The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 41

Kane
  I didn't tell Vam or Joann how much it had cost me to get Oshie his school uniform, inkwells, parchments, and other assorted things. It had cost me well over a months pay. I was broke. But my grandson would be going to school with the future Lords and Ladies of Venera. I had ordered his uniform a bit big, knowing how fast he could grow.
  I polished every button, and pressed his shirt, trousers, and jacket. Tomorrow was the big day. He and I would make our first appearance at Centris Academy. I polished the buttons on my uniform, and worked to make it perfect.
  I didn't tell Vam and Joann about the cost of supplies. They were working flat out nearly 18 hour days between their respective jobs and fixing up the shop so they could have a home. They couldn't repay me anyway. The few times I saw Vam he was covered in sawdust and smelled like the docks. Joann was healing and had set her mint campaign aside for the winter and was delivering medicines and bandages, and checking on patients. They were exhausted, but had hope.
  I wondered what Iris would have said if I told that one day our grandson would attend Centris Academy. These days it was harder to picture her smile, or hear her voice. Sometimes Joann would say, or do something just like her. I knew she would be proud. I was.
  In the morning I woke extra early. I washed Oshie, and combed his fur, while he pouted, telling him, "Today is very important. You have to show everyone you are just as good as they are. Do you understand?"
  He nodded. Of course he always nodded at everything, right up until bedtime, or naptime. Well, we would see. I dressed him in his school uniform, and we went out for breakfast. Men started applauding him when he walked in. He puffed up proudly, and ate his toast like a big boy. I didn't dare give him oatmeal. It would be in his fur, and on his uniform.
  I dusted a couple of crumbs off, and we headed to Sky Heights. His tutors had explained that a student would guide us the first day or so. We walked past dockworkers, and I was not surprised to see one lingering on a certain street.
  Oshie ran to his father, growling out a happy greeting. Vam picked him up and rumbled back at him. Then he inspected his son proudly, and snuffled his approval. I heard him say something, and Asha was mentioned. Oshie loved the stories of Asha and perked up. His father nuzzled him, and sent him back to me. Then Vam waved, and rushed off to work.
  Oshie was happy, and patted his chest saying, "I Asha."
  I smiled, "Oh really? I suppose you are like Asha. Just don't forget to tell people your real name."
  He smiled. "I Asha."
  Oh boy! I walked him up to the ramp leading to Clifftop, and spotted another person waiting to see him. Joann was happy, sad, and tired. But she was also proud. Very proud. She hugged her son, and said, "I packed you a very special lunch today. Grandpa will watch it for you, and read a secret message for you. I wish I could go with you today, but I know you are good hands with grandpa. I love you, and you be good today."
  He nodded, and we went on after another round of hugs. Clifftop was full of expensive mansions, but eventually even it disappeared, and we headed up the ramp to Sky Heights. The gates to Centris Academy appeared. The only things up here on this revered level of the city were the academy, government buildings, and the palace of the king. The palace was enormous, and hovered over everything else on this level, and the entire city.
  We approached the gates of the academy with two other students. Oshie stared wide eyed at their uniforms, then realized he was wearing the same thing. I thought he might burst if he puffed his chest out any further.
  A young man, about 15 years old saw us, and approached. "Sentry. Greetings. I understand that you are escorting a new student from far away today, a ward of Lord Eureces. Is this correct?" He was looking frantically at Oshie.
  "That is correct, young sir. This is Oceanus of the Red Moon Green Scythes clan. He is very young, and very talented."
  Oshie piped up, "I Asha!" Then he went and wrapped his furry arms around the boys legs in a hug.
  "Wh-what's he doing?"
  I thought it was pretty obvious, but went ahead and explained to the boy, "He is two. He's giving you a hug, and trying to tell you he's good, like his favorite Lycant hero, Asha. He is a watercaster and can sense that you are insecure."
  The boy bristled at that, but replied with, "He's just two?"
  "They grow much taller than us. I used to fight raiders that were 11 feet tall."
  The boy gulped. "Is he dangerous? Is that why you are here?"
  I smiled. "He's no more dangerous than you."
  Now the little lordling was affronted. "I'll have you know that I have learned a few things here, and I will be entering the Host at the end of this year. He stood straighter. "I will be an officer."
  Oh boy, he was one of those fools who thought they could lead men just because they had a little book learning. "Good for you. If you head South you can boast that you once met me, Kane Ristora. Everyone knows me. They also know young Oshie's parents. Now, where is his first class?"
  The young man was used to impressing children with his bullshit. However, he had never been in a battle before. He had never gone without a pillow before. He'd never seen the life drain out of a person long before the healers could get to them. Nor had he ever had to think about what to say in a letter sent to a man's family, along with a box of his personal effects.
  Oshies eyes were turned up to the young man's in awe. He let go of the boy and came back to me with the fur on his neck sticking up. I had a feeling I knew what was wrong, and looked at 'future officer'. "Before you join the Host you have a lot more to learn. I, for instance, would rather stand beside the sons of farmers and goatherders who had fought battles, been scarred, and lived to tell others how they might live than to be led into a wasteland of death and destruction by a boy who could not cook his own beans and rice because he had never entered a kitchen. Now, you are making a new student late Mr.-"
  "Velora. Brandon Velora." He turned and led us to a large building. "This is where most of the watercasting classes take place. Your first lesson is in room 15."
  I escorted Oshie down the hall to room 15. When I opened the door a broom fell out. Velora was gone. First lesson indeed. Kids here were snots. That's okay. I was a sentry, and suspected Centris Academy was laid out like a fort. I went straight to a building in the center, and sure enough there were the headmasters quarters.
  An older lady took us in, saying, "I will let the headmaster know you are here." She smiled at Oshie, who waved shyly back. She was immediately won over by his charms.
  When she reentered the room she told us, "He will be out shortly."
  The headmaster came out and smiled politely. "I was hoping we could get through at least one class before I saw you today. What seems to be the matter Sentry?"
  "Our guide directed us to the broom closet before vanishing. He was," a stuck up shithead, "very self assured."
  The headmaster nodded. "That is a nice way of phrasing that he is a pain in the ass, entitled teen. Well, since your guide refused to take you to class I will happily arrange introductions in your first class. Follow me."
  Oshie jumped up and held the headmasters hand. I saw a smile tugging at the corners of his eyes. "I Asha!"
  "What does asha mean?"
  "Asha is the name of his favorite Lycant hero. He was a farmer, who changed the course of the whole country by earning the right to be a warrior," I explained.
  The headmaster nodded, "I see. Asha sounds like a person to admire. We will teach him about others worth admiring, and their feats and achievments as well."
  We entered the building we had come from, and entered room 1. It was large, and full of students sitting at tables. They all stopped when they saw the headmaster.
  One of Oshies tutors approached, "Greetings Headmaster, Oceanus. Was there trouble this morning?" The man was concerned. He liked Oshie.
  The headmaster shrugged, "Just a bit of misdirection. May I speak to the lower division watercasters for a moment?"
  The instuctor nodded and turned to the students, "Ladies and gentlemen please turn your attention to the headmaster."
  We followed him to the front of the classroom. Eyes curiously followed the three of us. Not one noise was made. "Every student in this room is gifted. You all possess the ability to watercast. You are empaths. You heal. You create solutions using water. You are the pride of your homes and communities. You all attend classes together, and eat meals together. You are friends. You are expected to learn more about your element than the average Veneran. So, who can tell me who Oarhu is?"
  There was a moment of silence until a girl in the second row of tables raised her hand timidly. The headmaster pointed for her to answer the question. "Oarhu is the Great Spirit of the ocean. He has never been tamed, and it is said he takes the form of a sea monster."
  The headmaster smiled, "Very good Ms. Blanc. Oarhu is the Great Spirit of the ocean, and comes in the form of a giant kraken. Many elementals have died trying to tame him. He has never been attached to anyone, until now." There were murmurs of amazement throughout the room. One sharp look from the headmaster silenced them. "Oarhu has chosen a very special child. His mother grew up on a plantation in Lupica, the province of Lord Eureces. His father is a Lyngaran farmer, named Vam. This," he indicated my grandson, "is Oceanus of the Red Moon Green Scythes clan. The past few months he has received tutelage outside of the academy. He is a small child, only two. You are all going to be part of his Veneran family. He needs people to help and guide him. You have parents and grandparents who control strong elements, or perhaps even great spirits. He will need your advice." The headmaster indicated me. "Oceanus will also have a sentry escorting him to class. Did you have anything to add Sentry?"
  I stared out at 50 young faces. They were all 11-13 years old. I nodded and hefted Oshie up. "I am a citizen of Venera. I have served in the Host. I have been a blacksmith, a husband, and father. I have known utter despair due to blight and Lycant raiders. I have single handedly killed over 200 raiders myself out of revenge. My name is Kane Ristora. I was asked by the Southern Host to captain a special task force that hunted raiders. We were good at it. I see the irony in my daughter being married to a Lycant farmer. Oshie is my grandson, and a sweet boy, but I need you to understand something for your own safety."
  I made sure every eye was on me. "As accomplished a fighter as I am, and as sweet as Oshie is, I would never dare to threaten him, or someone he cares about. Even before he was born Oarhu was fiercely protective of Oshie. How protective? My daughter went through a ceremony, so that once he was born Oshie could be an official member of the community. 10,000 priests tried to attack her for it. Oarhu smashed all of them with just one of his tentacles. Other priests tried to attack indirectly, and were sucked out to sea, and never seen again. I have heard of tentacles coming out of tubs when someone spoke rudely to his mother. I have seen a large eye in the water, watching. Oarhu never leaves him, ever. I don't tell you this to frighten you, just to warn you.
  "Now, on a slightly different note, I am sure that this is an outstanding school, and bullying is not tolerated, however, if I should ever catch any of you bullying my grandson, who is 2 years old, well you will wish Oarhu had gotten hold of you rather than me."
  The headmaster nodded approvingly. "I could not have said it better Sentry Ristora. Now, do any of you have questions?"
  A boy towards the back raised his hand. "Yes?"
  "Does Oceanus speak Veneran or Lyngaran?"
  The headmaster deferred to me. "He is billingual. He speaks Lycant, and Veneran. However, he speaks like a two year old, in small sentences and simple words."
  "Can he write yet?"
  "No, but he has a very good memory," his instructor said.
  "Where will he sit?" a girl asked.
  I set him down, "Where do you want to sit Oshie?"
  Oshie took a deep breath and headed to the third row of tables, and to the far side, where a boy sat almost entirely alone, except for a bag in a seat next to him. Oshie sniffed the air around the bag, and sat down directly beside it, even in the same chair. He smiled, content. Children were trying very hard not to giggle.
  I rubbed my chin, then barked at him, "Asha?"
  His ears wilted mournfully as he moved one seat over, still wistfully eyeing the bag which must hold a lovely treat. A few giggles escaped some of the students. Others were red faced and blinking back tears trying not to laugh.
  The headmaster said, "I trust one of you can help guide Oceanus to the remainder of his classes today. He has history of Venera 1, water sculpture 2, remedial math, astronomy, and biology A. His lunch break will fall at the same time as yours, and he will be swimming for his physical activity this semester. He is a bit small yet for archery and jumping hurdles."
  And so the first day officially started. Tasks were assigned, notes were taken. I made notes about his homework. He was absolutely riveted in history class, actually climbing out of his seat to sit on the floor in front of the instructor. The instructor couldn't decide if this was improper or not at first, but he finally settled on it being okay.
  Many students in water sculpture 2 seemed offended that a brand new, first year student was in class with them. That was, until a piece of fruit was set on each table, and students were asked to form what they saw in the water bowl they each had. Students were clumsily forming apples and pears. Oshie was shyly watching a red haired girl with a ponytail, and formed her perfectly. Other students teased her, but she smiled and hugged Oshie saying, "That is so sweet!"
  He smiled, and clapped happily.
  Remedial math was not nearly so fun. Here he had to learn to hold a quill, and try to clumsily practice writing numbers, and count objects. He was the worst student in class. But at the end of the hour he was counting to three.
  Lunch came in a dining hall fit for royalty. The students all sat down at tables with napkins that had been folded nicely, and more forks than I had ever dreamed were needed at one meal. It was a beautiful room with large chandeliers, and stained glass windows. Banners depicted the various elements,
  The second we sat down at a table a waiter popped up, asking what Oshie wanted to eat. I told him, "Just some watered down juice today. His mother packed him a lunch." The waiter nodded and left immediately. I opened the lunch tin that Joann had packed. Out popped Isa, her element. Oshie laughed with delight, making everyone who heard him smile a bit. Isa, the butterfly, landed on Oshies nose, just like a kiss from his mother, and then disappeared, going back to Joann. A small note was there, and I read it to him. "Your momma says she loves you." I pulled out a meat pie from a vendor he loved to stop at. This was not going to be good for his uniform. I removed his jacket and tucked a napkin into his collar. He still got meat pie all over.
  A couple of older girls saw him and used watercasting to clean him up. Then he headed outside, and played with a couple of sticks he found on the ground. Other kids sat in small groups. It was hard to stand back and watch. I could keep him company, play with him. But that wasn't my job here. Besides, he needed to meet other kids, and make friends if he could. On occasion the eyes of kids fell on Oshie. It seemed they were all daring each other to approach him.
  Finally Oshie got tired of his stick and went to meet some of the boys. They were older, and had been watching him. Little Oshie said, "Hi." The whole schoolyard seemed to hold its breath. This one boy smiled and bent down in front of him. A flicker of flame sat atop the boys thumb. Oshie was awed. "Pity fire. I fire."
  The older boy scoffed, "I hear you do water, not fire."
  Oshie touched his thumb to the boys, and suddenly there was a flame sitting there, above his finger. "I fire!" said Oshie.
  Shit! The last thing we needed was him catching Sky Ridge on fire on his first day of school. "Oshie! You put that out right now. Don't make me tell your father."
  The flame disappeared as his ears wilted. A tear started to form on his eye. Before I could get to him the boy held Oshie on the shoulders saying, "I had to wait too. Fire is dangerous, and can hurt people. It's worth the wait though. Don't play with it until you are bigger. Promise?"
  Oshie nodded, and the whole schoolyard seemed to breath again. "I Oshie."
  The boy said, "I'm Grant Valla."
  Grant Valla was the heir to the Northern state of Rushland. He would someday be the lord of that land. Grant pointed to another boy. "This is my cousin, Yannis. Do you have any cousins?"
  Oshie nodded, and pulled the hands of the boys to a fountain, where one life sized youth popped up after another. "Ygr. Iara. Yarin. Syl."
  "Who is your favorite? I bet its Syl. He looks younger."
  Oshie shook his head no. "Syl naughty. I like Ygr."
  "What was it like where you are from?"
  Oshie formed a now familiar sight to me. The farm he was from. Others were coming closer to see his humble background. A girl asked, "What is that animal?"
  "Gren." He showed his daddy hooking one up to a cart.
  "Oh, they are like oxen. Who is that?"
  Oshie puffed out his chest, "Daddy."
  "Is he a farmer?" Grant asked.
  Oshie nodded happily.
  Some kids were shocked, almost scandalized that the son of a farmer was attending school with the elite of Venera. Yannis asked, "Are you related to anyone important?"
  Oshie didn't understand, but I did. "He comes from a highly respected clan. His grandfather was the equivalent of a high ranking general amongst the Host. His grandmother was even more than that. She is so highly respected that as she travels down a road entire battlepacks, thousands strong, get out of her way." Many of those who had been put off by his lineage were now intrigued by this.
  Grant asked, "Have you ever met Ambassador Dura?"
  I had fought large raiders and warriors before, but nothing like the form he made. It was an absolutely huge Lycant warrior who came up out of the water. He was powerful, strong, intimidating. Even though he was just a water image people backed away. Grant was not one of them. "What's your grandma look like?"
  Dura disappeared and a Veneran lady, who was about average sized, but exuded strength inside and out appeared. She wore a tunic, pride, and joy. Oshie sighed sadly.
  Grant nodded. "I know it's hard to be away from home. Most of us here don't have family that is regularly in Centris. We live here, at the school."
  Oshie looked around at all the kids around him. His eyes fell on me, "Gampa?"
  I went to him, "Don't worry. I'm here, and ain't going nowhere."
  A bell rang, and everyone started heading to their respective classes. A girl sitting nearby led us down some stairs on the grounds. The stairs went down, and down, and down some more. It was utterly dark in there. This was the astronomy classroom. You could look up, and see the night sky projected on the cieling. It was hands down the coolest thing I had ever seen. There were pillows on the floor so viewing wouldn't strain your neck. I set Oshie on one of these.
  He popped right up, "No nite nite!"
  Uh oh. It was naptime, or close to it. This could end in a fit of embarrassing proportions if not properly handled. I nodded. "You are right Oshie. It is not naptime. It's story time." He loved stories, never realizing that when he was sleepy enough, and held still just so, that it konked him out every time. His ears perked up. I nodded, "Yes, here we get to lay back and hear the stories of the stars. Look, I can show you one while we wait for class to start. I plopped my head down on a pillow and pointed up at a pattern of stars. "Look! It's the washerwoman, and her soapy bucket spilled."
  "Oh!" He laid his head down beside mine.
  A girl nearby tapped his shoulder and pointed to a bright star, "And that is the guiding star. It always rises in the North."
  Oshie blinked twice sleepily. Then he yawned and I told him, "There is a story that everything spilled from the washerwomans bucket, even Venera." His eyes tried to open wider, but blinked again. "The dirt formed all the land and mountains. The water formed rivers, lakes, and the oceans."
  The girl whispered, "All the people and animals came from the bubbles and suds."
  He nodded, closed his eyes, and was out. An instructor chuckled, "This is the first time I've had a student fall asleep in my class before I lectured. We will discuss this later Sentry."
  Oshie slept solidly the whole hour, even when the other students got up to leave. The instructor, Mr. Greer, was quite good, actually. He approached me as the last student left. "I understand that he is quite young, but my classroom is not a nursery. Further, I do not teach children stories about washerwomen who had a bucket knocked over by a startled horse."
  "I apologize. It's just he has had a really big day, and he normally falls asleep at this time each day. If I had not gotten him to sleep he woud have become very disruptive. What should I do then?"
  "Escort him from the room."
  I nodded. "And if he falls asleep while you are lecturing?" Two other students had dozed off during the lecture, and they had not been told to leave.
  Mr Greer said simply, "My classroom is a place to learn." He looked at the sleeping child. "I have another group coming in soon, and he has other classes I'd wager."
  "Don't happen to know where biology A is, do you?"
  "Watercasting building, room 15."
  I laughed, feeling like hitting him, "It just so happens that I have already been there today."
  "Well you know one less room to check then. Good afternoon."
  I truly wanted to hurt him, but didn't have the time. Instead of turning him into a red smear I picked up Oshie, and left. He barely stirred. I debated hunting down every classroom until I found his, but spotted a boy racing to class. "Where's Biology A?"
  The boy puffed out, "Watercaster building, basement, room 3," then dashed off.
  "Thank you!" Finally someone who would answer a question here.
  I nudged open the door to the classroom with a very sleepy Oshie in my arms. I'd had to work hard to get those eyes to open. "Oh, there's our missing student," the instructor commented. "Precisely what was the delay?"
  "Astronomy, and poor directions."
  The woman nodded, "He gets offended when not everyone is as interested in his subject as he is. I suppose we all have our favorite subjects and biases."
  I nodded. "Yes. Well, do you have a seat for Oshie?"
  She smiled, "Actually, as a small penance for being tardy, bring him here." She moved a scroll off her desk. I set Oshie down. He sat on the edge of the desk, grinning. "Now I want everyone to sketch him, and point to, and name as many body parts as possible. You have 10 minutes. Start now." Students bent to the task.
  I gave Oshie a quill and parchment. "Try to draw someone, and we will name their parts."
  Oshie screwed up his face. He made some squiggles on the paper. He was very meticulous about it too. It was almost comical. Almost.
  The instructor said, "Times up everyone! We will go around and see what people drew, and parts they listed. Who did you draw draw Oshie?"
  Oshie pointed to her.
  "Me? Oh, well show the class what you drew."
  He proudly waved his picture. She asked, "What is this part called?"
  He pointed to her back and said, "Yib."
  She looked curiously at me. "Yib?"
  "Oshie, what does your momma call that?" I asked him.
  Oshie thought about that. "Daddy's ouchie."
  The whole class laughed. When everyone settled down she said, "We call that a back."
  Oshie said the word back to her happily, "Back!"
  "Now, what is this?" she asked.
  "Legs."
  "Very good!" She pointed to a student and called them up. "Show everyone your picture, and point to the parts you labeled."
  Before I knew it Oshie was singing out the parts that were drawn on the paper as students pointed at him. "Head! Ears! Nose! Mouf! Eyes! Neck! Shoder! Belly!" and all the way down to "Toes!" He clapped excitedly.
  By the end of class every student smiled and patted his head on the way out. He was so proud of himself. Mrs. Arand asked him, "Oshie you did so good as my assistant today. Would you mind being my assistant tomorrow?"
  I thought he would wag his tail off. He gave her a huge hug, and said, "I help!"
  She smiled, hugging him back, "I bet you will be fantastic. See you tomorrow!"
  He was very happy after that class, and ready to play, which made taking him to the baths perfect for swimming lessons. He had never seen a pool of water before, and was a bit intimidated. I stripped us down, and set our clothing in a dry area. Everyone else was in class, so the baths were all ours. The water came up to my stomach, and well over his head. "You are going to get to learn to swim. It takes practice. First we will float. Then I will show you how to move while floating. Sit right there, and I'll show you." I set him on the edge of the bath and calmly laid back in the water with my head tilted back, and floated.
  Then I felt myself being lifted out of the water. I looked, and saw a massive tentacle wrapping around the bath pool. It ended under me. It was both hilarious, and terrifying all in one. The tentacle dumped me on the edge of the bath.
  "Well, hello there Oarhu. Look, you are welcome to watch for now, but I will not drown in 3 feet of water. I can probably swim almost as well as you. I've been swimming since I was a boy. Now it is Oshies turn to learn to swim. I will not let him drown, on my honor. But any self respecting watercaster must know how to swim. Now, move back a little, and give us some room."
  The tentacle moved away, and a large eye watched us.
  "Thank you."
  Oshie was a bit intimidated at first, but once he had floating down that was it. He had so much fun stroking from one end of the bath to the other. A bell tolled and it was time to get out.
  But he didn't want to. Students came in, saw the eye, and came back with more students. Before I knew it I was being watched by a couple hundred students as I tried to get Oshie out of the pool. He was fast. I sighed, turning to Oarhu, "See? I told you he'd be swimming soon. We will be back tomorrow. Could you do us a favor, and get him out of the water before he makes me late checking in with his parents?"
  The eye blinked, and the tentacle filled the pool again, bringing gasps from the students. It gently lifted Oshie, and placed him on the edge of the pool. He was pouting.
  "No sir! None of that little battlemaster. We will be back tomorrow, and you gotta report in with your parents, or you will get me in trouble. Now let's dry off."
  Someone tossed me a couple of towels. One I wrapped around my waist. The other I started to dry Oshie off with. His arms were folded across his chest, and he was pouting. "Swim!"
  "No."
  A tentacle rose out of the water behind me. I looked at it, and my grandson. "Shame on you! If your father hears that you have threatened family with violence-." I shook my head, "This is not something Asha would do."
  His ears wilted, and tears ran freely as the tentacle disappeared. I dried him off, put his clothes on, then mine. Then I wiped his tears and tilted his chin up. "I still love you, but don't you ever do that again. Now let's go home. You have a lot of homework to do." And he did. He had homework in every single class, except swimming.