Saffron's Fire

An Interesting Dinner

Kiran, as per usual, sauntered into her apartment without knocking. He was relieved to see that she was able to find some clothes in town. She was in the dormer window thinking and though she heard him come in, she did not acknowledge him at first. He leaned against the small counter in her kitchen and waited.

He had her number. It was eerie the way he seemed to just understand her thoughts and feelings. Like how he knew that she was feeling strange about the credit card. He had a feeling she would be uncomfortable with that, but what else could he do? She was his responsibility and she had nothing. Not even an income, yet. Though technically she wasn't allowed an income. He was weighing the possibility that she would yell at him versus the possibility of her just silently handing him back the card when she surprised him.

She stood up and handed him a sketch instead.

"What's this?" He asked, then actually looked. "Why did you draw Mr. Witcher?"

"I saw him meeting someone I couldn't see in the courtyard today. "

"You need to sound Frech-Canadian at all times Saffron. It is not safe, even here." He repremanded.

She went on, sorely tempted to lay on the accent thickly just for spite. " 'e was acting very suspiciously. Looking left and right, even looking up at my classroom and talking and pointing in an angry manner." She tried not to sound nervous but she was.

Kiran looked darkly at the sketch then said slowly, "It canna be him. See, he's a refugee as well. That just wouldnna make any sense."

Carrigan looked thoughtful a moment then said, " 'e may be being blackmailed,  an addict, or a thief but voihy would he point up at my vindow. Voihy would that upset him?"

Kiran offered her his arm and smoothly replied, " I always find that these ideas become more clear after a good meal. Shall we?" Carrigan timidly put her hand on his arm. She was not sure she like this at all with Mr. Witcher. She certainly was not used to her instincts being dismissed so out of hand.  She also hated to admit it, but taking Kiran's arm was the last thing she wanted to do. Sure, he was amazingly handsome and obviously rich, smart and kind but he was her chooser. There was always going to be that element of wrong. There was also that side of him that he had shown her in the office before that was aggressive. It made her nervous.

---
Dinner was like nothing she had ever had before in her life. It was a rich beef stew with roasted veggies, side of flaky freshly baked bread and red wine. Carrigan asked for water instead.

"Why don't you drink?"Kiran asked, astonished. "I would if I was you."

"Scion house still monitors our vitals. We are not allowed to drink alcohol. If it showed up in my blood stream above a certain level there would be consequences from the house."

"Like what" his eyes were popping out of his head as if the though of being forced to not imbibe was the cardinal of all sins.

"They would make me throw it up. They would give me a hangover level headache the next day even if I only drank a few sips. It is just" she took a shaky breath, "not something I want to mess around with."

Kiran whistled and shook his head. "I promise I won't try to tempt you any more now that I know. That is terrible to have that much control over someone."

Carrigan's eyes darkened. She agreed but what was the point in verbalizing that fact. She changed the subject while reaching down and taking the credit card out of her pocket. " So please don't laugh. But I really don't know how to use this. I also don't vant to overstep on your generosity." She pushed the card towards him. He put his hand over her and gently pushed it back towards her.

"I would be happy to show you how it works. If it makes you fell more comfortable, I can set a limit on it per month but you will need this to buy food, supplies for your classroom, clothes as the weather changes." He paused and waited watching her face. "This is the easiest way to handle the money situation Since I am not allowed to pay you."

She was embarrassed, but she put the card back in her pocket.

They set about the business of finishing their meal. Carrigan mostly sat and listened while Kiran talked about the school the teachers and children. All the while, Carrigan wondered what had made him decide to take in hated refugees like Mr. Witcher, and those poor children. American society had reached a fever pitch of infighting, indolence, ignorance, and  petulance that even Americans hated other Americans. How had a man like David Kiran decided that we were worth saving.

She told him about her lesson with Eric Carle and he grinned. "See, you're a natural" he stated as if this were exactly what he expected her to be. The topic of teaching led back around to Mr. Witcher acting suspiciously.

"He is not above suspicion, Kiran." She said firmly. "Americans have proven in the past to be their own worse enemies. I don't like that he was singling out my classroom either. Does anyone besides you know what I am?"

Kiran though for only a moment before replying, "Just Gryphon and he's got a vested interest in seeing you succeed."
Her ears pricked up at that little nugget of information, but she could tell Kiran would not say anything more on the subject. In the end Mr. Witcher was concluded to be hiding something that Carrigan needed to discover.

Kiran concluded the evening by verbally telling her and making her memorize the names of the refugee children hidden among the other students. There were ten.

Form eight, Jane Wiggins
Form six, Selena Jones
Form five, Peter Wiggins
Form five, Soren Payne
Form three, Caleb Khan
Form two, Elliot Payne
Form two, Charlotte Sky
Form one, Regina Hitchins
Form one, Lisa Payne
Kindergarten, Dottie Strom

She had met Dottie, Lisa and Regina today. She would meet Charlotte, Elliot and Caleb day after next and Soren and Peter on Friday. In her spare time, she was charged by Kiran to watch, talk to and spy on the other teachers. He walked her back to her room that evening. As she tried to calm herself down to sleep that evening, she kept reliving different part of her conversation with Kiran and the strange behavior of Mr. Witcher. It seemed like hours, but only minutes later, sleep claimed her.