day 7 Warning there is some lang and adult refeances.

Missing the one at home with its big windows over looking the valley and the scared desk with its ink well. Heck now one here even knew what an ink well was, no wonder they thought Creain script was art work. You just could writ that with ball point pens. She smiled to her self as she remembered she wasn’t alone. “Hear this should be enough to get us though. Sorry I got lost for a bit and was looking at what wasn’t here.”

Keven said. “What was it like, what do you miss the most? Is your wrist all right?”

Vine realized she was playing with her bracelet and stopped. “Yes, just a nervous tick I am still a bit upset. I hope they did fix his leg right before letting him go. But all the hate out there, it is getting scary. I think I miss the sky the most really, it just doesn’t look right here, it is lacking the red it has at home. I understand the further east you go the more red there is. Something in the poisons that were released, in accounts of the days after that was the thing they all remarked on How the sky went red. Seems it was globe, then after a month or to the red receded from the untouched areas. Well the areas where people survived. They were all affected and it was years tell they recovered. And I am rambling. Sorry you didn’t ask for a history lessons.”

Jul said. “What was the house like? My cousin said they used wood in the building. How could there be that much? The laws on logging are universal.”

Vine said. “Where we are there are a few in town that used wood for the house but most use stone or bricks. It is stronger and we do get some bad storms. Grandfather’s house is a bit larger than this. It is built on mountain. The back rooms are in the mountain, actually. It over looks a valley, some of which is farmed, some left wild. It is lovely to look across. My desk sits in a bay looking out on it. It is oak and was made by one of the wood-writes as a graduation piece so is a bit fancier than it needs to be, but I love it. That is where the wood is used, in the furnishings. We do export some, but very little this way. Most of the wood comes from the other side of the boarder. The trees there are thieving and in places have to be thinned to grow. Still all harvesting is done with care, and generally a new seedling is planted. Perhaps not in the same place it depends on the needs of the area.”

John said. “It terrifies my dad but I want to go east. Though I am begin to think it is an impossibility. It doesn’t look like I will be able to learn what I need to.”

Keven nodded. “I want to see ruman’s mountain for my self, and the spire. Even the grassland. I bet that sounds silly to you.”

Vine said. “The school is not going to do you any good. But you are on track with your extra studying. If the border is still open, you should be able to pass the tests for a junior collage in one of the eastern nations. But it will be a junior collage, do not plan on going to a university. I am sorry, but you won’t have necessary education. You will have a lot of catching up to do, and it won’t be easy, but it will be possible.”

Jul said. “If the borders are open when we are of age. I don’t think they will be. My neighbors are packing, they told Dad they were getting out whail they could and that he should to. The news is getting scary, they are airing a lot of story about how dangerous the east is, and less about the resources that are there. Did you know that Lanber separated from us? It was the last connection we had to the border.”

John nodded. “I bet there we will start seeing few faces around the school soon. I have noticed others colleting boxes and there are more trucks sitting in driveways these days.”

Vine nodded. “It is sad, I don’t like the way things are looking. However, we had better get that easy done before it is time for you to go.”

Latter after they othe had gone home and supper was served, David said. “So Vainty I understand you finale brought the others here. About time you entertained them. It was looking like you didn’t want them to see the house.”

Vine said. “I didn’t want to get in the way. We were going to go to Olver’s but that didn’t work. I gather that last night, unknown to John, he and the rest of the business decided to put the anti-cotton stickers in there windows.”

Daved “Yes, they are supporting the hiring of those displaced, and not those who turned them away. What is the problem? It doesn’t affect you.”

Vine said. “Cotton didn’t turn anyone away and the stickers appeared before Condor went to war. It is discrimination and we decided not support it when they first appeared. I don’t think it will change. It won’t for me. Not that it matters.”

Elspath said. “That is just silly. I like knowing who is supporting the refuges. I make it a point to support them when ever I can.”

Vine said. “It is the same as barring people do to skin color. I do not see how it is langue and will not cross any of those thresholds. But then as there is a seconded sticker in some of them baring people of my religion I can’t anyway. But then I guess that doesn’t matter. How long tell the schools separate as well? Can’t you see the harm this is doing?”

Daved said. “No one is barring anyone they are just showing support to those displaced. You are over reacting. Now then what shall we watch tonight?” Vine shook her head but let it drop.

Chapter 7 November

Slowly the number of messages on the walls over took the other graffiti, and it was easier to see the empty house. Faces were missing in schools, the number of empty desks increased.

Vine entered the house one evening to find Olver there. “John is at your house if you are looking for him sir.”

He said. “No I wasn’t I wanted to talk to your father, but he is busy.”

Vine nodded. “Well I will just be passing on though. “

Olver looked at her. “Do you mind telling me why you always ware your hair up?”

Vine said. “My grandfather is Creailn, under there laws the sight of a woman’s unbound hair should be for her husband and her god, the braid is a part compromise we worked out. When not in his house I may do without the veils as long as I am decently dressed and my hair is under control.  . You are worried what color mine is. I have a picture taking when I was younger, before I lived with grandfather. I will go get it for you if you wish, but it will prove nothing. Hair color really is a poor indicator of where one was born.”

“So where were you born then?”

Daved said. “What business is that of yours?”

Olver said. “She is spending a lot of time with my son.”

Vine said. “I lived with my mom in my early years, we moved a lot. My papers say Naven, but it was more likely Candor. Is there anything else? I wondered if he wasn’t disobeying you. I will refuse to go with them after this.”

Olver said. “That would just make it worse. No don’t do that. Just be careful.”

Vine looked at him. “I am not sleeping with him or Keven and do not plan on it. We are friends that is all. It is not romantic. I didn’t think. I should have though. All you likely know of my religion are the wild stories. It is not like that in realty.” Daved looked at Vine. “He knows I am Zailentan, but all he knows about it is the tails that we dance naked and have orgies.” Both men choked. “Oh and possibly sacrifice children to make storms. None of which is true. Yes for some ceremonies the ordained leave there robes on the ground. But it is not sexual, it is spiritual. There is a difference. Yes there is a good bit of coupling that can take place at the planting ceremonies, but that has more to do with the wine than anything. And all involved are adults. No children are ever at those rights. Childhood a important time and nothing should be done to rush it along. That said that was the first and only time I have said anything about my beliefs in there hearing. They knew no more than you did. Likely they are trying to work up the courage to ask me about those rumors as well, should they ask I will answer them, but that is all. It is against the teachings to force our beliefs on others.”

Olver said. “I know you would do nothing deliberately to hurt them. Thank you for answering. Now then Daved have you a moment to go over that proposal?” They moved to the office and Vine headed to her room.

When she headed down latter to super Daved stopped her.  “Just what were you thinking?”

Vine said. “I am not going to hide who I am. Had he asked straight out I would have said yes, I was born on the wrong side of the border. If you don’t like it send me home. I told you I wouldn’t lie. My religion came up as I was explaining to him why I couldn’t enter his restraint to pay my bill. I felt he should know. Are you pretended not to know that seconded emblem was the symbol of my religion? What did you have me to do, leave the bill unpaid?”

Daved said. “There was no reason to have said anything. You should have just went in and paid your bill and not raised the question. Don’t you realize?”

Vine said. “Look I never asked to come here. When you insisted I do so I made it plan that I would not lie. I will not pretend to be other than I am. Hell in truth dear old mom saw to it that I can’t lie about being a mutant. That was covered in one of her training sessions. It is among the controls I can not get rid of.” He flinched, and looked at the dinning room. Vine said. “They didn’t hear me, but a bit late to worry about that isn’t it? The harm was done when you brought me here. Shall we go play happy family or do you want to yell some more?”

He said. “You belong here. I am sorry I was not there but I am not going to let you run wild. This is not over.” But he went into the dining room and sat down, Vine followed and took her place at the table. He saw to it that the conversation stayed about school work and the upcoming winter dances.

Ethisbth said. “The weather man said there will be snow storms tomorrow. About time we had some. No that doesn’t mean you all don’t have to go to school. It just means make sure you dress warmly for you morning walk.” Vine sat though as much of the after diner shows as she had to then retreated to her room. This night she needed the comfort of prayer more than the noise and pointed jokes.