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House of Bull: Book Three
House of Bull: Book Three
House of Bull: Book Three
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House of Bull: Book Three

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House of Bull, Book one, welcomes you to the first part of an adventure set in a country called Frees...Arius (Bull) had always been a worker (slave). He was born and bred because of it...Cone-aire Duncan of Torlece, a country across the ocean, arrives to run and teach convicted of helping workers to freedom (stealing property)...Smitty had been a soldier in the kings army until he refused an order to kill a worker...Master Manual Moore was caught cheating on his Worker Taxes. His was given Duncan and Smitty. Inheriting a prize worker, Arius, Master Moore had no worries. He did not even worry about the teacher or the soldier being in with his workers...This world has no technology. Travel happens be foot, hoof, and wooden wheel. That which is made, is made by hand. There is no magical prophecy to guide them. With only the want to be free of three hundred years of slavery: The strong take the lead, the intelligent advise, and the weak do what the can so that they do not fall behind...
LanguageEnglish
PublisherAuthorHouse
Release dateSep 21, 2011
ISBN9781452011677
House of Bull: Book Three
Author

Denise A. Bates

It is a must that readers begin with Book One and read in sequence. Bates continues with more detail and more interesting characters that make this world come alive.

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    House of Bull - Denise A. Bates

    Chapter Twenty-Three

    Chancey had gotten home to Haylan, the capital city of Frees, from Grace Valley the day before. Finding a map in her father’s room drew her to sit at his small writing desk where the world map lay safe under a piece of glass. Her father found her at his notes written on the glass with a wax color stick usually used by children to draw pictures. They talked briefly about world affairs before going to dinner with the rest of the family at Sara and Marcus’. It was a fun evening. She, and her sister, Desa were quite a pair and did what they could to pester their male cousins: Mark, Joe, Tony, Hunter and Trevor. Neither Chancey, nor Smitty, who had been with her at Grace Valley, knew that the family was keeping secrets, at least leaving a few things left unsaid for the time being. Many things had happened while Chancey was away, and the family was determined to have a nice evening. With so much activity, Chancey had little time to ponder Christopher, the young man she was seeing before she left. There were a few moments when she wondered if he would hear that she was back and come to see her, but then something would take her attention, and the thought was lost to the happenings at the moment.

    Chancey was the first to wake the next morning. Cozy in her small single bed in a room meant for one person, but which Chancey shared with Desacey. Their walls were cluttered with shelves and the floor space was taken up by two small beds, two dressers, a standing wardrobe, and things about the walls leaving a six by eight space in the middle open.

    In Chancey’s earlier years, when she was learning Cimtook, whenever she earned a weapon, it would be put on the wall like someone might display a certificate of achievement. Chancey had taken her knives, daggers, and weapons down. They were in a short trunk, a trunk made to slide under the bed. The word short was to describe its height not length. There were book shelves around her bed. These were mostly educational books, some works of literature, and a row of journals that she had kept for some time now. The journals were kept together on one end of the shelf lowest to her bed.

    On Desa’s side of the room, shelves were set in a strange formation that allowed her to hang her numerous hand drawn pictures of different buildings, sketches of carving trim and detail that she had imagined herself and had recorded as her own personal design.

    Blinking sleep away, Chancey found a letter on her small bedside table that had not been there the night before. She did not recognize the writing which noted only her name. She wondered if her sister was just pretending to be asleep. Either her sister or father had left the letter on her table during the night. This was not a good letter, one of those letters that makes one happy…this was that other kind of letter. She eased to the kitchen with it.

    She laid it on the table while she put the coffee pot on the stove. She broke the letter’s dab of glue and peeked to see who signed it. It was Christopher. She smiled. Maybe he missed her and wrote to her while she was gone. That would be romantic. Maybe she had met the man she would fall in love with? He was going to go to university. Now that she was back, they could pick up where they left off. But then someone had slipped it to her bedside table during the night…not a good letter.

    Dear Chancey,

    You have been gone only a few days. I feel as though I was in a daze during our last conversation. I can’t believe that you actually chose going instead of remaining for the celebration. I’m beyond words most of these hours since your leaving. To make this situation even worse, I’m asked constantly about your leaving. People think we quarreled. I tried, at first, to explain that there was a flood, but no one even knows where Grace Valley is!

    My mother was so bothered by the scandalous whispering, she nearly did not go to Princess Arena’s Grand Appearance Night…

    At the first lines, her brow furrowed. The tone of the letter was nothing like she had hoped for. The bits of information that swam out at her were getting worse and worse. Mentioning Arena’s Grand Appearance Night made her roll her eyes. Grand Appearance Night? What a stupid…she caught herself. The sound of the coffee pot hissing on the stove as it heated brought her back to where she was. Scandalous whispering, she told herself. Well, his poor, poor mother…and he obviously does not know where Grace Valley is either. Grace Valley is the largest stretch of food producing valleys in the country…called the Freesian Food Belt, you…you’re a farmer…you should know these things. Guess, if you don’t know where something is, it just must not be important…when you’re stupid, her mind snapped angrily. This is a stupid letter, stupid.

    …I don’t understand why you personally had to leave. Were you looking for an excuse to stop seeing me? No one even knows where this valley is. And you had to leave before the celebration to go there? It doesn’t make any sense. The longer I think about it, the more I’m convinced that you’ve mishandled this situation and left me open to scandal…

    What scandal? What situation? Chancey muttered turning the page to continue reading. Just because some people don’t know where Grace Valley is, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist! There was a flood, hundreds, hundreds of miles of flood and people without homes. I went to help them. We put up tent towns, doctors, helped bury the dead…I did some very good work.

    …I was shocked to find your sister’s scorn forced on me during the Grand Appearance Event. You left, Chancey. We had no real promise of a relationship or understanding of a relationship either. I tried to get you to stay, but you had to leave. I left my disapproval unspoken and acted the part of a gentleman. I wish you to understand that if my mother had not been befriended by Lady Priscilla…

    Lady Priscilla? Chancey could not think of anyone named that. Her mind froze. She blinked, Priscilla? Nola’s mother is named Priscilla. Nola’s mother, Priscilla? Who would have to dislike me as much as Arena and Nola do. Priscilla, tall, very slender, pointed face, very…Chancey inhaled able to picture the woman walking the garden in her formal dresses with her odd hats and jewelry and snobby ways. She married Councilor Vern’s son, Jacob. Jacob and Priscilla, Nola’s parents…Nola who had, for years, been Arena’s best little maiden…What’s she got to do with his mother and going to the Grand whatever!

    …mother…befriended by Lady Priscilla before the Grand Event, she would not have gone out of embarrassment of your disappearance. It seemed to the world that you invented a reason to go away so not to have to see me further.

    Yes, I did escort Lady Nola to the Grand Event, and your sister’s scorn was unwarranted. I was doing my mother a courtesy by escorting her friend’s daughter to such a social and public event. I was not, as your sister put it, fishing for the next rich-palace-living woman to court like a Gold-digger!

    Chancey’s jaw locked. Christopher had gone with Nola to the Grand event! Not Nola, Arena’s maiden, Nola, that prune-faced, mean, snobby…but immediately felt better when she thought of her sister telling Christopher that he was a gold-digger. She glanced up as the floor squeaked in the doorway.

    Desa looked sympathetic. This was the worst letter. It get worse, Chonna.

    Gold digger? She realized that her father was not snoring, No one said a word last night, she said to the wall.

    Desa waved that off. Never-in mind that. She pointed at the letter, I seen him there with Nola.

    Arena’s Nola? I mean, she gestured toward the letter. How many Priscilla’s and Nola’s can there be at one Grand Event.

    "Yeah, I got angry. At first, he was this wounded left-behind guy, Desa hesitated to add, Pa was getting mad about that. Then Christopher goes here and there escorting that Nola. What a dumb-girl. Funny, she a gold-digger looking for a rich man, and he was looking for a rich woman with palace connections. Of course, his whole family was invited to the Grand Event."

    When Arena came-out, or whatever rich girls do, Chancey muttered. This Grand Event? she called it by name.

    It was boring, Desa waved it off. Pa and I went-in.

    I can’t believe you went, Chancey scolded with a light stomp of her feet. You went! She mouthed at her sister.

    I had to…it was a big government happening, she waved toward the quiet wall between them and their father’s room. Pa gave a nice speech, she said aloud.

    Speech?

    About how the different positions of the government were important jobs. How all those who freed Frees were proud of the country. How everyone’s children was grown up and taking over care-in for Frees.

    Chancey thought that was nice. People like that?

    Yeah, I did. It make a lot of sense to me. Anyway, she motioned toward the letter. After the speech and Arena was introduced to the country as an adult-in, we walked around the room. We danced too, she added a happy point of the evening, but Desa needed to tell Chancey something else. That, and she lowered her voice so far that Chancey could not hear her and knew she said, bitch, by the way her lips moved. Nola come up and was pretty snotty to me. ‘Give Arena back the card-in’.

    Chancey hesitated. What card? She motioned to her sister.

    That stupid invitation-in card that Arena and her sent to Pa.

    At Summerfest? That felt like a long time ago. She looked at the letter. It had been written just after Summerfest, This is crazy. He went with Nola…for his mother?

    "Then Nola said something about Arena being the crowned princess, and that I had better watch out how I treat-in her now. It was like now that the ceremony was over, Arena rule-ins the country," Desa swung her arm wide with that.

    "Never mind that. She holds one vote on the Council, Chancey breathed. What she says and what is the reality, was there any reason to go into this now? Never mind. Then what?" What happened?!

    "He walked up to join her and act-in all snotty to me too. So I let him have it, Desa declared proudly. I let him know that a gold-digger like Nola was perfect for him. He took some offense, she added as an understatement, and blames you that he had to be with Nola."

    Me? My fault? Wait…he said this in front of her?

    Desa nodded and was pleased about this part, Nola huffed, big sob, and ran…really dramatic, Desa described and gave Chancey a wink because Nola embarrassing herself was a definite plus to the situation. "Course, he blamed me for her publicly leaving him even though it was his mouth, not mine."

    You’re completely innocent, Chancey stated.

    Absolute-in-ly, said Desa. Their father cleared his throat in the bedroom. Desa held up her finger and thumb to show a small space of where the smallest bit of blame might fit. Chancey waved that off.

    He deserved it, Chancey whispered.

    Desa agreed with a smug shrug.

    Chancey looked back at the letter. …I truly believed upon meeting you that you would have few worries about being offered marriage from anyone you chose. You’re beautiful. Your father is most respected. I actually wondered why your future was not settled… What’s this mean? Why your future was not settled?

    Why you aren’t engaged or already marry-in by now.

    …until I learned that your past is shaded by your mother’s reputation. Then I find out that your sister’s past is no different!

    Chancey’s mouth dropped open. She sat down so hard her body jarred on the wooden chair seat. Oh, My God, she gasped. Nola had told him Arena’s ridiculous lies about her mother! And he believed it! Since she was eleven years old, Arena had called her a whore’s bastard. Her mother was called a Dirty-woman. The truth about her mother being a farmer’s wife and both being killed by Malice and her now father taking her as his own and raising her lovingly and with devotion was never said.

    And honestly, Desa had been a prostitute so that ran along the gossip lines quite well…I find that your sister’s past is no different than your mother’s! Chancey meant to finish the letter just so that she would not wonder about the ending.

    …how could you start a relationship with me without giving me some warning of the scandal that would come! Maybe it was best that you conjured up some excuse to leave our relationship if that is what this trip to Grace Valley was for!

    There was another paragraph, but Chancey crushed the letter and threw it into the stove to burn to ash. Talk about my mother like this! My sister! Never want to see you again! Jackass! Her father pulled out his chair as she shut the door. Coffee’s almost ready, she said as she straightened up. Rather childishly, she knew, she kicked the closed door with the back of her foot. Desa gave a nod of approval. Her father ignored that she had just done that.

    He sighed and folded his hands together. Chancey had her hands on her hips and gave the stove door a glare. I won’t lie. Your sister told me what the letter said.

    I had to know, Desa said to defend herself. She is my little-in sister, Pa!

    Chancey was furious about the letter, his going with NOLA for any reason…but from her father’s expression, he was not pleased that Desa had read it. Desa’s reasoning was just cute and a nice diversion from the ugly letter, Nola’s ugly lie-telling…

    It wasn’t addressed to you, their father scolded. "We all deserve and are old enough for some privacy."

    It was plain that Desa thought him crazy to suggest that anyone in the family should have privacy from her. I explain-in all that!

    Oh, this was a conversation that they had had in full length!

    And I’m still arguing with you. He looked at Chancey, "She thinks that she needs to know everything but then pretends not to know things that we’d want private."

    Desa thought that was perfectly sound reasoning. That’s how it work-in! By the abrupt gesture from her hand, she was glad he finally understood how things were.

    Bull rubbed his forehead. His mind working on how to explain to Desa that she was wrong. Now this was even cuter. Chancey watched her father. Desa was not one that was ever wrong. She had her way of doing things. Would he argue with her…some more? Glad you’re back, he said looking at Chancey, You explain this to her later.

    It was the perfect Pa-reaction. Chancey knew that she was home, I wouldn’t even try.

    I shouldn’t have tried! She knows things about my personal life that I didn’t even know! He gestured that he did want coffee. Listen, Desa…

    I keep-in your secrets! Desa snapped at him.

    You shouldn’t have gone searching for them in the first place! He turned to Chancey, Tell her!

    Desa was insulted and began to start breakfast with some thumping and setting things in order rather hard. I donna know what you so upset-in about. I keep-in the secrets! I got to know who you are!

    You can see who I am! You live with me!

    That not the same!

    "You’re my daughter. There are things about a grown man’s life that no daughter needs to know."

    Oh! she waved that insane statement away with disgust.

    Bull held his growing impatience, That letter was private and didn’t have your name on it.

    You crazy. You donna know, Desa told him frankly. I know, she continued as his mouth parted open in awe. You donna know, she assured him and pointed to herself to silently say, I know.

    Aren’t there things in your life you don’t want us to know?

    She hit her hand down on the counter, That’s different! I mean-in it, Pa. I know what is best about boys and Chonna, Nola and Chonna, and that crown-wearing princess at the palace. I know! Her arm flung up. And what secrets I got that you guys donna know?! Not one! You guys know-in everything too!

    Peace! Chancey declared before her father could express his next point which would have been made loudly by the way he was filling with air. She looked at him calmly, What are you doing? You know secrets drive her crazy. Then she laughed to lighten the mood, She can’t help it. Secrets and presents drive her crazy.

    That not true, Desa corrected, I love them…as long as I know them.

    I’ll fight with you about this when I can win, Bull decided.

    Chancey thought that was funny. Surely, such a moment would not happen during either of their lifetimes.

    Bull gave her a look but she was probably right, Stubborn, he was hissing.

    Get that from you, Desa sang over her shoulder.

    As they ate, Bull looked at Chancey, I’m sorry for the things he said…

    Back to the letter, she thought wishing she could burn it out of everyone’s memory as easily as she had burnt the paper.

    "I know that you were wondering about him. That’s how these things start, relationships, I mean, two people wondering about the other. Be fine if the wondering worked into live-happily-ever-after every time."

    Rare, Desa agreed.

    Most of the time, the wonder works into broken hearts, Bull ended.

    So he and Nola…? Be seeing him about the palace. Won’t that be fun? Chancey thought.

    Nope, Desa said and explained, I hear that when he tried to patch things up with Nola…explain that they would have time to be together because he was going to the university…be schooling for two years at least. She wiggled forward for the good part that was coming, "then he say she would like life on the farm, she stressed, by the time he was done describe-in life on the farm, Nola’s face look like something had pissed in her mouth."

    Desa! Bull snapped.

    Desa started, "Piddled in her mouth!"

    That’s not any nicer, Bull’s voice growled out of him. He lifted his coffee mug watching Desa stare at him innocently. He mumbled something that neither daughter heard and took a sip of his coffee.

    Desa looked at Chancey. In a quiet voice as if their father were not sitting there, He gets a little grumpy some-in-times. Chancey wanted to laugh, but now was not the time to enjoy her sister’s joke. Anyway! Desa continued loudly to interrupt the scolding that he was about to give her.

    Chancey had to intervene. If she didn’t want a life with him, why invite him to the Palace Event?

    Desa had the answer. Nola and her mother-in been searching for a rich husband for Nola since the girl was born!

    Yes, the only ambition for that heiress is to marry well, Chancey snapped her fingers, I keep forgetting her goal in life.

    Yes, oh yes, she have to marry even better-in than those female relatives before her, Desa quickly agreed. Christopher: rich man’s son, going to university, and so bent for big things…meaning more money.

    Handsome, Chancey put in.

    "Polite, all that stuff-ins. When he explained that no matter what he does at the university, he’s returning to his beloved farm…Well! Nola has not been pranced and paraded next to the princess all her life to end up on some farm! With chickens! She gasped with horror and then in her own voice, And that is exactly how her mother explained all this to Vern."

    And what did Vern say?

    Some chickens anywhere would do the girl a world of good.

    Chancey sat a moment. So just for the hope of a rich husband…

    Desa rolled her eyes. Pay attention, Chonna. With the bonus of stopping him from being with you. You know, they enjoy-in that no matter-in what happen next.

    Bull was frowning, Beside the point. Both daughters looked at him. It is, he defended suddenly trapped between the silent stares of two young women who obviously thought him a bit bent for thinking so innocently. He wasn’t the man for you…no matter what Nola did or why, he said knowingly.

    Chancey wanted to ask what man would be for her. She did not need a name, but she wondered suddenly what kind of man her father saw for her. Desa could not believe her father was so naïve and whispered for him to leave the back-stabbing women of the world to her while she patted his big arm and finished, Listen to Desa…she know. Hey, Desa interrupted Chancey’s thoughts. I ask Vern, he say he was nearly always a rich guy. You know that?

    I hadn’t thought about it. He’s Vern with a nose he thinks is too big.

    At first, Bull reached back into his memory, things were pretty hard between me and some of those who lost power and position by my winning the war. I was bigger and stronger than Vern. He was not rude, but he didn’t like me. He told me that I was destroying civilization, as I remember. We talked longer the second and third time. He was against a voting council, but he thought it was a better idea than me having full power and privilege and…

    Destroying civilization, Chancey finished for him.

    Desa was blinking rapidly as her eyes darted around, He donna like you back then? That seemed a shock to her.

    He said that a lot back then, Bull chuckled. "He was worried that I’d only pick freed-slaves to be on this Council. People who could not read or write and would take years to understand the world outside their stalls. So I challenged him to be one of my Councilors."

    He a good one, Desa said.

    Been a very good one. And I know him, he was suddenly saying. "There is no way that he would be part of this social warfare that’s going on."

    Social warfare? Chancey looked from him to her sister. What a strange thing for him to say. From Arena? Wasn’t Summerfest and that invitation enough? "I’m a grown up, I have a crown, I rule Frees. That warfare?"

    It’s, Desa sighed, "it’s all Arena can do. You’re smarter and prettier than she is. She’s the daughter of drunk James, who no one wants to see or even really admit lives in Frees any-in-more let alone is king of it."

    There’ve been letters, Bull rested his arms on the table. "And don’t think that because we never see him, he’s not helping his daughter. Because that’s how things are done. Royal persons pass their position to their children; Arena will be queen. She has a crown and gets one vote on the council. Okay," he gave a so be it nod. I command the army, he touched his first finger as he said these words. As he touched the next finger, "I have one vote on the Council. Chancey did have a strange upbringing compared to other children. I worked and had a family at the same time. I’m thankful for every day, he let them both know. Being a father means more to me than anything else, anything. Some day, you’ll both have children and know what I mean. My eldest, is a very strong and smart, young woman. She wants to be a carpenter. She is such a good person. I missed out on raising her, he looked at his hands. I love her very much, and that’s all that matters to me. We’re a happy and good family.

    About the government, Chancey, you’ve proven your worth many times. When you do things for me, it helps not only me and your government but your country. Wealth, title, position, all these things can be a great help and sometimes hindering.

    Duncan come-in, Desa stood to get him a cup of coffee as he let himself in the door. Just in time-in! she declared.

    Morning, Duncan said pleasantly to everyone at once. He hung his cloak on the crowded pegs and sat in Desa’s chair as she set his coffee down for him. There were a few comments of how good and fun dinner was at Sara’s the night before.

    Chancey saw the look between Duncan and her father. Desa had a glance for them as well. Well, she stretched her arms up to appear relaxed while knowing that they had something else to inform her about. She could feel it. The letter from Christopher was not going to be enough. She let her arms fall after the pleasing stretch. Okay, she opened her hands for someone to tell her.

    Not only-in was your mother-in and sister-in whores, and you a bastard-in, but… Desa sat down in the fourth chair to talk to her. Your uncle and father-in who teach you all your education stuff just got to be liars about how smart-in you are.

    Ah, Desa! Bull complained about her narrative as his hands dropped to the table with a thud.

    Truth is truth, Desa told him as if not knowing that what she had just said out loud had hit Chancey like fists in the jaw and left her dumbfounded and staring at Desa not knowing if she wanted to cry, hug her and beg her never to say anything like that again, or shout at her. Desa was continuing, This is not-in a game for Nola and Arena, Pa. They ainna gunna fight fair. Chonna is too smart…too strong…and too beautiful…

    Chancey cut in. She had to take a deep breath to do it. Sometimes with Desa and her father, one just had to, And we think this because…?

    James send-in a letter to the Council. Duncan say that you need to do your final testing, but so happy and proud-in of you. Donna forget-in that part, Chonna, she added. James heard about this, and has been do-in things to make it seem like Duncan lie about how smart you are and all the things that you have learn-in from him.

    Chancey waved her to get on with it.

    "James say that many won’t have confidence in an education rating given to you by Duncan."

    They think he’d make up my grades? Chancey blurted.

    Something like that, was Desa’s answer.

    Chancey looked at Duncan and then her father. Neither was looking at her. Both looked…sad. She looked back to Duncan. She wanted to ask what her rating was, but Desa patted her arm which made her look at her. "They say that since you’re being evaluated for a government position, they want an impartial rating of your education."

    Chancey’s head tilted to the side. I feel insulted by that myself. Why do I have to prove my education? She knew of no one else who had to!

    Duncan’s mood was stiff. The letter was given to the Council, obviously, to insult all of us and cause some embarrassment. The Council refuses to take part in this.

    It was a big debate-in, Desa assured her. Lots of them mad for you and Duncan. Anyway, they wonder if you’d take these final exams at the university instead-in with Duncan? They know you brilliant already-in. Would it be so bad? What you think?

    That was a hard question at the moment. Chancey opened her hands. Where I test is the choice? And my grades are to be what? Published or something?! This is a bunch of… Chancey turned out of her chair and set her hip to the counter.

    Shit-in! Desa said for her and with the right tone of anger.

    Desa, Bull rubbed his head. He hated to hear his baby curse.

    No, Chancey told him. That’s right. This is…

    Desa beamed, Shit-in.

    Chancey’s hand waved a point at him which stopped him from scolding Desa for cursing, It is just that!

    Bull set his hands to his thighs. She was right, Just find another word…okay!

    Please, Duncan was frowning at both sisters. Let’s get control of ourselves.

    Chancey crossed her arms. Desa leaned so she could see Chancey’s expression. She laid her hand on her arm. Just do-in it, Chonna.

    And what if I don’t do well? I haven’t studied in weeks…WEEKS.

    Listen-in to big sister-in: Duncan donna cheat-in on your grades ever. You are smart-in as you are.

    Being tested by strangers at the university was not a comfortable choice. She had to prove her education? James could not pass university testing, the drunk… Could Arena even read? God knew she could not spell…Chancey became aware of how quiet the room was. Duncan stared at his hands till he felt her gaze. "I know you’ll test just fine. Don’t be nervous because you’ve not schooled there. I set the university standards. Conseaire Eventence uses my standards to this day."

    A silent pause came back to the room. Chancey scratched her neck. The morning had started out badly and was staying that way.

    I just, Bull wanted to argue for his daughter.

    This is it, Pa, Desa told him. This why the letter happen. They want to discredit Chonna. Arena want to rule. She have to get rid of Chonna to do that.

    "It’s not up to her if Chancey takes over my job, he told her firmly. She helps me! What she wants to do hasn’t been decided by her, let alone been offered to the Council for approval. She loves the law, he interjected. What if she wants to do that kind of work?"

    Duncan stirred in his chair. He had always intended Chancey taking her father’s place. Bull gave Duncan a warning look. Chancey and Desa looked from one to the other in the growing silence. Duncan and Bull were staring into each other’s eyes until Duncan had to say, "Bull, she should be the next Bull of Frees."

    "Should? I want to hear if she wants."

    Brothers from the stall and through years of freedom, years of making and preserving a government, a country; now was not the time to let them stand on either side of this question. Peace, Chancey warned them before either could start to argue their point of what was best for her, best for the country…

    I’ve no doubt that you’d be a perfect Bull of Frees, but I didn’t raise you because I needed an heir.

    Chancey was listening, but her eyes had slid to her sister. Desa gave her a compassionate look. What do you think? What do you think, Desa? A question that Chancey had come to ask her elder sister, her world-wise sister…her best friend in the whole world often.

    What you want to be when you grow up, Chonna? Because you’re almost there-in?

    I don’t know. I like working there, helping Pa…

    "We always say you just helping, Pa, but you’re good at all this work. Okay, she shrugged. You guys donna realize how many things that you do all the time. Desa got her sister smiling. Duncan and their father were quiet. Pa has spent his life with James hanging behind him. No one could see James so most just ignore his drunk backside. Pa was always there-in to lead the Council. Arena so stupid about work and the country. It’s not about the job with her-in. It about the crown and palace with her. She needs you to keep doing the work, but she wants all the credit. She has made people see you in a bad light-in. That is done. And I know-in that my past help them do-in it. I donna care what Pa and Duncan say-in, because they love-in us, but this is not over-in between you and Arena. I donna know if-in it will ever-in be over."

    You’re an old whore, and I’m the daughter of one, Chancey surmised under her breath.

    Desa touched her arm, But there are just as many, if not more-in, that shivering with fear at her on the council.

    What would you do?

    Throw the bitch off the balcony and be done with the whole blood-line! Desa declared. The two sisters laughed together.

    She was joking, Chancey told their father who was filling up with air to scold them.

    Don’t joke like that, Duncan warned them both.

    Grumps, Desa said, and with a glance at the clock, got ready to leave for work. Take the tests at the university. If you’re stupid, everyone will know it in minutes. All the questions about your future will be-in answered. She was glad Chancey started to laugh. If you’re brilliant, then everyone will have to admit-in it, even Arena, she ended with a wink.

    I hate this, Bull complained as he sat back in the chair. Everyone looked at him. I do, he muttered but there seemed to be no way around it.

    She’ll test very well, Duncan said more to Bull than to anyone else. Without proper testing, there could be a lack of confidence in her. No matter what she decides to do in her life, people will need to have confidence in her.

    Chapter Twenty-Four

    Desa picked up her tool belt and a half-finished piece of carving trim. Chancey was not ready to give a final answer to the testing question. She did not want to talk about Christopher, the letter, or Nola’s lies about her mother and being so rude to speak the truth about her sister’s past with her father or Uncle Duncan. I’ll walk with you. She was still angry about the letter and all that James, Arena and Nola had managed to do while she was away. Chancey did not tell her father that she would be by the palace or the Quarter later. She simply followed Desa out. The two sisters walked silently for a long time. The houses were narrow and tight together along the street that was quiet enough for children to play in. Three different neighbors were out cleaning windows. A pregnant woman walked toward the city looking more at a list that she held than where she was going.

    Desa needed to get to work but hesitated at the busy corner at Palace Way. Chancey stared down the wide main street that went to the East Gate of the city and out into the world. She turned to the west. There, whether it was out of sight or not, was the West Gate that led to her longtime favorite fishing and picnicking spots along the Haylan River.

    The wilds call-in you, Chonna? Desa pointed down Court Way which lead to the courthouse and on to the North Gate. Out that gate, the road lead to the East/West Road which could take someone all the way across Domaac and, ultimately, to its capital city, Domace, on the west coast of the continent.

    Chancey toed at the edge of the street. The wilds were indeed calling her. Or rather she wished she was in them so she would not have to worry about letters, testing, Arena, Christopher, and what was being said about her mother and her sister. Weren’t people tired of that yet? Would people like Arena and James ever tire of it?

    Finish-in your schooling and then out about the world, Desa described for her.

    Who’s Duncan seen about the testing?

    Desa always knew what was going on, who was doing it, and she was always ready with an answer when it was needed. Fitzpatrick, he’s like the lead-counselor for students and a good teacher-in too.

    I know who he is. I’ve sat in on meetings with him. From what Chancey had seen of him, he was a constant irritation to Conseaire Sir Quentene Eventence who Chancey thought was a bit too pompous anyway.

    He knows all the students. He donna care if you’re poor as a street rat or too dumb to know what a fence post-in is. If you join his school-in, you learn. You study and try, he always help-in.

    That’s who Duncan went to about the testing? Why not the Conseaire?

    Fitz…students all call-in him Fitz. He ainna fancy, but he’s a good... Desa’s voice trailed off.

    Desa was repeating herself. Chancey studied her sister’s face. Desa was a pretty woman. She was a smidge taller than Chancey. She was slender but strong. Not as bulky as Chancey but strong. Her hair was almost white it was so blond. She wore it in a long braid that hung in front of her left shoulder. There was a light in her blue eyes that made one know that she enjoyed life now. She had eyes just like their father’s too. Brilliant, clear blue eyes… Desa licked her bottom lip then pinched it between her teeth. Her hands rested on her hips as she searched their city-busy surroundings for something to look at.

    "There something you want to tell me? Or actually, not want to tell me, but think I should know?" Chancey led.

    Duncan really get insulted about this-in, Desa sighed, "That Conseaire Sir Snob-guy, Eventence, just eat-in it up too. I think-in Duncan has pulled rank on Sir Eventence about university stuff before, and this is Eventence’s big chance to discredit-in Duncan."

    "There has always been things between Sir Eventence and Duncan. He came here as a Conse-cort from Torlece, Desa. Duncan taught him more classes and tested him to be a Conseaire…and then gave him the university to run. You heard Duncan this morning. The university runs on standards that Duncan set. Sir Eventence has always been very aware that Duncan gave him everything that he so pompously holds in his own name. Chancey inhaled, sighed the air out, and opened her hands, All this… Chancey agreed with her father about cursing, but now she was angry and being forced into doing things, crap," she finished. Desa was smiling broadly.

    Desa shook her head, That letter-in about your schooling ainna the only-in one going around.

    There’s more? What’s left? My horse offend someone? Chancey blurted.

    Me, Desa inhaled the truth.

    You’re mad at me? Chancey started.

    No, Desa scolded. "It’s about me too. I had a teacher quit me from her class. I got all mad. I did not understand-in that she was scare-in. I thought she was being a snob."

    Scared? That surprised Chancey. Scared of what?

    "I end up in Fitz’s office. He tell me that there was a letter talking against me at the university. The teacher was scared about pressures that can hurt her career."

    Do you know what the letter said?

    "Just stuff about how I was not preferred company at the palace and polite society."

    You demand the class, because you paid for it. They can’t just drop you. It’s your right…

    Chonna, me and you can fight that bitch, and Desa glanced toward the palace, toward Princess Arena, She canna not hurt-in us any-in more than she has. But some teachers? She can hurt them. I’m not scare-in to stand up to Arena, I just donna want simple peoples like teachers and innocent poor peoples get hurt-in.

    Chancey stared at her sister. "What do you mean hurt?"

    A hiss-in whisper about some teacher, that teacher would be scorned-like. It could hurt her reputation. Black-list-in is what that is called. Teachers are not rich like me and you. If we donna work, we ainna go-in hungry? We go-in to be homeless? Desa asked these questions and waited for Chancey to understand what she meant.

    Chancey tried to put things in perspective. "So someone is writing letters about me and you. My education, your education? What could be the point?"

    She got one. Maybe she just causing trouble because of the trouble I caused her at the Summer Conference.

    Did you give back the invitation? Chancey asked.

    I told Pa that I shouldn’t, Desa said firmly, but he said it was stupid, silly girl stuff and be over with it. He donna know about the stuff at my classes.

    Stuff, you only told me about one letter?

    Well, Desa laughed suddenly, I am not perfection standing here; I am a project under construction-in. It ain’t real hard to find things to gossip about when Desa is around, now is it?

    Chancey thought that was funny. Want to runaway?

    Nope, Desa answered firmly, I like my house.

    Like you said, what do we care if we work? We’re rich, Chancey said.

    Desa laughed. After a moment, their careless humor died away. I donna work for money. I want respect. I want to do something big like go to a real school-in. It such a big-in place! I’ve made lots of friends up there. Not everyone think I am a disgrace to the human race-in.

    Chancey’s heart wrenched for her sister. I don’t think that about you. I’m proud of us. Desa touched her arm and slid away. I’ll see ya! Chancey called cheerfully. Desa let out a laugh, she was glad her best friend was home.

    Chancey walked toward the massive university. It was not hard to find Fitzpatrick. He was listed for office time that morning on a chalk board in the Counselor’s Hall. Several students were waiting to talk to him. Chancey took her place at the end of the line.

    As someone was admitted for a private conversation with the fifty year old man, those waiting slid down a space closer to the door. When Chancey was third in line, she wondered about the two people who were waiting in front of her.

    The woman wore a long skirt with a small jacket that made it look like a dress. The cuffs were shiny from wear. She had a mature posture, but she could not have been older than twenty. She was waiting for good news, unlike the young man who behaved as if he were waiting to be scolded. After the woman left the office and was dabbing at happy tears, Fitzpatrick set his eyes on the young man and frowned, I thought we had this worked out.

    I failed, the young man said.

    You didn’t even try, Fitzpatrick pointed toward his office. I told you that was your last chance, I meant it.

    Let me try again, the man tried.

    "There is no again, the door was closing, you’re too far behind…"

    Chancey took a deep breath. She looked at her watch and slipped it back in her pocket. She daydreamed of failing every final exam. She could tragically find out that she was stupid along with the rest of the nation. She would disappear into the wilds. Only be remembered as some cute little kid that rode on her father’s horse when she was a child. Too bad she grew up to be as dumb as a box of rocks. She could hide her sword, never use her name again. Wearing a dress would throw most people off her trail. She would be forgotten except for the useful party joke. Marry some simple farmer, maybe a logger? Have tons of children and never tell anyone who she really started out being…

    The man left Fitz’s office. From the skip in his step and two books he was carrying, he had talked Fitz into one more last chance.

    Fitzpatrick stood half in and half out of his door. Lady Chancey, welcome and come in.

    I’m not a lady by rank or title, Sir. Chancey watched the young man head down the hall. She wanted to ask about him, but it was none of her business. Fitzpatrick held his arm to invite her in. I take it that you know why I’m here.

    I do. I’ve lost sleep over that letter and everything that it implied. He gently closed the door behind her. I’ve had to talk to your sister about something similar recently.

    We talked some about that. You’ll see that she gets her classes?

    He sat down behind his cluttered desk. I will. I’m immune to social blacklisting. No one could harm my career more than I have.

    You’re respected by my sister.

    "I’m a teacher, Miss Chancey. I like students. It’s not a career. It’s not a job. It’s my life. I’ve no wives that’ll talk to me, because I’ve passed up promotions; because, if I take them, they won’t let me teach. I have students, and teaching is all I do."

    You’re a counselor…

    Teaching is half knowledge, half leadership. You have to keep the little darlings headed in the right direction. You can’t teach without guiding and supporting them. Not all of the students like me all the time either. So, with all this understood, know that Desa will take her business classes, she’ll pass because she is smart and studies hard. Her interests in architecture will be guided. With that said he looked at her and said, Okay?

    Chancey knew she was being handled, but he was good at it. Okay.

    "Now, your testing. I don’t care about politics. I definitely don’t care what people say about others or me, but you’re in a different position. You may wish you didn’t have to care about title and rank, but you do. You have to take these tests to bring your education to a place…"

    Place?

    Yes, show the completion of study so that you can get what credit is due you. Does it matter to you whether Conseaire Duncan rates you or you’re rated by others? From loyalty, I bet it does. Duncan is no stranger to me. I’ve helped him find you books and arrange courses and double check university standards to where you were and what your interests were. Being someone’s teacher is a powerful position in another’s life. He was always determined to give you the best education he could provide with your schedule, anticipated goals, and your family life which demanded travel.

    Loyalty, her mind whispered. Her loyalty to Duncan had a lot to do with her anger about this. You know, you might look at Duncan and see a formal man, but I…he…I liked learning with him. That statement was weak! It was not near enough to describe Duncan!

    I’ve begged him for years to teach here. Give up that Councilor business, but he’s a fine councilor as well. Your father was brilliant when he formed the Council. Duncan had a firm background in teaching.

    "Being a Conseaire and all," she said lightly.

    "Having knowledge, and so much knowledge, doesn’t make a teacher. Being able to feed it to students is an art. He’s a teacher, Miss Chancey. He could teach subjects he had never heard of before, if there is such a subject. But take Councilor Aspen, who has a legal background. Vern and Gunther worked internationally about everything that two countries can talk about. Picker, a man of extreme intelligence and foresight, is unmatched in debate because he understands domestic affairs that affect a country’s populace. I could go on. Clarke was a farmer in his youth… the man was searching his desk for something and pulled a folder from under a pile. But back to you, from the list of your interests, there are several that I’ll have to enlist others to analyze your finals."

    I don’t understand, she hesitated.

    I can’t grade these courses.

    "I’m going to be tested on everything?"

    I’ll have to enlist some Conse-corts and Conseaire Eventence. Not difficult, he assured her. All I need from you, since your father was quite adamant that you choose whether you test here or not, is your final answer on the matter. I advise you to take every final I throw at you.

    Everything…I haven’t studied in weeks, she said. He just stared at her, waiting for her answer. Let’s get it done then. So easy to say, she thought, Let’s get it done…crap! This is going to be hard! What do you need me to do? Be? Come? What?

    He scanned down the long list of her classes. She leaned forward wanting to have a look. Every class you’ve ever taken, he answered her curious behavior.

    You’re going to test me on everything? That couldn’t be. Please, don’t let that be.

    No stone left untested in this case. Math, writing, economics, accounting, diplomacy? I know that teacher well. I’ll get with him on that. He looked at the next list which was the first of many pages that listed the books she had read. Give me two or three days. I’ll have everything arranged and in order. We’ll have to test you in the Conseaire-Hall. Please, study what your teacher advises in the mean time.

    Chancey sighed. This was going to be hard. Then I’ll wait for you to send for me. Chancey nodded as she stood even though he was staring at the papers. Thank you then.

    He stood and could not shake her hand because each of his held papers, My pleasure, and don’t worry about your sister.

    Chapter Twenty-Five

    Chancey left the university with a chip firmly set on her shoulder and went to find Aunt Sara. Chancey always turned to Aunt Sara when the world made no sense or had been mean. Aunt Sara and Uncle Marcus lived in a house that was given to her father by a woman he had met after the war so many years before. Marcus and Sara had several children by then and were living in a small apartment. Her father gave them the house. Sara loved it from the moment she saw it. It was a two story white house with tall slender windows and many bedrooms. There was a large living room off the short entry hall. Straight ahead was the open staircase going to the second floor. To the left was the nicest kitchen/dining room in the whole world.

    When Chancey neared the yard, she heard playing children. Sara’s yard was always ringed with flower beds. Amy, Sara’s eldest daughter, was married with two children now. She was visiting her mother. Normal, Chancey thought, is what Aunt Sara wants from me. Amy had normal. She was married to a nice man, Peter, who was a few years her senior. They had a home in an apartment building not far from the school where Peter taught. Chancey stopped at the corner of the fence and looked at the children in the yard. There was quite a few little ones just walking about. Sara’s youngest, Trevor, had friends over which explained the older boys at the side of the house where the yard was big enough for their game.

    Amy would be talking with her mother in the kitchen. The front door was open so the mothers could hear the children. Chancey wanted to be alone with her aunt. Amy was normal and thought those who were not normal, like Chancey and definitely like Desa, were embarrassing. Amy liked things pleasant and nice, feminine. Maternal interests ruled her world. Chancey never bared her soul in front of Amy. The looks and lectures that came were enough; Amy would never and could never understand what it was like being her. Chancey turned away from Sara and the hope for her counsel…no, she wanted affection from the only mother-figure she knew. She smiled, Aunt Sara was the best and always had been.

    I’ve privilege that others don’t have, but there is a balance to it. They don’t have Arena attacking their mother’s memory, their sister’s truth, and all for the want of power and title…hell, Arena doesn’t want to do any work, she just wants the title and ceremony. Desa’s right about that. Just take the tests and get on with what comes next. What does come next? Not Christopher, that’s for sure. What is out there? In the future…as an adult?

    Chancey walked down the gray stone steps that hugged the oval training yard in the Quarter. She had been to this training yard nearly every day of her life. She trained Cimtook here or in Marcus’ back yard. Recruits were running the obstacle course. She and her father used to live in the Quarter. Everything about it was known to her. The captain in charge of the recruits, Hamilton, pointed toward the tunnel. He knew she was looking for Marcus. Many things about her were known by the soldiers that had also shared the Quarter with her.

    Throughout the Quarter, these lowered training alcoves were all connected under the Quarter’s streets by short tunnels under bridges that kept the street paths constant. She walked into the tunnel that led to the next training area. It was cooler in the shaded training areas. She stayed to one side to give the running recruits room to pass. She did not carry any weapons but the hunting knife that Smitty had given her years before. She always had it and a flint case on her belt.

    The impressive network of fifteen training alcoves called yards were hidden from most people’s view. She made her way to the Shade Yard. This area had been given to Marcus to train soldiers in Cimtook. The Cimtook Art that he taught them was Silanna Shade, the Art of Shade. Her father and Marcus knew that the Wing, body guards to the royal family of Domaac, learned this Art. Chancey’s Art was far advanced from this Art meant to protect another person from harm. Shade was graceful, strong and worthy. It reminded Chancey of dancing. The Cimtook Shade would swing and move his Shadow, the person in need of protection, out of range of the attacker while fighting with long curved knives, his arms, and legs.

    Marcus took on soldiers that had caught his eye from the ranks. All women soldiers and physicians in the ranks learned Cimtook. Women were, on the average, not as strong as men in battle. It was a physical reality. This skill leveled the fighting field for them. Physicians and medical personnel were a precious must to any wounded.

    The Freesian Army was a volunteer enlistment force, and a massive one at that. It was a military fact that many die after a battle they had survived if wounds were not treated properly. All soldiers were trained in healing aide, which helped; but the real cure was to have real doctors in the ranks. The fighting arts of Cimtook ensured their safety. This was the most realistic answer to these concerns.

    Some physicians, the women recruits, and soldiers seeking extra training to be an Elite made up the fifty soldiers in Marcus’ afternoon class. Of the Elite trainees, they had a natural talent or some background that Marcus liked. Mountain men seemed to have more talent with knife work than others. That was easy to explain. Mountain men did not use swords as weapons. They used knives for hunting, and so they were the weapons of choice for fighting when it was necessary. Those with the drive to train and practice were becoming more Elite soldiers hence their name. Some others were taught another Cimtook art and were becoming a new version of the Footmen soldier.

    Chancey entered the oval yard and walked along the wall so she would not interrupt the class until Marcus pivoted on his rear foot and looked at her. She walked to him. Glad you came. Where have you been?

    About, she shrugged. He knew her too well and gently stared into her eyes until she said, I was arranging to take my finals with Mister Fitzpatrick at the university.

    We purposely didn’t tell you last night so you could enjoy your homecoming.

    Thank you. I enjoyed my homecoming. But now it was all this letter business. Why do they have to pick on Desa too? Chancey hoped Smitty was as mad as she was about all this.

    Marcus chose not to answer that question. If you need any help, and he smiled, you’ll have to ask Uncle Duncan, and don’t listen to how mad Smitty is.

    Thank you, Smitty! Chancey felt better hearing that. Well, I’ve been gone so you’ll want to beat on me for several hours.

    No, he touched her nose with his finger. I want you to help me beat on these guys.

    Chancey laughed at that, but he was serious. He clapped his hands. The trainees, called Tustors, stopped practicing their moves. Marcus motioned to the men. Even though there were women among them, soldiers were men by description. The Tustors separated into two halves. You all know Chancey. She got a few nods or waves. She returned them. Her face warmed from the attention. He pointed at a pan of white powder. She went to get the white on her hands while he instructed. Line against the walls. There’ll be no weapons. This is an exercise not a contest. Chancey will take all of you on the left. As he powdered his hands, he told her, Mark them as quickly as possible. He walked to meet the ones on the right. If you get a hand print on your chest, you’re done. Counter for as long as possible without getting touched. White will transfer to your arms and legs as we spar, ignore that. Protect your chest and head, understood?

    Few would understand until they experienced this sparring match, but everyone had to start sometime. Chancey looked at twenty-three men and two women that she would spar with in turn and knew that she was going to be tired before she was done.

    They were adults, but after several, she realized that sparring with them was really no different than sparring with her younger cousins. One by one, she went through their defensive blocks and put her hand print on their chests. She wondered if any understood that she was a Silbane, the most advanced level of Cimtook, as she countered their blocks and defenses fluidly. Cimtook had nine arts. Each art had levels. All those in this yard would protect themselves and others. Chancey’s art was usually misunderstood as that of an assassin.

    Oddly, it seemed to compliment them as soldiers that she was so good. She gave hints about practicing this block or that move just like she would with her younger cousins who had been working with their father just like she and Mark. Chancey had spent her life being her father’s daughter, the little girl who was with him. Today, all that seemed to disappear. Maybe that started the day she left for Grace Valley, or the days before that when she prepared the soldiers to leave. In just a few months, she had left a child and returned an adult, a Cimtook master with skill that set her above these people in rank. She was met as a person of rank, with respect, not a ranking officer’s daughter.

    Some made jokes, but they were not about her mother or sister. They teased each other as Chancey eliminated them one by one. Chancey was not sure if Marcus had done this on purpose. He was her uncle, her friend, but he was a teacher as well. As the student, it was not always plain in the beginning what all he was teaching, or in this case, showing her.

    Chonna, he called as a soldier of some height and muscle came to meet her. "Attack him hard."

    Chancey looked

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