Hunting The Hunter

* Map

This Series (Status--Begining, Lots of errors, Will rewrite this winter)

Chapter One: The New Home

Noon, first Gaoday of Iynthai (2020 PE)…

Mouth closed the boy beseeches his mother with lost eyes. She places a cold wet hand on either cheek and squats down to look him in the eye, at his level. The boy sniffs, but his mother sees no sigh of emotion in it. She kisses him on the forehead, pausing there to sniff his hair, then lets him go.

Her husband, the boy’s father, comes out carrying a full leather backpack sized for the boy. He tosses it at his son, who watches it arch then smack against his chest. Not even flinching he lets it fall onto the road stones still wet from the morning’s rain. “Pick it up. Put it on. That be good leather and I worked solid hours on it”

Eyes tight, face a mask, the boy obeys. The pack is full but light, carrying only a change of clothes, and a thick blanket. His heart is pounding but he refuses to let his excitement show.

“Do you remember the way to the monastery?”

“Yes sir.”

He points at his son. “You represent this family.” He gestures at himself, his wife, and son. “Our house is us. We are simple, but we are proud.” He slaps his chest. “No one is better then us.” He again points at his son. “You’re our only child.” He narrows his eyes. “Keep us proud.” He points down the road. “Now run and show them what I have trained you to be.”

“Yes sir.” The boy glances at his mother who blinks tears, then turns and begins jogging away from his home.

“Pick up that pace boy!”

The boy grimaces, grips his shoulder straps and increases to a run. He glances up at the gloomy noon sky. Don’t rain please. He splashes through a puddle and turns a corner. Noise of the lunch crowd beckons him on.

“Ey look’t ta li’le bas-tarrrd run!”

Oh no. “Leave me alone!”

Laughter and footsteps pounding behind him. He starts to sprint but knows his little legs can’t match the bullies’ grown legs striding closer with ease. A big hand attached to a thin wrist catches his bag and yanks him off balance. All the hours of training his father hammered into him are gone in that instant and he falls trying to catch himself with one arm. A snap and a scream. His scream. Startled by genuine agony the bullies back away cursing, then he is alone.

Moving his elbow in the slightest is discouraged by pain. He wipes slightly wet eyes clear with his good left arm and looks back the way he came. His home is only a few blocks away, but it feels like the Wall is in the way. He turns, grips his broken arm and starts jogging onward. Strong, brave.

His father had taken him to the monastery only once for a physical and enrollment. He expects him to remember the way back, and to run there in an attempt to impress the monks. The boy runs on not so much out of fear of failing his father, but more out of resignation to his perceived fate. A heavy thing for a six year old to accept. Tough.

--

Few parents say good bye to their sons or daughters at Cloak of Hutace Monastery. Those parents that volunteer their children for enrollment usually are attempting to get rid of them rather then thinking altruistically of their future. Additionally children with parents are a minority at Cloak—orphans are the rule.

Though the Gao Cross church has great influence with the ruling house of the land, it doesn’t not dominant the land. So though its core of family planning is popular, it is not the rule. This means that bastard or orphaned boys aren’t systematically made eunuchs of the church, nor are the girls systematically kept as virgins of the church. But orphanages do systematically donate their children to favored groups such as Cloak of Hutace Monastery. And women brave enough to birth bastards are pressured to abandoned their infants at the nearest nursery orphanage.

On the steps the babies cry, left to wait for an open crib. Often stolen by agents of the black market, to be sold to anyone for a gold. Sometimes, especially in the winter, they just—go to sleep, and are disposed of the next morning.

The monastery does not lack for enrollees, but it does lack for disciplined enrollees. Orphanages discipline their children harshly, but usually the children don’t carry discipline with them.

So, the monastery appreciates the few children coming from families. Monks are made sterile before graduation and can’t have children of their own. So children sent by failed monks like the boy with the broken arm are recognized as the best of the lot.

The boy clutches his right arm and waits in line to enter the enclosed city block that is the monastery. Road traffic forces the line to stay close to the wall protecting the monastery grounds. Above, walking the rampart protecting the gated entrance a pair of monks in black tunics and trousers match the pair below holding the gates open. The boy tries to imagine himself looking so hard and tough—and big. He looks away and watches the few children in the back getting good byes—a distinct minority with parents present. He thinks of his own good bye, sniffs and turns back to the gate.

He shuffles forward with the orphans, and the newly abandoned. One girl steps out of line an orht ahead and a man from the local orphanage—there to make sure the batch gets passed off smoothly—barks at her. “Ge’back in line!”

She steps back and starts crying. Another man from the orphanage says. “She ain’t un of ours. She’s un of them spoiled things. Dropped of here ti get rid of er.”

“I’s don’t muck a care. All da brat’s same ti me. Plusin I’s don’t wans she given ideas. Yeh knows how contagious rowdy is.”

The line moves steady, and the girl’s crying fades to a whimper by the time the boy steps through the gateway and onto the Cloak’s grounds. Two mounds that top his head border the angled path over a dralth in length to the main entrance of the monastery complex. The boy never went past the steps of entrance or over the mounds the last time and again feels a yearning to explore the secrets beyond.

Three domes each topping slightly raised roofs, a dralth wide and spaced a dralth apart, signature the monastery’s front. The boy follows the fraying line to the steps where they are reformed into something resembling single file again and an aged brown robed monk starts taking roll at the monastery door. The boy climbs the steps still clutching his arm.

“Name?”

“Vulksurn Habithe.”

The man runs a hand quickly through his short cropped graying hair and looks up from his quill and scroll with a squint and smile. “Oh good, the leather worker’s boy—glad you came back. We’ve hopes for you.” He motions hurriedly. “Move on in now.”

The boy nods and steps inside. He remembers the busy old man now, he'd chatted with his father as he was inspected by the resident guest physician. A peaceful ambiance dominates despite the crowd now inside. The ceiling is a bowl with the center almost three orhts up, it is lit with unflickering torch light though no torch or smoke is in sight and is painted—covered with no less then a master musean’s hand. A whole grand story in art is up there and Vulksurn feels like he’s floating up to experience it.

A boy bumps into him from behind and Vulksurn grimaces at the jarring of his arm. “O wow. Tis place is sooo big.”

Vulksurn moves forward and turns around. The boy who bumped him is staring up at the ceiling as he had. He frowns, rubs his arm, and looks around for the place he’s supposed to go. The children in front of him have meandered forward to the open double doors across the room where a smiling young woman in black tunic and trousers is waving them in.

She says in a loud slightly sharp voice that easily resonates throughout the large square vestibule. “Okay, this way please! First year pre-s this way!”

Vulksurn adjusts his bag and moves towards her. “That one holding his arm.” He hears the man’s voice, but it doesn’t register until his right shoulder is gripped and he grimaces, turns and looks up at a frowning bald man with blond eyebrows, in a gray robe. “Did you come from the orphanage?”

Vulksurn glances down. “Um, no.”

The man nods. “Straighten your arm.”

Vulksurn starts to obey, winces and stops. “It, um, hurts.”

Behind the man, at the entrance the old monk says. “Okay that’s all sixty accounted for.”

The bald man shakes his head, turns and replies. “Then we have our first cut.”

The old man at the door who had taken roll steps inside and says. “What the Habithe boy? What’s wrong with him.”

The bald man sneers. “I guess your sharp sense caught his gimp arm then, eh Master Retired Rollkeeper?”

“What’s that? Gimp arm….?” The Rollkeeper strides over, quill in the center of rolled parchment under his arm. “Oh now let me see.” He reaches for the arm and Vulksurn flinches away. “Hold still young Habithe.” His eyes are out of focus, yet still look at Vulksurn.

Vulksurn gulps as the old man’s hands lightly grip his broken arm.

“Just relax. Let old Cohnarr check this out.” The Rollkeeper’s eyes dilate and seem to grow even more out of focus. The bald monk with blond eyebrows makes a cough like noise in his throat but Cohnarr ignores him.

“Oh for Hutace’s sake, you baby sit your special one then Master Retired. I’ve got the fifty-nine left to spread my attention about for.” The bald monk stomps off towards the young woman in black hustling children out of the domed room.

Vulksurn feels his arm tingling like he had just hit his funny bone. “Um, sir. Retired Master sir.”

“Feel a tingle do you?”

“Yes sir.”

“That’s me healing your elbow.” He grunts. “The funny thing is that bones are no problem to heal—real straight forward like. But sprains are a real pain.” He chuckles and lets go. “Well that’s going to have to be good enough. You should take it easy so the swelling can finish easing out. Some sprain is still there I don’t have so fine a touch as to fix it perfect, but I’ll tell you your bone is better then before.” He looks toward the young woman in black who is starting to close the double doors. “Hold a moment Lacesha!” The woman pauses. Cohnarr looks down at the boy. “All right young Habithe both doors are still open, which way do you choose to go?”

Vulksurn glances at the entrance and imagines the rage of his father at seeing him return like a lost pup. He shivers and looks to the woman in black, no longer smiling, impatient frown instead.

“Decide now boy.”

“I want to stay.”

The old man grins, and slaps his back so he stumbles towards the woman. “Run off now and catch up with the others.” Vulksurn steps forward. “Hurry!” Vulksurn jogs forward, moves his arm winces for a moment then lets his mouth open in awe at the lack of pain.

The woman, Lacesha, steps aside, motions him through then closes the door behind him. Ahead Vulksurn sees the other children waiting at another set of doors at the end of the long hall—also lit with what seems like torch light, but again he can see no source. “Keep running boy.” The woman jogs beside him. “Your teacher holds grudges. Best you keep as low as you can to keep from the first year cut.”

Confused, Vulksurn nods like he understands and hurries into the mix of children. The girl who had been crying before is whimpering, besides a few hushed whispers, the rest are still shocked silent by the grandness of the monastery. Like the dome of the previous room the entire roof of the hall is painted in glorious detail.

Looking up at it Vulksurn regrets hurrying through the hall. It seems he is staring at the final chapter of a great battle. A dozen men and women in black—just like Lacesha except for the addition of a cloak, stand upon mounds of dead soldiers with all manner of weapons still in their death grips. The dozen are looking up at a brightness in the sky, within which Vulksurn can make out the outline of a figure. His mouth forms to ask about it, but Lacesha is already past him.

She moves to the closed double doors turns and faces the children. “Lunch is being prepared for you now.” She points to a closed single door then folds her arms across her chest, pressing down her cup sized breasts. “Your teacher is Master Teacher Hedrick, he is preparing your rooms now. I am Monk Lacesha, assistant teacher of pre one, that’s you.” She looks over the crowd of children and Vulksurn is sure she lingers on him for a moment. “Now there are—sixty of you. Next Iynthai at the beginning of your pre two year, there will be forty-five. At the end of that year there will be thirty, half as many as you are now. Only then, after the bad of you have been weeded out, will the real training begin.” She shakes her head. “If you’re part of the first two cuts, you’ll leave with no more then what you came with.” She smiles. “But make it past pre two and we’ll take care of you. The longer you last the better for you on the outside.” She points at the ceiling. “At graduation their will be twelve of you, no more no less. This is the Cloak of Hutace monastery. Hutace is a guardian god, and is patron of bodyguards and our monastery. His way is hard but fair. This life offers you a family and a profession.” Lacesha pauses for a moment, mumbles to herself then says. “Oh yeah, um so loyalty and honor and security in purpose, etc.” She frowns, looks at the children’s blank stares, shrugs and points at the single door on her right. “Okay that’s it. Go through that door, sit at the tables and just like at the orphanage, don’t touch your food till all have been seated and words spoken.”

Vulksurn squeezes into the middle of the pack and they all file into the cafeteria. Inside are ten tables each with four chairs, though there is easily room for six. Children start hurrying to claim chairs and Vulksurn instinctively rushes with them. He manages to claim a seat the instant before another boy who twirls around looking for another. But for him and twenty others there is nothing.

Vulksurn takes off his pack and looks at the food, a big bowl of stew and a pile of still steaming biscuits in the center of the table. He counts and frowns. There are only four small bowls and spoons, one for each chair, but six biscuits and easily enough stew for ten, let alone six hungry children. He turns to the boy who lost his seat to him and motions him over.

The boy is taller then Vulksurn, but with his baby face and subdued gait, he guesses no older. Vulksurn scoots over in his seat and says. “We can share, there’s six biscuits anyway and plenty of stew.”

He glances nervously around, then touches his belly, shuffles over and sits next to Vulksurn. Vulksurn is small for his age and the boy is lanky so they manage to keep enough of their butts on the seat to be comfortable.

The only girl at their table whispers across to them. “Yeh’re not supposed ti do dat.”

Vulksurn frowns. “Why not?”

She chews her lip but doesn’t answer.

Vulksurn leans forward. “My father came here, um, when he was little like me, um, now. And, um, he tells me… ‘helping each other is the only way to make it through’.”

The girl looks impressed at the mention of his father, then thoughtful. She turns and looks at the children still standing and milling about, more then half girls. “Hey Piglet!” A small light girl with a strange upturned nose turns and steps to their table. “Sit with me.”

Piglet smiles. “Oh tanks Jesski.”

Piglet settles next to Jesski, and Vulksurn sees that in height they are about the same, but Jesski is thick where Piglet is a bird. The boy next to the two girls reaches for the biscuit plate and Jesski slaps his hand hard enough to shake the table.

“Aw. I’s just wanted a crumb.”

The last boy, next to Vulksurn, shakes his head with a twitching lip. “You stupid? You’s from a fam like ‘im.” He jerks a thumb at Vulksurn.

“Fam? What’s a fam?”

The boy just snorts and let’s his lip keep twitching. Jesski turns and says. “Fam, fam-i-ly.”

“Oh, yeah. I’s from a family.”

The boy whispers under his still twitching lip. “Stupid.”

Before the other boy can ask what he said, the door they came in opens and Master Teacher Hedrick strides in with Monk Lacesha on his heels. He charges up to the closest child still standing, the girl who Vulksurn remembers crying and whimpering. “You, were you told to sit?”

The girl seems to try to answer but can’t more then whimper. “All right.” He looks around the cafeteria and pauses on Vulksurn. “Now..., we have our first cut.” He points at the little girl. “Lacesha, take this disobedient girl to the street. Let her try and pity a living there.”

With a grim face and a silent sigh Lacesha picks up the stunned girl and takes her back through the door.

Hedrick taps his bald head. “Oh did I forget something? I best get it, and when I come back, I best see everyone seated.” He strides back out the door and it swings shut with a loud whoosh.

Vulksurn watches all the children standing hurry about desperately trying to negotiate seating. A few fights break out. Jesski waves to get his attention and says. “Hey, so what else yer father say?”

A hundred days swirl in Vulksurn’s mind. “‘They will keep you hungry and tired, always eat your fill and nap when you can.’” You told me that a lot. “He told me that a lot. So, um, we should try and eat all the stew.”

Jesski, and the other boy with a family nod with O shaped mouths. Vulksurn squirms and looks at the lanky boy sharing his seat who rubs his stomach and nods. Then he turns to the twitching lip boy who has his arms crossed. The boy stares back a moment, then shrugs and says. “Well yer dah uas ere. So you’s be da un ti follow.”

Piglet gasps. “Oh oh, truut. Tats really drumming. You must tell us waat to do.”

Vulksurn swallows. “Um. Okay.”

Jesski chews her lip and says. “So what’s yer name?”

“Um, Vulksurn Habithe.”

The twitching lip boy snorts and Jesski shakes her head. “No fam name, and yer first we’s gotta short. Like ‘Vulks’. Yeah Shave what’s you think?”

The twitching lip boy shrugs and says. “Might call’s ‘im ‘Volcano’ ‘cept e’s got no crazy way-tin.”

Jesski smiles wide. “Yeah, but dere’s where we prop ‘im. Talk ‘im up. He’s our table’s boy. ‘Vulk the Volcano’, rip yer head off you look at ‘im bad.”

The other family boy says. “My name’s Jameson Petter.”

Shave shakes his head. “We’s not car-in ‘bout yeh.”

“What?”

“We’s not caring about yeh, yeh fam boy.”

Jameson frowns and points at Vulksurn. “But he’s got a family too.”

Shave curls his lip. “Don’t yeh be pointing at ur boy.” He holds up a finger and curls it. “Less a joint I’ll give yeh.”

Vulksurn nods to himself and says. “So we’re all at the table, we’re together. We’ve got to ‘help each other to make it through’ right?” He stares at Shave who finally shrugs and relaxes again, though his lip hasn’t for a moment stopped twitching. “Um, so Jesski what name could you give him?” He points at Jameson.

“Famson.”

Piglet lets out a gleeful peel of laughter that makes their table the center of attention, now that everyone has managed to find a seat to share. Jesski puts a finger to her mouth with a grin. “Shh, got’s ti be quiet a bit.”

Jameson’s face is bright red and Shave chuckles and says. “Face like dat yeh can be ‘Tomato’.”

Jameson looks at Shave with a fierce frown. “Oh, oh yeah ‘Twitchy’.”

Shave touches his lip, which had stopped the moment before Jameson’s comment but now is twitching fiercer then ever. “I’s gonna tag yeh now.” He reaches for a buttering knife but Vulksurn’s hand is there first. Shave pauses, his hand hovering over the table and glares at Vulksurn.

Vulksurn licks his lips and looks across the table at Jameson who looks ready to say something loud. “Hey Famson apologize to Shave or leave our table. Spider and me could use our own seats.”

Jameson works his jaw but no words come out. After a moment he crosses his arms and pouts silently. Shave pulls his hand away from the table and Vulksurn lifts his off the knife.

The lanky boy asks. “So I’m Spider?”

Vulksurn half smiles. “Um, is that okay.”

“Yah yah, better then me old nick.”

Piglet pipes in. “Ou ou, waat was it?”

“Beskod.”

Piglet starts to let out another peal of laughter but Jesski muffles and stifles it with her hand. The lanky boy smiles. “Yah, a spider’s better than being a stupid bird that can’t even fly.”

Jesski nods. “Tastes good dough. Had beskod steak fer last Harvestand Day, ‘member Shave?”

Shave nods and covers his twitching lip with that back of his hand. The lanky boy rubs his stomach. “Yah yah, that’s when they started my nick at me orphan house.” He frowns. “So I’m Spider now okay. Legs like a spider okay, but I’m smart too okay.”

Vulksurn nods. “Um, yeah okay—Spider.”

Spider smiles and his stomach growls loud enough for the neighboring tables. Piglet giggles then sighs and says. “Da stew is getting cold.”

Jameson chews his lip. “So ah, Vulk? How they know if we’s eat something?”

Vulksurn looks at the food, his own stomach grumbling. “Because they are monks.”

The door opens and everyone looks over, fearful and eager. Their bald teacher strides in balancing a platter with ten small dishes of butter, on his head. His arms are crossed and his hard gaze dares anyone to guffaw at the odd sight. He stops at the center of the room, and then spins around and around fast enough for his gray robe to lift up and show black trousers like Lacesha’s underneath.

The Master Teacher stops with a sudden foot stomp and miraculously the platter keeps spinning, still perfectly balanced on the top of his head. Then he tilts his head just enough for the spinning platter to start a slow slide. A quick duck and the platter falls into his waiting palm without any of the butter plates so much as clinking together.

The room is silent. Jameson lifts his hands as if to clap but Jesski kicks him and he lets out a puppy’s yelp. Hedrick whips his head around to look at their table. He looks long at Vulksurn then says. “I’m glad to see everyone seated. Would you like some butter for your table?”

“Um, yes Master Teacher sir.” Hedrick frowns and Vulksurn hurridly adds. “P-please.”

Hedrick strides to their table and holds out a plate of butter. Vulksurn reaches for it with his left hand. “No, use your other hand.”

Vulksurn gulps and obeys, ignoring the twinge of pain, he extends his formerly broken arm and accepts the plate of butter. “Thank you sir.” He sets the butter on the table as carefully as he can.

“How old are you?”

“Um, I turned six last Lonthus sir.”

“Mmm, small for your age. Do you think you’re strong enough to pass out the butter?”

“Um, yes I think so sir.”

Hedrick holds out the platter and Vulksurn stands up to grab it with both hands. “No, try holding it like this, in your palm over your shoulder.” Vulksurn puts his left hand under it, but Hedrick lifts it away. “No no, with your right hand. You are right handed aren’t you?”

“Um, yes sir.”

“If I hear you say ‘um’ one more time you’re on the street.”

Vulksurn clamps his mouth shut and reaches out with his right hand. Hedrick smiles and lets the platter drop into his hand. For a moment Vulksurn has it, then it starts to tilt, one side now a butter plate heavier. He starts to reach out with his left hand but freezes and looks up at his Master Teacher in quandary.

Hedrick waits until the last moment to stabilize the platter. He evens the plates out then grudgingly says. “You can obey, and you got strength in those loose clothes, but we’ll need to work on your balance.”

Vulksurn quickly lifts the platter over his shoulder with his palm as Hedrick instructed. “Thank you sir. Shall I pass out the butter now sir?”

“Yes go ahead.” He raises his voice. “Once you are finished and have returned to your table Lacesha…” He points at the black clad young woman leaning against the opposite wall. Several children, not a leg’s distance from her, gasp. None of the children had heard or seen her come in. “…will say words and then finally you can eat.”

Jesski mumbles to herself. “She came in dat back door, jus’ wasn’t looking.”

Hedrick strides out of the room without another word, and Vulksurn grits his teeth as he passes out a plate of butter to each table. With only the platter left he starts to walk back to his table, but stops and turns to Lacesha. She is watching him with arms crossed, but smiling. Fortified by her smile he hurries over with platter in hand. “Excuse me, Monk Lacesha, ma’am. What should I do with this?”

“Good job. I had to see it to believe it, but I think you got a reversal—from grudge to favorite. It won’t make it easier for you, he’ll watch you more then if he just hated you. But if you’re careful he won’t cut you or anyone close to you.” She grabs the platter and puts it behind her back. “How’s your arm—really?”

Vulksurn rubs his elbow. “It hurts a little.”

“Hmm, okay. Go sit down.” Lacesha waits until Vulksurn sits back at his table then she clears her throat loudly. “You can relax just a bit now that we have our first cut. There will be fourteen more this year but they will probably be fairly spread out.” She pauses and looks around at the fifty-nine silent hungry children. “This is my second year as an assistant teacher, but like twelve of you will, I spent twelve years here becoming a Hutace Monk. I know just about all there is to know about this place.” She points at the ceiling. “My room will be just outside yours. I’m the one you can talk to. Your Master Teacher however is just the one you must do your best to obey.” She clasps her hands together. “Now everyone hold your hands together like mine.” She turns around slowly so everyone can see. “I’m going to say words of grace, after I finish bow your heads and say ‘we serve as one, our soul our promise our bond’. Wait a moment then raise your heads and eat.”

The children obey and then eat. At first they pick at the food, but their young minds and empty bellies cause their memory to shorten and they begin to gorge themselves—forgetting all else. As he eats Vulksurn notes with surprise that Piglet matches her chair mate bite for bite, thus living up to her nose and name. All at his table except Jameson eat an adult's portion and more.

Shave scoops up the last half bowl of stew and offers it to Vulksurn. Vulksurn looks at Jameson and then accepts the bowl. “Hey Jame... you not hungry? I'm stuffed, you want this?”

Jameson shakes his head. “I ate before mama dropped me off.”

Shave snorts. “Baba.” He smiles then grabs his chest and burps. “Dat be good'n.”

Vulksurn offers the half bowl to the others but even Piglet is too full. He turns around in his seat and looks at the other tables. Almost all the children are done eating, quite a few are just pecking at their half finished bowls. “My father said food was special and they didn't waste it here. I don't understand.”

Jesski pushes her bowl away. “Well yeh eat up dat last bit den yah. Cause I be so so full, sick full. Yeh understand. I can't eat a crumb more.”

The door opens slowly and Hedrick comes in pull a long metal cart. “Dishes, dishes dishes. Pile them here. Left overs put back in your table's pot. That will be your dinner this evening by the way. So I hope you've saved enough, and didn't just gorge yourselves.”

Stunned and forlorn the children file over to the cart and pile on their bowls and spoons. Vulksurn notices Shave make an obscure hand gesture at Hedrick's back. In a blink Lacesha is there gripping the offending hand. She whispers something in his ear and his face pales as his lip violently twitches. She lets him go then steps up to Hedrick who pushes the cart into her grasp and steps out of the room without a backward glance.

Lacesha sighs and looks around at the solemn children. “Okay raise your hand if you have a pack already.” Vulksurn and three others—from other tables—raise their hands. Lacesha nods and walks to Vulksurn. “Keep those hands up.” To Vulksurn she says. “Your pack's nice, take care of it.”

“Yes ma'am.”

“Open it up and empty it on the table.” She fingers through the blanket and change of clothes then nods. “Good, your father prepared you well. Go ahead out into the hall, take a left into a room like the entryway then take the stairs up on the left and pick out a bunk for yourself and your friends in one of the big rooms there. Oh and the second floor is not lit up like this so watch your step and don't go wandering okay? It's just about the new moon so you don't even know what'll be under your bunk let alone down the pitch black hallways. Every year there are a few children that are cut just because we never found their bodies.” She smiles. “Got it?”

Vulksurn nods. “Um, ah... yes ma'am.”

Lacesha frowns and bends down slightly. “He's serious about that' 'um' young one. You'd best not say it again, ever.”

Vulksurn gulps. “Sorry.”

“Mmm, well get going and respect any you see on your way. The rest will be following you up shortly.”

Vulksurn hurries out into the long hall and turns to the left as he was instructed. The double doors are closed so he hesitantly pushes against them. They whisper open with his slight touch and nervously adjusts his backpack as his steps inside a domed chamber very much like the first. He looks up at the art of the ceiling and doesn't notice the girl in green until she's almost upon him.

Green trousers and tunic she is almost Lacesha's height and though more endowed has a much younger face. “Stay to the side boy.” She brushes past him and hurries down the hall he entered from closing the doors behind her.

Vulksurn touches his chest and hears his heart pounding. Left and left and up. He hurries to the left double doors and pushes them open with a hint of confidence. Just inside to the left is a stairway that goes both up and down. A twinge of curiosity tugs him down a few steps, but with his heart threatening to exploded he quickly changes directions and heads up the stairs like he'd been told.

It is dark and silent, no torches, only distilled sunlight. No sounds, but then the girl in green was as silent as a moonfan. Thinking of the large green butterfly Vulksurn remembers that tomorrow night is the new moon. He's not especially afraid of the dark, but he is not comforted by the thought that there will be only a hint of starlight coming in this first night.

He slowly creeps up to the top of the stairs and peeks into the open doorway facing the stairway. A large room empty save for twenty bare bunks greets him. Several thin lines of light stream down from shafts in the ceiling. He sighs grateful for them and then hears footsteps coming up behind him. I hear them so they must be children. He hurries into the room and claims one of the two bunks closest to the door.

Vulksurn hears the steps follow his same cautious pattern and feels an odd comfort. He speaks out. “Hey, in here.”

A tall boy enters carrying his pack in his arms like a baby. “What?” His eyes find Vulksurn and he nods. “Oh aye there. Ah, it's okay I come in here then?”

“Um, sure.”

“O's good'n.” He eyes Vulksurn's pack. “So you got yer fam too aye?” Vulksurn nods and the tall boy continues. “Yeah I be the third son, me grandpop came here, he did. So they sent me here to pay backs I think yeah. So it'as yer pops that failed here yeah aye?”

“Like your grandfather, yes.” Vulksurn looks out the doorway suddenly uncomfortable, and the tall boy claims the other bunk closest to the door. Vulksurn opens his mouth to object but shuts it not thinking of a good thing to say.

“What's yer name then?”

“U—me? I'm... Vulk.”

“Oh yeah. Hi there Vulk. I'm Mainze, I'm head of my table like you's were. Hey more coming up yeah.”

The last two children with bags enter together, a boy and girl. Mainze stands up in their way. “You's not part of mine or Vulk's table are you.” The girl shakes her head. Mainze points out the door. “Then find yerselves somewhere else to be yeah.” Mainze chuckles as they sulk away. “Don't need those weak ones. Me grandpop said the tough and strong be the ones that make it through, yeah.” He glances at Vulksurn. “You not be big, but you proved yerself already you did. Teacher's pet and all that yeah aye?”

Vulksurn shrugs and pulls out his blanket. After unrolling over his bunk he lays atop it and stares at the shafts of sunlight. “I wonder what time it is.”

“Afternoon.”

“Yes I know that.”

Mainze walks into one of the shafts and looks up. “I think maybe its getting a little dark, so four and half I be guessing.”

Vulksurn shakes his head. “No it can't be that late, I'm thinking three.”

Mainze smiles. “Hey yer're smart like me, knowing numbers and all. You go to school?”

“I was taught at home.”

“Oh yeah me too, since I was crawling I think. I'm seven yeah know. My grandpop said being older is an advantage.” He grips his forearm. “Big and stronger yeah aye? How old are you, you can't be five?”

Vulksurn frowns. “I'm six. I'll be seven next Lonthus.”

“Oh yeah okay.”

They sit in silence until the sounds of the rest of their fellows echoes up the stairwell. Mainze looks at Vulksurn. “Hey we be friends yeah?”

Vulksurn pauses then nods agreement.

“Hey yeah good, you not regret yeah.”

Shave is the first of Vulksurn's table to come in, Jameson is the last. The six of them get bunks all in a row coming from the door, starting with Vulksurn, then Shave, then Jesski, then Piglet, then Spider, and Jameson last against the wall. Mainze's table does the same.

Piglet rubs her knees together. “I got to go wee wee.”

On cue Lacesha steps in and says. “If you didn't notice the bathrooms are across from the stairwell downstairs.” She smiles. “Don't worry girls they're not coed like these rooms, well not the toilets at least.” She glances out the door. “After I get the other rooms settled I'll be in mine which is just beside the stairwell. For now, if you need anything come to me first. Once you get a better idea of how things work around here, you can give me a break and go directly where you need.” She looks around at the twenty children sitting laying or standing next to the bunks, all watching her back with tired bland eyes. She forces a smile. “Life is fun here too, you won't know it for a bit maybe, but don't get too down all right?” Silence. “Alright. Well, as a continuation of your Teacher's lunch lesson only the left overs will be offered for dinner, which will be at six in two and a half hours. Well try to... oh well any questions? No... okay you know where I'll be.” Lacesha puffs a sigh and moves to the next room to attempt a better speech.

Shave snorts. “Ses not dat good'n feel'n.”

Piglet hurries out the door. Jesski calls after here. “Wait, I gotta go too!”

Piglet hops up and down outside until Jesski joins her then they both run off giggling.

Shave snorts again. “Dey silly but me fam, real fam not like you's had Tomato.”

Jameson rolls towards the wall on his bunk and pulls the blanket given to him over his ears.

Vulksurn opens his mouth, closes it then opens and says. “So I think Lacesha is good but Hedrick I don't like.”

Mainze steps over. “I don't like him either. He's got mean eyes I think yeah.”

Shave frowns. “Ou you be talk'n to our boy?” His lip twitches as he stands and reaches for something in his pocket.

Mainze smiles disarmingly. “Oh me an Vulk her be friends yeah. We have a plan my table and yours, see we got the twelve between us, yeah aye. And me grandpop was here like his pop so we got the best chance yeah.”

Shave sits back down but his lip keeps twitching. He turns to Vulksurn and whispers. “Is dat rit?”

Vulksurn semi nods. “Um maybe.”

Shave glares at him. “You's can't be say'n dat 'um' now.” He goes to Spider's bunk and whispers to him. “I's got some number questions, you's know numbers?”

Spider yawns and nods a little. “Yah yah, I think so.”

Shave looks around the room. “We 'ave more den tre tables 'ere rit?”

Spider looks around and scratches his head. “Ah I think so.”

Shave frowns and says under his breath, firmly. “Count.”

“Oh okay, ah.” He points as he counts and says half the numbers out loud. “Ah I need a board, cause it's division.”

Shave sighs. “Never mind, I's just trust my eyes.” He taps his head for a moment then walks over to Mainze. “So we's can do it togeter?”

Mainze smiles. “Oh yeah aye. We rule this room.”

Shave looks at the eight children left out of the new alliance. He recognizes several from his orphanage and meets there eyes. They almost make him walk over with their sad eyes. Four others of the group all seem to know each other from a separate orphanage. They have started playing a coin game on the floor with some flakes and flake rings that one of them had smuggled in.

Curious Shave and Vulksurn crowd over with the other children to watch. The game involves spinning the coins and then catching them only using their thumbs. Once caught they have to flick the coin into a hand goal without their fingers leaving the spot where they caught the flake. Vulksurn has seen a two person version before but never a four person where the goal is to score on your teammate. After a minute he understands all there is to know and wishes his father hadn't been so strict about what could be taken. Just a ring flake.

Piglet and Jesski come back after an extended trip and hurry over to Vulksurn and Spider who have returned to their bunks after getting bored of just watching the coin game. Piglet smiles and shakes her head with eyes closed. With a low voice she says. “So drumming, so gotta come, Vulk and Spider and Shave can come, and well Fameson too I guess.”

Jesski nods with a twinkle in her eye. “We's explored a bit and we's want ti more with yeh all.”

Jameson sits up curious and Spider asks eagerly. “Oh yah yah, tell what you found.”

Piglet glances around and lowers her voice even more. “We talked to pre twos.”

Jesski lowers her voice to Piglet's level. “It's gotta be secret, because we can't be talking togeder yet. But dey said dey know lots of secrets and want ti meet us tonight.”

Jameson shakes his head. “We can't go. Master Teacher would kick us all out.”

Jesski rolls her eyes. “Yeh can go back to yer fam den.”

Jameson looks thoughtful and nods.

Everyone looks at Vulksurn. “Um, what does Shave want to do?” Please say it's too dark.

Piglet glances around and sees him watching the coin game. “Oh, I'll go ask him.”

Vulksurn watches her hurry over and rubs his forehead. “I don't think it's a good idea Jesski.” She frowns and he continues. “Master Hedrick is looking to cut us I think.” And we don't know what's hiding in the dark.

She shakes her head. “But I thought he liked yeh.”

“Maybe now, but he I think is bad. I mean I don't like him.”

Piglet and Shave come back over and Piglet says enthusiastically. “He wants to go to.”

Vulksurn sighs and mumbles to himself. “We gotta stick together cause helping each other is the only way to make it through.” Alone in the dark is bad, but together is maybe okay.

Shave looks around at their group, with even Jameson leaning in. “Not all'o us should go. Maybe just me Vulk and Jesski.”

Piglet sniffs. “Wyy? Vulk doesn't even want to go, tey me and Jesski's friend's not yours.”

Jesski looks at Piglet thoughtfully. “You are noisy. You can come next time.”

Piglet pouts and folds her arms.

Vulksurn sighs again. “Where are we gonna meet them.”

Jesski smiles. “We can sneak into deir room, we snuck all the way to deir side after we can back upstairs.”

Piglet brightens up. “Tey want to play hide and seek.”

Jesski shakes her head. “Yeh but later dey said. Not tonight, don't worry Piggy we'll just talk tonight.”

Jameson clears his throat. “My mom says that it bad to be 'sneaking about all hours of the night'”.

Shave mutters. “Stupid fam boy.”

Jameson sniff and turns back to the wall.

They stop talking about the plans for the night time excursion but it doesn't leave any of the six's thoughts even when they finally get called down for dinner. The fifty-nine children finish the soup left over from lunch and wait, hoping that for some reason their Master Teacher was joking and that a real meal will be coming after all. But nothing came and despite gorging themselves at lunch most of the children's bellies growl with hunger as they try to go manage sleep this first night in an alien monastery.

--

Shave keeps his finger against his lips as he leads Jesski and Vulksurn past Lacesha's room. A soft bit of starlight filters down from wide spaced thin shafts in the ceiling. The monk's door is closed, but they take no chances, and tip toe as quietly as they can. Vulksurn starts, noticing the dim starlight become even dimmer for a moment. Just a cloud maybe. He looks up at the thin hole in the ceiling straight above him, and the others pause and look back at him. He bits his lip, shrugs and catches up then whispers. “How much further?”

Jesski now leads them around a corner points at the open doorway on the right and whispers back. “Dis's da third room of our class. We got's ti keep quiet and go straight ti da end of dis hall den turn left again and deir dey'll be.”

Shave nods stiffly, lip twitching in the dark, and takes the lead again. Vulksurn tries to copy his stealthy walk and they all make their way past rooms sized like Lacesha's on the left and a short hallway to the right.

They reach the corner turn left and Jesski moves in front and points at the opposite corner. She whispers. “Deir do yeh see dem? In da shadow, it's where she said.”

“Excuse me.” The three children let out startled screams and spin around. “Are you pre ones lost?” A man in shadow—black, a monk, his voice not unkind or severe.

“Um, ah um ah.” Vulksurn stammers.

“Boy, will you need special training to keep your tongue from 'um'?” Lacesha says from where they had just turned from.

The three children stunned at the ghostly appearance of the monks and fearful of reprisals just stand their trying not to breathe heavy. Lacesha clicks her tongue and waves her hand for them to follow her. They obey wordlessly.

When they get back to their room Lacesha says to them. “That was Monk Gurden of pre two. If you're lucky it'll still be him next year. He's even more forgiving then I am. So it'd be in your best interest to thank him when you see him next in passing for ignoring your wandering into his hall.” She looks them over. “Now get to sleep.” They start into their room. “Um boy wait. What was your name?”

Vulksurn gulps. “Vulksurn Habithe ma'am.”

She grins. “Call me Lacesha. What do your friends call you?”

“Um, Vulk ma—um Lacesha.”

She rubs the top of her nose and shakes her head. “Oh boy. Okay Vulk follow me.” She leads him into her room and closes the door behind them.

To Vulksurn's eyes the room is of good size. A shaft above the doorway lets in the only light. He clutches his hands together and gulps. I can barely see anything.

Lacesha lites a lamp and Vulksurn squints and half covers his eyes. She chuckles. “Yeah, keeping you in the dark is important. We start you off around the new moon with the hope that you don't go wandering off before you get to know the place.” She smirks and shrugs.

The lamp is on a short table by the monk's futon. Vulksurn looks around and sees the side walls are covered with hand drawn maps and the far wall has a wall hanging of an ocean view window that gives the room a more open feel. A small dresser with an attached mirror on top completes the relatively bare but comfortable room. Vulksurn breaths a little easier and notices an exotic heady scent unlike anything he's smelled before.

Noticing his crinkling nose Lacesha chuckles. “You don't like my incense?”

“Um, what's incense?”

Lacesha cringes with the first sound, then waves him over to her dresser. The top of it is just above his eye level so she picks him up so he can see. The smell is stronger here and he notices a thin line of smoke swirling. Vulksurn shifts to be more comfortable in her grip and asks. “Incense is burning?”

She nods then walks over and sets him next to her futon and lays down. Vulksurn looks down at her uncomfortably. She says with her eyes closed. Somehow we have to break you from your 'um' habit. It's really the only thing wrong with your speech. Your Common teacher is going to love you. My accent when I came here was as bad as your friends—what are their names?”

Vulksurn almost says “um” but catches himself and answers. “Jesski is the girl, and Shave is the boy.”

She mouths the name Shave and snorts. “My nick was Swedar.” She chuckles silently. “Because, I used to sprinkle sugar on my cheese at the orphanage.” She turns her head and looks at him. “You didn't come from an orphanage though.” She gets up on her elbows and looks him up and down. “In fact you came from a failed monk's home didn't you?”

Vulksurn frowns at the word “failed” but nods.

“I can see you being the leader of the twelve you know.” She lays back down but keeps her eyes on him. “Gurden's part of my twelve.” She turns her head to the ceiling. “He would have been a good father if he'd been kicked out before... ah well I'm glad I'm a female Monk.” She gives him a sympathetic look. “So are you tired?”

“U....” Vulksurn bits his lip and closes his eyes for a moment then continues. “Yes, and I have to use the bathroom.”

“Do you know the way?”

“Yes I already went.”

She nods and waves him to the door. “Go ahead then, and don't go wandering off... at least not till you have the skill for it.”

Vulksurn nods a little curious about what she means and leaves. Careful to lightly close her door behind him he tries to sneak like Shave had to the stairwell and down to the bathroom.

He blinks and squints when he reaches the relatively well lit main floor. Oh, her lamp wasn't so bright. He hurries on to the bathroom door, almost running into an older boy wearing a long red sleeping tunic coming out. The older boy growls “Watch it kid.” The boy sniffs and hurries past and up the stairs Vulksurn just came down.

Vulksurn pushes through the single swinging door and listens. Silence. Alone, good. He breaths out in relief and hurries to the pissing wall with the constant flow of water. The sound and even the smell of the bathroom are easily ignored. It is a ritual, and a place soothing in its familiarity. The design is much the same as the grand public buildings of the city. His mother used to take him to the huge public library at least once a week.

Thoughts of his mother makes his eyes wet so he hurries with his business and rinses his hands at the fountain next to the door. Water flow is constant throughout the bathroom, much like outdoor fountains. He returns to his room and bunk, ignoring his new friend's questions and quietly crying himself to sleep.

--

“All right kids, breakfast in fifteen minutes!” Vulksurn blinks open his eyes and Lacesha at the door yelling comes into focus. “Get dressed and wash up, this means water and soap! Line up outside the cafeteria when you're done!” She smiles down at him then moves on to the next room.

Vulksurn waits until he hears her repeating herself before attempting to obey. He freezes with his covers half off, then shivers and buries himself back in his blanket.

Three beds behind him Piglet whines. “I don't wanna get up.” Silently most everyone agrees.

The air is more then a little chilly and Vulksurn realizes that the shafts letting in the dawn are also letting in the late fall air. What happens when it rains?

Spider is the first of Vulk's table out of bed. He makes it to the bathroom just ahead of Mainze who pushes past him to cut ahead in line. Vulksurn comes down in time to hear Spider say something about Mainze's mother.

Mainze turns around, blocks the doorway, and looks like he's about to start something violent. Then the biggest kid in their class, nearly as big as a kid twice his age, plows through Mainze as he yells. “I gotsta pee, I gotsta pee!”

A short boy from Mainze's table standing just in front of Vulksurn giggles. “Orgar so funny, like real orgar yah?” He turns to Vulksurn with his question and an infectious grin.

Vulksurn tries to keep a stiff lip but fails and smiles back. “Yeah, sure is. But he isn't is he? Not a part or something?”

The short boy taps his lip. “I don't know. I think so maybe.”

Mainze has stepped in after Orgar and Spider looks back and says with a frown. “It's full.”

Vulksurn feels a sense of urgency now and looks enviously across at the girls line. How many girls left, twenty? He watches Jesski pull a grumbling Piglet into the bathroom, then looks across at the last girl in line. She has a shockingly beautiful face for a child, but keeps her head down and seems to be in no hurry, allowing all the other girls to cut in front of her. So, despite there being twice as many boys she manages to be the last to arrive in line outside the cafeteria.

Silently waiting Lacesha now speaks. “Twenty fives minutes.” She shakes her head. “If I was Master Teacher Hedrick I would have made forty cuts right here.” She emphasizes with her finger. “Tomorrow Master Teacher Hedrick will be here with me. Try not to be late.” She looks around and the fidgeting children for a few minutes then holds open the door. “Okay, come on in and eat.”

Vulksurn smiles when he steps inside and sees that there are chairs and settings for six people instead of four at each table. He waves to Spider who just sat down in a new seat at their old table, then hurries over to join him and the others.

After a long day of speaking, manners, and etiquette classes Vulksurn sees Shave sniffing and rolling up his blanket. Suddenly afraid Vulksurn asks. “Whatcha doing?”

Shave stops and takes a deep breath. “I's tu stupid. Can't be good'n like you's—all smaht.”

“Did they cut you?”

“Dey will.”

Vulksurn shakes his head. “What are you doing? You just gonna run away?”

He shrugs. “Been on da street before, born dere I dink.”

“But what if they catch you?”

“I's goes back to da orphanage, better dan ere.”

Vulksurn reaches his hand to stop him but he pushes past without a good bye. I wonder if his lip is twitching. The dim dusk light coming down the shafts can't seem to illuminate the shadow that walks away. He shouldn't go alone into the dark. Vulksurn frowns looks beside him at the empty bunk and lays down. But I can't follow him.

Across from him Mainze stops a coin game with his table's kids and asks him. “Hey what, did Twitchy get cut?”

Vulksurn frowns, shrugs and lays down. His thoughts shift away from losing a new friend back to loosing a mother and he feels his eyes suddenly well up with tears and sniffs.

One of Mainze's boys starts laughing and points at Vulksurn. “Hey e's crying about it.”

Vulksurn recognizes the boy's voice as the one who was in front of him that morning for the bathroom. They can't see, it's too dark. “I am not.” A few more boys laugh at the tremor in his voice. Mainze frowns and says nothing. Vulksurn rolls over and looks at the smallest shadow which he assumes is the boy that started the teasing. “Is your name Mouse?”

“Yah I be smallest, so yah I be nicked Mouse.” Vulksurn hears the smirk in his voice. “And you's be what? Cry baba?” All laugh except Mainze but Vulksurn imagines him grining.

Vulksurn looks at his table's bunks, only Jameson is there, curled against the wall, oblivious to all. Where is everyone? He gets up and starts walking out.

Mouse says to his back. “Yer not gonna tattle are ya?”

Vulksurn stands a little straighter, shakes his head and walks out. Someone steps out of the second room as he starts down the stairs. He strains with his eyes wide and thinks he recognizes the girl with the shockingly beautiful face. He slows his steps so he doesn't get farther ahead of her then pretends to study the ceiling art at the bottom until she walks by. When light finally unmasks her face he clears his throat and says. “Excuse me, what's your name?”

She stops and looks back at him surprised. “Me?”

“Yeah, I'm Vulk.” He bits his lip to keep from saying “um” then continues. “Yeah, I'm in the first room.”

She smiles tentatively. “I know. Yer important. I'm Onagenieve. I was from a family too.”

“Oh, drumming. Well I was wondering if you could check if Jesski of Piglet were in there.” He points at the girl's bathroom door.

She tilts her head. “I don't know them.” She smiles. “But I'll ask.” She rubs her knees together then hurries into the bathroom.

Vulksurn waits and watches some other classmates come and go. Finally Onagenieve comes out. She shakes her head and says. “Maybe they're in a bathing pool.”

“Oh yeah I could look there.”

“Okay.”

Onagenieve follows Vulksurn into the bathing pool area. Two of the four pools are full with older children, mixed boys and girls. The other two are only half full with Vulksurn's class. One pool has three boys, including Spider, the other has only Jesski and Piglet. Spider is washing his face and doesn't notice Vulksurn, but the girls see him right away and wave him over.

Jesski says. “Do yeh want ti take a bath with us?”

“Okay.” He gestures at Onagenieve. “Can she bathe with us too?”

Jesski shrugs and Piglet says. “Wat's yer name?”

“My name is Onagenieve.”

Piglet's eyes get big. “Wow, are you a princess?”

Onagenieve flushes and shakes her head.

Vulksurn tells them about Shave's leaving as they take a bath together. At first they are subdued by the news but soon they are washing each other's hair, splashing and warming each other's hearts. Vulksurn can't remember feeling as comfortable as this around other children before. He smiles deep and genuine drying the roots of tears from homesickness.

Piglet looks long at Onagenieve and says. “Pixie, is tat a good name for er?” She turns to Jesski with the question.”

Jesski grins. “Better name for yeh, or 'Pigxie'.” Piglet splashes her and they get into water fight that escalates until the noise and spill causes the older children to yell at them to stop. They basically obey and Jesski says. “'Onage', is dat okay? Just short like mine.”

Onagenieve shyly nods. “Okay.”

They get out and Vulksurn joins Spider drying off and tells him about Shave. Then together the five of them go back upstairs. Clouds block the starlight. He can hide in the dark.

Lacesha is sitting on Vulksurn's bed talking to Shave when they come in, Onage tentatively following. Lacesha stops and looks back at Vulksurn. “Vulk dear, you're going to help Shave with his Common okay?”

Vulksurn nods. “Sure, okay.”

She smiles. “Good Boy.” She pats Shave on the head and leaves.

Shave sits with shoulders and back slumped so bad Vulksurn couldn't tell if his lip is twitching even if it was the bright of day. Across from him Vulksurn sees with relief that Mainze's table's bunks are empty. He frowns when he sees a few of them, including Mouse in the back corner playing a coin game with other table kids. How can they play with so little light?

Jesski invites Onage over to her and Piglet's bunks and they start playing with each others hair. Piglet found some clips somewhere which are working well to hold their hair in place. Spider laughs at their attempts to copy lady fashion and they order him to join them. Seemingly dejected he acquiesces, but Vulksurn thinks he has a spring in his step when he walks by. Vulksurn glances at the far corner. They will tease him a lot for this, but maybe the dark will hide. He turns his attention back to Shave. “Are you okay?” Shave shrugs and Vulksurn continues. “Okay well I guess we can start okay?” He shrugs again. Vulksurn sighs silently. “Well I'll just teach you like I was taught. Now repeat after me....”

Chapter Two: Baby Steps

--

An hour before midnight, second Gaoday of Iynthai, Wintereve…

Vulksurn lies awake in bed staring up at the full moon's green light filtering down the shaft above him. Someone tugs his blanket. It's time. He silently slips out of his blanket and in bare feet leads four shadows to the open doorway. In the soft green light he motions for the shadows to wait at the top of the stairwell then goes to the doorway of the second room.

A shadow is waiting for him there. Vulksurn relaxes his eyes wide and his night vision transforms the shadow into Onage. She motions for him to wait then she disappears for a moment into her room. She comes back tugging an unknown shadow. Vulksurn frowns but says nothing, after a couple chews on his lip he motions them to follow.

They all gather then Vulksurn lets Shave lead them past Lacesha's room and around the corner. Vulksurn peeks in the third room, he hears some soft giggles in the back. Nodding he continues on.

The moon light filtering down the shafts illuminates the long hallway well enough for them to see it is empty. Seven bare footed shadows hurry with relative quiet to the doorway on the right just before the next corner. Shave peaks in and whispers to someone then he steps out and nods. Everyone hurries into the room.

Vulksurn notices at once that their are only fifteen bunks but the room seems the same size as his. They are lead to the far corner where most of the room's children are gathered. A tall boy asks. “Who is your leader.”

Shave points at Vulksurn who nods as firmly as he can manage.

The tall boy rhinal puffs. “Too small, Mainze is better. Him come next time.” He turns his back on Vulksurn and the other children follow his lead.

Shave tackles the tall boy from behind. Shocked, everyone on both sides is frozen while Shave and the tall boy roll around grunting and hitting. Bunks are pushed back and Vulksurn cringes at the harsh grating sound they make across the floor.

Shave is on top and punching down on the sniffling older and bigger boy. Vulksurn steps in and orders him to stop. Shave obeys but doesn't get up right away, first he leans in and whispers something. The tall boy says “okay” then Shave nods and lets him up.

Jesski pulls one of the room's girls aside and starts chatting with her in excited whispers. Vulksurn twists his lips. Her secret friend. He whispers loudly. “Okay sorry, we should go.” He glances around at his shadows, then hurriedly leads them back to their rooms. At Onage's room he recognizes her friend as a boy from her table. He asks his name as he motions everyone else on. The boy answers. “Me name's Ton Ton, ah Vulk sir.”

Before Vulksurn can respond Lacesha opens her door and hand on hip says. “Kids, a little late for playing don't you think?” Vulksurn doesn't bother trying to deny, just apologizes and hurries into his room after the others.

The next day Vulksurn and the others talk about the trip to the pre two's room. Jesski is a little happy about the brief moment she had to converse with her secret friend. Piglet is pouting because she thinks she didn't get to do anything, though she gets very excited when she talks about Shave fighting and looks at him with openly worshiping eyes. Shave looks only a little uncomfortable with the attention. Spider tries to talk to Jameson, but he just tries to ignore everyone. Shave enjoys sniping him when the opportunity arises.

That night Spider is the first to notice that Jameson is missing. Vulksurn takes the responsibility of finally going to Lacesha's door. He knocks hard three times. She opens and asks. “Yes?”

Vulksurn consciously do4esn't say “um”, after two weeks it is still a struggle. “I..., I er we noticed that Jameson hasn't come in yet.”

Lacesha crossed her rooms. “Yes he came by earlier with a story to tell. I took him to Master Teacher Hedrick so he could tell it. That was some time ago so it's safe to say he's the second cut.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, 'oh'.”

Vulksurn waits knowing he should leave but unable to without asking. “Why was he cut.”

Lacesha crouches down so she's on eye level with him. “Loyalty's very important here. The only loyalty that should be stronger then your loyalty to each other is your loyalty to Hutace and this monastery itself.” She smiles, but in the green light it seems insincere. “He told on you. You were the closest to friends he had here. By telling on you he proved that he had no loyalties.” She stands up. “Don't take this to mean that we will let your adventure go unpunished.” She taps her chin. “You know it's funny Gurden mentioned that one of his boys had a swelled lip. I wonder how that could have happened. Do you know?”

Vulksurn gulps. “I don't know.” I'm lying.

“A student lying to a Monk is grounds for expulsion.” She smiles, seemingly sincere this time. “But luckily you are just a pre and not a real student yet. Go on to bed and warn your friends about the lesson Jameson and you have learned.”

Vulksurn relates the news then starts Shave's Common lesson. Mainze soon interrupts with the words. “You got in a fight.”

Shave looks up at the bigger boy and rhinal puffs. Vulksurn, not wanting another fight to start says. “Yeah Shave was drum drumming, he tagged the leader of the room and then we all had to run back here real quick.”

Mainze laughs, nods and says. “I thinks that's drumming, yeah I do. You kids are true gutter yeah.”

Vulksurn flinches thinking Mainze was insulting them, but sees Shave is relaxed and realizes it was a compliment. He clears his throat and then continues with Shave's lesson.

--

Winter finally brings enough chill that the shafts are closed with more then just glass. This brings greater darkness, but the children know their way around well enough now to get by without their eyes. The new moon combined with the closing of the shafts makes the upstairs of the monastery seem like a cave or tomb to Vulksurn. It has been a month since he arrived and for him it feels like a year.

Lying in bed, the air like ink around him, he can't find sleep and closes his eyes to get up out of bed. He's discovered that in darkness it easier to find the way with out any distractions from the eyes. It is a secret that all his table follow as they slip out into the hallway with him.

They identify each other with touch. No words are exchanged. It has been two weeks since Jameson was cut and all feel that another could be at any time. The five of them make it halfway down the stairs. It's a place where the light of the first floor pushes back the gloom without being too bright for whispers.

They claim three steps between them. Shave is only on the highest step into the gloom and Vulksurn shares the brightest step with Spider. They gossip, chat, and all around catch up. This has become a nearly nightly ritual for them and they are joined by a half dozen kids from the other two rooms.

This is the only hangout outside of the rooms themselves, which are dominated by other crowds. Their room especially gets crowded with the kids Mainze attracts. Vulksurn's table's empty bunks provide convenient space for guests. Something about hanging out all the time in the dark bothers Vulksurn. Sometimes he hears kids crying in the far corner because of something bad happening to them. Remembering Lacesha's words on loyalty he doesn't more then think about telling.

Vulksurn glances back and up at Shave and tries to get him into a conversation. Shave starts off a little reluctant but warms up quick. His Common is much better.

The stairwell group complain about their Common teacher and tease Vulksurn for being the teacher's pet. They also share gossip about what they've learned is in store for them through the following year, something Jesski is the best source because of her connection to the pre two class. Vulksurn imagines the girl that is her special friend. She is like Jesski's sister. A little taller, but their faces are very similar.

Vulksurn suddenly raises his hand, and then whispers up at everyone. “A Monk.” The children hurry up the stairs and disperse to their rooms. Gurden takes his time climbing the stairs, being sure to give them enough so he doesn't have to order them into their rooms.

-Night of the 2^nd Gaoday of Jorthus-

Vulksurn stares up the shaft at the sky that leaves blue so deep and dark for a gradual greening that marks the rise of a full winter moon. Only a thin plane of glass protects from the cruel cold wind. By a vote allowed to them, the children of his room had decided to have the winter shutters open throughout the winter. With the shutters open chill air forms on their side of the glass. Though there is no wind to blow it, the room temperature does lesson enough that some have already started to envy the other two rooms that choose warmth over light.

Vulksurn ponders the choice, and wonders why it had to be made. What is hard about opening and closing.

The choice, Lacesha had related, “is to stand for the whole season. Cold or darkness, both are worthy lessons to learn so don't think there was a right or wrong answer.”

Vulksurn drifts off to sleep and dreams of trying to catch up to his mother. But she can't hear him and her legs are so much longer. He runs but can't close the distance. He falls and can't get up. There is no power in him, no strength left. Just his eyes straining to see in the gray greenish fog curling in from the sides of his vision.

He wakes suddenly and very mournfully wishes he was back in his home's bed like for a moment he thought he was. He even tries to force his eyes to see his home instead of the large room with twenty bunks and eighteen other children. He glances at the empty bunk against the wall and remembers that Master Teacher Hedrick himself will be testing each of them over the next six days. I hope Shave or Onage isn't cut. He is sure that someone will be cut by the first Saturday of Kilthus—six days hence.

Vulksurn is the first of his table to be called to testing. He is escorted by Lacesha to Hedrick's private room on the first floor. It the first time he has seen this part of the monastery and feels his heart drumming an unsteady beat. Lacesha leaves him at the closed door with a small reassuring smile but no word. Vulksurn watches her walk out of sight then raises his hand to knock.

Before his small knuckles can touch the hard wood it opens inward without a squeak or squeal. The room is larger then Lacesha's as he expected, but it is no more lavishly furnished which surprises Vulksurn. The walls have pleasant but simple hangings and the furniture seems worn and functional rather then new and fancy.

Hedrick is standing partly behind the door and motions him inside with a slightly bored expression. “Please sit against the wall there.” Vulksurn goes the chair Hedrick is pointing too, sits and entwines his fingers across his knees while attentively watching the Master Teacher go and sit at his desk a man's pace away. Hedrick clears his throat as he moves some papers about. “Ah yes, here you are.” He rubs his shinny bald head and smiles thinly at Vulksurn. “What do you think of your stay so far young Habithe?”

Almost Vulksurn utters the one sound he knows he should above all else not utter. He bites his tongue, recovers and says. “Good, it's good here thank you.”

Hedrick scratches a blond eyebrow. “Don't you miss your mother? Wouldn't you want to visit her, or at least hear how she's been?”

I should say “no”. He tries but the lie dies in his throat. Waiting expectantly Hedrick give him a moment and Vulksurn finally simply says. “Yes sir.”

Hedrick makes a note on the paper before him with a ready quill. “Umm, and your friend—Shave I think his called—how is your tutoring progressing?”

Vulksurn breaths sharply in surprise. I thought he didn't know. “I—he's getting better. He's really smart. I think he'll be a good monk.”

Hedrick smirks and marks with his quill. “Your opinion is duly noted.” He scratches his eyebrow again. “Your teachers all seem to like you. Lacesha seems particularly fond of you. What do you think I am?”

Viscous and mean. “About me?”

“Yes how do you think I feel about you? Everyone else seems to think you are great. What do I think?”

“I—I don't know.”

Hedrick nods. “And you never will, not for sure. If you did I would not be a Master Teacher.” He leans back with arms crossed. “But you must know I've my eye on you.” He rhinal puffs. “I've never had a cut turned around on me like that before. You succeeding is a reminder that it was a mistake to cut you. But to cut you for simply being that reminder is to make a bigger mistake from which I couldn't hide.” He spreads his hands. “So I simply keep my eye on you.” He breaths deeply in silence for a moment then continues. “You do go against the basic rule that there is little true difference between children at your age. A secret is that most of the early cuts are made fairly arbitrarily. However in your eyes I can see that you understand enough of what I'm saying to prove worth beyond what a child your age should have.” He smirks. “I might even cut you for being too good. That's done too you know, later usually, once the real training starts. We don't want one of the dozen to be better then any two of the others, remember that.” He looks down at his paper, makes a note and waves him out. “Close the door behind you.”

Vulksurn gulps, gets up and leaves, closing the door silently behind him. At a loss for a moment about where to go and what to do now he sighs with relief when Lacesha appears through a double doorway and gestures him to follow. He notes the different route back to his room and adds to his mental map of the building.

When they reach the top of the stairs Vulksurn asks. “Why do you keep it so dark up here?”

“There are shafts in the floor as well as shafts in the ceiling. When both are open it is light enough, though for reading a lamp is advised.”

“But I haven't seen any shafts in the floor.”

“Oh, look harder.”

That night Vulksurn does look, witht he help of his table, but none of them find anything. Disappointed but not as anxious as they would be without it as a distraction from the review.

Vulksurn is surprised and happy to learn that both Shave and Onage make it through their review. A boy Vulksurn never talked to is cut on the last day of reviews. He was from the third room, no one could even tell him his name.

Chapter Three: Year's End

--

The months swim by and the winter season breaks. No snow has fallen. Unusual but not rare with the Bazure Sea's warm air current blasting all the way from the equator. Springday, first day of Alothee and the year, Vulksurn is staring up at the green moon, full and bright distilling its light into his shared room.

More then a full season has passed at the Hutace Monastery and five have been cut from Vulksurn's class. Of those children only Jameson was close to him. The others were strangers. In the months since coming in only those five have gone out. No others of the pre one's have even seen outside the monastery walls. Vulksurn has heard that this changes and that after the pre years not just the cut get sent outside. Almost every form zen student he has met in the halls has bragged about trips to the outside.

Vulksurn hears Shave moving in his bunk and whispers. “Hey Shave you awake?”

“Yeah I be awake.”

Vulksurn frowns, Shave's speaking has improved but is still far from proper. “Do you want to go outside?”

Shave answers just above a whisper. “What, now?”

Jesski stirs and says. “What's going on?”

Vulksurn shakes his head. “Nothing go back to sleep.” In a low whisper he continues to Shave. “No, I mean when we are form students.”

“Oh, ah sure I's guess.”

Vulksurn sighs. “I miss my momma.”

Shave moves a little but stays silent. Vulksurn finally sleeps into sleep.

--

Spring equinox, first Goaday of Baithee, also know as Planthand day. For the first time Vulksurn's class are led outside. A side door past their classrooms and between the retired monk's quarters is open for them. They step outside and behold for the first time in the glory of spring the Hutace Garden, tended now by the retirees. Vulksurn recognizes Cohnarr the roll keeper that had fixed his arm. He waves at the old man as they are lead out by Lacesha. Cohnarr nods back.

The morning light is too bright for the students who had been clustered inside all winter. They all are squinting, covering their eyes. The high wall beyond the garden denies that they are truly outside. The air has the smell of the city about and the muffled sound of commerce reaches their ears but Vulksurn knows they are still very much a world apart.

During the day spent helping the retired monks in the garden a sixth student is finally cut. He hadn't done anything wrong that Vulksrun could see. The boy was from Mainze's table, but not Mouse.

Spring passes away as does an eight and ninth student. Summer arrives, but the heat wave is delayed until the beginning of the second month of the season. Happily Vulksurn discovers the Monetary stays surprisingly cool through the warmest part of the day, but even so the humidity makes sleeping difficult.

The same current that kept the snow from falling in winter has part the sweaty sea air to the capital. Vulksurn doesn't mind the rain, it is the almost rain that he hates. Like a bowl filled to the brim but can't spill out the water the air is thick and heavy. The fruit trees ringing the garden between it and the wall provide some sweet relief from the imposing heat. As do the berry bushes lining the vegetable garden.

By the end of summer two more students have been cut. In all Vulksurn feels very lucky, still only Jameson was one of those close to him cut. The other students have started to see like him more because of this, seeing him as lucky and favored. Only one more cut for the next nine weeks.

The cut doesn't come until a final testing by Hedrick occurs. Agian Vulksurn is grilled but serves and even grudgingly pleases the Master Teacher who passes on his praise to the pre two Master Teacher for next year. The final cut is a girl Vulksurn had not been close to but Jesski and Piglet had. They are sad and even ask if he an do something. He tires and secretly earns more respect in so trying, but visually is reprimanded by both Lacesha and Hedrick.

Chapter Four: Year Two

--

Vulksurn is curious about the new pre's but doesn't waste too much thought on it as he and his classmates are through into a whole new schedule and rooms. He is separated from Shave and Piglet is separated from Jesski. Piglet, Spider, Mouse, Onage, Orgar, and Vulksurn share a room with nine others that he doesn't know so well. Vulksurn gets to know Stump here and now and a couple of others that later get cut.

In the cafeteria the students are assigned seating that rotates every meal. Vulksurn has no table anymore, but still his former table and friends still gather when they can on the stairwell during the new moon.

The year wears on and Vulksurn feels like the cuts this time are worse. End of the summer is Praiseday of the leap year 2022 PE. He looses some new friends but manages to keep the old ones and a most of the new ones so is still considered favored and lucky by the end of year two.

Chapter Five: First Of The Form Years

--

Beginning the year is a ceremony where all thirty students are gifted with Blue trousers and tunics. They are told to be proud and to try hard but not to worry about being cut as much, not only because there will only be two a year from now on, but if you are cut you will be taken care of to a greater and greater degree.

Eight years old, Vulksurn feels he has matured a great deal. He also has grown to a more average height for his age which helps him retain the respect he has among his peers.

Years of practice with his father come back to him and Vulksurn finds himself at the top of the class with form. Heady with praise he nearly gets himself and Shave cut after sneaking into the library in the basement in the middle of the night.

Chapter Six: The Other Two Form Years

--

Vulksurn improves his mastery over the zen state of form and marvels at how his mind has changed through the process. Shave gets in a fight with two fellow students, he wins but only doesn't get cut because two have already been cut for the year. There is a graduation ceremony. Vulksurn works with Shave to keep him on the best of behaviors.

Chapter Seven: The Will Years

--

After worrying form months the first cut happens and it is not Shave. He seems to have been forgiven, but the next fight between students the instigator becomes the second cut of the year.

They get a sex education crash course, basically it is an explanation of what it is and a strict warning not to do it at all.

--

Will year two—Vulksurn learns finally from a reliable source exactly what happens after final graduation. The graduating twelve owes the monastery one hundred eight years of service between them. Thirty six of which must be served within the first six after graduation or they are hunted and penalized as a group or worse. The full amount must be served within eighteen years of graduation or retiree benefits are withheld. Exceptions are made on a case by case basis. A monk may retiree no sooner then nineteen years after graduation and no later then forty two years. A retiree may take an honored retiree place at the monastery in order of seniority. Seniority is one third age one third the status of their twelve and one third their own service to the monastery, Hutace or the principles of either.

Options of service after graduation first six years for total twelve include policing support in the capital, which pays in part for favors the city gives to the monastery. For individuals, whatever teacher assistant positions will be open. No more then four from any one twelve may be hold active guard duty in the monastery. Vulksurn considers this but wants to be with more then just three others. If a war happens the twelve could serve Korisun itself to bring great prestige to the monastery. Even in war the nation would do no more then request aid.

Other then direct service their are several rival monasteries in the nation and one other within the cities walls. The other is smaller and more secretive but their are tournaments held in which the different monasteries can meet in the light. Sometimes patrons offer valued contracts to the winner. As by wining they have proved their worth.

Certain bounty hunting work can also bring prestige but this can infringe on the assassin's guild so the bounty hunter must be careful that the bounties pursued require a living only to be brought back, but even so it is advised though not banned for Hutace Monks to bounty hunt.

The most adventurous work are the missions. From single person tot he full twelve missions, they are varied in every way.

--

Will year three Vulksurn hears that Lacesha's twelve are missing. They had gone on a full year mission into the Great Wild.

Chapter Seven: The Motion Years

--

Vulksurn and the rest of the students learn the rest of what they will have to give up to become monks. Prime among these is the ability to have children. They learn that this will happen at the end of the second year. Despite the enormity of this sacrifice few of them can dream of leaving each other.

A girl a year ahead gets pregnant and is cut. Vulksurn hears that she will have the choice to have or abort her baby but she can not keep it. “Easier to go faster then to stop—momentum.”

--

Year two--Vulksurn talks Jesski into not purposefully getting cut. She changes her mind but the second cut takes place before she can act.

The castration and sterilization takes place. Vulksurn is thoughtful about it but not really sad. He does miss masturbating though, he can't seem to get quite the same feeling anymore. “In just a matter of days my libido faded to only a fraction of what it was. Prior to castration I masturbated once daily, sometimes twice, and I was able to stop altogether after castration. At the same time I was overtaken by a constant serenity, and things seemed to not irritate me as easily.” “I enjoy the benefits of a much weaker and controlled libido while feeling more calm all the time.” “I've heard of men masturbating four or five times daily before castration to a couple of times per month after the surgery. Some men have gone from wanting too much sex for their wives to not wanting it often enough. Sometimes a eunuch will take enough testosterone after their surgery to maintain a moderate amount of sexuality.” “Some men have obtained relief from castration, but then they have to accept all of the other effects of castration such as impotence, infertility, loss of energy, and loss of strength.” “Bull castrated more docile bigger stronger”

Shave is the most disappointed while Spider and Orgar seem to be the happiest. Vulksurn doesn't feel a desire to have sex with Onage anymore but he still likes to cuddle with her. And Piglet no longer flirts with everyone, instead she and Jesski start a sexual relationship that they manage to keep relatively secret. It is made clear that after the proceeder sex is considered okay, that primarly it was the children that had to be removed as a possibility. In addition the male sex drive was considered a danger to the stability that a ki monk needs to maintain the three needed states of zen.

--

Year three—For the first time the twelve are allowed to spend a night in the city unattended—so they think. One of those that is to be cut suggests that they go to a tavern. Pine Cone shakes his head and says. “But they'll say we are too young and not let us in.”

Mainze laughes. “They'll let Onage and Jesski in all right.”

Piglet squeaks. “What about me?”

Mainze just laughs.

Mouse clears his throat for attention and says. “I heard this tale of an elvn that tried to get in once. First they said he was too young. 'But I'm elvn' he said. Then they said he was too old. The elvn frowned said nothing but shook his bag of gold. They stepped aside and said 'well now that's all that really matters'.”

A few chuckles then Spider asks. “So where do we get gold?”

Mouse smiles, looks at Vulksurn and says. “I'm sure our great leader will think of something.”

The final two cuts go to two young men who are the worst at adjusting to the new balance. Several more could be cut, but