The man walked briskly up the stairs and pulled open the door, smiling in Jahrra’s direction. Jahrra, Gieaun and Scede quickly ran over to the building and went inside.
“Come on everyone!” The man called out to the quiet crowd. Slowly and reluctantly they all piled into the building, Eydeth and Ellysian coming in last.
Once inside, Jahrra narrowed her eyes and gazed around the spacious room. It was quite large with many windows that let in little light due to a thick layer of dust. At the front of the classroom was a huge black board for writing and in the right hand corner was an enormous stone fireplace. The room was lined with small wooden tables and chairs, and at the front there was a larger desk and chair for their teacher.
Maps covered the wall on either side of the chalkboard, and Jahrra stared at them in wonder. One map had the word Ethoes scrawled across it, the other Oescienne. Jahrra didn’t yet know how to read all that well, but she knew those two words from looking at the maps Hroombra had shown her. She approached the front of the room to get a better look at them and was severely disappointed to see how devoid of details they were.
These maps merely showed brown land masses surrounded by black, squiggly lines with a few cities shown as red dots. They weren’t colorful and stuffed with landmarks, lakes, rivers, trees and mountains the way maps should be. Jahrra was irked. She’d only ever seen a map of Oescienne at the Castle Guard Ruin and was eager to see one of Ethoes with all the details. For now she’d have to do with the boring, brown blob representing their world.
“Alright, everyone find a seat,” their teacher said loudly over the murmuring students.
Jahrra and her two friends found desks near the front of the room and the other seats gradually filled in behind them. To Jahrra’s profound relief, Eydeth and Ellysian sat as far away from them as possible.
Once everyone had chosen a desk and the murmuring finally dissipated, their teacher addressed them, “Today we’ll just be introducing ourselves and making this classroom our own. As you can see it’s rather dusty from lack of use. I also have many pieces of parchment for you to draw pictures of yourselves, your families and some of your favorite things. And yes,” he paused and shot a stern look at the older students rolling their eyes, “I even want to know what your favorite color is, Brethen.”
Jahrra risked a peek behind her where she could see a tall, floppy haired teenage boy being jabbed and prodded by his snickering friends. She smothered a grin, liking her new teacher more and more by the minute.
The man clasped his hands together cheerfully and then continued on, “So, let’s start with me. My name is Mr. Cohrbin. I’m two hundred and eighteen years old and I live here in Aldehren. I’m originally from Aenaith in the northern part of the province and I first came here to teach about fifty years ago. My favorite hobbies are hiking, gardening and reading. My favorite color is brown.”
Jahrra smiled inwardly, feeling optimistic for the first time since arriving at the schoolhouse. The rest of the class soon followed suit, and everyone gave their names, where they lived and their favorite things to do. Jahrra explained that she lived in a small stone cottage on the Great Sloping Hill, that she lived with her parents and that they owned a small orchard. She told the class that she didn’t have a favorite color, she liked them all, and that what she liked best was starry skies, climbing trees, catching bugs and exploring.
Eydeth and Ellysian sniggered as she spoke, but luckily Jahrra didn’t hear them. Scede even opened up a little when he and Gieaun told the class that they lived with their parents on a large ranch just outside the tiny village of Nuun Esse, also on the Great Sloping Hill. They said that they loved riding horses and watching the sun set on the ocean, which they could see from the bluff’s edge.
When it came to be Eydeth and Ellysian’s turns the twins made no effort to be humble. They not only spoke of their mansion in the northern canyon of the affluent city of Kiniahn Kroi but also of their vacation home in Hassett Town. They mentioned how their father was the richest Resai man in Oescienne and how he owned half of the Raenyan Valley.
The twins talked about how many outfits they had a piece, or how many music lessons Ellysian had taken or how many trophies Eydeth had won for fencing, or about how many different places they’d visited. The list went on and on. Jahrra sat listening to the two, almost entranced by how much they had but annoyed at how much they still wished they had.
After introductions the day went by rather smoothly. The students helped clean out the classroom (something Ellysian and Eydeth refused to do) and then they got to decorate their tables. Jahrra thought this was absolutely wonderful and soon everyone was busy drawing and gathering together what they would be keeping on their desks.
Around mid-afternoon the class let out and the students went outside to wait for their rides home. The carriages that had brought the twins and all the other students were waiting as they emerged. Ellysian and Eydeth climbed into the lead carriage with everyone else left to fill up the others.
Jahrra wondered why the rest of the class rode in these carriages and Gieaun quickly explained, “They’re just showing off. Most of them live nearby. Eydeth and Ellysian are just trying to get them to be their friends by bringing them to school.”
Jahrra stared after the retreating wagon train, glad that the mean children were finally gone. A few minutes later Mr. Cohrbin emerged from behind the stone building on his horse. “You three haven’t been forgotten, have you?”
His voice was kind once again and Jahrra replied, “We’re waiting for Master Hroombra, he should be here any minute.”
Just as Jahrra finished explaining the great dragon came clambering up the narrow path, detaching himself from the shadows he matched so well. As soon as he saw their teacher, Hroombra gave a great, wide smile.
“Ahhh, Cohrbin! I was hoping you’d be the school master again this year. How did the first day go?”
Cohrbin nodded at the children and led his horse over to where Hroombra stood. “If it isn’t Hroombramantu, out and about! I haven’t seen you in ages.”
He looked genuinely glad to see Hroombra and Jahrra grinned happily knowing that her teacher didn’t have nasty things to say about him like her classmates had.
“I don’t often get out, only on special occasions and a first day of school is a special occasion.” Hroombra beamed at the children and they smiled right back.
Hroombra and Cohrbin chatted for a little while longer, discussing everything from news around Oescienne to the politics of the classroom. The three friends merely played around the little yard as the adults spoke, grateful that they were free to explore without the twins to make malicious comments. Hroombra watched them out of the corner of his eye, glad to see Jahrra in higher spirits since the morning.
“So, tell me Hroombra,” Cohrbin asked quietly as he leaned forward in the saddle of his edgy horse, “any news from outside the province?”
Hroombra turned his amber eyes back on his friend. He’d known Cohrbin for a long time and he knew he could be trusted.
“As far as we know, the Tyrant remains dormant. There has been little change in the east but there’s a strangeness hanging in the air, a sensation I can’t describe. Almost like the prickling feeling one senses before lightning strikes. I don’t know if it bodes ill will or good.”
“Perhaps the time is drawing near for the child of the prophecy to be born,” Cohrbin whispered cautiously, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. “There has been much talk in the north about it you know. More than usual, so I’ve heard.”
Hroombra stiffened but not so much for Cohrbin to notice. Have the elves of Crie been careless? he wondered with icy fear. His alarm only intensified when Cohrbin spoke again. The Resai man had settled back in the saddle and was now gazing casually at the children.