AfterTheFallIIISilk beamed at Raina, “Ooo… I like this one, Cole. She’s pretty.” She wriggled her feline ears, “And don’t furrow your brow, Joao. I love you just as much.” Joao blinked his eyes. "Where is your friend, Miss Satonaka?" Joao enquired politely. Students began filing around them, not entirely sure of what to make of this odd sight. Silk remained oblivious to the attention she’d drawn down upon the group. “So I’ve got to get to Athanor Synthesis this morning. You’ve been elected to carry me there, Beanpole. “Now that’s settled. What’s all the juicy poop you’ve all heard recently?” "Most of the gossip I am aware of revolves around the Court of Rebma." Joao said in a tone of apology. "I am afraid I am not that well connected with the gossip in the school, save in the circles in which I swim. I do not think, Miss Silk, they would be of exceeding interest to you." Silk grinned, “You’d be surprise, Joao. I liked your home. I’m sure I could find more than a few fishies suitable for my tank, so to speak.” "Athanor Synthesis?" Cole asked Silk. "I think that's the opposite side of the campus from my rhetoric class. Sorry, Silk, I can't carry you, but I'd be happy to launch you in the appropriate direction." Raina's eyes widened at Cole's choice of verb. Trying to appear casual, she stepped back out of the way of the potential "launch." Joao stepped backwards as well, slightly wary and entirely convinced that Cole might be serious. A thick tail went around Cole’s stomach, tying Silk to him. “Well, aren’t you just the grumpy stick-in-the-arse today?” Grudgingly, she disengaged herself from Cole’s back and lowered herself to the floor. “And here I thought first day was going to be fun! I was going to share the stuff I lifted off some ganas with you. Now, you can suffer. And it’s not like you’re the only man I could be throwing myself at, you know. The school is. . .” She paused, staring out at the crowd. A sly grin curled the corners of her devious mouth. “Well, /hellloooo/ tall, dark, and strange,” she purred. The trio recognized the figure purposefully headed their way. Temnal. "I wasn't being mean, Silk, it was a serious offer," Cole explained. "You like the rooftops so much that I..." Upon recognizing Temnal, he stopped. He looked at Temnal, looked at Silk, and a devious grin crossed his face. "Silk, haven't I introduced you to my good friend Temnal? I do believe he's a prince of somewhere or other. I'm sure you two would enjoy getting to know each other. Temnal, this is Silk. Well, I gotta run." “A prince? That’s perfect! I could use the influx of extra coin,” Silk chimed. She moved to Temnal’s side, inspecting the merchandise more closely. Joao bowed his head at the approach of Temnal. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Silk," said Temnal politely. Then he went on, "Don't run off just yet, Cole. Gillian asked me to tell you and Joao and Raina that she'd like us to meet up in her new lab after class. To work on that--independent study project," he added. Silk stopped imagining Temnal with his clothes off long enough to cast a dubious look in Cole’s direction. “Studying? Oh please. Since when did you become scholastically inclined, Beanpole? And the Wisp with Glasses doesn’t seem your type.” Cole looked confused. "The Independent Study Project." Joao picked up smoothly, with a nod to Temnal. "Of course." He gave a glance to Cole and Raina and then regarded Temnal again. "We have not forgotten about it." He paused a beat. "Do you know if Miss Talbot has recruited anyone else to help us?" "I believe she may have talked to Rusalka Cardovan," Temnal replied. "I think I spotted her earlier, but I don't see her now. If you happen to run into her before I do, you might mention it." He wasn't sure if he should mention Seabhac. "Certainly. I am uncertain, however, if I have any classes with Miss Cardovan." Joao said. "Did Gillian say where we should meet her?" Raina asked. "She said the new lab's in the basement of the Alchemy building," said Temnal. "Apparently it used to belong to someone named Pamela Ibis?" "Oh! Yeah, the Independent Study Project," Cole said, finally catching on, pronouncing each word with emphasis. "That one class that meets really, really late. I remember." He turned to Silk. "It wasn't my idea. We were all sort of drafted into it. Some sort of, um, ethnographic study." Silk put her hands on her hips, “Well, I’m very ethnosensitive, even with /ganas/ like you all. And academically savvy. So, why wasn’t I invited to this study thing? Hello. Center of attention here!” She stared up at Temnal as if daring him to ignore her. "Miss Silk." Joao said smoothly, deciding to interject and try and save Temnal. "The Independent Study project was assigned to us." He thought of the weird Mirelle and Bob. "It was not voluntary. And with all the honesty I might muster, I fear that someone of your obvious talents and grace would find the project banal, boring, dull and frankly beneath you. In Rebma, Miss Silk, we would consider the Independent Study project men's work, only." "Wouldn't you agree, Miss Baronson?" he said, nodding to Raina. "Temnal? Cole?" Temnal nodded, assuming a martyred look. "Professors. You know how they are." Raina nodded, looking pained as well. "I would definitely get out of if I could," Cole said. "I've put a lot of late hours into it already. And the homework can be so... messy." Raina scrunched up her nose and nodded again in agreement with Cole. Silk scrunched her nose as well, “Messy, huh? Work heavy? Well, maybe it is in my better interests to avoid that. I can smell something fishy. But you know what? Who am I to disagree with Joao over here? Besides, this is first term. There are far too many purse strings to cut and card games to run, right?” She waggled her fingers and skipped way. “So, I release you all. For now.” Joao bowed formally to her, as a female. "Thank you, Miss Silk. May your currents run fast and clear until the waters bring us together again." Cole nudged him and murmured, "Oh, man, just let her go. Don't give her an excuse. Not right now." Fortunately, Silk was too preoccupied with lifting a sophomore’s coin-purse to have heard the men talking. She flicked her tail in triumph and continued on her way to class. For the moment, they could speak freely. Cole heaved a sigh of relief. "Okay, I really do have to run now. Rhetoric's clear on the other side of campus, and I've heard that if you're late you have to justify it to the professor in front of the whole class. I'll meet you in Gillian's lab. I have to let Cynwyd know too, if I can find him. See ya." He strode off through the thinning crowd. "I have to get to class too," Temnal said apologetically to Joao and Raina. "Geometry, in my case. So I'll see you this evening?" He made it a question. Joao's eyes lit up at Temnal's mention of Geometry. "As it so happens, Raina and I have Geometry as well. Not sure if we are in the same section as you, though. We'll be in the same old building anyway" Joao reached into a pocket and looked at a piece of paper. "Professor Luba's class?" he asked. Temnal glanced at his own schedule and said, "Yes, that's right. Shall we walk together, then?" As a reflex, Joao glanced at Raina for her input. "Yes. I'd like that," she said, falling in beside Joao. After they had escaped the worst of the crowds, Raina ventured nervously to Temnal, "Um... how long have you known about... um... all that?" "Not more than a couple of days," he replied. "I had a late tutorial and just as I got back to my dorm, everything ... changed." "Da" Joao said. "There seems to be little pattern as to when people have first experienced the Dark Hour. Miss Baronson and I experienced it simultaneously at a theatrical production that we were both attending." Joao gave Raina a shy look. "together." Raina smiled and blushed happily. He looked back at Temnal. "We were surprised that only we could see the transformation, and the creature..." "'Creature'?" queried Temnal. "Only one?" "One fearsome creature, of many limbs and mouths." Joao said. "One was enough," Raina added with a shudder. "We also saw we have conduits to." Joao added. "Have you looked in a mirror in the Darkest Hour, Temnal?" Joao enquired. "No; I wasn't able to get back into my room until it was over," Temnal explained. "Why? Do you recommend it?" "Da. It is dangerous, but it is important." Joao replied. "This is what I was conversing with Lady...Princess Mirelle and her mentor at that experience." he explained. "Raina and I saw ours in reflections, and conversed with them. They also seemed most displeased that Raina and I did not fall to stabbing each other, so much their mutual hate rose like a red tide in their vision." Raina nodded. "I was there, too, as I said, when Rusalka confronted hers, and underwent union. That is why they called her the Coral Conduit. I do not yet know the name of mine, though I have guesses." "You should hear of Raina's experience in Corilaine." Joao added, and looked to Raina after dodging a pair of students headed the opposite direction with deft agility. Raina clutched her books tightly to her chest, as if uncomfortable being the center of attention. "Well, we were going somewhere with Seabhac and I got a little... lost. I ended up in this temple sort of place. A pack of night wolves started to close in on me, but they stopped. They seemed to think I was... one of the deceased Princesses of Amber." She seemed reluctant to say the name out loud. "I've seen the Princess though. And spoken with her... some... during those times that she showed up at midnight. So... for the wolves, I pretended to be her. It worked. They didn't attack me. And they didn't attack the others when they came for me because I... or, _she_... told them not to." "Da" Joao agreed. "As you can see, Temnal, the relationship, once known, carries benefits and risks. I am torn on trying to discover more "But the knowledge that the link exists is important. Better that we told you, rather than you accidentally discovering the link without forewarning." "Yes, I am glad to know it," Temnal said thoughtfully. "As yet my ... avatar? ... if that is what it was, has manifested only as a voice." "Most of the time, that's what it is for me as well," Raina said. "Unless I... seek out a reflective surface or something." She blushed and hugged her books tighter, as if she had just revealed something she thought she shouldn't have. Joao dared to lay a hand on Raina, only broken by yet another gaggle of students, oblivious to the world in the way that such young people were, unmindful of the progress of the other three students. Raina smiled up gratefully at Joao's touch. After being jostled by the passing students, she fell back in next to him, but perhaps a step closer. "Each of the ones we are conduits to seem to have different personalities and desires." Joao continued. "What is your voice like, Temnal?" Joao enquired. He looked up as Ingersoll Hall¹, where most of the Geometry classes were taught behind red brick and white marble, loomed into view. "A bit like the sort of ironic voice that sits in the back of your head and tells you you're being an idiot," Temnal said with a half-smile. "Except...when I asked him who he was, he realized he couldn't remember. And that upset him. He wants me to find out." Raina looked up, startled. "That's it! That's exactly it. Mine is the same way. I know who she is, but from what I heard about Rusalka, I'm now afraid to say her name. Though..." Raina trailed off, looking a bit distressed. "I wonder if we'll have to go through... that... in order to do what Bob needs us to do." “Raina!” someone shouted above the crowd. A blonde girl strode through the crowd like a pixie spirit. She possessed classic Begman features and the wiry figure of a dancer. Raina recognized her from dance class: Medina Gannel, an ambassador’s daughter. She offered a soft smile to the men. “I saw you at the auditorium and thought I’d say hello,” Medina said. “Have you decided if you’ll be dancing in summer festival this year?” Joao gave a polite bow of the head to Medina and stepped back a pace to allow Raina to engage with her classmate. "Miss Baronson's skills and place within the theatrical world of Faiella University should not be discounted." Joao said to Temnal, continuing the conversation. "In point of fact, that was the factor that allowed us to truly meet, and, by coincidence, experience the Dark Hour together." "Oh Joao, I'm not THAT good," she said modestly, though she cringed slightly at the mention of the Dark Hour. Raina rose up on tiptoe to hastily kiss Joao's cheek. "I need to go check the audition board. I'll meet you back at class," she said, smiling up at him shyly before hustling Medina away. As they departed, the men could hear them giggling like ... well, schoolgirls. Joao bowed his head as Raina and Medina departed. Temnal bowed farewell to both dancers, then said to Joao, "As it happens, that is how I became acquainted with Rusalka Cardovan. That is, we'd both stopped to watch the same street performance over on Temple Street. So I was there when someone tried to lift her purse..." Realization dawned on his face. "She must already have started experiencing the Dark Hour then. No wonder she was so adamant about getting home before midnight!" "Da" Joao agreed. "The knowledge of what lies out there changes one's habits, undeniably. I, for example, never find myself comfortable turning in to sleep until the Dark Hour is concluded. I fear what would happen if I fell asleep before the Hour started." He looked at Temnal. "Gillian didn't tell me about what happened to her brother, but it seems to me that, mostly, those who have not awakened are mostly immune from the dangers of the Hour. The creatures there seem more intent on and interested in those who don't turn into coffins.' "Us" Joao added. "We're out of place, and those monsters know it." "I don't know that I'd want to be *in* place in a setting like that," Temnal remarked. "What I'm curious about is why our being 'conduits' gives us a foot in both camps, so to speak. What is the connection between deceased Amberites -- if that is what they are -- and the Dark Hour? Is there any evidence that living Amberites experience it the way we do?" He looked up at the Geometry building. "Though maybe we should save that discussion for our meeting after class." "We probably should." Joao said, glancing up at the Hall. "One piece of advice on Professor Luba." Joao added. "Know your commentary on Euclid as well as the main text, and you will do fine. He seems to enjoy finding those in the class who haven't prepared and spearing them on the tines of his rhetoric. I drew a lot of the proofs on the board for the class until I buckled down and read the material backwards and forwards. He then went on to other targets." "I'll be happy to read whatever he wants me to," Temnal said tractably, then added with a grin, "and Gillian can help me find it." Joao nodded. "Do svidaniya" [Joao] added to Temnal, with a smile. "Till later," Temnal replied, as they mounted the steps of the hall. ¹Ingersoll Hall, one of the first (and thus smallest) of the buildings rebuilt after the Fire, is named in honor of Raines Ingersoll, who managed to save, at the cost of her own life, one of the original editions of Euclid's Elements threatened during the Chaosian siege of Amber. |
