossed her arms, and leaned toward him. A halo of frizzy brown hair caught the sunrise in its mass.
“We have now protected and raised two generations of unicorns here in our sanctuary since the massacre. As of today, we can verify the legend of the unicorn’s milk transferring powers to a child,” Master Gilbert persisted, shifting the baby in his arms and leaning toward the other Masters. A soft coo came from the baby as he moved her.
“Let’s calm ourselves,” A deep voice said. Its tone bounced off the walls and commanded attention. Master Joseph thumped his cane on the stone floor. “We have no proof that this child has any powers. The question at hand is what will happen to her?” The other six scholars looked towards him. The masters knew him as the quietest of the seven, so for Joseph to step in to the conversation, the other knew to listen.
“Regardless, we will raise her here with the other three orphans.” Master Miriam said. Everyone nodded and murmured their agreement to that. “We dedicated our halls to safety and learning ages ago. We have taken abandoned children in since our founding centuries ago. I see no reason to stop that with this child because she appears touched by the unicorns.” She looked around to see the other’s pale faces. The light was getting brighter and casting more of a rose-colored glow. She shoved a handful of her graying hair behind her ears and looked back to Master Gilbert.
“But we must take special precautions for her. She is Ashkomani, which is dangerous enough here in Velumia. It’s clear something is different about her from other Ashkomani coloring,” Master Gilbert said. He turned her around in his arms so the other six Masters could see. Master Miriam and Joseph stretched their candles closer as they leaned in. Even as the light grew closer to her, the baby’s enormous eyes were such a dark, solid black that they resembled pools of ink. Her sparse blond hair had white strands threaded through it as it lay across her darker skin. Several of the other scholars stepped closer and noticed the slight differences. “The King has forbidden anyone from tampering with his unicorns on our property. They would see her as illegal or a danger. We must protect her.” Some nodded their agreement.
“All we know is that she’s a child found near the unicorns in our protection. I suggest we let her grow and see what happens as she ages. We shouldn’t rush to make exceptions for her compared to the other children in our care yet. The idea of this myth being real is absurd!” Master Miriam insisted.
“Regardless, she is a child of the Ashkomahni.” Master Isaac stated. He rubbed his bearded chin and frowned, as he so often did. “With the King now at war with them, this on its own will cause her danger enough.”
“Yes, and I found a note tucked in her clothing. I handed it to Master Rika to translate,” Master Gilbert said as Master Rika stepped forward. The younger woman had just earned her black robes and nervously pulled the scrap of paper out from her pocket.
“It’s poorly written,” She whispered and reread it while translating. “The mother could not provide safety for the child. They were ill with disease and dying. She was near a battle and she had heard rumors of our protective Sanctuary and its unicorns. The girl had no way of surviving with her, so she thought this the best option.” Rika said. She looked up at the other Masters.
“Will we still take her in, knowing she could be violent? What if they were to return in several years and demand her back?” Master Joseph asked.
“That is nothing but pure prejudice! We’re responsible for her now,” Master Miriam stepped in and ran her fingers through the baby’s soft curls. “We will provide safety and education to her like we would any other foundling.”
“Agreed.” Master Dana said. “Her tan skin and pale hair are a distinction that will endanger her. We need to restrict her from roaming the city after she has chosen her course of study at age twelve like the others. For her protection from possible aggression against her from the citizens of the city.”
“I say we determine that when the time comes. The city and the King know and respect our rules. I should not think he would dishonor our order. His grandfather granted us this land and the edict to educate Velumia’s citizen’s in exchange for our neutrality in its wars.”
Master Gilbert, like Dana and Rika, rolled their eyes at that comment. He placed little trust in the King’s word, whatever had come before him.
“The King should not be informed under any circumstances.” Master Gilbert stated.
The others nodded except Miriam. They all looked at her as she mulled it over. Finally, she agreed as well. By now, daylight was upon them and the baby’s brilliant white hair glowed in the light.
“I’ll take her to the dormitory.” Master Judith said, picking her up from Master Gilbert’s arms. “Master Rika, will you help bring out a cradle for her?”
At that the Masters dispersed, going about their early morning routines.
#
A little girl bounded up the stairs to the balcony that looked over the courtyard below. Her unkempt white hair spilled out of its two braids as they bounced down her back. She boosted herself up on the ledge and peered down below with large, uncanny black eyes. A boy about her age and a girl a few years older walked through the portcullis from the city below with a woman.
Elly had spent the past three years as the only child in her age group in the Sanctuary. There were two boys several years older who wanted nothing to do with the strange girl who seemed like a baby to them. A few years ago another foundling baby girl joined the Sanctuary, but she was an actual baby so Elly didn’t count her. Now she might finally have some playmates! Elly watched from above while Master Joseph talked with the woman. She couldn’t make out what he was saying, but by the looks on the siblings’ faces, they seemed scared. Elly thought about running down to them to tell them they would love this place. She wanted to let them know she would be their friend, but she knew she would be in great trouble from the Masters if she showed herself to anyone outside.
Usually the Masters, scholars, and students rarely left the walls of the Sanctuary. Those who entered its walls agreed to take part in the self-sustaining way of its peaceful life. They also committed to the community by choosing an area of study. The Master’s took in foundlings and orphans and raised them in their ways. Many left with the scholars when they became of age. But most scholars, children between the ages of twelve and eighteen, were the children of affluent adults in the town who sent them there to learn a trade.
As the grown-ups talked, the little boy and girl examined the courtyard. The scholars used it as a halfway place between the Sanctuary. Various Masters and students sold the excess wares of the Sanctuary to the townspeople. The ground was dirt and weeds from heavy walking. Tables of spun cloth, cheese, vegetables, and bread lined the inner walls of the barrier of the city and the outer walls of the Sanctuary itself.
Elly waited until the woman handed a bag to Master Joseph and walked through the portcullis to the street before running down the stairs. Her hands brushed along the railings and then the wall, as her little bare feet carried her as fast as she could run. Elly burst through the tall, wooden door to the courtyard to a surprised look on the faces of the Master and the children.
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“Hi! I’m Elly! Can I be your first friend at Sanctuary?” She said, stopping in front of them and holding her hand out.
“Elly!” Master Joseph said, but Elly ignored him. The boy giggled, his dark blond hair flopped across his forehead as he tried to hide his laugh with his hand. His sister, who was almost identical but older, looked at Elly with alarm and then narrowed her eyes.
The boy took her hand and shook it. His face was puffy and his eyes red from crying, but he gave her a smile.
“I’m Sculwic. This is my sister Mildred.” The older girl crossed her arms in front of her chest. Elly smiled at her anyway as she put her hand down. Clearly, the girl didn’t feel like shaking it. “I guess this is our home now.” The boy said, the smile fading from his face. “Do you live here too?”
Elly nodded. “What happened to your old home?” Elly asked.
“Nothing. But our parents got sick and died.” Mildred said, narrowing her blue eyes at Elly.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Elly said. “I never knew mine. But I’ll show you all the rooms here! Will they stay in my dorm, Master Joseph?” She looked up at the older man, his beard fluttering in the slight summer breeze. He shifted the bag of belonging to his other shoulder.
“Yes, they will. Mildred and Sculwic, Elly can show you around. I will have your new robes and other belongings laid on your beds when you arrive there.” He said, and they all walked into the wide entryway of the Sanctuary.
“I have to wear a gross, brown robe like hers?” Mildred said, appalled.
“It’s not gross. They’re really soft!” Elly said with a little twirl. “Anyway, I’ll show you around, if you want?”
“I’ll stay with you, Master Joseph.” Mildred said, grabbing his hand and making a face at Elly. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t seen before.
Elly shrugged and the boy nodded. She opened the large doors to the Atrium. Elly weaved around the large potted plants and showed him the histories of Velumia depicted in the stained glass ceilings above their heads. Finely crafted wooden beams stretched up from the stone walls and separated the different panels. Sculwic meandered behind her as she pointed out the herbs and small flowering trees as their familiar floral scents surrounded them. Then they ran out through the archway into the field opposite the entrance gate. She pointed out that the Master’s rooms and refectory were down the southern hallway, and that the other hallway that branched from the Atrium was their lecture halls, student dorms, and scholar dorms. He told her that this was all so much larger and prettier than any place he’d ever lived. Elly smiled, took his hand and then led him through the archway to the tall grass beyond. They ran across the meadow and came to a barn with a wooden fence around it. Elly flung her arms over the railings, it’s rough hewn wood poking into her robes and he imitated her.
“Aren’t the horses pretty?” She asked. Two brown horses with black manes stood next to each other in the grass beyond the fence.
“Yeah. They’re big, too.” Sculwic said.
“We can’t ride them yet. But Master Gilbert says I can when I’m seven. That’s just next year.”
“Oh, I can’t ride them for another two years then,” the boy said, looking disappointed. “Who’s Master Gilbert?”
“He’s my favorite of the Masters. He takes care of the animals. I’m going to do that when I grow up.”
“Who are the masters?” The boy asked, looking up at her.
“Oh, they teach us everything. You met Master Joseph when you came in. We’re the students because we’re still learning. We wear brown robes so we can go see any lecture we want at any time! But when you’re twelve, you become a scholar and then you get to switch to grey robes. Scholars have to make a schedule and choose their focus. I’m gonna pick animals or maybe healing and the body. I like to take the fighting classes with Master Judith. Some people come just to be a scholar, and then they get to go back out into the world. But some choose to graduate to a Master! Then you get to wear the black robes and teach. I’ll do that. Master Gilbert and Master Judith say I can’t ever go out into the world.”
“Why’s that?”
Elly shrugged, “Because I looked weird, I guess. Everyone has brown or black hair, but mine’s white. The other students say my eyes are creepy. And my skin’s too dark for a Velumian like you. I’m Ashkomahni, which you guys have fought against forever. Master Gilbert says that makes me special, but people will think I’m dangerous.”
“My Pa did fight against your people but you don’t seem dangerous to me.” Sculwic said and smiled, grabbing her hand. Elly returned his smile with an enormous grin.
“Thanks.” She plopped down on the grass and started threading her fingers through it. Sculwic joined her, sitting on his feet.
“So you been here your whole life?” He asked.
“Yes.”
“Do you like it here?”
“I haven’t ever been anywhere else. But the masters are nice and the food in the refectory is yummy as long as Master Dana isn’t on cooking duty.” Elly laughed. Her cheery attitude was infectious and the little boy smiled.
“Wanna see more animals?” Elly said. Sculwic nodded, and Elly stood up and squeezed between the two wooden rungs into the pasture. Elly took pride in showing him the goats, donkeys, chickens, ducks, and rabbits. The smells of the animals comforted Elly as she showed him how to brush their fur. He hadn’t been around animals much so Elly showed him how to store the feed and how much to give each animal. Then a sly smile crossed Elly’s face, and she turned to Sculwic.
“What have you heard about The Sanctuary?” she asked the boy.
“Well, everyone says you’re a bunch of know it alls and they call ya shut-ins. And it’s not fair because y’all get the King’s safety when we’re under attack. But I guess that worked out for me now. Also, everyone says you keep the best stuff here. They say there’s books of magic and secret weapons, and special animals kept here because y’all are so locked up.”
Elly giggled. “Well, one of those things is true. I’ll show you the special animals.”
“Aw, you don’t have any secret weapons or magic books?” Sculwic said.
“No, but this is almost like magic.” And Elly took off running across the field and headed into the forest. Sculwic hurried after her. They dodged through the trees, laughing and chasing each other. Elly loved the feeling of the wind rushing through her hair and the hardened soles of her bare feet hitting the soft dirt and mossy forest floor. Twigs snapped and leaves crunched as they ran. They came to another fence and Elly collapsed at the base of one post, her chest rising and lowering with her quickened breath. Sculwic joined her, still laughing, and sat down cross-legged near her. He looked around and saw nothing but more tall grass and the wood they had just come through.
“Where are these secret animals?” He asked through panting breaths.
“Hold on a second. They only just felt me come here!” Elly said. She flopped herself down on the ground and rested her head on her hands in the grass. Sculwic did the same, kicking his legs behind him and swinging them through the air. He watched as Elly closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. She seemed to concentrate on something. After a few moments that felt like forever to Sculwic, Elly leaped up to her feet and leaned on the fence.
“They’re here!” she said. A grin spread across her face as she looked where the woods met the field to their right. Sculwic then heard the soft sound of hoofbeats pounding, and not long after came the most brilliant herd of white unicorns. Sculwic let out a gasp and stared as they trotted up towards them. As they came nearer, he backed away from the fence in fear, but Elly grabbed his hand.
“No, stay. They’re gentle.” She said with a smile. The boy watched in awe as the herd of several unicorns slowed to a walk and came right up to Elly’s open hand. They each took turns trying to nuzzle her face and lick her palms. It left Sculwic speechless.
“They’re real! I thought they was just an old story like griffins!” He said in a whisper.
Elly stepped off the fence and turned to him with an enormous grin.
“Wow,” was all Sculwic could say. Elly called to Ezhil, and she trotted over. She showed him how gentle they were and taught him their names as he petted their flanks. She explained that they wouldn’t come for just anyone and would only let her and Master Gilbert touch them, or people she brought with her.
“They’re pretty shy. But they feel me. Ezhil saved me and they make me feel better when I’m lonely.” They stayed near the fence and spent time with the unicorn most of the afternoon.
“Well, it’s just about dinner time and I haven’t even shown you all the rooms in the Sanctuary!” Elly said. “We should get back to the castle.”
“Race ya?” Sculwic said with a smile to his new friend. Elly nodded, but before she could take off he tapped her shoulder and said, “Tag!” as he bolted from her.
Elly didn’t move. “What?” She hollered at him. He stopped running and turned around at once.
“What do you mean, what? I tagged you.” he said.
Elly shook her head and gave him an embarrassed smile. “I don’t know what that means.” She admitted.
Sculwic looked at her with confusion. “Are you the only kid in here?”
“No, but the others stay away from me or are babies.”
Sculwic rolled his eyes. “Well here, how it works is I tag you and then you’re it. I run and you chase after me. Then, if you catch me and tag me, I’m it again! I ain’t ever had to explain it before.”
“Well, then, TAG!” Elly said, nudging him on the shoulder and taking off towards the Sanctuary, giggling as he ran after her. They ran across the meadow, insects buzzing and swirling up into the air after the two children ran through the grass.