Dragonfly Web: Whitestuff

Twenty Two | The Highness of Things

TJ had saved their real mission for later in the day, but now later was upon them and Ciara was nervous all over again.

We're here!

They veered right, in the direction of Hilltop Camp, well up the slopes towards the rainbow valley. When they approached, the tents were more shaded than they had been the first time Ciara had sighted the Circle.

The sun was still bright, but hidden by mountains. The camp itself was filtered by shadows. Voices—hushed between moments of murmuring hubbub and plates clacking with wooden spoons that lapped stew into faces, reddened by flames—laughed and swapped stories of the day's events.

TJ ignored the spontaneous freezing of actions—plates suddenly lowered—as the large instructor and his tiny companion came into view. All chewing stopped.

Ciara noticed someone familiar. Rondan is here! TJ did not seem surprised.

She felt terribly conspicuous. So far, she'd been mostly unnoticed. Now she was meeting the Aulde High kids, and by reputation alone they already made her feel so out of place. She stood in front of them all.

Ciara focused instead on TJ, who spoke. "I rather thought you could be up here, Rondan." Rondan gulped and looked guilty for a split second before puffing out his chest with an air of importance.  The other kids quietly watched the big man and new girl.

Ciara hadn't given Rondan's absence, when they'd stopped at the Tracking camp, any more thought. Most of the students had seemed to be out on morning assignments—in different directions—working in teams and only a few quieter kids had been present, minding that Circle down at the bottom. She had assumed Rondan was one, until now.

Rondan clearly knew he should not be here where he was. His eyes fixed upward on TJ, while his flushed cheeks were hidden by keeping his face turned toward the ground.

"Why is she here?" Rondan suddenly hissed, aiming to take the attention away from himself. He looked to his friends for support, but Ciara already knew he was trying too hard not to look guilty.

"Ciara is our newest student. Why wouldn't you be doing your observations with Drey this morning?" TJ proceeded, ignoring Rondan's new crew of friends. "You're spending too much time up here. You were up here last week too. I came to ask for a vote of your Circle --what you thought about pairing Ciara with you or with Sadie."

No! Ciara's heart skipped a beat. With Sadie, please say 'with Sadie'!

"And Ylva has want of you too, Lad. Can you say why she might be needing to see you?" Ciara realized TJ planned to draw the boy out.

Rondan suddenly became far too sure of himself. "I have too many studies to be everywhere—"

"Oh, I see! That must be why you were in the Library a few days ago—" TJ continued. "Sleep-walking was it—? Is Ylva's missing pen a thing you could have moved in your sleep, then—perhaps?"

"There are many pens in the library, Sir—"

Not the right answer, Rondan, Ciara was thinking, guessing TJ would remain in control.

"I've since discovered some things that lead me to think it's disappearance might have been more on purpose. I happen to know you don't sleep-walk—so, I wondered—"

TJ's only prodding to see how he reacts!

"Liv's away—gone to see parents. She received a note they were in need of her help for a time. You don't know anything about that, do you?" The big man's eyebrows raised expectantly.

"Huh? No. Why would I know? Course I have no idea." Rondan took an extra large bite of food so he couldn't answer any more questions.

"Don't forget—" Ciara tugged on the big man's thick robes, then she turned and questioned Rondan, herself, feeling more brave. "Do you know about artifacts?"

"Why is she in my Circle?" Rondan challenged in anger.

"Do you wear boots with little crosses and a spike on the sole? There were tracks that were left," Ciara insisted.

Rondan stared, furious now at the new girl, as TJ put his hand on her shoulder.

"There aren't that many elaborate pens in the library, son, but I cannot see yet why you might have done this."

"Right! Make sure she knows who I am in future—right, TJ?" Rondan made a sarcastic, "Humph!" and glanced to the boy sitting beside him.

Ciara suddenly felt a crackling sensation start in her throat and Skye's presence. 

Don't say anything! she warned him.

Guilt thrives here! he virtually sizzled.

Skye, don't! she thought in her mind, but fortunately TJ was done. Skye said nothing more.

Ciara followed TJ.

Even TJs proper 'Instructor' voice sounded wise. "We'll see you in Circle, I assume in the morning?"

"—Yes, Sir." Rondan looked glad the questions weren't going to continue.

"Not too late." TJ nodded to the group to go back to their evening and raised his staff in farewell.

Grraakk! huffed Skye.

You don't need to defend me, Ciara thought in Skye's previous direction. Arvy does that.

Uh—you don't know any Arvid.

So how do you know that his name would be Arvid, if I don't know any 'him'?

But Skye called her bluff, Hmmpff. Well, who is Arvid, then, if you know such a friend?

That's a question, not an answer. I don't know—I don't think I remember.

Right. Because there's no Arvy, here.

Ciara frowned.

TJ cut in, oblivious to the ongoing conversation in 'mind'. They strolled to survey the rim. "You were brave there, making sense in that way. And I've seen your maps. How'd you like to join the Advanced Tracking School that I teach myself? Students for that group are hand-picked—all of them, my choice.  How about it? Do you think you could make a good Tracker, young lady?"

Ciara couldn't think.

"We'd better get down there again before the sun disappears."

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