Today was a good day. The spring sun had warmed the garden’s stone benches. A southerly wind bristled through the ash trees. Finches and robins echoed each others’ tweets. And the work week had come to an end.
Not that it had been a bad week, Sienna kept telling herself. The schooling was up to her expectations. The teachers engaging and the premises grandiose. She’d also met a couple of classmates and had started to spend her breaks with them. Taylor and Lila, both demis that had approached her during dinner and expressed their joy that one of their ilk had gotten the pride position.
She didn’t have the heart to tell them it wouldn’t last, nor that she’d refused the responsibilities tied to the role.
But friends ! And new stuff to discover ! The schedule alone was a dream come true to her. Language and calculus studies on Monday and Tuesday, getting the more mundane but necessary subjects out of the way first. Then Wednesday, history and geography. Learning about the past and how it shaped the world from competent scholars was a treat in and of itself.
And yet, Thursday and Friday took the cake. Combat and strategy followed by spiritual theory and its applications. The two fields she yearned to excel at. And in which she did.
She couldn’t describe this week in any other way than ‘exciting’.
Yet she kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the news of the fox clan’s demise to reach the other students. For the famed cruelty of highborn scions to show itself.
But today was a good day. She was meditating in a small courtyard enclosed by the College’s perimeter walls. Letting the air swirl against her skin. Emptying her mind of all distractions. And focusing on her inner eye.
With new experiences came new opportunities for Psy adepts. In times of change they would examine their mind, compare their old memories to those fresh thoughts, and spot where their Psy needed nurturing or thinning. It had all sounded so esoteric to Sienna’s ears at first, yet it made perfect sense now that she could access her core.
Her attention started to wander toward those first lessons her birth mother had given her.
“Psy is the act of the mind. It is the connection your will has with the world. It can tell you which way your prey hides, launch your arrow without a bow, and freeze your target in place so the arrow hits. It is as much a force as a sense upon the living and the inanimate. Yet, it must know its purpose to achieve it. Only through true understanding will you fully master your Psy. So yes, you must stay diligent in your studies, no matter how boring and meaningless they may seem.”
Sienna had taken those words to heart, consuming every scrape of knowledge she could get her hands on. Her natural curiosity helped her during many sleepless nights, pushing her ever deeper through the complexities of the world.
She managed her first peek at her core when she was twelve, a feat worthy of celebration. She’d spent weeks unraveling the weave her subconscious had deployed to hide her Psy. She’d had to face her fears, her desires and the lies she shrouded herself with. Everybody had a weave smothering their core, a sprawling web of instinctive defenses protecting one’s mind from the everyday life.
Once stripped bare of those primitive defenses, the adept had to rebuild them, but this time following conscious design. This way, the adept would keep access to his core and control over his Psy while still retaining some capacity to handle frustration, heartache and wrath. Many tales featured characters that lost themselves to madness due to faulty protections.
Sienna recalled spending a dozen days in isolation to construct her bastion. An upsetting fugue during which any hurtful thought threw her off and caused whirlwinds of emotions to surge. She’d emerged from the ordeal changed in ways difficult to describe.
Focus.
Bringing her attention back toward her core, she mentally toured the castle protecting it. The moats were deep enough to staunch vexation. The ramparts had stable foundations, a bulwark against the fires of anger. They were dotted with three gates and their respective bridges, for a core cut off from the outside world was a dying one. And then there was the keep. Her mighty keep, offering quite the view of her mindscape, ever watching for any creeping vices.
She skipped the dungeons, her fears safe in the dark cells.
Finally, she settled in the empty yard that was her bailey. She’d been told its contents and layout needed extensive planning, that it would define her Psy for the years to come. Her prime mother, having herself graduated from the Queen’s College of Dublin, had strongly advised Sienna to leave its furnishing for when she could consult the College’s professors and libraries.
She’d often wondered why the bailey had to be left bare when she’d decorated the keep’s rooms as she pleased.
Miss Owley, the professor in charge of Introduction to Spiritual Methodology, had shed some light on the matter.
“You have all proved to be aware of your core and to have shaped the beginnings of a mental stronghold during the entrance examinations. An outer shell, referred to as the walls, covering an inner shell, the tower, in which your core resides. That is the standard form of an adept’s psyche. Most commonly, a castle of sort.
“While the tower is yours to garnish as you please, I sincerely hope none of you filled the gap between inner and outer layers. If you did, please come see me at the end of class. You will most likely have to erase whatever you put there before starting over. Do not worry, it is a quick process, if not a painless one.
“For those wondering, and I expect all of you to have some interest in the matter, the immediate surroundings of the core are far too fluctuant to establish any durable structure. It is strongly affected by your immediate situation. Your hunger, a conversation, or even music can warp what you put in your center. As such, what you elect to do with it is inconsequential. Meanwhile, the tower prevents this aura from leaking further and the walls contain the middle part, which we will use to construct your Psyonics.”
That had shed some light on the matter. But what were Psyonics ?
Sensing her distraction, Sienna gave up her meditation and headed for the library. The treasure trove of the London College had weighted heavily in her choice of university. On the way, she saw few other students, most had preferred to explore the city or gather in private clubs.
The library was a tall and rotund building, its gothic style imposing. It was rumored to house the Trojan Lexicon, an infamous repository of banned curses, among other mythical writings. Of course, Sienna didn’t expect to come across such books, but the promises of good reading material made her core ruffle in excitement.
Inside, a bespectacled clerk behind a massive desk greeted her with a smile that quickly lost its luster when she took in Sienna’s full figure.
“Do you need something ?” The tone of her voice was flat, her eyes guarded.
“Hm, yes. Could you direct me to the history section ?”
“Second floor, West quadrant.” The woman went back to her ledger without another word, ending the conversation.
It seemed that even surrounded by so much knowledge, people could still harbor prejudices.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Sienna made her way to the spiral staircase in the center, listing the main historical events she wanted to research. The second floor had rows of carrels in a radius around the stairs, the bookshelves crowding the background. Before she could make her way toward the history section, a familiar face waved her over.
“Sienna ! Surprised seeing you here ! Well, I suppose a pride has to study even on her free time, right ? Anyway, how are you today ? Met our lovely librarian, haven’t you ? You’ve got to love human conviviality. If my moms hadn’t insisted I earn myself an officer commission I’d be long gone to the new world. No haughty taughty blanks to tell me what to do ? That’s the dream.”
Taylor, the ermine demi she’d sympathized with. Sienna usually enjoyed the girl’s enthusiasm but she could be a bit excessive, and the library was not Sienna’s idea of a social place. Which, from the looks they were garnering from the few students present, was a commonly held view.
Still, she felt she should temper Taylor’s views. Play the devil’s advocate, as it were. “They’re not all like that, you know.”
“Maybe, but they sure don’t show it.” Sienna cringed a bit.
“Well… I’ve met plenty who were polite to me. Some even friendly.”
That only incensed Taylor more. “And yet you never see demis in charge. Oh, they let us play as small-time officials or lower ranked officers, but don’t be fooled. They don’t want us anywhere near true authority.” A shadow passed behind her eyes.
Sienna could tell the discussion had taken a turn, yet she insisted. “What about the clans ? They have-“
“They’re toothless.” Taylor cut off. “Since the Treaty of Union, the clans have held neither power nor influence.” A great sigh escaped her lips. She took a step back and cast a somewhat matronizing look at Sienna. “Listen, I get it. Ireland is kind of alright with demis from what I hear, but it’s a whole other story around here. Stay warry of humans, that’s all I’m saying.”
“If you say so… Hey, it was nice to see you, but I really have to study now. We can meet back at lunch, alright ?”
“Sure, sure. I was just on my way out anyway. Bye.”
Sienna watched as Taylor took the stairway down. The girl was a bit too quick to look down upon humans sometimes, yet Sienna had to admit she’d spoke true in part. She could understand the animosity, but she felt keeping an open mind was an easier way to reach her goals.
Chasing those thoughts away, she turned back toward the many shelves adorning the circular walls of the library. She had a date with knowledge !
----------------------------------------
They knew. She could feel it.
She’d spent the rest of the weekend either holed up in the library or practicing her sword in the deserted courtyard. She’d also shared meals with Taylor and Lila, even if the former was a bit more reserved now. But Sunday evening, she began to hear whispers following her in the hallways. And today she had felt their judging eyes upon her animal ears.
Sienna guessed that most were simply enjoying the gossip for what it was, while some were assessing what advantage they could draw out of her situation. Some had called her naïve in the past, but she was definitely aware of the social game people played against each other. It was a fact of life, with tangible prizes to be won after all.
She just would have liked to be spared from having a role in it. Alas…
“This is why we should dismantle the clan’s parliament. At best it is totally ineffective at controlling their ilk, at worst they actively encourage uprisings.”
“Indeed. Not one ounce of honor in that lot.”
“It has been three generations since their integration into the empire, and yet you’d think it was only yesterday that they attacked Carlisle’s garrison.”
Hazel Russel, heiress to the duchy of Bedfordshire, and her posse had taken the table next to hers. Sienna, Taylor and Lila had been eating in silence in a corner of the refectory when the group deliberately sat near them and started badmouthing the clans.
Taylor’s hands were trembling in rage while Lila’s knuckles were white around her knife.
“I seem to remember that a few of the clans joined of their own free will. Maybe we should deal with those exclusively and send the others… somewhere else.” Hazel proposed primly, as if she’d thought that up on the spot.
“That is a grand idea, miss Russel ! Reward those that know their place and-“
“Only a fool would trust a human. And the bears didn’t join of their own free will. Their cubs and males were taken in the night by scums paid with royal gold ! Don’t speak of honor when your race has none.”
Taylor’s words chilled the air. The three girls surrounding the heiress all sported vicious smiles, ready to tear into the demi that dared talk back. Hazel held an amused look, as if this scene was a part of her favorite play.
“Oh ? Then what about the snakes ? Did they not leave the highlands and settle in England proper before the war ?”
“The ravens, too.”
“And the ravens ! They faced the other clans during the battle of Edinburgh, didn’t they ?”
The interaction sounded scripted, rehearsed. A bait to prod the demi girls further. Taylor fell for it.
“The snakes had been on the decline ever since you pushed them north, don’t pretend otherwise ! And the ravens do not represent us. They were in open conflict with the wolves, and your damn general lured them in with promises she had no intention to fulfill.”
General Jane Pulteney. She’d been in charge of crushing the clans’ armies. And she did, through questionable means. Even the history books written by human scholars couldn’t completely hide the atrocities committed by Pulteney. Those had been dark times for demis.
“It seems to me that we made the right call when we took over, then. Why, your clans were either dying or warring between themselves already.”
“Right. We brought peace in the highlands. You can’t deny that.”
A widely supported viewpoint in human circles. One Sienna had heard many times before. She’d always thought it openly arrogant and self-serving, but speaking her mind would never bring her anything other than trouble.
“And we didn’t even start the war.”
“Your embargoes pushed us to the brink of death ! You forced our hand !”
Taylor was right, the multiple embargoes inflicted upon Scottish harbors had starved the highlands so much a famine had been declared. The mountainous terrain does not allow for expansive fields and the shepherds had seen their herds culled to the last in order to feed the clans. Sienna had heard the obituaries of the time showed long lists of children names.
“Oh, stop pretending to be martyrs. You’re all glad to have access to our goods and knowledge, and you know it.”
“The world would be a better place if halves showed a bit more thankfulness.”
“Demis are insulted daily and shunned from society. You’re doing it right now and have the audacity to claim we should thank you ?!”
They’re goading you on, Taylor. Don’t play into their hands…
“And yet you are here, are you not ? If what you say was correct, would you have been allowed to enter a Queen’s College ?”
“We’re token representation. Crumbs to keep us subdued.” Even Lila, the usually demure badger demi, felt compelled to answer.
“And yet, foxy here snatched the pride position. Talk about crumbs…”
“That’s proof demis are far better than you blanks. You’re useless. Pathetic. You-“
“Taylor, stop.” Sienna had to put a stop to this argument. Prevent her friends from digging their own graves.
But the human girls were waiting for her all along. “Oh, the fox deigns to talk. What about your clan, then ? I heard they fomented an insurrection behind closed doors. Will you defend them ? Maybe claim they are misunderstood, that their rabble-rousing was in fact delivered in the honor of the Queen ?”
“I do not know what the fox clan intended as I’m not a part of them. What happened doesn’t concern me.” Calm and composed, Sienna delivered the answer she’d repeated many times in her mind those last few days.
“But you friend here agrees with them. I read one of their pamphlets. Well written, I should say. But fictious propaganda nonetheless.”
“It’s not fictious, damn it ! They’re right !”
Sienna clapped a hand on Taylor’s shoulder. She rose from her seat, and calmly tried to defuse the loaded discussion.
“What my friend tried to say, is that the treatment of demis in our society leaves much to be desired. That is all. Please do not read too deep into this. Let’s go, girls.”
From the looks on their faces, the humans had gotten what they wanted. Worse, Hazel hadn’t spoken a word, and yet she ended up the winner of this whole disaster. But maybe this would satisfy their lust for drama for a while, maybe they would leave her alone now.
Who am I kidding…?
“You agree with them.” A simple sentence, laced with repressed rage, wormed its way in her hear.
They had just gotten out of the refectory and Lila held her stormy eyes upon Sienna’s.
“No, I don’t. I just think-“
“Lila’s right, you do. Not the way those bitches said it, but you think we’re better off with the Empire above us, don’t you ?”
“That, I don’t know. Maybe. But that’s not why I got us out and you know it.” Sienna’s temper flared. “Arguing with them helps us none. They came looking for a fight and you gave it to them !”
“Because we have to stand up for ourselves ! Don’t you see ? If we let them walk over us today, that will only spur them on later !”
Sienna sighed, tired from always hearing the same arguments. Past friends had made the same point Taylor was making now. They never tried to understand her own views. “There’s a difference between rising against oppression and condoning dissension.”
One might get you a lashing, the other would send you before the executioner.
“Yeah, see, you think like them. You’re a damn pet.” Taylor spat at her.
A slur. The slur. The insult that every demi who dared talk on even grounds with humans were faced with. By their own people, no less. And now it was her turn. For trying to save her friends from the rope.
Taylor left swiftly, her pace echoing in the hallway. Lila stayed for a second, staring blankly at Sienna. Contempt and disappointment clear in her frown. She turned away without a word, and followed Taylor outside.
Great. Sienna thought mirthlessly. What now ?