Reflection of Fire

Part I Chapter 3

Rey slept later the next morning than usual, no doubt due to her inability the night before, and had to be roused by one of the other girls. Embarrassed to be such a hindrance, she dressed quickly and hurried to teach her first lesson of the day. Things were just starting to settle into their regular routine when Wendy, a girl of nearly seventeen who also taught some lessons, came up to her.

"You're needed in Master Plutt's office." Rey looked at her students and back at Wendy, confused and distressed. "I'm to take over for you," the girl explained.

"I see." She nodded in what she hoped was a gracious fashion, then forced herself to walk toward the office calmly. Here she was again, knocking on the door that she had only touched once before in all her years here. She swallowed heavily, trying to think of how to explain that, no, she hadn't found a new position yet, and please don't send her away.

The door was opened for her this time and Master Plutt, who did the opening, was not alone. "Is this the girl?" he asked, sounding cranky.

It was Mr. Finn in the chair, looking up at her. "Yes." He got to his feet and made a small bow. "Apologies for yesterday, Miss."

"It's alright," she replied, feeling like this might be a dream. It certainly had the disconnected quality of one.

"Have you been teaching long?" Mr. Finn asked.

Master Plutt seemed to bristle at the question, for some reason. "I started four – no, five years ago. Just a few lessons then, but I have taught most of the classes by now."

He nodded. "How old are you?"

"Nearly twenty. Sir," she added when she thought her first response might have been too short. What difference did her age make? She was tired of being underestimated because of it.

A slight smile crossed his face and it occurred to her that he couldn't be much older than she was. Perhaps he understood her sentiment, then. "That is a good age to move forward in the world, don't you think?" he asked, and she frowned, confused. "My employer seeks a governess for his daughter as soon as possible. Since she is quite fond of you, and you seem qualified, perhaps you would be interested in the position."

She was aware that she was staring at him, and that Master Plutt was glowering at both of them, but she couldn't seem to react. The money he had given her was enough to place an advertisement in the newspaper, and that had seemed like just the break she needed. But now – that wouldn't be necessary? Because she already had an offer? The shift was too much to take in immediately.

"Yes, of course," she managed to force out, and Mr. Finn smiled in earnest. It was an infectious expression and she couldn't resist mirroring it.

"Excellent. We intend to leave this afternoon. Can you be ready?"

"I can."

"Good. I shall come for you at two o'clock, then." He bowed again and took his leave.

Glancing at Master Plutt, she suppressed her smile. He didn't look pleased, which was strange. "If I furnish you with my direction, will you forward any – any correspondence to me?" she asked. Though she was chiefly concerned with knowing her parents could find her again. There hadn't been any letters in all of her time here, something he clearly knew of as his eyebrows raised at her request.

"Of course," he replied coldly.

"Thank you." She quit the room without another word, struggling not to run to her own. It took hardly any time at all to pack up her meager belongings. Everyone was at their lessons and she felt no compulsion to relieve Wendy. So, instead, she went to the library and ran her fingers along all the books. After some consideration, she selected three of them and tucked them into her bag. No one would miss them.

There was no one left to whom she wished to say goodbye, so she went to the gardens instead and said goodbye to her plants. As the morning passed by, she began to wonder if this was really happening. If maybe the interview in the office hadn't been real. If her life would continue as it always had. But no one came to fetch her and tell her to get back to work, so she must truly be going to leave this place forever. It was a relief, she realized. Not just because of her impending termination, but because she finally admitted to herself that living here had not been good. That she had been surviving, not enjoying her life. And surely that could be an option?

Mr. Finn was very punctual, arriving slightly before the agreed-upon time. That was fine – Rey was ready some time in advance.

"We will be journeying far. Have you eaten recently?" he asked while her trunk was loaded onto the carriage.

"Yes, Mr. Finn."

He smiled. "It's Lieutenant Finn, actually. But B.B. struggled with that word when we met. You can just call me Finn. Most people do."

"I shall. I'm Rey," she added, though he certainly must have known that already – how else could he have asked Plutt for her? – but it felt like the right thing to say.

"Rey," he repeated, offering his hand. She extended hers and he shook it.

Beatrice was not in the carriage and her surprise must have shown on her face as she glanced back uncertainly.

"Master Dameron and his daughter left this morning. We will catch up to them this evening, at the Kenata. An inn in Takodana," he clarified.

"I see." The reality set in and she took a deep breath to steady her nerves as she climbed into the carriage. She had been in one only a few times before, and she tried not to look like a bumpkin as she stared at the fancy interior. There were some rough patches in the fabric, though, some seams showing. Perhaps they weren't as wealthy as she'd previously thought. Obviously far wealthier than her, though, so who was she to judge?

"You'll want to know all about your new employer, I suppose?" Finn asked, settling into the seat across from her as they started moving.

"Please."

He smiled again. "Master Dameron is the ward of the Organa Solos, of whom you may have heard?"

Her eyes widened and she nodded. Everyone knew of them. They were not the wealthiest family, but they were very influential politically, with the matron being connected to the royal family. People were always talking about what they were doing, sometimes in hushed tones. They were not universally popular, and many of the people she overheard in Jakku were in favor of their rival, a man called Snoke. In Jakku, the wealthy travelers spoke highly of him, but all of the regular people she encountered preferred the Organa Solos and their work for those without wealth to protect them.

"The princess is usually in Town, so you may not meet her for a long time. I've only met her a couple times myself, and I've been friends with Dameron for many years."

"How did you become friends?" she asked, relieved that the wealthy employers she would soon have were likely good people. The name Dameron was vaguely familiar.

"He was in the military in his reckless youth," he explained, a twinkle in his eye at some memory. "I saved his life once, when he was serving in Egypt. To repay the debt, he offered me a chance to work for him. As a sort of bodyguard, I suppose. I had nothing keeping me there, so I came to England when he returned."

She nodded, digesting this information. "What about Beatrice?"

"B.B.? Well, I met her when she was about five, I think. Her mother died before Dameron and I came here."

"I see." She paused, thinking. "Why did he go into the military?"

"Why not?"

Clearing her throat and feeling silly, she looked at her hands. "I thought the firstborn son went into government, the second the church, and the third joined the military."

"He's a ward, not their firstborn," Finn said, expression darkening on the last word.

She had heard whispers, she thought, about a son, but she couldn't recall the details. Gossip had not generally interested her. "Oh," she said belatedly.

"Get some sleep, Rey. It's going to be a long drive," Finn told her, settling back into the cushions. She couldn't imagine sleeping after all the excitement, but she copied his actions. There was a lot of think about.