Cracks in the Spires

48: Changes

Roni found that her transfer out of level 50 was as abrupt as her arrival.She'd assumed from the moment they'd been taken through that door and reassigned that she'd be there for the rest of her life. The penalty for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. On the long journeyback down Per had given her his Pcom number and told her to contact him when she'd decided what she wanted to do. He'd added that he hoped she would decide to come and live with them since it would make Mik very happy to have his sister. This led to her saying rather hesitantly that she would like to be with Mik. A delighted Per lost no time in seeing the Director and Roni experienced the magic of the Elite first hand. Within an hour of their return she was leaving level 50 for good, her meagre possessions packed in a small bag and her temporary UpCit residency pass clutched in her hand. Heta welcomed her back with a beaming smile and Mik bounced around telling her all the things they could do.

Roni was relieved that everyone was so busy. It gave her time to adjust to the change and to spend time with Mik while Ben and Per were at meetings or away managing the orphanage. It took some getting used to the fact that the person Mik gaily referred to as 'Aunty Essy' was the President of the City. The extended family that lived in the villa was quite confusing but she was gradually getting to grips with the complexity of it. She supposed that was the difference between having lots of money and space and trying to live in one small room.Families didn't have to fragment to survive. She still hadn't met Uncle Jan but his father Claude was very easy going and Uncle Var on the one occasion she'd met him had seemed a jolly old man. Mik told her he wanted to be a Trover like Uncle Var when he grew up which she gathered meant hunting in the wilderness for interesting things. Per's father had been nice but the arrival of the delegation from Kvernstadt two days after her arrival meant he no longer had time to show her the garden and talk about his plan for growing vegetables.The new food had affected her digestion and she'd been glad of the luxury of her own bathroom, as it appeared cubbies were called up here. So when Essandra and Jon had come to collect Mik this morning to go to the skeet park she'd begged off going with them. She was relaxing on a recliner on the veranda with a cup of mountain tea and reflecting on not having anything to do which somewhere deep inside she felt was wrong. Nice but wrong.

She was roused out of her semi-doze by the sound of footsteps. She opened her eyes in time to see a strikingly attractive red haired woman hurry along the path and disappear into the house. She closed her eyes again wondering who the woman was, she was certainly amazing looking and very smart. She dozed off again until she was roused by Heta Norin coming out to see how she was and if she would like more tea.

"I'm feeling much better. I feel guilty about being ill and making extra work though."

"Don't be." Heta sat down "When Da and I went to the Warrens it was the change in water that did for us. We spent several days not daring to go far from the cubby." She laughed at the memory "We adjusted quite quickly and I'm sure in a couple more days your digestion will have got over the shock. If you feel up to it I'd suggest a small amount of food. A flatbread with a scraping of spread and perhaps another cup of tea. I'll bring you some if you like."

Roni shook her head "No, no I'll come in. Thank you." Heta picked up the cup and returned indoors. Roni feeling even more guilty about the fact that a little old lady was waiting on her got up and followed her inside. When she got to the kitchen there was no sign of Heta and her attention was caught by some colourful posters on the table. They were advertising someone called Marvellous Marcellina and she recognised the glamorous woman she'd seen going past. She was studying them when the woman came back.

"Ah you've seen my posters! What do you think of them? They're advertising my come back though my first show won't be for a while."

"They're beautiful. Really colourful. Are you an acrobat?"