18013!!!!!Day 08

The next morning as always Vine rose long before anyone else in the house. Shivering a bit as the chill raises bumps on her skin she crosses to her closet and takes out a blade then moves to the center of the room and slowly stretches then once her muscles were loosened she picked up the blade and glides though exercise. Once the sword was hidden back in the closet she slips her robe on then went down the hall for a quick shower. Back in her room she moves to her window and opens it, gasping as the cold air hits her. It wasn’t as good as her balcony at home but at least it faced east. Not that the buildings would have let her see the sun rise even when it wasn’t cloudy. Pushing the noise of those thoughts away she takes a few deep slow breaths to center herself and raises her arm to the sky to greet the new day. Chanting softly in Aldain she says. “Mother of all thank you for this day help me to keep my ears open to your word, my feet on your path. Maiden, youngest always, let my words be plain, watch over my heart keep it true to your purpose, let me not wonder. Crone keeper of knowledge and wisdom aid me in learning this days lesson with grace, show me the best way to use what you have taught me. Help me to find wisdom as well as knowledge. Warrior strongest of all I ask of you to help me have the courage to meet this days task and let not my blade fail you. Goddess use me as will, make me into what you would have me be. May you find in me always a willing and fitting tool.” A light filled the window. Vine knelt and lowered her arms.

“Goddess thank you for blessing me. I seek your will. I do not question you. I know there is a reason for me to be here. But things are not looking good. I fear what I see coming. Let me know what you would have of me. I am scared. I do not know that I can face the pain again. It all most distorted me last time. I do not know that I am strong enough to go though it again.”

She heard a voice coming from the light. “I will not ask that of you child. I will guide you home. But not yet, there are still things you need to do. There are those who will need your knowledge in the coming days. You will know how and when. You are doing well child.”

Vine relaxed. “As you say so be it. I will wait. Guide my actions and my words as always so that those in need of what I have to offer will receive that aid. Your will be done. Thank you for hearing me and answering your servant.” The light withdrew leaving her filling relaxed and rejuvenated. She also became aware of just how cold it was in front of the open window. Laughing a bit at her foolish habits, the open window real wasn’t needed but it made her feel more at home, she stood and closed the window.

Then pulling her robe closer, against the chill, Vine made her way across to the closet again, this time she looked at the clothes hanging there. She ran a hand over the brightly embroidered shirts of home. “If only, but I would never make it out of the house. Heck even on none school days these get a frown. Oh well.” With a small sigh she turned to the plan school clothes and reached for the brown shirt and came away with one that looked like the sky back home and had small beads set in the seams and wrapping the sleeves, a pair of fringed brown leather pants went with it. “Odd I don’t remember putting these here, but as they are solid color it should be all right. I think a little touch of home around me today will help.” Therefore she cared them to the bed and set about getting dressed. She put he leg and arm sheaths on and slid the knifes in them. She knew that she shouldn’t but she couldn’t go unarmed, she had tried. “Now then shoes. There isn’t much snow, but there will be and these pants deserve boots. Might as well go with the fringed ones to match, and they can hold another pair of throwing knifes.” The pair of boots she pulled on were the same brown as the pants, but cut into them was a vine and staff design that was easy to miss as it was the same color as the boots. However if you looked right the fringe was leaves of the vine. Vine then pulled her dark hair back into its braid and went to pick up her coat and remembered that Healn and a few of the others jackets had flowers on them. She moved past the one she had been wearing and picked up one that was embroidered with designs of home. The center of back showed the leafed staff of her religion. “Why not try it. If they though A fit I can run back up and get the other one.” Vine put the coat over her arm, checked to make sure everything she needed was in her school bag then headed down to breakfast.

She set the book bag on the floor and put the coat on the back of the chair then went and got a cup of coffee, even though it would get her a frown once they noticed she had it not the juice. The cold morning need a hot drink, and coffee was all that was made. She turned and realized that Jeamathon was staring at her. “What? It is all one color, no print so not against the rules right?” She went and sat at the table.

He said. “No, but you are going to stand out. What is with those boots? It is just a dusting.”

Vine smiled. “It is going to be snowing all day, and besides the boots go with the pants.”

One of her step-sisters said. “That they do. Looks nice, not as well as a dress would be but more feminine than you generally wear to school, more like what you should.”

Daved entered just then. “Nice to see you looking like a girl. You should dress like that more often. Are those new? I bet there will be some wanting to know where you got them.”

Vine said. “I woke up missing home. This is as close as I can get with out breaking the dress code. All of my outfit was made there. The designers store is called FarNote, I get most of my clothes from him.”

Ethisbth said. “Surly that’s not the same one that has the shop in Nuthave?”

Vine said. “I believe he said something about selling some clothes out west, but I am not sure where. If it is then I must wonder if the shop is open. A lot of his cloth comes from further east. There are a lot of weaving house east of the safe zone, as well as mines and computer chip makes. Things I bet that has not been thought of.”

Daved cleared his throat. “If you are done eating you had best start walking it is going to take longer in the snow.” The kids jumped and took there plates to the sink.

Vine finshed her coffee then did the same. She returned and pulled on her coat, looking at her father. “Some of the others were in printed outerwear, so I thought it was all right. Do I need to change?” her step-sisters coat was just as decorated but she did go to a different school, and Vine wanted to give him a chance.

She was turning to let him see the back as he said. “No the rule doesn’t” He stopped as he recognized the staff, but went on though his voice was a bit clipped. “apply to outerwear. Still that looks a bit warm.”

Vine said. “It isn’t my heaviest and I do not care for the cold. But I can go back up and change it if you want.”

Ethisbth said. “No that looks nice. It is good to see you dressing like a girl for once. Run along so you aren’t late. Jeamthon has already started out and is likely wondering what happened to you.”

Vine watched her father, his jaw was clenched, but he gave a small nod. “Very well see you tonight. The others will likely want to walk in the snow after school. hopefully we can find a warm drink along the way.”

Her brother was a scowling at a wall. “I don’t see why they don’t put a stop to it. Jusy what is about anyway?”

Vine said. “Some of it is map codes. Or so it would seem. Perhaps people letting others know where they are.” She looked at the wall reading the messages with ease. There was a few names she knew from old papers, but none belonging to people she knew. “Come on we don’t want to be late.” If there was one thing that mattered to him it was his attendance record. That got him moving.

He said. “The career test should be back. Likely they will go over them this afternoon before we find out next semesters classes. I am hoping for a teaching match. Father would be happier with politics.”

Vine said. “I will just be glad to be done with it. Looking forward to those two weeks off, if only the weather was better.” He shook his head and went to find his friends as Vine walked to hers.

Keven whistled, Paul said. “Nice coat, where’d you dig it up?” Jul punched him.

Vine laughed. “Belive it or not I made it. It was a part of my prestation outfit. What I wore when giving my life to my Goddess. Everything I wore then I had to make myself, as I was pleaging to the Wise one. The coat is the most decrated of them and took the longest. The dress I wore was deep red and went to the ground, it was tremed in grean and blue. Thankfully tradtion said my feet were bare so I didn’t have to make shoes.”

Jul said. “You needed a coat, but had no shoes?”

Vine said. “I climbed Vener Mountain. I did not ware the coat tell I reached the snow line. The rules allowed me to coble shoes with what I found at that point, for the remaining journey to the shrine. It is a test of determination and courage. The Wise one demands much of those who would serve her. There are easier roads, but they weren’t for me.”

Keven said. “Dose anyone lose toes making that walk?”

Vine said. “Not that I know of, but then once she accepts you she her light heals the ills you took to reach her. The priest there will give you clothes more fitting for the return. The only thing you keep to is the coat. I wasn’t planning on wearing it, bought it with me just to have it. But when I got dressed it felt right. Father was not happy, but has started to say it was fine before he saw the back of the coat so was trapped. If you think it to bold of me I will understand.” She slipped her coat off and hung it on the peg as she was talking then closed her locker, checking it out of habit.

Paul said. “What? No, if people have an issue with your religion that is there problem. I see nothing wrong with the coat. The girls are going to want those clothes I bet.”

Jul said. “I want the boots, but the rest is wrong for me. Looks great on you though.”

Vine said. “It is as close as I could come to what I would be wearing at home and still get out of the house. I woke up a bit homesick. Jul if you really like the boots I have some that are a bit small for me but should fit you. I will get them out next time we are at my house and you can see.”

Jul said. “We will have to go by there soon. I hope they will fit me. They look a lot better than what is in the shops.”

They entered the classroom, where the career test was all anyone was talking about, and started to there desks. As usually Healn’s voice carried. “Well I full intend on settling down and having a family no matter what the tests say. I just want enough of every thing to be able to help my children with there home work. Perhaps I will go for a year or two of university. But not more I think. But then the test will no doubt show that.”

Vine shook her head. “I am so tired of all this. I wish we were on break now. Why do I see the classes getting worse not better?”

Keven said. “Likely because they are. Dad keeps the door shut a lot, but I heard him muttering about new regulations.”

Healn’s voice rang out, causing everyone to look. “Vine who are you wearing?”

Vine said. “Um I am wearing clothes, I thought, not a person.”

There were a few laughs. Healn didn’t act like she heard. “I love that color. You must tell me who made it!” The teacher entered so Vine was saved from answering. When the next break came the talk was back to the test and it seemed Vine’s clothes had been forgotten.

When they entered the room after lunch there were papers on there desks. The teacher was standing at the front of the room. “Those are your test results and next semesters classes. There are no options, and none of you are going to be happy with the classes. A few of you will have a new room assignment and so your list differs a bit. We are to spend the rest of the day going over your test results. I am supposed to call you up one at a time and discuss them with you. But as everyone would hear anyway, I see no point in pretending and suggest that we instead discus them as a class. Participation is completely voluntary, you will not be penalized for saying nothing.  You do not have half to talk about the tests but can talk about any career you want to. I will do my best to answer what ever questions you have, and anyone may share what they know. Just keep the volume down so other rooms do not get disturbed.” No one said anything unsure if he meant it. “Vine how about it? Care to tell us what you plans? I see you don’t seem to care what you test says.”

Vine picked up her paper as she could tell he wanted her to and laughed. “I am sorry, but a house wife really? I wonder. Jul do you mind?”

She looked and said. “Yap same, though it dose say I might want to take some education classes as well. Can you see me as a teacher?”

Vine said. “No I can’t.” A bit of nervous laughter went around the room as did glances at the teacher, not quite believing he wasn’t stopping them. “I think that means they can’t either. Just out of curiosity, did any of the girls not get housewife?”

None of them gave any indication they had. Healn said. “Just what is worng with being a housewife?”

Vine said. “Nothing, it is in truth one of the hardest jobs out there. But not one that every woman is right for just do to there gender, I couldn’t do it, and there are other who feel the same as well.”

Healn said. “How can you not want to have children?”

Vine said. “Having children doesn’t mean you have to be a house wife. There are plenty of mothers that enjoy working, and there children are just as happy as those that stay home. But no as it happens I don’t. I can not see myself as parent. I do not have the skills needed to raise a healthy well adjusted child. My temper is to quick. And as I cannot have a child it is a good thing I don’t want to. Not that the ability to have one would in any way affect my desire to. I felt this way even when it was a possibility. No I am not ready to explain why I can’t even though I brought it up.”

A boy said. “Well what are you going to do then? Teach?” That even caused the teacher to chuckle.

Once the laughter died down Vine said. “Right that is what I was sopsed to be talking about. Sorry I went off track. Well I am going to be an arcoligest. That is I am going to be minging the ruines of the east for what ever they will tell me.”

“Can you make a living doing that? How will you manage that?”

Vine said. “There is not much profit in it, but I have a plain for that. As to how, well you go to the ruins and see what they tell you. All right so in truth it is not that easy but I am aware of it. I have been on some studies all ready, and so have some idea what I am in for. I will start with ones close to home. There are some that have not been fully mapped that are on the border.”

 The teacher said. “What will you do for money?”

Vine said. “I own a large amount of land in Alda. Some is good timberland and some farm lands. I have a weaving shop, dye factory and a wood right. As it happens this shirt was made from my first fowlm harvest, the dye from christen blooms from my fields. I keep back a few yards from each weaving for my own uses, and let the weavers and dyers do the same. The farmers and wood rights get there pick of the common clothes in any color. The wood rights can keep what pieces they want to, and I keep a few choice ones. The weavers and farms can keep any of the plain pieces they want and negotiate to have them carved. That is on top of housing, food and a modest wage. It is already turning a small profit every year and that will grow as the crops mature and the name gets better known. My Grandfather is managing it for me while I am here, but we go over the details when we talk each week. My operation is a bit more divers than his farms, but he backs his with trades in other areas.”

One of the students said, a bit outraged. “Wood rights mean lumber mills! That is illegal outside of government control.”

Vine said. “It is Alda, the laws there differ a bit, more so as my lands cross the border as there are to many trees. There you can have a privately owned mill, but you must agree to allow inspectors access so they can see there is no clear cutting going on and that trees harvested are replaced adequately. The law is one for every four harvested in dense areas and no harvesting in sparse areas. Yes I have a lumber mill. Trees are taken with care and thought. It would be hard for the casual observer to see where the tree was cut. My foresters have had to show the inspectors some of the stumps as they couldn’t tell where the lumber had come from. The forest to actually better off with some clearing of trees, it is most noticeable in the fruit and nut stands where yields increases.”

One of the others said. “I take it where you provide housing you have whole families there. Are they given options?”

Vine said. “My self and six other area farms are bound by law to fund a local school. All children attend school until the minimum age of thirteen under Aladin law. At that age the high school exams are taken and if they are passed the child then decides weather or not to go to the high school. Should they decide to go I pay for it. That is required by law. I will also pay for any further education they wish to take, which I am not required to do, but feel is only fair. If they do not pass the test the stay in the local school until they can pass the test or reach sixteen years of age. If a large number of students fail to pass the test the school will be inspected and if found to give less than a sufficient education the underwriters of the school will be fined. So it is in there interest to see that the teachers are all qualified. No exceptions are made to those laws.”

The boy said. “That sounds fair. More than we ask. Certainly not slave labor.”

Vine said. “The goods house and food are considered enough by the law. I am not required to pay the wage I do as the goods can be traded. So that could look like slavery.”

The teacher said. “Just how did you get the land?”