Wars of Arithmetic: Addition

A Chance to Leave - Part 3

Allen let out a short, sharp whistle to let his parents know he would get it. He ran across his room and slid down the pole. From there he made his way past his parents' room, through the sitting room to the front door.

The knock sounded again as Allen reached for the handle of the door. Grasping it, he pushed it down firmly and opened the door.

Two young men of about twenty years of age stood on the porch. Their coal-black hair gleamed in the light of the setting sun, and their grey eyes seemed to pulse with a tense sort of excitement. They looked like twins, though Allen could tell the one in front—the one who had knocked—was the younger one.

"Hello, we're Official Emissaries from the Percepitum School," said the young man in front, glancing over Allen's head into the cottage. "I'm Matthias Emattik, and this is my brother Matthew."

Matthew nodded a hello from behind his brother. His face was a pleasant one, and Allen could tell he was interested in the Burrows. Matthias's face, however, wasn't so welcoming.

His nose was wrinkled ever-so-slightly—so slightly that not many would notice it—but Allen did. Matthias' nose was wrinkled in a way that told Allen he didn't like the Burrows, and his mouth was set in a way that told Allen he was on a very important mission. At least, something he thought was important.

"You might want to stop that first," said Allen, frowning.

"Stop what?" asked Matthias, perplexed.

"Wrinkling your nose," replied Allen, as if it was the most obvious thing.

"We would like to speak with your brother," continued Matthias, scowling, but otherwise straightening his nose.

"That is, if he is available, of course," added Matthew.

Matthias turned his head to stare at his brother.

"No, you dolt, even if he isn't available," he snorted.

Allen's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Sarcasm?

Even so, he was a bit bewildered, confused, and puzzled.

"I don't have a brother," Allen said, as Matthias turned back to him. "I don't have any siblings at all."

Who on earth had told him that? If it was that mischievous Alron Joak, well, the next time they played King of the Plains, Allen was going to give him the most vicious shove that ever was.

But no, that would be downright dirty of him to do so. His father had taught him the rules of Fairness, and taught him well.

"You don't have a brother?" asked Matthias, sounding a bit surprised. "But they told us he lived here."

Allen shrugged and Matthias looked disappointed.

"If you tell me the name I could steer you in the right direction," Allen offered helpfully.

Matthias brightened up a little.

"Oh. Of course. He thrust a hand into his pocket and fishing it out, glanced down at it.

"We're looking for one Allen Disson. Know about him?"

Allen sucked in his breath sharply.

Matthias looked up quickly, alarmed.

"What? Does he have a bad reputation?"

"What? No," Allen said quickly. Then he cleared his throat. "That'd be me you're looking for, then."

Matthias inhaled sharply as a look of astonishment appeared on his face. A brief look of surprise flashed across Matthew's face, and then was replaced by a grin.

"You're kidding, right?" said Matthias, looking Allen up and down. "You, the great Master of Plus?"

Allen's face burned.

Clearly these boys were mocking him.

"Allen, is someone there?" came his father's voice from the open room. "And what's keeping you? Have you forgotten your manners?"

"No, Father," replied Allen. "They're Roymes from the Percepitum School. They've come to talk with my brother."

Plus. That was what everyone called the act of putting numbers together. Minus was the act of taking away numbers from each other. Exe was the act of making numbers larger (or something, Allen didn't exactly know). And Devid was the act of splitting numbers into parts. Allen knew how to do all of them pretty well. But his fastest work he did when he was adding.

Matthew stepped forward now.

"You see, the thing is, we've been searching for the Masters of each of the Four Basic Number Skills. The Master of Plus, Minus, Exe, and of course, Devid. It is very urgent, and we don't have much time to spare."

Matthias jabbed his brother in the ribs.

"You didn't need to tell him that much," he said, making a face.

"I want him to trust us," stated Matthew.

Allen liked this young man. He looked right-down pleasant, and seemed easy enough to talk to. Not to mention jolly and honest.

"Well, it doesn't take that much information," shot back Matthias.

"The thing is," continued Matthew. "We expected you to be older. Five or six years older."

Allen was stunned.

"Oh. I see," Allen said, as he stared at the horizon. His glance lingered on the smoke rising up from the fire. What kind of stew was it? He sniffed, hoping for a stronger scent, and forgetting all about the two emissaries in front of him.

"I still don't think this is who we're looking for," said Matthias doubtfully.

Just then, Enjer passed by on the street and waved at Allen.

"Hey, Al, heard you got some visitors. Who are they?" asked Enjer, as if the visitors themselves were not even there. Allen waved back.

"They're emissaries from the Percepitum School!" Allen replied. "They're looking for someone by the name of Allen Disson, and apparently it's not me. Know anyone else by my name?"

Enjer just shook his head.

"Gosh, Al. If I did, I'm pretty sure I'd have introduced you by now. But I'd hate for someone to be looking for me, and think that there was another Enjer Mafferty, and that I wasn't him. Well, good luck," Enjer called out, starting on his way again. "Onor should be on his way."

Allen waved again, and turned his attention back to the Emattiks.

"Would you come in?" said Allen, opening the door wider and holding out his hand. "My parents would probably like to meet you."

Matthias was about to say something, but his brother stepped into the doorway without hesitation. Matthias followed with an annoyed sigh. Allen shut the door behind him, and walked into the open room, where he plopped himself down into sprawling position.

"Allen!" cried Lady Disson reprovingly.

Allen jumped to his feet, surprised at how sharp his mother sounded.

She smiled apologetically at Allen, as his father invited the two guests to sit down. They took their seats opposite Sir and Lady Disson, with Allen hovering near his parents.

"Mother, Father, these are the two Official Emissaries from the Percepitum School. They come on an urgent mission."

"I never said we were on a mission," Matthias muttered to himself. His brother lifted an eyebrow slightly, as if in warning.

Matthias stood up (because he had a feeling that sitting while addressing your elders was not accepted here, and because he had an idea it was considered disrespectful,) and addressed the parental Dissons.

"Sir and Lady Disson, I'm Matthias Emattik, and this is my brother Matthew. We're from the World Changers, Faction of Math. We've been chosen as Emissaries by unanimous vote. It is a very urgent matter."