Chapter 19: Chapter 18

Once believed to be a gift from the Goddess herself, advances in the field of botany have come to show that the luminescence exhibited by the Hilter fern, seen across Fadraiye is a biological phenomenon. The roots of the fern, in their nocturnal form, secrete a bioluminescent substance that reacts with the soil around it. While the fern is luminous on its own, those that grow near the fens of the Marshlands are especially notable as they react with the peat moss, manifesting a pool of glowing light. 

-On Fadraiye Plant Life - Page 1087

 

“Come in,” Sheena responded to the knock at her office door. It opened and Kayla stepped in swiftly, a large binder tucked under her arm. “How did Jen perform in my absence?”

“Terribly,” Kayla sighed. “But that mayhap well be that you and I work so well together.”

“You could say,” Sheena agreed. Kayla approached the desk and dropped the binder; it thudded and bounced against the surface, shaking the gold-plated reading lamp that Sheena had been using to read a list of room reports. 

“Might I ask what happened with Lyra?” Kayla asked, prompting Sheena to look up from the list. “There’s buzz about it.”

“The meeting with my family did not go as…planned,” Sheena said slowly as she tried to gather her thoughts for the impending conversation. “I have been…disinherited, over my affiliation with Lyra.”

“Sheena,” Kayla said, sitting in one of the plush chairs opposite the desk. “you have known Lyra for how many days? A month? Perhaps more? You would cut your familial connections over that? You should never have named her your sister!”

“You would be right,” Sheena admitted. “if it were solely about Lyra. Maybe Lyra is an excuse.”

“An excuse?”

“An excuse to go my own way. I tire of being controlled by finances.”

“You do know, Sheena,” Kaya leaned forward in the chair and dropped her inflection just slightly. “Some of us would be partial to having those sorts of money problems.”

“We have much to do today,” Sheena changed the subject quickly, opening the binder that Kayla had dumped onto the desk. “In the Vice quarter, there are complaints about sticky floors, smudged windows, missing lavatory sheets. We’ll round together and see what we can see, and talk no further of my personal decisions.”

“What of Lyra?” Kayla asked as they departed, papers in hand. 

“Lyra lies in the hospital quarter as we speak,” Sheena said quickly. “Hopefully contemplating the consequences of destroying half of the dorm.”

“Surely it was nowhere near that bad,” Kayla rolled her eyes. “I heard tell that she threw some things.”

“A grave outburst, unbecoming of a lady, but one she will learn from, I hope,” Sheena said. “though I must say it wasn’t entirely unwarranted.”

They took a brief set of stairs and turned a corner, walking parallel to the staircase and using a door to emerge onto the main concourse, ultimately ending up in the Octagon. They took the left hallway, leading to the Vice.

“How was it warranted?” Kayla asked. “A young lady, especially one in this establishment does not suffer outbursts. Anyone else would have found themselves on the street within the hour.”

“I would say, perhaps, I pushed her too hard. I need her to understand Klocby customs where it pertains to siblings, she must learn to defer to my judgement.”

“Must she really?” Kayla smirked as they stopped outside a lavatory. “Could you not excuse her due to her nationality? What would she know of serving an older sibling, or another in any case? Perhaps you can, say, let it slide?”

“Kayla, be serious,” Sheena rolled her eyes. “Axock is a slave nation, of course she understand what it means to defer to another.”

“Oh this is indeed a problem,” Kayla said as she stepped into the lavatory and listened to the sound of her rubber-soled shoes sticking to the slate. “How does this happen?”

“Shouldn’t,” Sheena curled her lip in disgust. “none of the cleaning supplies are sticky, and unless someone spilled fruit juice on the floor…”

“We ought call Elric,” Kayla suggested as she hopped from one foot to another, causing Sheena to cringe at the sound of rubber soles tearing from the sticky service. “His boys’d get a buffer down here. Elsewise someone would have to scrub on hands and knees.”

“What we ought do,” Sheena said, scratching her head and then placing one hand on her hip. “is find who was to clean this room and ‘ave them on hands and knees.”

“Perhaps not…” Kayla cocked her head, smiling a bit.

“Lyra?” Sheena asked, mildly exasperated.

“Lyra,” Kayla confirmed.

They left the lavatory, and Sheena used a talky box to alert environmental. They continued walking until they came to the next lavatory, once again finding the floor sticky.

“How?” Sheena demanded. “how is this possible?”

“You smell that?” Kayla sniffed the air. Sheena joined her, tilting her head and giving a few short sniffs.

“Lemon,” Sheena observed.

“Why?”

“Tis silly,” Sheena said. “One of the girls, Sophia if I recall, told her lemon was good for clearin’ the pipes. Mayhap she though it was good enough for the floors too.”

“How long since the floor’s been cleaned then?”

“Two days, would put it,” Sheena said, almost angrily. “A conversation must be had.”

“What if, perhaps, you tell Lyra that while she’ll defer to your judgement, her opinion will be heard?” Kayla suggested. “She’s not to be your servant, after all.”

“The younger sister defers to the older sister in all things until she reaches the age of majority,” Sheena said firmly. “The girl isn’t one and twenty yet, so long as my eyes don’t deceive me. Besides, Kayla, she cleaned two floors with lemon juice and you want me to hear her opinion?”

“Admittedly,” Kayla said. “She hasn’t made such a good case for herself, given the cleaning, and the outburst, and the mass murder, but perhaps she’ll be more agreeable if-”

“Absolutely no,” Sheena stood firm. “We don’t give agency to people her age so long as we can help it. Tis how fifteen year old boys become tyrants. Whether my family is involved or not, Lyra and I will maintain the family structure, which means I control her.”

“I cannot imagine she’ll be agreeable,” Kalya stepped from the lavatory with Sheena in tow. 

“Then she’ll meet the rod, as she has before,” Sheena shrugged. “I had reservations about the way it was done before, but if she truly deserves it…”

“Might I make a suggestion then?” Kaya asked as they stopped just in front of a long window overlooking the courtyard and the giant gear. 

“By all means,” Sheena rolled her eyes. “But I am not obligated to listen.”

“She is immobilized at the moment, so give her some reading. A book on Klocby familial traditions. Surely there would be one in the library.”

“Let her learn from a book?” Sheena almost gasped. “Surely you don’t believe it’s a substitute for-”

“First girl!” A servant gasped, running down the hall. “The High Lady wishes to speak with you!”

“That didn’t take long,” Kayla shook her head. “I wish you luck.”

The walk to the High Lady’s office didn’t take terribly long, and Sheena found her sitting behind her desk, nose buried in a book.

“Greetings High Lady,” Sheena said, giving the customary curtsey. “I am present as requested.”

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“Sit, Sheena,” The High lady gestured to the seat across from her. Sheena bowed slightly and sat in the chair, straightening her skirt and placing her hands in her lap. “Balthasar filled me in on the situation with your parents, is all well?”

“I have little concern, High Lady,” Sheena said simply.

“Your inheritance?”

“Inconsequential,” Sheena shrugged. “It was an unnecessary weight.”

“Then,” the High Lady said. “You plan to remain in service to House Jenwise past the next season?”

“If the High Lady permits,” Sheena said as respectfully as possible. “I have…many avenues to pursue but would be grateful if I could continue my employment for the time being.”

“An interesting thing you have done,” The High Lady said. “Your father came and demanded that I terminate your employment. I of course denied him; no one will tell me who I can and cannot have in my employ.”

“I appreciate it, High Lady,” Sheena pursed her lips as she tried to imagine her father in a shouting match with the High Lady - as it had undoubtedly been.

“Speak with Lady Myria’s clerks before the end of the week,” The High Lady said. “A wage increase will be in order, given the time you have spent here. Now, on to the other matter…”

“The other matter, High Lady?”

“The matter of Lyra, you still plan to take her on, as your sister by law?”

“I considered the matter closed, High Lady,” Sheena said. “She is my sister, by law, and whether my father or mother wish it, I will care for her.”

“And you will teach her our familial traditions?”

“I had planned to stop by the library and pick up a book to begin her training in that matter,” Sheena said. “Though I must admit, I am unclear on which book to get.”

“A good thought,” The High Lady nodded approvingly. “and what of her outburst?”

“My father…rejected her because she was having some trouble with her memories,” Sheena explained. “and perhaps I pushed her too hard. It will not happen again.”

“See to it that it does not,” The High Lady said. “She injured herself severely, we have places for people who endeavor to do such, and none that she will be so fond of. Once she recovers, she will speak with my personal surgeons and we will arrange the procedures. She is also to undergo voice training to rid her of that horrendous male voice. If she is to be a lady, she will be a lady.”

“I understand, High Lady. By your leave, then?”

The High Lady rose and Sheena joined her in walking toward one of the many bookcases lining the walls. The High Lady ran her fingers gingerly across the spines of the books until she stopped on a blue leather-bound volume, which she handed to Sheena. The cover, printed in gold lettering read: ‘Klocby Familial Lore and Traditions’. Sheena turned the volume over in her hands and nodded.

“Thank you, High Lady,” Sheena gave other slight bow and the High Lady nodded.

“See to your sister, Sheena.”

“By your leave, High Lady.”

The trip to the hospital wing was uneventful, though long. Sheena found herself standing before a receptionist in servant gray who gestured vaguely down a hall flanked on each side with doors. Sheena walked to the one that had: ‘L. Rossi’ scrawled in reprehensible handwriting on the plaque beside. Inside the room, Lyra was laid up in the bed with Jen sitting silently by her side in a wicker chair. Of course, Lyra had been considered to self harm, and so an attendant would be needed at all times. Jen probably fit the bill nicely. Sheena breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that her sister hadn’t been left alone in this stuffy room all day. 

Lyra wasn’t in great shape but she seemed to be doing far better than yesterday. Her left hand was bandaged, and her foot was set in a splint. She smiled as Sheena entered the room.

“You came!” She said, sounding surprised. 

“Did you think I would not?” Sheena raised an eyebrow as she sat beside the bed. “Jen, you may go for a time. I would speak to Lyra.”

“Thank you, First Girl,” Jen said with obvious relief. There was no telling how long she’d been sitting here, but Sheena could tell from the red veins forming in her eyes that it hadn’t been a short period. 

“I guess….” Lyra said, looking a fair bit embarrassed. “I didn’t know if you’d want anything to do with me….after. Jen kept telling me but-”

“You ought listen to Jen,” Sheena told her. “She has your best interest at heart, as I do.”

“I…was writing you a letter, to tell you…to explain,” Lyra indicated a folded piece of paper in her lap. 

“There’s no need for explanation, little sister,” Sheena said in an almost lecturing tone. “I apologize for being so hard on you, I could have gone about it in a better way. That aside, we will work on your knowledge of Klocby traditions. I am your elder sister, you will defer to my judgements and you will use the correct honorifics for the situation.”

“What about your other sisters?”

“Until I say otherwise,” Sheena told her. “We stand separate from them. You are beholden to me, and me alone.”

“I…understand, I think,” Lyra nodded, shifting beneath the blankets. “I’m sorry I embarrassed you. I just freaked, you know?” 

“Freaked?” Sheena frowned. “What is that?”

“Like…flipped out, flipped my shit. It’s all in the letter.”

“Flipped your…your sh…what is shit? Very well, Lyra, I have brought you a volume, you will read it, you will learn Klocby traditions. I will not be easy on you, but we will learn at a pace that you can handle.”

“How…long do I have to do what you say?” Lyra asked, taking the tome from Sheena’s hands. She winced at the weight of it as slipped from her hand onto her lap.

“Lyra, I am your elder sister, in your life, you should always take my advice into consideration as I have ample experience and can help you in many ways. Legally, however, the Lord Regent of Fadraiye has maintained the age of majority is one and twenty.”

“It wasn’t like that in Axock,” Lyra frowned.

“Read the book, Lyra,” Sheena patted the heavy volume and smiled to Lyra. “And no more talk of Axock, that life is behind you.”

“It would help if I could read it,” Lyra said as she opened the book. “it’s in another language.”

“Goddess,” Sheena laughed. “The High Lady speaks many languages, it’s no surprise that- Lyra, this is in the common tongue.”

“It can’t be,” Lyra frowned. “I can’t read it.”

Sheena stared at the pages and then looked back to Lyra who looked at her expectantly. 

“Lyra, this book is in the common tongue. They do speak the common tongue in Axock?” 

“Obviously,” Lyra rolled her eyes. “But I can’t read this.”

“Of course you jest,” Lyra rolled her eyes, indicating the folded letter on Lyra’s lap. She reached over and snatched it up. “If you can write, you can read.”

She smiled a little and unfolded the paper, ready to chastise Lyra for her ‘humor’, but found herself looking at unfamiliar symbols and sentence structures. Sheena looked from the paper, then back to Lyra, her confusion growing with each passing second.

“Lyra, what language is this?”

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