The Black Squirrel

3. First Day

“Well, look who made it.” The skunk beamed.

Morden sat in the very back of the domed assembly building. Surrounding him, the din of his future classmates had ceased as soon as all Four Guardians came onto stage.

“For the new students, I’m sure your older classmates will welcome you. In their own fashion,” he said, which prompted some sniggers that resonated around the dome.

“Hey.” A raccoon casually slung its arm on the back of his pew and turned to look at him. “You Morden?” Next to him, a petite raccoon giggled. The first raccoon dug something out of his pack. It was a candle clock.

“Can you autograph this for me? My mom will be thrilled. It’s the squirrel who ‘measured time, outside of time!’” he quoted Morden with a straight face. The other raccoon stifled her snickers, unsuccessfully.

Unreasonably, Morden felt shame heat up his ears. But he was determined to project confidence and a laid back ease in front of his new classmates. Their interaction was drawing attention from their neighbors, who were watching curiously to see how Morden would reply.

In a drawl he said, “If you pay me a coin, I can make it two for one. Throw in a photograph of myself.” He raised his eyebrows: “For your mom, naturally.”

The raccoon stiffened while their neighbors giggled and whispered to each other. A B+ comeback, Morden decided. Not bad considering I didn’t expect to deal with anyone till dinner . The petite raccoon whispered “Oooooooooooh!” at her defeated seatmate as the raccoons turned back.

He tuned back into what the Spearman Guardian was saying. “To our right you’ll find our Dining Hall. After dinner, your Guardian will take you to your dorm. It’ll be one of the four towers in the Quad. Also, I’ll say this one last time, for those who us who aren’t paying attention – classes start tomorrow! Save your fooling around for the weekend,” he said playfully.

The skunk turned around, but then turned back as though he’d forgotten something important.

“Oh yeah. There is one more rule. It’s very important. Do not leave campus without one of us chaperoning you. No,” he said, expression serious, “it’s not for your safety. It’s for Reflector’s safety. There’s been too much suspicious activity in the Overland. We don’t want anyone figuring out where our campus is, too.”

As Morden lifted a pair of silver bakery tongs to grab a fancily plated PB&J sandwich, someone cried out, “Hey Morden!” He looked around. Standing in front of the glossy buffet were two chipmunks.

“Show him,” one of them grinned.

The other looked nervous and irritated, “Right here?” She looked at Morden apologetically. “I’m sorry about – “

“GUY! My name’s Guy. Guy like guy versus girl, get it? Ha. And this is my cousin, Rhodella. And what I am here to tell you today, my friend Morden –“

As Guy puffed up for a meandering explanation, Rhodella quickly butt in to say, “ - is something we’ll explain more over dinner. Come sit with us. Oh – if you want,” she added quickly, as though unsure if Morden had previous seating arrangements.

“Yeah, of course.” Morden grabbed an apple juice box and headed to a table by the far end of the dining hall.

As soon as they sat down, Guy burst out, “What are the odds?”

“The odds of what?”

“What are the odds,” Guy nodded, satisfied.

Rhodella sighed. It looked like she had long practice interpreting Guy’s speech for others. Taking out her backpack, she unzipped it and showed Morden a candle clock with a floral wreath printed on it.

Morden wasn’t sure what to say. “Nice. I’m glad you like it,” he said finally.

Guy laughed. “He’s glad you like it,” Guy observed unhelpfully. Then he crammed an entire chocolate almond deluxe cake slice into his mouth.

Rhodella smiled at Morden patiently. “Morden, I made this,” she said simply.

In a snap, Morden understood. “Really? I’ve heard of this happening in the human world, you know. Two inventors, making the same thing across the world from each other, in the same year. Vaccines – TV – “

“I also knew of the phrase simultaneous invention. But somehow, I didn’t imagine it would ever happen to me.” Rhodella smiled at Morden and sipped from her fragrant flower tea.

“Go, go, ask him… the thing,” urged Guy.

Rhodella sighed again. “The truth is, when I showed others my candle clock, it didn’t get the best response.” She looked up at Morden with sincere eyes, steam from the tea wafting in front of her face. “I heard a version of what happened in Reflector. I don’t know if it’s true,” she hastened to qualify what she knew, “but, regardless, I thought maybe… we had a lot to talk about.”

“Is all Mages do talk?” Guy complained.

“Guy, what else are we supposed to do at the dinner table?” asked Rhodella in an irritated tone.

Guy was silent. Then he said, “I need this cake slice, but just the little candy flowers, you know, not the cake part.”

Ignoring Guy, Rhodella said, “So if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me a bit more about what happened after you showed them the candle clock?”

Even though Morden had only known Rhodella for several minutes, he instantly felt comfortable with the chipmunk. What he would have been embarrassed to admit to in front of his classmates at the Assembly Dome, he felt he could share with Rhodella, especially as she was a fellow inventor.

“Well, you probably already heard about how Cassiopeia chewed me out,” Morden said, keeping his face smooth even though he was internally wincing.

Rhodella winced for him. “Yeah.” Rhodella’s obviously sympathetic pain allowed Morden to share his inner thoughts freely.

“I think that some of what he said could be right,” admitted Morden slowly. “The thing is… when I made this,” he held Rhodella’s candle clock and admired the flower print, “the last thing I actually thought about was where it could go wrong. You know, you have an idea, you want to make a technical breakthrough, you achieve it, and then you figure you’re done? But then he showed me I wasn’t done?” Morden was uncharacteristically adding question marks to the ends of his sentences, but Rhodella was nodding.

“I hope the toilets are single stall. I can’t handle public toilets,” Guy said under his breath.

“That said, the candle clock is an enormous achievement. Even the owl couldn’t deny that,” Morden said in a satisfied tone. “The next day, the cobbler I’d talked to during my presentation closed shop. Next week he reopened with more candle clocks than I’d seen in one place in my life. But enough townsfolk hate it too. And they quote Cassiopeia every time they walk by one. Like my dad,” said Morden with a scowl.

“What… exactly, do they quote?” Rhodella asked. She was working her way through a mushroom quiche.

“The quota,” said Morden with air quotes. “Did you also hear about the badgers with the quota…?”

“The badgers who overworked to the point of death?” asked Rhodella.

“Yeah. Apparently the entire burrow is gone now,” said Morden somberly, eyes on the candle clock.

“I actually don’t think that’s true. I’ve heard there are one or two survivors.” At Morden’s raised glance she said quickly, “Still, I see your point. It’s really sad. And kind of rough… maybe a bit unfair for us inventors.” She rested her head on a paw. “I just want to do our work better. Make our lives better. If townsfolk use our candles the wrong way, is that really on us? Or is it on them?” She continued, “I hate to put it so blatantly, but if townsfolk are trying to point a finger, I’m just not entirely sure we take 100% of the blame.”

“Did you hear what Cassiopeia said about the ivory tower?” asked Morden tentatively.

Rhodella laughed drily. “Something about us being stuck up on there and gracing the world with our ‘divine farts?’”

“Yeah,” said Morden, glad to not have to relay the whole spiel.

“You’re not going to believe this, but we actually do live in an ivory tower here.” She smiled at Morden. “It’s beautiful. Way better than our place back home.”

“Yeah, they probably think we ghetto folk make it dirty,” chortled Guy. Rhodella glared at him. “What?” he complained. He looked over at Morden. “Did you wanna keep it a secret from him? Cmon, Morden seems like a nice guy – “

Morden wasn’t sure what to say, but he didn’t want the cousins arguing because of him. Just at that moment, the announcement rang in the Dining Hall: “First Years! Please gather outside so your Guardian can guide you to your dorms.”

“Well, this has been a great conversation,” Rhodella smiled at Morden. “Hopefully we can continue it next time.”

“Definitely,” Morden said, and he meant it.

“See ya! Cmon, Rhodella. I thought of a REALLY good scam on the way here.” Rhodella groaned and let herself be taken away by her cousin.

Leaving the Dining Hall, he was struck by the beauty of the soft snow slowly gathering in the courtyard. He knew the snow was white, but right now it looked blue under the canopy of the dark blue sky. The effect of blue snow created a tranquil ombre blue nightscape. The light from the Dining Hall illuminated the knotted trellis of branches winding their way to decorate each end of the courtyard. The thick branches were bare since it was winter, but the snow on the bare branches twinkled like little stars. Some ways ahead, he could see Gothic style towers spiraling into the darkening night, warm yellow light spilling out of the windows like a beacon calling students home.

Then he spotted the familiar brown owl and warmth filled his heart. “Kessey!” he cried.

She turned around and grinned. “Hey,” she warbled. Morden was shocked at the dark circles under her eyes. They showed prominently against her beige face.

Scampering to her side, he said the first thing that came to his mind. “Thank the King you’re OK. You are OK, right?”

Kessey chuckled lightly. “I should be asking ya that.” Her voice was a little scratchy. “After what Cassiopeia did – are you OK?”

“What kind of Mage would I be if I couldn’t handle a second test?” he said lightly.

Still, Morden saw Kessey’s claws tightening, crunching into the snow.

“That jerk,” she said tightly.

“Kessey, I got a question for you.” Morden took a breath. “If Cassiopeia hates Mages so much, why is he one?” He’d been asking himself this for the past two months.

Kessey sighed. “That’s a long and complicated story,” she said evasively. “Probably best if we don’t get into that right now. But Morden,” she looked directly into his eyes, “he’s coming back.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wanted ta let ya know tonight, so it’s not a surprise. Here, let’s get going ta your dorm.”

Stars sparkled overhead on the inky sky, a band sprinkled thick and abundant as though someone splashed a pail of them into an indigo river. Walking on the crunchy snow-laden path to the Quad, where Morden had sighted the Gothic towers, Kessey said, “I’ll be teaching ya in the mornings. Cassiopeia will take ya in the afternoons.”

She sounded so miserable Morden suddenly asked, “He’s not bullying you, is he?” The words came out as a near snarl.

Kessey looked shocked, then started hooting uncontrollably. Morden felt a little silly as she danced from foot to foot as though on coals. “Morden… it is technically impossible for Cassiopeia ta bully me,” she assured Morden in between hoots.

They were now at the entrance to the southeast tower. Kessey nodded to a guard and she opened a huge oak door. Now indoors, Morden was suffused with warmth.

“Anyway, I know ya can take care of yourself. Heard what happened at the dais. Good job!” she threw a glance back at Morden as they made it up the ivy green carpeted steps. “But Morden… ya don’t know Cassiopeia.”

“Wouldn’t want to,” he deadpanned. They both laughed, but Kessey quickly grew serious.

“Morden, Cassiopeia doesn’t try to make Mages. He tries to break them.”

They had reached the highest level, though Morden noticed a hallway that might lead to more stairs. Outside a dorm door, Kessey said, “Promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Don’t let him get to ya.”

“Never.” Morden smiled.

Kessey exhaled and smiled back. “Well? Whaddya waiting for? This is your room!”

At Kessey’s urging, Morden opened the door.

Through the four arched windows that greeted him, Morden saw a panorama of falling snow onto gently rolling hills. The stone buildings of campus stood regally next to each other like royalty waiting to be summoned. Now that the night had darkened to black, the snow laden roofs shone pure white.

That was his initial impression, then he glimpsed the rest of the room. A beautiful green and red striped coverlet lay on his bed. A matching mahogany dresser and table set provided a comfortable and functional accent. A simple yet tasteful clock hung on his door.

Morden looked back at Kessey to see her gazing out the window.

“Was this your room?”

“Nah, I had one under,” she said almost absently. “Hey, Morden, in between studying and ya adventures with new friends… make sure ta have that “you” time, ya know?”

Morden smiled. “Are you telling me I should just hole up in here forever?” But his cheeky reply was marred by his cavernous yawn.

Kessey chuckled. “Ya might if ya can’t wake up in time for class tomorrow! Night now!” With that, Kessey departed.

As soon as Kessey left, Morden jumped out on his bed and splayed out like a starfish. As good as today had been, the fatigue that had been accumulating ever since he’d journeyed from home this morning now settled into his bones, making it so that he couldn’t even move. He looked out his window at the gentle snow banks.

Kessey was right , Morden realized with surprise. I haven’t had a moment to myself all day. First I had to journey here with Alvin (no choice here because he couldn’t read the map.) Then we reported to the Assembly Done. Random raccoons I’d never seen before tried to talk to me. I’m going to have to get used to that. Then I met Guy, and Rhodella.

Back at home, waiting for school, I was so caught up in the techniques I’d learn I hadn’t even thought about the other students I’d be with. I don’t hang out with others my age much. Were the raccoons intending to humiliate me? Or was it just playful banter? Should I get back at one as a subtle warning for anyone who tries to do the same? He thought of Rhodella. Rhodella seemed to think it was nothing. She’s probably right. I’ll just let them be.

Rhodella wasn’t bad to talk to. Kessey mentioned my friends… my “friend?” I don’t know if she’s a friend. I certainly don’t mind hanging out with her. Come to think of it, talking to her doesn’t affect my energy levels, at least, no more than just walking around. Same with Kessey! But Guy and the raccoons take their toll. I’m going to have to plan around being in a school environment. I don’t know how though. My schedule really doesn’t leave much time to myself.

He rolled on his side and thought about when he’d see Cassiopeia for class. Huh. I hadn’t realized how scared I’d been of him, till I talked to Rhodella today and opened up about everything that had happened. I’d planned to perform at my very sharpest in case he really was going to be my teacher and Kessey wasn’t coming back. Being the best for my year would just be expected. It’d be hard, but I’d want to perform in my classes as the average third year. Then even when he mocked me, my own achievements would speak for themselves. “Prison of Light?” I promise that one day, he’ll have a taste of his own medicine.

But now I know – the mages have all got my back. No need to perform for him. They already think I’m in the right anyway. Morden relaxed.

Cassiopeia caught me off guard. So? He’s cruel and powerful. So? Kessey’s more powerful. And he hates himself. With a flash of intuition surpassing his years on earth, Morden understood, Cassiopeia’s own hatred for himself will tear him apart before he can ever tear me apart. After all, he’s a Mage that hates his own kind.

The thought made Morden angry, but somehow he couldn’t hold onto his anger. Drowsiness fell on him and away again in waves. How far away was this warm, consistent central heating of his tower, from the bare and unshielded chill of his den back in Reflector in winter! Morden marveled. Never had he experienced before this soft yet unblinking aura, cozy as snuggling in his tiny den, but now radiating tenfold from the blessed heat, well trodden carpets, granite slabs, and lamps shining with the sheen of a red oak acorn hull. Tomorrow… tomorrow he would begin to learn the spells that would mark him as Mage…! He meant to draw the blanket over him, and turn off the lamp, but somehow he was asleep before doing either.

The last thought he had before sinking into the sleep which lulled him since laying on the bed was, I think the best time of my life is about to begin.

He had no idea how right he’d be, nor how difficult and dark the years following graduation would prove. For now, the young Mage knew only the promise of the new year ahead, endlessly stretching like the hills rolling and rolling in the gently falling snow.

Next Chapter: 4. First Friend

Previous Chapter: 2. Morden's Pride

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