Hierarchy (Book Four of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter One: Headmistress Halemeda, Pt 1.

Halemeda awoke to a knock at her door. While stirring, she saw torchlight from her window. "Come in," she said, thinking there best be a monumental reason to wake her at such a late hour. No such thing as beauty sleep these days, she thought.

Gimery sidled through a narrow opening in the door. His usually unshakable expression was wide and nervous. "Headmistress... the—the king is at the gates, and he wishes to speak with you."

All of her weariness disappeared in a cold rush as Gimery's voice trembled. "The king?" she asked, and her stomach began to twist.

"Kryrial, yes." Gimery's feet shuffled, and he was pale in the dim light. "He is insistent that you see him. Headmistress, he... he brought much of the guard with him.

Halemeda felt her throat tighten, but she nodded, trying to appear calm. "Wake all the students and the professors. Make sure they are within the grounds and safe. Gather them in the antechamber." She bit her tongue hard enough to dissuade any of the lingering effects of sleep. "And make sure they are ready to defend themselves."

Headmistress Halemeda—for the first time in her life—took very little time to dress appropriately. She abandoned her nightgown for enchanted robes and only selected the jewelry that aided her magics. It took less than five minutes for her to make her way out her bedroom door, and not one thought occurred to her of her messy hair or lack of cosmetics. A visit from the king was one thing, but the king and an army were another, and a lady always knew when to dress appropriately.

She wound down the Tower steps, passing students and others who slept within the building, but paused before the doors to breathe and compose herself and give Gimery more time to gather everyone. Once in place, nothing would break her composure. Not a king, a dragon, or a god.

Once everyone had gathered, Gimery alerted her, and she climbed two steps of the main staircase, to address them all. Most of the Tower's residents were in their bath robes, and it was obvious they were not awake. Her guards fanned around her, and she felt comfort in their presence. Her guard included six souls, men and women, composed of not only the best magically talented students she had seen, but ones dually talented with a blade. They were masters of mixing magic and combat together. Usually they stayed outside her presence, and of all those she met. They had been with her for years, but they had all learned long ago that the fate of the Tower was more important than her life. She leaned over to address Gimery. "Find everyone not present. Tell them they need to choose between evacuation, or a fight, and act accordingly with them."

"Yes headmistress." With a nod Gimery disappeared into the crowd.

Once he had gone, she looked out over the students and professors. The newly arrived, and her long-time friends were equally disturbed. She took a breath, ignoring the flickering light in the distance. It was no small guard that Kryrial had brought. That much was obvious. So much for staying out of it, she thought with disdain.

"I know I have woken many of you hours earlier than you might prefer, in the past. But tonight, it is not for classes, or a meeting, or a feast. Tonight, a tyrant is at our gates. He will make demands, of that I am sure." Halemeda paused, listening to the whisper's in the crowd. Her words, of course, were coated with a touch of magic to ensure the crowd remained mostly calm. "So I offer you all a choice. I will speak with Kryrial and see if I cannot bring him to reason. But if I cannot, then your options are to follow Gimery and evacuate, or stay and fight. I would be wrong to tell you I see no possibility of violence tonight. We are all aware of the goings on in the world, and our city."

"We stand with you, Headmistress!" Some shouted. Others shuffled, eyes downcast.

"Have no shame, should you leave," she said. "It is a wise choice, and one I am glad to give you."