day 27 and I think somewhere around 58k

When they left the store they each had all they could carry, and had not coved but a fraction of the store. Zac said. “Did you leave any books?”

Abiram said. “Your one to talk, is there anything left in that tiny medical section?”

Zac said. “So I found a few things, noting like you did. Sara did you get everything?”

Sara said. “I have the library’s books done, and do not need to go back to the fiction books. But there are a bunch more in the history I want to look at for myself. I did get a few just for me, but most of this bag is the library’s. Thank goodness I have tomorrow morning. I could use about three more days, but will just have to limit where I go to fit the time. Will you be going back?”

Zac said. “I am sure we ill at some time. I don’t think your brother made it away from the engineering books. He needs some new mysteries. I dare not let him go alone, or he might forget he has a bus to catch.”

Abiram said. “So nothing to do with the fact that you want to look and see what is upstairs? I saw you glance back at the stairs. Do you have anything but medical books in your bags?”

Zac said. “A few stories, and a two book set entitled ‘Living with dragons, gnomes, and other powerful beings.’ I had to know why gnomes made it into the title. Even if it is something I should read.

Sara said. “That sounds interesting. I thought the magic books were upstairs.”

Zac said, “These weren’t, they were in zoology. I want to know if it was an accident and the others are upstairs or not, but thought I had best start you two to the door, and let that wait.”

Sara said. “So if I can’t find the book I want upstairs check zoology for it. Good to know. Maybe that is why I couldn’t find any at the mall.” She bit her lip, and decided to ask, there wouldn’t be a good time, and at least they were alone. “The leaders tell you guys things they don’t us. Did they go over leavening the church with you? I know that you don’t get totally cut off, but do you get news, or just pleas to come back? I know there are some every year who leave, but I don’t know how it works and have been wondering.” Abiram looked at Zac who shook his head. “What? Would you rather not answer? Are you not supposed to? I don’t want to cause problems.”

Abiram said. “I am surprised that it is not covered in your classes. I thought it was. It should be, I would think. In most cases the person who leaves will get updates on the news at home with the pleas to rejoin, It is hoped that by keeping them involved they will be more likely to be returned. Often times the female members are urged to write as well. Such letters arte a part of the mail the carries take. Usually a letter goes with each carry the first few years, but that will slow down over time as it is less likely each year that the boy will return. Still there is nothing in church law against writing to one who left. Visits are allowed, even encouraged. Though that can depend on how the boy left. It is up to the head of the house. They can not stay in the family house of courses, but that is what the guest houses are for.

Sara said. “What if the person crosses, that is a mage or a healer?”

Zac said. “Visits can not happen in the settlement, but they may be greeted if seen on the street. But it is more like the greeting for distant kin that is given. Meaning you might not get more than a curtsy from a female member and a light hello from a male. If they have not been shunned letters can be exchanged, though there is likely to be more distance keep. The letters received more formal, and likely just from the males. Letters sent must bare the stamp saying no magic was used.” He looked at Abiram as he said. “That is all for the boys of course. Things are bit different for girls.”

Sara said. “I expect they are more likely to be shunned from the start. I know that they must move to the guest’s house if they do not take the vow. But that is all we were told. Do any ever not take the vow?”

Abiram said. “The church will not ban a female who leaves before taking the vow, even if they study magic. They are always welcome. But yes they must leave the house for it is the vow that makes them a part of the church, and it is not permitted to shelter a nonmember who is not a child under the roof of a member. But they are not banned. They may still enter a church and ask for the vows as long as they breathe. If the vows had been taken, it is different, they are forsworn and the road back is longer. That is for the church though. The church will not force a family to talk to the one who left. That would be up to the head of the family.  He cannot forbid it, but can discourage it. There is nothing to make him take the letters home, and as girls can not give letters to the male carry if no male relative will, then they don’t get sent, unless they are willing to go to the leaders. The boys get an allowance for school. Those that leave receive it in a lump sum, and likely a bit less, but they get paid for the work done before they left. Girls do not.”

Sara said. “Thank you, and that explains a few things.”

Abiram said. “I can’t believe this wasn’t gone over with you. It is seldom a female if formally shunned, but then they leave less often as well.”

Zac said. “It is not easy to go. It must be harder still for a girl to not take the vow. They have few chances, less experience with the world. They are not really given the chance to choose. The world is scary, and it is easer to stay than jump, even if you are not happy.”

Sara said. “We are discouraged from interacting with the world, taught to fear it. The only reason I know how to address the woken ones is the times I trailed behind you into the woods when father wasn’t looking. I understand why, but yet it isn’t fair. We should have a chose as well, something for you to think about when you are raising your daughters.”

Abiram said. “It is a choice everyone has to make. How much to teach there children of the world. I didn’t realize how little was covered in the girls classes. I thought you knew how it was handled when someone left. I think I will go talk to a few others of the guys.”

Sara said. “I am going to go drop my books off in my room, then find supper. So I’ll see you latter.”

Rebecca and Lena were in the room when Sara entered. “Rebecca said. “Well. So that is where you have been. You know you shouldn’t go running all over.”

Sara said. “I was just a few blocks away, scarcely running all over.” She set the bags down. “I need to go get some supper but is there something you want first?”

Rebecca said. “Just trying to make sure you don’t embarrass us. What on earth have you been buying?”

Sara said. “You should know, you’ve went though the bags. This last is books. This morning was more fabric and some herbs and spices. Yesterday was a mediations kit, fabric, thread, a few books, and some shoes. I will be going back to the book store in the morning, there are a dozen more books I want to look at, and I never made it to a few sections on my list.”

“What do you want with all this?”

Sara said. “Most of it is for gifts. Anna’s wedding will be shortly after we get back, and as next in line I am the one to set the spices. As she is going to a new settlement out west I want more than the normal ones. I found some nice fabrics with plants of our home and her husbands I thought she might like for curtains. Then there are a few spices that are a lot less here then at home, so got a few for mother as well.”

Rebecca said “Oh that’s your twin is getting married. How could I forget? That has to be so hard on you. But those books are not going to help. You need to keep your self where you belong.”

Sara said. “Anna is not my twin as you know. And it is not going to work. I am glad it is not me. I wouldn’t have been ready she was and is. Listen there is no point in keeping track of me. Nothing I do is in any way going to reflect on you. Your own behavior is what you should worry about. Not mine, let me worry about me. I am not you and never will be and refuse to try to be. I love reading and will not apologize for being interested in the world around me. Not any longer.” She never raised her voice, but both girls looked like she had slapped them. “You can ask me if you want to know something. You are not going to find what you are after by looking though my bags. Have you been able to find any fabrics? I can show you where I found mine after I eat if you would like.”

Rebecca said. “I never! Of all the rude! How dare you talk to me like that! I will see you pay.”

Sara said. “I will take that as no. Well you have a nice evening.” Sara left the room and went downstairs.

Chapter 6

The results.

Sara walked in the tests area the next evening fill for more nervous than she had all for the testing. She was scared of the tests results, and was wishing she had of failed them. It would have made things easier on her. But then she would have been upset because she didn’t do her best and a lot of government subsidies were biased on the test scores. If a town was not funding and supporting education the government refused to help. It was just a no win. She might be able to hide just how well she did, but there was no way to hide she passed. The published results were broken down in to group then by school. Therefore they would say how many were in the top fifteen percent and then the numbers for that group from each school. It was not to hard from that to work out the numbers, and it could well be they asked for the numbers by town this year the way her luck had been going.