Aris Tuttle in the Realm of Logic

Chapter 3: Assignment

Aris's tongue went dry with the suggestion of placing such responsibility on his shoulders.

"Aris didn't even get accepted into the Academy!" argued Dag, one of Tem's three sons. "Let me go instead!"

Aris steeled himself against Dag's caustic words, a scathing reminder of his twofold humiliation: it wasn't just that his application to Eruda Academy had been rejected, but that his entry wasn't secured despite his father, the "Hero of Norsea", having once served as a Logic Guardian.

"Enough Dag!" scolded Ria, Dag's oldest sister. Her hair was deep red and tied in a ribbon, and she wore wire spectacles that complemented her velvet frock. Aris had adored her for as long as he could remember. "Even Zay wasn't accepted into the Academy right away," she reminded her brother. "It's very noble that Aris wants to be a Logic Guardian and the portreeve is right to entrust this assignment to him."

Dag stormed off and Aris blushed at Ria's words. "Perhaps Dag is right," he said. "Portreeve, are you sure you want me to carry such a heavy task, someone the Academy didn't even deem worthy of admitting?"

"Aris, pay no attention to that sour fruit," Ria encouraged. "We're all proud of you. We know you'll get to Eruda someday, and Zay will be waiting for you when you do."

Aris smiled at the thought of joining his best friend at the Academy.

"My boy," said Portreeve Scope, "I have waited to tell you this because I did not want to discourage you, but even I was rejected from the Academy. Not just once, but every year until I was beyond the age of eligibility. Now, knowing that, do you think less of me?"

"Of course not," Aris told him, though he was surprised by the portreeve's admission.

"Nor does anyone in Norsea think less of you – apart from Dag, it would seem. We all realize how important it is for you to become a Logic Guardian like Juster, but trust me when I say that whether or not you are one day accepted to the Academy has no bearing on your value to this village."

Aris's mother clutched his fingers and smiled. Though he appreciated the portreeve's words and reassuring nods and smiles from the residents, Aris knew from the day his father was lost at sea that he would never be content until he too wore the uniform of a Logic Guardian.

"Now, Aris," Portreeve Scope said, "will you take word to Sage Fidelis?"

Aris nodded. "I will."

The portreeve clapped his hands once. "Then let us make haste to my chambers and I shall draw up a letter for you to deliver."

On the edge of the town square was the portreeve's office and residence, a small building of no distinction aside from an engraved sign on the door. Portreeve Scope showed Aris to his chambers and invited him to sit in a leather wingback chair facing a desk scattered with various books, most of them thick with Logic's numerous laws. The portreeve's collection of Logic's rules was only a fraction of the tomes to be found on the subject in the Great Library at Eruda Academy. The logicians of old were said to have dedicated their entire lives to the study of such texts.

Aris sat down as the portreeve retrieved a quill pen and sheet of paper from his desk drawer. He settled noisily into his chair, dipped the pen into a well of squid ink and drafted a letter as he spoke.

"Now, as you well know, Sage Fidelis returned to his hometown of Essen after his retirement."

Aris nodded. His father had studied at the Academy while Sage Fidelis still served as Magister Logician.