Fadeout

Chapter 7: Jamar

The sun glinted off the window of Jamar’s new room at the Cartiam. He looked down at the yard full of Carillian kids and he could hardly contain his excitement. They had arrived late last night, but Jamar woke up bright and early. He didn’t want to miss an opportunity to scope out possible playmates.

There was a whole list of criteria that Jamar decided on while they were traveling. He wanted a boy close to his age, preferably someone who was 12 or a small 13 so that Jamar at almost 14 could dominate any physical activity. Teens older than that would be harder to control and manipulate. Boys younger would be more likely to whine and Jamar didn’t want to deal with that. He didn’t want the boy to talk much, because it would be annoying and if the boy was quiet than Jamar could talk. It would be fun to have someone listen to him for a change.

He surveyed the kids mentally ticking off those that didn’t fit. There had to be over 300 kids in the yard, but about half were girls and of the boys only 40 or so fit the right age group. Of those forty he didn’t like the looks of 14, six were too tall, and seven looked like they would talk too much or try to control things. Almost all the children had a serious look about them that was a bit depressing. It was no wonder they need their emotions removed.

Jamar ticked back and forth over all the boys that were left. At least one had to be suitable. There were two boys tossing a ratty ball that both fit what Jamar was looking for. The lighter skinned one left and walked around the yard until he rested near the wall next to a girl.

It was a brave move. Jamar wasn’t around very many girls on his father’s business trips, but the last time he was he couldn’t think of anything to say. And when he finally forced something out, the girl had laughed and flounced away, her pink dress ribbons leaving the scent of roses behind. But the boy in the yard was not driving the girl away with his comments. This girl was smiling at the boy and he had lost some of the seriousness he’d worn earlier. They clearly got along and Jamar wondered how they had gotten to the point where they could talk and smile.

Then he saw the boy jerk when the girl brushed his shoulder. Jamar laughed out loud. Maybe this boy wasn’t as used to being around girls as he seemed. He’d never get anywhere in a relationship if he jumped at every physical contact. Perhaps this was the one he was looking for. He looked smaller than Jamar, which was ideal, and he had a quiet look about him. He didn’t talk much to the girl or the other boy he had been playing with and he stared out at the rest of the kids playing as if he was used to being alone. Being on the outside of the Tirean society, Jamar felt confident that they would have that in common.

Jamar began memorizing this boy’s face, with his straight nose, brown eyes and sandy brown hair. They continued talking and then the girl walked away. Typical. The boy pushed off the wall and walked over to the other side of the yard. As he did, Jamar noticed he had numbers inked on the back of his brown shirt. Jamar snatched up some paper and a pen and wrote them down: 800190. Now he didn’t have to remember the boy’s face.

A knock sounded at Jamar’s door and he set the paper back on the desk before saying, “Come in.”

Lemuel cracked the door open, but did not enter. “I’ve arranged for one of the guards to practice your sword fighting with you this morning. He’s the best fighter here and you should be able to learn a lot from him.”

“I’m ready,” Jamar said. He threw open his trunk and pulled out the practice sword that Lemuel had given him for his eleventh birthday. It would be too small soon and Jamar hoped his father would see how the scabbard only reached his knees as he strapped it on.

Lemuel opened the door wider and lead the way down four flights of stairs to the ground floor and the main doors. Aside from the yard the Carillians used, there was no place open enough to practice sword fighting outside. They walked out of the Cartiam and Jamar squinted in the bright sun. The main doors opened to back section of the Cartiam with a large grassy area and paths leading around the wall toward the stables and the nearest town.