Ray McCarthy
Sentient Marmite: The Truth may make you fret.
Kenrith closed the door on Matron's office. For a medical it was strange. But he'd never been examined by a Mage before. He checked his Personal. Time to meet his 'Mentor'. Arch Chancellor Millifore hadn't told him anything except where her office was (strangely at her apartment) and the time to visit. He mused, this was his first visit 'Down Below' as he had lived all his 12 years on a Starship. Yet it seemed he'd not see much outside College till he became a Journeyman.
He hurried past the Café and down the mall out into the Courtyard. Opposite the main Administration, top of stairs on the right. Kenrith, though a Karnd like most on Caemoria wasn't used to the extra gravity of nearly 1.3G, so was a little puffed after running up the stairs.
He pressed the bell button and a pretty Karnd woman with dark skin opened the door almost at once.
"N'Lonth Masee?" he said, "I'm N'Foudanae Jotlani Dransat Kenrith."
She laughed like a Zinckle bell, he thought.
"Wrong N'Lonth," she replied, "I'm Kaytim, you'll be be looking for my sister Maisie."
"Maisie?" he said, "I was sure it was Masee"
"Come in."
Kaytim led him round a divider to a study area. A strange alien woman got up and smiled without opening her mouth. She was taller than any Karnd, but perhaps not much more so than some Malthins or Lorms.
"Kenrith?" she asked. "I suppose it would be too much co-incidence that you are related to Kordina and Raemaren? I mean being from Sept Foudanae."
"Er," he stammered. "My Grandparents, but my parents are nothing important."
"Well they must be proud though," she said, "the first Spacer Talent, I think, certainly in recent times. Your parents, Grandparents and whole Sept."
"Maybe," he said, "but I think more upset that I had to leave. I said I'd come back, but they all seemed to think I wouldn't."
"Sadly they may be right," said Maisie, "I don't think I'll go back. I thought I would. Have a seat."
"I'll make some Jhai," said Kaytim.
"Can I ask," said Kenrith, "what are you?"
"Arch Warlock, Adept Mage and practitioner of the Zeroth Circle, Master of Mentalism, Magery and Warlockery."
"I studied about Talents and the College since I was Searched," he said, "so I guessed most of that from your Robes. I mean what species?"
"Tellurian," she laughed, "I'm the only one away from home, so far, it's about 80,000 light years away, other side of the Galactic Core. Also even for a Mage I do look terribly young. Guess."
"You can't have three Masters and be as young as you look," he said, "Perhaps Tellurians just look young compared to most?"
"Not at all. Actually we normally age faster and look older than Karnds despite much less UV light there. I'm actually the same age as my sister and should look older."
Kaytim set a tray down on the table. Kenrith studied Kaytim. She had to be in her late twenties, maybe even over 30.
"So what is the Mentoring about?" he asked.
"Twenty eight" muttered Kaytim.
"I suppose I have sort of mentored Raelf. He's just finished his apprenticeship and is my special student. Other than that I'm actually not sure. I think you are supposed to let me know if anything is a problem and I'm supposed to let you known if something might be a problem. But Kaytim isn't just my sister, but a sort of alter ego, my Assistant, so you can tell her anything you'd want to tell me. We have no secrets. Sometimes I'm not here as I'm also an Assistant to the Wildgrave, Plonis."
"Anyway," said Kaytim, "I forgot that though you are a Karnd like us, you are not a Caemorian, so you wouldn't know that it's taboo to refer to someone as being adopted. Maisie is actually legally a Caemorian and Karnd, even though biologically Tellurian."
"That's a bit mad," said Kenrith. Though he was sure he hadn't made any such reference.
"I admit it makes more sense when a child of the same species is adopted!" said Kaytim.
"So is there anything now you need to talk about?" said Maisie.
"I can't think of anything," he said after a pause. "How long ago did you leave Tellus?"
"Well, I guess about five years ago." said Maisie. "Have a bun and drink your Jhai. Actually, I get confused with the different year lengths and calendars, also the time travelling on the Starship. Don't be tempted to save time on a Klah ship, I did, never again. I did on short visit to Tellus about a year ago."
"I had a tour of one and a description," he said, "it sounded bad."
"It's the pain and no eating for a while after that's bad," said Maisie.
"I agree," said Kaytim, "surely the worst thing I ever let you talk me into."
"You went too?"
"Not just me," said Kaytim, "unfortunately it wasn't a good time to visit and we didn't really have any opportunity to be tourists."
The door bell rang and Maisie jumped up and nearly ran to open the front door.
"My friend, Olef," said Maisie. "Olef this is Apprentice Kenrith, a new student. I'm his Mentor."
Olef was a short Penthnegin, though that was relative as he was still taller than many non-Penthnegrins, somewhat taller than Maisie.
"Nice to meet you," said Olef, "presumably Arch Chancellor matched you up because you are both Off Worlders and Mages. Or something clever not obvious yet."
"The Arch Chancellor rarely explains why he decides something," said Maisie, "but usually later it's revealed to be very clever wise decision. Like suggesting to Kaytim to be my Assistant."
"I admit some people were sceptical I'd work out as anyone's Assistant!" said Kaytim. "What do you think Olef?"
"I made no comment then," he said, "so I'd hardly comment now. But I can think of no better suited pair."
"If there is nothing more," said Kenrith, "I better go to my Dorm and get ready for Supper in the Hall?"
"Yes," said Maisie, "Who you sharing with?"
"Raelf, Journeyman Enchanter, a young Malthin, <lists four others>, I guess a different Raelf to the one you tutor as you are not an Enchanter."
"No, it's the same Raelf," said Maisie, "We are chronically short of Enchanters, so the Arch Chancellor delegated it to me and helps me out occasionally if I'm stuck."
"That seems an odd arrangement," he said,
"It's odd even for here, but it's working so far," said Maisie. "I managed to become Master of Mentalism, I have no talent in the first circle at all. Mastery is about technique, knowledge, maturity and experience, not the actual talent involved. I think in theory even someone with no Talent could become a Master. Literally it's only a qualification to teach, though it's normal to display Mastery of your own Talent to be approved by the Council."
"I never read that anywhere?"
"I doubt it's written clearly like that. Best you say that Raelf's tuition is a matter between him and the Arch Chancellor, with me supervising Raelf. You'll not hear a complaint from Raelf. You better go, but no running allowed, just like on a Starship I think!"
"Yes," he said, "no running there. Thanks."
Maisie went and opened the door.
"What you think of my new student, Kaytim?" Maisie asked when she sat down.
"He's very confident, self assured for his age," said Kaytim, "He wasn't daunted either by mistaking me as you, or mispronouncing your name or meeting a species he'd not encountered before. He was polite enough to not question why we are sisters. But I'm amazed. You trip up several times a month on things you don't know, yet you seem to know Kordina and Raemaren and their Sept Foudanae?"
"I don't actually," said Maisie, "but Juili, the Captain of the Intergal, does know them, or did more than 30 years ago. She still keeps in touch with Kordina. I still swap messages with Juili. It seems to be largely unknown that Kordina, Raemaren and Juili, with adults found the original design documentation for the Sync-Sats. I'll tell you the story as best I can after Supper, you'll like it Olef. Actually we'll skip off in the Flitter to Dalriada, eat on the Flitter and then they can all hear it. Give Kertlen a call and let him know."
Kaytim immediately dashed to Maisie's room and they heard the lock click.
"They'll be getting married soon," said Olef, "do you mind?"
"Even I can see that," said Maisie, "No I don't mind, though I'll be devastated if Kaytim wants to resign as Assistant, or Kertlen as head of Security."
"I think you are safe on that score," said Olef, "but it would hurry them up if you told both of them."
"What about Chainai and Peder?" said Maisie, "Has she sworn a vow of celibacy?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Never mind about punctuation, speiling, Grammer etc, for now I'm concentrating on getting all these stories out of head into computer. Probably I'll have to get someone else to edit. I did about 7 revisions of 1st story, but I've decided since to do minimal revisions, add notes and then re-write them all when I exhaust this particular vein of storylode (I have 2 more after this I think)
This is my 5th WIP since start of June. I wrote outline of story and Timeline (about 3 pages) and about 3200 words today (1st Jan) but interrupted by visitors
I'm going to do this one 3rd person Omni and mostly from POV of the two of the students, older Raelf and young Kenrith.
It follows after The Apprentice's Talent and The Journeyman's Talent. The Solar Alliance is in parallel to those two (Events on Earth = Tellus after initial Alien visit). Sorry to Part is the story of Kordina, Juili and Raemaren about 35 years before this story. (Bumping up Juili's age by 2 years to 15 then makes her 45 when she met Maisie and 50 now, which isn't mad for Captain of Intergal (which is now in Andromeda surveying for Intelligent life etc)
The first Earth Starships (to exist) will arrive at Caemoria shortly, but ... Well that would be saying ... This story will cover nearly 3 Earth years of time.
He hurried past the Café and down the mall out into the Courtyard. Opposite the main Administration, top of stairs on the right. Kenrith, though a Karnd like most on Caemoria wasn't used to the extra gravity of nearly 1.3G, so was a little puffed after running up the stairs.
He pressed the bell button and a pretty Karnd woman with dark skin opened the door almost at once.
"N'Lonth Masee?" he said, "I'm N'Foudanae Jotlani Dransat Kenrith."
She laughed like a Zinckle bell, he thought.
"Wrong N'Lonth," she replied, "I'm Kaytim, you'll be be looking for my sister Maisie."
"Maisie?" he said, "I was sure it was Masee"
"Come in."
Kaytim led him round a divider to a study area. A strange alien woman got up and smiled without opening her mouth. She was taller than any Karnd, but perhaps not much more so than some Malthins or Lorms.
"Kenrith?" she asked. "I suppose it would be too much co-incidence that you are related to Kordina and Raemaren? I mean being from Sept Foudanae."
"Er," he stammered. "My Grandparents, but my parents are nothing important."
"Well they must be proud though," she said, "the first Spacer Talent, I think, certainly in recent times. Your parents, Grandparents and whole Sept."
"Maybe," he said, "but I think more upset that I had to leave. I said I'd come back, but they all seemed to think I wouldn't."
"Sadly they may be right," said Maisie, "I don't think I'll go back. I thought I would. Have a seat."
"I'll make some Jhai," said Kaytim.
"Can I ask," said Kenrith, "what are you?"
"Arch Warlock, Adept Mage and practitioner of the Zeroth Circle, Master of Mentalism, Magery and Warlockery."
"I studied about Talents and the College since I was Searched," he said, "so I guessed most of that from your Robes. I mean what species?"
"Tellurian," she laughed, "I'm the only one away from home, so far, it's about 80,000 light years away, other side of the Galactic Core. Also even for a Mage I do look terribly young. Guess."
"You can't have three Masters and be as young as you look," he said, "Perhaps Tellurians just look young compared to most?"
"Not at all. Actually we normally age faster and look older than Karnds despite much less UV light there. I'm actually the same age as my sister and should look older."
Kaytim set a tray down on the table. Kenrith studied Kaytim. She had to be in her late twenties, maybe even over 30.
"So what is the Mentoring about?" he asked.
"Twenty eight" muttered Kaytim.
"I suppose I have sort of mentored Raelf. He's just finished his apprenticeship and is my special student. Other than that I'm actually not sure. I think you are supposed to let me know if anything is a problem and I'm supposed to let you known if something might be a problem. But Kaytim isn't just my sister, but a sort of alter ego, my Assistant, so you can tell her anything you'd want to tell me. We have no secrets. Sometimes I'm not here as I'm also an Assistant to the Wildgrave, Plonis."
"Anyway," said Kaytim, "I forgot that though you are a Karnd like us, you are not a Caemorian, so you wouldn't know that it's taboo to refer to someone as being adopted. Maisie is actually legally a Caemorian and Karnd, even though biologically Tellurian."
"That's a bit mad," said Kenrith. Though he was sure he hadn't made any such reference.
"I admit it makes more sense when a child of the same species is adopted!" said Kaytim.
"So is there anything now you need to talk about?" said Maisie.
"I can't think of anything," he said after a pause. "How long ago did you leave Tellus?"
"Well, I guess about five years ago." said Maisie. "Have a bun and drink your Jhai. Actually, I get confused with the different year lengths and calendars, also the time travelling on the Starship. Don't be tempted to save time on a Klah ship, I did, never again. I did on short visit to Tellus about a year ago."
"I had a tour of one and a description," he said, "it sounded bad."
"It's the pain and no eating for a while after that's bad," said Maisie.
"I agree," said Kaytim, "surely the worst thing I ever let you talk me into."
"You went too?"
"Not just me," said Kaytim, "unfortunately it wasn't a good time to visit and we didn't really have any opportunity to be tourists."
The door bell rang and Maisie jumped up and nearly ran to open the front door.
"My friend, Olef," said Maisie. "Olef this is Apprentice Kenrith, a new student. I'm his Mentor."
Olef was a short Penthnegin, though that was relative as he was still taller than many non-Penthnegrins, somewhat taller than Maisie.
"Nice to meet you," said Olef, "presumably Arch Chancellor matched you up because you are both Off Worlders and Mages. Or something clever not obvious yet."
"The Arch Chancellor rarely explains why he decides something," said Maisie, "but usually later it's revealed to be very clever wise decision. Like suggesting to Kaytim to be my Assistant."
"I admit some people were sceptical I'd work out as anyone's Assistant!" said Kaytim. "What do you think Olef?"
"I made no comment then," he said, "so I'd hardly comment now. But I can think of no better suited pair."
"If there is nothing more," said Kenrith, "I better go to my Dorm and get ready for Supper in the Hall?"
"Yes," said Maisie, "Who you sharing with?"
"Raelf, Journeyman Enchanter, a young Malthin, <lists four others>, I guess a different Raelf to the one you tutor as you are not an Enchanter."
"No, it's the same Raelf," said Maisie, "We are chronically short of Enchanters, so the Arch Chancellor delegated it to me and helps me out occasionally if I'm stuck."
"That seems an odd arrangement," he said,
"It's odd even for here, but it's working so far," said Maisie. "I managed to become Master of Mentalism, I have no talent in the first circle at all. Mastery is about technique, knowledge, maturity and experience, not the actual talent involved. I think in theory even someone with no Talent could become a Master. Literally it's only a qualification to teach, though it's normal to display Mastery of your own Talent to be approved by the Council."
"I never read that anywhere?"
"I doubt it's written clearly like that. Best you say that Raelf's tuition is a matter between him and the Arch Chancellor, with me supervising Raelf. You'll not hear a complaint from Raelf. You better go, but no running allowed, just like on a Starship I think!"
"Yes," he said, "no running there. Thanks."
Maisie went and opened the door.
"What you think of my new student, Kaytim?" Maisie asked when she sat down.
"He's very confident, self assured for his age," said Kaytim, "He wasn't daunted either by mistaking me as you, or mispronouncing your name or meeting a species he'd not encountered before. He was polite enough to not question why we are sisters. But I'm amazed. You trip up several times a month on things you don't know, yet you seem to know Kordina and Raemaren and their Sept Foudanae?"
"I don't actually," said Maisie, "but Juili, the Captain of the Intergal, does know them, or did more than 30 years ago. She still keeps in touch with Kordina. I still swap messages with Juili. It seems to be largely unknown that Kordina, Raemaren and Juili, with adults found the original design documentation for the Sync-Sats. I'll tell you the story as best I can after Supper, you'll like it Olef. Actually we'll skip off in the Flitter to Dalriada, eat on the Flitter and then they can all hear it. Give Kertlen a call and let him know."
Kaytim immediately dashed to Maisie's room and they heard the lock click.
"They'll be getting married soon," said Olef, "do you mind?"
"Even I can see that," said Maisie, "No I don't mind, though I'll be devastated if Kaytim wants to resign as Assistant, or Kertlen as head of Security."
"I think you are safe on that score," said Olef, "but it would hurry them up if you told both of them."
"What about Chainai and Peder?" said Maisie, "Has she sworn a vow of celibacy?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Never mind about punctuation, speiling, Grammer etc, for now I'm concentrating on getting all these stories out of head into computer. Probably I'll have to get someone else to edit. I did about 7 revisions of 1st story, but I've decided since to do minimal revisions, add notes and then re-write them all when I exhaust this particular vein of storylode (I have 2 more after this I think)
This is my 5th WIP since start of June. I wrote outline of story and Timeline (about 3 pages) and about 3200 words today (1st Jan) but interrupted by visitors
I'm going to do this one 3rd person Omni and mostly from POV of the two of the students, older Raelf and young Kenrith.
It follows after The Apprentice's Talent and The Journeyman's Talent. The Solar Alliance is in parallel to those two (Events on Earth = Tellus after initial Alien visit). Sorry to Part is the story of Kordina, Juili and Raemaren about 35 years before this story. (Bumping up Juili's age by 2 years to 15 then makes her 45 when she met Maisie and 50 now, which isn't mad for Captain of Intergal (which is now in Andromeda surveying for Intelligent life etc)
The first Earth Starships (to exist) will arrive at Caemoria shortly, but ... Well that would be saying ... This story will cover nearly 3 Earth years of time.
