Sacrifice

Chapter 3 - The Education

The next morning Kalli glanced around the marble entryway of the capital's university.

From the wooden bench where she sat, she couldn't see anyone that she recognized but was not reassured. She knew very few noble men, and it was possible that one of the young men entering through the great stone arches of the entry was the brother of an acquaintance. If her father found out she was here ...

With trembling fingers, Kalli traced the blue and green gemstones embedded in her personal crystal datapad. Once again, she ran through what she wanted to say.

"Hello my name is Lady al Aratina ... you come highly recommended Dr. Iridan, ... I'm considering you for the position as my science tutor ... the pay would be 75 dinas an hour ... though I must be willing to negotiate up to 100 ... hours are from 12h00 – 16h00 every Wednesday and every other Thursday night."

Kalli nodded to herself. She remembered everything. Now if only the good doctor would arrive.

There was the sound of footsteps, and Kalli looked up to see a woman in casual attire, carrying a pile of books and datapads, approach her.

"You're my 13h15 appointment?" The woman looked at Kalli as though trying to draw up an equation that would fit her.

Kalli stood. "If you're Dr. Miriam Iridan then yes, my name is ..."

"Lady Kallistrate al Aratina. I know who you are. Follow me." The woman set off down the hall at a fast clip, and Kalli almost had to jog to keep up.

As she followed, she inspected Dr. Iridan. Her black hair was cut short, and she dressed in the loose soft clothes and leather boots favoured by common-class males. The only hint of age was the hard set of her face and the few creases at her eyes. She certainly didn't look like she was the best astrophysicist in the city. But she was, despite the fact that she was in her early 30s.

Dr. Iridan stopped at a door and let herself in. She tossed her load on the desk, which was cluttered with more datapads than Kalli had ever seen in one place. She circled the desk and dropped heavily into the chair.

Kalli shifted nervously; she wasn't used to being left standing while those around her sat. "Dr. Iridan, I was, well, I was hoping that you would consider being my, my science tutor."

Kalli's heart sank as Dr. Iridan lifted an eyebrow, not looking the least bit impressed.

"Why?"

"Because you're the best," Kalli said, without stopping to think.

Dr. Iridan's lips twitched. "Perhaps I'm among the more talented, but I have yet to see an objective and accurate measure of 'the best.' Nonetheless, I will agree that I hold a high level in the academic world when it comes to astronomy and astrophysics. That's why I have the best and brightest students lined up at my door, looking to secure a moment or two of my time. Why should I spend what little free time I have on you instead of them?"

Kalli stared blankly at Dr. Iridan for a moment. This wasn't going in the least bit the way that she had planned. "I can pay you, just name your price."

Dr. Iridan snorted. "Unless you can secure for me the resources and materials it would take to send a probe to the Mustaykufush nebula then you have nothing that I want. You can leave." Dr. Iridan pulled a datapad from the desk.

"But what if I'm one of the best?" Kalli had no idea where the words came from; they simply burst out of her.

Dr. Iridan looked over the datapad, obviously amused. "Just because your well-paid tutors have given you glowing reviews doesn't make you one of science's finest. Have you ever actually had an objective test of your abilities?"

"No," Kalli hated to admit the truth. "But a deficiency of evidence does not constitute grounds for rejecting a hypothesis. It simply means that the hypothesis needs further testing."

Dr. Iridan looked vaguely surprised. "True. What do you suggest?"

"Test me," challenged Kalli. "The same way you'd test any student who applied to work with you."

Sitting back, Dr. Iridan considered Kalli for a moment; then she shuffled through a desk drawer.

"Here," she said, tossing Kalli a thumb-sized yellow data crystal, "this has the outline and marking rubric for a paper that I required of my first-year students. You have one month. If you produce a superior level of work, then I'll consider you as a student. Otherwise, you can find another tutor or join university classes just like other students your age."

Dr. Iridan paused for a moment.

"You're dismissed," she said quietly.

Clutching the data crystal, Kalli turned and left. At the end of the hallway, she paused and took a deep breath. Her stomach was churning with emotions—elation, dread, triumph, indignation and fear. Half of her wanted to run home, pull open her workstation and get started on an earth-shattering astronomy paper. The other half wanted to toss the data crystal in the trash and turn a cold shoulder on the doctor who had shown her no respect. Biting her lip, Kalli stared at the crystal. Finally, she pocketed it. She could always change her mind and get rid of it later.

# # #

"What do you think you're doing here miss?"

Kalli looked up and saw a soldier step forward to block the entrance to the North Gate command building. She'd been so wrapped up in her indignation that she'd forgotten that she could no longer wander in pretending to be one of the young message runners.

"I-I ... I have a message from my father, for one of your captains."

The soldier held out his hand. "I'll deliver it miss."

"It's to be delivered only, only by me." Kalli tried to bluff.

"Lady al Aratina." Another soldier interrupted the conversation with a deep bow. "I believe that Captain Doran is expecting you."

As he straightened from his bow, Kalli recognized the large blue eyes set into a soft round face. Wirin was one of Adir's men, and with his blonde curls, he looked nothing short of angelic.

"I'll accompany the gentle lady to her destination," Wirin said.

The first soldier was frowning though he gave a small bow. "A lady? To speak with a captain?"

Kalli brought Annabella to mind and set her shoulders. "It is a matter of the utmost importance that my father feels only I can be trusted with."

Her haughty tone brought a blush to the soldier's face and deeper bow. "Of course my Lady, if I can be of service."

She turned from the soldier and followed Wirin inside.

"You're taking an awful risk coming here without arranging for one of the Captain's friends to meet you, my Lady." Wirin kept his voice soft.

Kalli glanced at the man who, despite his soft looks, was an expert in hand-to-hand combat. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to cause you trouble."

"It's not us you need to worry about my Lady." Despite Wirin's watchful gaze, his voice was gentle. "I may not know much about high society, but I do know what'll happen to your reputation and chance of a good marriage if you're seen coming and going from the North Gate base."

"It would have been easier if I just hadn't grown up."

If Wirin heard her soft comment he didn't show it.

# # #