Chapter Thirteen: Just Words

Evie woke up to the smell of fresh baked cinnamon bread. She realized that she hadn’t really eaten since early yesterday. She must have been really distracted to not feel it until now! That delicious smell drove everything else out of her head.

She found Bridget already up, dressed and at the table. She always slept later than her sister. Mabel scurried around the kitchen, getting out plates and making juice. She reminded Evie very much of her aunt. Bridget smiled broadly when she noticed Evie entering the room. She had to swallow before she could talk. After she had, she said, “If yesterday doesn’t end up being the most awesome day of my life, I’m in for a great future!”

That made Mabel laugh. The motherly woman replied, “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to them sprite festivals. They may be great fun for you kids, but those of us with old bones know the pleasure of a simple evening by the fire at home. We don’t do so well in such a ruckus.”

Bridget looked as if she couldn’t believe the blasphemy coming out of the sweet woman’s mouth. “I don’t believe it! You really don’t enjoy it? Everyone keeps saying that humans can’t live among sprites for very long, but I don’t get it. I know I could stay here forever.” To emphasize her point, she threw her arms out, showing just how long she’d be happy among the sprites.

That was something Evie had been wondering about too. She noticed it said with much more frequency than expected. It didn’t seem so bad here. She said so and asked, “Why does everyone want to leave so much?”

Mabel sighed and sat at the table with the girls. She looked very much like Aunt Abby in her dirty apron and house coat. She began cutting a slice of bread for Evie’s plate before she answered, “It’s a little complicated. I think you girls would rather talk about something fun.” She looked at them expectantly, but when they both just stared back, she continued. “The sprites believe in what they call the divinity…”

Bridget interrupted her, “Trina told us about that. All people are equal and all people are valuable. I wish everyone believed it.”

Mabel nodded, “It’s an excellent way to look at the world, as long as you don’t take it to the extreme.” She hesitated, “Hmmm, how do I explain? I know. How did you girls enjoy the band last night?”

Evie flinched. Her head still rang a little from that sad excuse for music. Bridget furrowed her eyebrows, “It wasn’t great, but I think they just needed some practice.”

“Practice is not what they need.” Mabel said, “Unity is what they need. I assure you that each sprite played their instrument beautifully. They each composed their own music and practiced it to perfection. But they weren’t playing the same music at the same time.”

That made sense. That explained why it had sounded so awful. Mabel continued, “You see each sprite is valued for their individualism. If there were one sprite who organized the music and assigned players what to play, that would be leadership. Leadership puts one sprite above another. They think that’s wrong. As a matter of fact, if they played music composed by another sprite, they would be denying their own individual creativity and talent. They are careful to not allow the ideas of others to change their own minds.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” said Evie. “They keep that amazing library. Surely it is there so they can learn from other people.”

Mabel looked a little sad, “You’ll never see a sprite researching in that library. It was made by men and it is the business of men. They wouldn’t destroy it, because that would be demeaning the ideas of others. They won’t learn from it either. That would be putting the ideas of others above their own. Some sprites write and place their books in the library. But only the one who wrote it and the occasional human visiting the spritested will read it.”

That was something Evie had never thought of before. Men had made that amazing library? It had to have been generations ago. Men didn’t roam the forest now. And sprites did everything their own way, that was why the party was so chaotic. Each sprite did her own thing. That made Evie think of something else, “There is a sprite who assists Mater Oilreid in the library, Jayson.”

“Yes. He does it because he wants to, nobody makes him. You see, humans need order. We need organization and leadership. We learn and grow by working together. The sprites don’t understand that. They don’t think it is necessary. Jayson is a bit of a rebel anyway. He reads and discusses books with Master Oilreid, The other sprites think him odd. They wouldn’t say that, but they think it.” She glanced back and forth between the two girls. Evie knew she looked confused. This whole concept was very new to her.

Mabel must have decided she understood, though, because she nodded her head before continuing. “Now. Eat up, because you girls have another busy day. Master Oilreid wants to see you. He usually teaches a class for the children of the refugees each day and I think you ought to go. But he wants to see you two before that. As soon as you finish breakfast, I’m to send you on your way.”

Evie wondered what that old man could have to say, but she felt glad to hear that he wanted them. She didn’t know it before, but she’d already made up her mind that she wanted to talk to him as well. She had decided, somewhere in the back of her mind, soon after she had seen Trevor save Bridget’s life the night before. The only problem was figuring out how to ask a near stranger for help. The fact that he wanted to talk to her made that part of it much easier.

The two girls ate quickly, laughing about the events of the night before. Bridget still seemed to think her near death a great joke. She had a renewed respect for Trevor, despite him not liking them. Soon the talk turned to the other boy. Bridget turned to Mabel again and asked, “There was another boy with Trevor. He seemed about our age. Do you know who he is?”

“You’re probably talking about Vincent. His mother was over here yesterday. You might remember, Janette. ” Evie didn’t have to think about that one. She had a feeling she knew exactly who that boy’s mother was. Mabel continued, “You must try to be patient with them. They are new to the spritested. They lost a lot of things when they came here. They had to leave a fine home in the city.”

Bridget gave voice to Evie’s thoughts, “Why did they come? Are they running away from the king too? Do they believe that ray and souray are equal? That’s why you’re all here isn’t it?”

“It seems,” Mabel replied slowly, “That we need to be careful what we say around you girls. Some adults make the mistake of thinking that because children are inexperienced, they aren’t smart. Yes, most of us are here because we believe in equality. The king thinks the ray are a threat to his power. I was a loyalist before I came here. Do you know what that means?”

Bridget replied quickly, “You served the souray in the city.” After a minute she added with a blush, “We had lessons, Evie and I. Elder Banied taught us history.”

Mabel smiled sadly, “Of course. But it was more than that. Loyalists were taught from the day they are born that they are less then the souray. I was taught that my individual worth came from serving them.”

Bridget seemed to take personal offence at that last statement. But Evie broke in to stop the explosion. She wanted to hear the rest of the story. “What made you leave, Mabel?”

“I met a souray, who had made it a personal mission to educate people, no matter who their parents were.” She laughed. “I was told about a secret school for ray. One of my friends took me to it. I learned to read. You don’t know how lucky you are that you learned when you were young. It was very hard for me. Somehow the king found out about the school. I was there when soldiers showed up to arrest anyone who worked or learned there. Some were arrested. I escaped. I didn’t think anyone had seen me, so I went home. A week later I received a letter from my teacher. It said the school would continue and I needed to come to the spritested. So, here I am. That was a year ago.”

It dawned on Evie who she must have meant. “It was Master Oilreid wasn’t it? He was the teacher.”
Mabel grinned, “Oh no. Master Oilreid has long been making the school in hiding from the king’s men, away from the city.. The one inside the city was a temporary place for people to learn if they could not leave yet. It was destroyed, though, as I said. And the students and teachers had to flee. That school is the reason most of us are here now. There were several souray involved and they all had to run to the spritested or be arrested. It also led the king to start an investigation. He wanted to catch anyone who supported Jessimara.”

Bridget asked, “So that’s why Vincent is here? His mother was a teacher?”

Mabel shook her head, “No. But her husband was, his father. I don’t think she even knew until he was arrested. That would’a been enough to get her accused, though. They don’t need much evidence. He managed to send her warning before the soldiers came. She was very sad to have to leave her home. So, we have to be careful about trying to make her and Vincent feel welcome here.”

“Wait a minute,” Bridget cut in. “You guys are looking for a spy. Doesn’t it make sense that it would be the person who doesn’t want to be here?”

Mabel narrowed her eyes, “Now I know we talk too freely in front of you. Don’t you think Master Oilreid thought of that? If it were her he would certainly know. There are over a hundred refugees here and she’s the only one that admits she didn’t want to leave the city. You’ve got to give people a chance.”

Bridget mumbled an apology that Evie knew had no sincerity in it. Evie understood her cousin’s concern. It certainly seemed likely that Vincent and his mother would betray them. She remembered that woman’s cold stare and Vincent seemed even worse than Trevor. He probably thought the ray were beneath him and didn’t merit loyalty. On the other hand, she never would have thought Trevor would have a kind side to him. He hadn’t hesitated when he saved Bridget from her fall. Of course Vincent was the one that dropped her. Why had he run off last night? He seemed genuinely frightened by something.

They were interrupted by Trina fluttering into the room. “Good morning, Mabel. I’m here for the girls. Master Oilreid wanted to talk to them before the class today. They don’t have to come, of course. Everyone has to make their own decisions. But who would pass up a chance to get to know the human teacher. He’s…” Evie stopped listening. Trina looked adorable, but she did prattle on incessantly about nothing. And besides, Evie had too many other things to think about.

Bridget, undoubtedly pleased to get out of the uncomfortable conversation with Mabel, jumped up and began cleaning the table. “Let’s go, Evie. I am curious about what the ‘human teacher’ wants with us.” She turned to face Mabel, “Thank you so much for breakfast. You’ve been so nice to us.” Mabel’s motherly demeanor shined though again as she hustled the girls out the door and offered a fervent wish that they stay a little cleaner today.

Once they were on their way, it occurred to Evie that Trina might be a great source of information. Anyone who talked that much had to say something useful now and then. She interrupted the sprite’s current monologue on the many different kinds of apple trees in the spritested to ask, “What do you know about Vincent?”

Trina blinked, startled. She always acted like she’d never been interrupted before and didn’t quite know how to react. She got over it quickly, though, and rambled on in the direction Evie had pointed her. “The move here was terribly hard on him. I think his dad…His dad is in prison you know…I think they were very close. It’s really just a matter of having to change everything you ever thought to be true. People don’t change easily. They have to be given time. But Trevor is wonderful. I mean, he’s wonderful for Vincent. The young man has someone who understands him now. A friend can help you through the toughest times. And those two are naturally alike. I don’t think they’ve been away from each other since Trevor came. Since you came, I suppose, since you all arrived together. I saw them just this morning over by the arches. Neither of them were acting very happy. But even being sad is more pleasant with a friend…”

Bridget stopped walking and Trina cut off as the girl turned around to look at her. “What are the arches?” she asked.

“Oh, they’re like the library. They were built by souray when they lived in the forest. I don’t really know what they’re for. I will have to ask Master Oilreid. Probably just decoration. They are beautiful, carved with marble and inscribed in some language I don’t know. It looks a little like…”

“Yes,” Bridget interrupted, “but where are they? Are they far out of the way? I mean could you take us past them on our way to see Master Oilreid?” She tried to make her voice sound casual. Evie thought it sounded like a deliberate effort. Why in the world did she want to see Trevor? It seemed obvious, at least to her sister, that’s what she wanted to see. She didn’t care a bit for historical monuments.

Trina laughed her twinkling laugh, “Of course. I often go a bit out of my way to see them. They are beautiful, after all. It’s not far, you know, or I wouldn’t have passed them on my way to Mabel’s house. There are very many lovely remnants from…”

Evie turned to Bridget and whispered, “What are you up to? Trevor won’t want to see us. He ran away like a scared rabbit rather than talk to us last night.”

“I know. I know,” she hissed back, “but I can’t stop thinking about what happened. I never told him thank you. Look, I know he’s mean and really full of himself, but I think he’s really a good person deep down. It seems to me that everything he’s done has been things that he thought were right. He saved me from his dad. He kept that rapton from eating Elder Banied. And he stopped me from falling. He was taught to hate ray,” She stumbled over the last word and then amended her statement, “those of us who aren’t souray. I just think if he can get to know me I can help him see what I’m really like. I feel like I need to try. I owe him that.” As an afterthought she grumbled almost incoherently, “I only wish that other one wasn’t with him.”

It made sense. Evie thought Bridget saw Trevor clearer than she did. She just wasn’t sure he would admit his mistake about her sister. And she didn’t want to watch him insult her again. On the other hand, if he really saw Bridget as so worthless, why had he been so frantic to save her? All thought rushed out of her head when she heard someone shouting. The noise echoed through the forest, loud enough that even Trina stopped talking.

“Why are you so worried about it?” It was Vincent’s voice.

Trevor’s voice answered back, but not in a shout, exactly. “It just seemed awfully coincidental, okay? I am not saying you did it on purpose. I am just…” Curiously, Evie glanced through the trees. She could see the two boys yelling and gesturing in exaggerated motions.

“Look, I did not mean to drop the lousy snit. I would not have wasted my time hurting her on purpose. There was a man in the forest watching us. I over-reacted. But, what does it matter? You saved her, I am very proud of you. What I do not understand is why in the world you care so much. She is inconsequential. If she had split that lovely little head open you wouldn’t have shed a tear and you know it. You know what she is.”

“Of course not…but…it is not…I mean...”

The older boy laughed maliciously, “Oh, I see. Is she your pet? That one would never make a loyal dog. You saw her prancing around at the festival. The filthy bovine thought she was some kind of queen. I hear she talks to rodents. Is that the kind of girl you are after? You are upset because I damaged your chances with the rat queen?!”

Trevor’s face turned purple and his teeth clenched when he replied, “That is not it and you know it. I do not care about her. I only thought you should not have left me with those two.”

Evie’s neck stiffened. She felt almost too afraid to look over at Bridget. She had thought, hoped, that Trevor would be angered by Vincent’s cruel words. Her cousin took a few steps backward, her face pained with calm determination. Evie supposed that was better than the hurt she’d seen in her eyes the last time Trevor insulted her. Bridget closed those cold eyes for a moment and then looked at Trina. In a near whisper she said, “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t think I want to see the arches after all.”

Trina just nodded her head and turned to the left. It may have been the first time in her entire life that she stayed silent that long. In fact, nobody said a single word until they reached the library.