Shadow of the Unicorn

Chapter 2

Briane agreed to accompany Jace on his official return to normality after that, though she chased them out of the room that she might attend to her person ere her debut. They smiled jubilantly at Juliene as they emerged, urging her to go in and help her daughter ere they were forced to wait all day for her to get ready, knowing girls took far too long as it was to finish their morning preparations without being newly blind as well. But she did emerge at last, and together they made their way down to breakfast. The entire populace of the dining hall seemed to draw a collective gasp as the trio entered, taking in every detail from Jace's new uniform to the strip of cloth covering his sister's vacant eyes. That Jace was now one of 'them' came as no surprise and was of little general interest, but the girl's blindness was another matter entirely.

Ella approached at the fastest pace allowable indoors for a lady of breeding, said she to Jace with a sniff, "stand aside and let her true friends be of service."

Jace grinned in spite of himself, allowed his former sweetheart to relieve him of his sister's arm, and exchanged an amused grin with Adan as the ladies walked away, relegating the Apprentices to their relative obscurity. They shrugged and went to find their share of the morning meal, sitting with a jovial group of their comrades who eagerly welcomed Jace officially among them. After the meal, Adan said apologetically, "I should probably get to class, will you be alright by yourself?"

Jace nodded, "I need some time alone to think and to continue to process the events of the last few days. If the weather is decent, I'll walk about upon the lawn, else the library will suffice."

Adan nodded his agreement and disappeared in the direction of his first class while Jace donned his cloak and made for the enclosed lawn adjacent to the courtyard. The weather was yet fine and warm, even with the recent onset of autumn, and he happily paced about for most of the morning, mulling over all that had happened and what the future might hold. He could remember little of what had occurred during 'the incident' or in the ensuing days, but he knew he had been utterly changed, he just wished there was someone to whom he could talk upon the matter. Wearied with his continued pacing, he at last seated himself upon one of the many benches beneath the ancient trees scattered over the sward.

He woke with a start to find a shadowy figure looming over him, which a moment later he realized with dread, was one of the Brethren. He leapt to his feet and hastily offered the appropriate courtesies, at which the man grinned like one vastly amused, said he as Jace fumbled through the process, "easy lad, the Lady has summoned us both into her presence." The boy blanched further in terror and the man grinned all the more, but wasted no further time in escorting the boy to the Lady's familiar chambers.

They bowed themselves in and she motioned for them to be seated off to one side in a less formal sitting area where tea and a tray of sandwiches awaited them. She smiled warmly at the boy, glad that he was far more himself upon this visit; his complete indifference during their previous interview was as far from his current unease and near terror as the east was from the west. Said she at last, "help yourselves, since I know neither of you has yet eaten."

Baye grinned, "Lady, I had not yet dismounted when I was informed that you wished to see me immediately along with this young rapscallion, whom I found dozing against a tree when I am sure he should have been busy elsewhere."

Jace wanted to sink into the floor, horribly embarrassed, yet also aghast at the man's bantering tone while addressing the Lady of Astoria. They exchanged an amused grin over the lad's mystification and astonishment, before the Lady answered mirthfully, to the boy's continued mortification, "he has had an eventful week, thus I think we can forgive him this lapse, at least this once."

Baye bowed his head gravely and a perplexed half-smile blossomed on Jace's face, as he began to understand the dynamics between the Brethren's august leader and one of her oldest and most capable servants. The Lady saw comprehension dawn in the lad's eyes and smiled proudly, the boy would one day be just as vital a Messenger as his soon to be mentor. Continued she, "when was the last time you had an apprentice?"