1145 words (4 minute read)

Chapter Nine

Dear Mom and Dad:

I’m writing to tell you that I didn’t make it into the Science Division.

Daniel read the line over three times, and then held down backspace until the tablet screen was empty.

Dear Mom and Dad:

I’m sure you know about the recent attacks on Dralina.

That wasn’t right either. He gave a sigh of frustration and cleared the page again.

No longer able to find solitude in his dorm, he had come to the library for some peace and quiet. He’d found an empty chair in a back corner, and was now curled up behind a tall shelf where no one could see him, with his knees to his chest.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I’m sorry to have to put it to you this way, but I wasn’t selected for the Science Division. The Academy has changed the entrance requirements due to the recent attacks. The only division I’m eligible for now is Combat, so that is the one I’m going into. I know I said I wouldn’t. I just

He looked away from the tablet. It seemed so… understated. There was no way to really express any of this in simple writing. There was a weight in his chest threatening to spill forth. He’d always dreamed of finding a way of using his gifts to get ahead in the world, to create something useful. After all: even if he couldn’t get people to like him, maybe he could earn their respect.

Now, he’d be worse than dead: he’d be useless. He sighed again and closed his eyes.

No more than half a minute later, a hand grabbed him tightly by the wrist. He involuntarily released the tablet, which hit the ground with a thud. A girl was dragging him out of the chair - and the next thing he knew, she had spun him around through a doorway into one of the empty classrooms which lined the library.

The classroom was dark except for the wan light which filtered through a narrow window in the door. The girl kicked the door shut, slammed him against the wall, and held him there with at least a moderate degree of success. “What did she tell you?”

He recognized her. The long brown hair, the red lips, the pointed ears. It was the girl who’d made a fool of him in the Combat test. Major Riley’s daughter.

“What… who…” He reached up to push her away but she arrested him by taking hold of his forearm. She was ridiculously strong.

“My mother, you moron. Major Riley. She talked to you. What did she tell you? What is she planning?”

“What in the hell is wrong with you?!” he grunted, still pushing back.

“What does she want you for? Do you know where my father is?”

At last Daniel succeeded in ducking her arm and twisting out of her grip. He backed halfway across the room, not stopping until he had put several desks between them. “Keep your hands off me, crazy woman. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“My mom did talk to you, didn’t she?” Kate demanded. She took a menacing step toward him, her ponytail bouncing.

“She just said some weird stuff to me about career options earlier today. I don’t know anything. How about you answer some questions instead? What is this all about? Why do you care so much about our stupid conversation?”

“I thought she’d already told you everything. Maybe even where my father is.”

“I don’t know anything about your father.”

“My father’s a military pilot,” said Kate. “But he’s been away on a secret assignment for months. My mom won’t tell me where he is. She won’t even talk to me about it anymore. I need to know. I need to know if he’s in Telel right now.”

“But why would your mom tell me any of that stuff?”

“I read her mind.” Oh yes. He’d forgotten. Daniel was ever-so slightly freaked out every time he remembered that elves had that ability amongst themselves. He could hardly imagine anything worse than having someone read his private thoughts.

“I know that she talked to you about something already. I know that she’s planning something secret with the General and Piner and the others, and she wants you involved for some reason.”

Daniel was startled. “Me? Involved with them? But why?”

“I was hoping you could answer that question.” Kate leaned back on the door and curled her lip.

“She didn’t tell me anything. Sorry to disappoint, but this is all news to me.”

Kate fell silent at this, and looked away from him, perhaps to guard her embarrassment. “Well,” she said at last. “I’m sure she’ll come to you again. If she does, I need to know. Do you understand? I need to know.”

Daniel sat down on the edge of one of the desks. “Listen. I’m as sympathetic as I can be about that,” which was admittedly not very, “but nothing’s going to happen if you don’t move out of the way and let me leave.”

Kate sighed. “Fine. Just, if anything happens… can you… would you…” She seemed to be struggling.

He gave her a placid look.

“Please.”

“I’ll think about it. Let me out.”

Kate nodded. She turned around and flung the classroom door open to leave. Mid-stride, she froze.

There in the flood of light stood Major Riley, with the teacher from Daniel’s Science exam standing beside her looking amused. Riley looked somewhat less amused.

“I was wondering if I was going to have to come in.”

Kate retreated in abject horror. “Mom, this is isn’t what it looks l—”

“And what does it look like? Major Forscythe here told me you were making out with another initiate in an empty classroom. That breaks at least 3 different rules.” She gestured to the other woman, but Forscythe had already vanished.

“What.” Daniel jumped down from the table. “That’s not… she kidnapped me!”

Riley seemed to see him for the first time, and her eyes widened. Her voice went flat. “Kate. To your dorm. Now.”

“But mom…!”

“That’s an order from your superior officer!”

Kate huffed, but quickly disappeared.

Riley turned to him gravely. “Daniel, come with me.”

He reluctantly emerged from the classroom. “Am I…”

“Are you what?”

“In trouble?”

“No.” Riley sighed. “But obviously there are some things which need to be explained to you right away, before this gets out of hand. I’m afraid I’ve been far too careless. This is a matter of national security.”