Everglade: The Underaged

Chapter 8

Silence. Physically, but not mentally. Everyone's thoughts exploded inside Luke's head. The Earl was thinking about how rare it was for Luke to be a telepath, the Countess was thinking about how they needed to get him more clothes, and Isabella was thinking about how proud she was to be the bearer of such important news. Luke put his hands over his ears, trying to block out the noise.

"Everyone, quiet!" Luke screamed. All thoughts stopped. Except for his Griffin's, she was thinking about how hungry she was.

"Well, I think Luke and I need to go into town today to get him some new clothes. After he gets his cuff, of course." The Countess said.

"What do you mean, my cuff?" Luke asked.

"Every telepath in training wears a cuff that closes their minds off from everyone else's, until they learn to do it on their own." The Earl explained.

"Oh." The Earl stood up.

"I think we should get it on you as soon as possible. Come with me, Luke, bring your Griffin." Luke followed the Earl.

"Why is it so rare for me to be a telepath?" Luke asked. The Earl sighed. Luke knew it was because he got it from his mind.

"It's rare because a lot of telepaths can't stand hearing others thoughts inside their head. Some die, and some go mad; it's also rare for an egg to hatch as fast as yours did."

"Oh." Why was he so different? "Why are my Griffin's eyes blue? Aren't Griffin's eyes supposed to be yellow?"

"It's a rare occurrence in Griffins. It happens more often in females."

"Oh." Even his Griffin was different. He looked at his Griffin, she chirped and sent him an image of raw steak. "I can communicate with my Griffin telepathically, is that normal?"

"Not for those with Griffins." Luke looked down at his feet. The Earl noticed. He stopped walking and put his hands on Luke's shoulders.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Luke, you don't have to be the same as everyone else." The Earl said. Luke nodded.

"Yes, mi 'lord." He said.

"Call me Frederick."

"Okay." They resumed walking. The Earl kept a hand on Luke's shoulder. They arrived at the Earl's study. Luke went with him inside. The Earl's Griffin was laying in the corner on a pad. He looked at them as they entered. He stood up and came over to Luke. He sniffed Luke's Griffin. He squawked in surprise when she grabbed his beak with her claws. He stepped back, but Luke's Griffin held on. She dangled from his beak. Luke gently detached her. The Earl opened a drawer and pulled out a white jeweled cuff. He snapped it on Luke's wrist. Luke looked at it. Then he looked at the Earl and smiled. They returned to breakfast where Luke discovered they had almond cakes, his favorite thing to have for breakfast.

After breakfast, Luke and the Countess, Anita, went to town to get Luke more clothes. As they walked down the street, Luke spotted Korman. Korman's bright red hair stood out in a crowd pretty easily.

"Korman! Over here!" He called. Korman looked over. He grinned when he saw Luke. He came over.

"Luke! I was worried that you'd been imprisoned when you were dragged away yesterday." He said.

"I wasn't. Instead, I'm living at the manor until I'm fully trained."

"Oh. That's cool! Where are you headed?"

"To get me more clothes. The tomato ruined my old ones." Korman looked his outfit over.

"You're dressing like a noble now?" He asked.

"They want me to."

"Huh. Where's your egg?"

"At the manor. It hatched last night."

"What?! That was fast."

"It's rare for eggs to hatch that fast."

"Wow." Korman noticed the cuff around Luke's wrist.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing at it.

"It's something to help me with my training."

"Oh. What powers did you get?"

"Right now, all I have is telepathy."

"That's cool! Can you tell me what I'm thinking?"

"No, I don't know how to do it on purpose. The cuff keeps all thoughts out until I learn to do it on my own."

"Aw, it would have been so cool for you to read my mind!'' They arrived at the tailors. Korman wasn't allowed in. Of course Luke wouldn't, either, if he'd hadn't received an egg. Luke and the Countess went inside. Luke spent the next few hours choosing colors for his clothes and being poked with needles as his clothes were fitted to him.

When all the clothes were done, Luke and Countess Anita went to get him more shoes. Luke talked to Korman on the way to the shoe shop. Luke spent several more hours finding shoes that fit. He learned that nobles wore a lot of clothes and had huge shoe collections.

When he thought they were finally going back to the manor, he learned that nobles wore brooches, chains, collars, circlets and chaplets. So he spent several more hours shopping for those.

When they were finally done, all Luke wanted to do was take a bath and sleep. But, he had to meet his mentor. He was coming over in an hour, Luke knew he would get the bath he wanted, he just couldn't nap. After he bathed he had to get dressed in the appropriate clothes. After he met his mentor, then he could nap. They got to the manor. Luke went to his room where a bath was waiting for him, he bathed, then got dressed in his best clothes. He even let Maggie take a comb to his wet hair. Then, he received word that the only other sane telepath, Baron Donnelly had arrived. He went to the great hall to meet him.

"Luke, this is Baron Donnelly." Frederick said.

"I thought he would be older." The Baron said. Luke's Griffin growled, as if she was insulted by the Baron's words. Her courage failed when the Baron bared his teeth with a growl. With a yelp of fear, she ducked behind Luke's leg.

"Luke's a special case." Frederick said.

"I'm not training him, he's too young. I refuse to train him, nothing you can say will convince me. You can't pay me enough." The Baron left, taking Luke's only chance at being trained with him.