Ember Meets June (part 1)

You were warned early on that this was not your usual kind of story, with a clear beginning, middle and end and a particular plot. It’s merely the story, or stories, or vignettes if you will, of some lives, told as they were learned, instead of carefully hoarded until they could be crafted into a polished narrative. Thus it is that only now more of the beginning of Ember’s life in the village comes to light. – The Scrivener.

The villagers had trooped past the box with the little hole in the top. As each passed, they waved a hand over the hole and a small clunk sound followed. Some brandished their little white stone before they dropped it in, silently telling all their neighbors that this new and strange visitor was, in their mind, welcome.

Before that, there had been introductions. And questions that Ember and her Knight did their best to answer but some questions had no answer, such as what was to come if this village was home to a disguised and magic-wielding dragon. For such, of course, there were no answers, no more than anyone can ever say with certainty what the day after tomorrow might bring.

After the last person had passed from one side of the room to the other, slowly filling the voting box, three village elders opened it and as all gathered close, before all their curious eyes the elders drew the stones out, one at a time, holding each high to be seen. White stone. White stone. One after the other. Until at last an elder upended the box, showing it empty. Beside it, on the table, was a spreading pile of little white stones. Only white stones. An old man turned away and walked out the door, speaking to no one.

All this time, feeling sure of the outcome, Ember’s Knight looked about the room. He was already preparing to visit other villages as soon as possible. There was no way the dragon race could be saved by one man installing into villages and acclimating one dragon at a time. The task was too large and already he felt his age was catching up with him. He needed to establish numerous successes as soon as possible and then use those to send out “disciples” to even more places.

He sifted their faces, postures, their voices for any clues as to whom he might entrust Ember when he’d gone. This was the first time, and he wasn’t sure what clues he ought to be looking for. Some villagers seemed confused, some too giddy, others yet seemed calm enough but none seemed to be the sort of person who would have the kind of time needed to play mentor to a unique, almost alien, foreigner like Ember.

Again and again, he noted a young lady in the back of the crowd, standing off from the crowd, almost backed into a corner of the room. Each time he felt something hopeful, but he passed his gaze onward. Surely, too young. It didn’t hit him until he’d almost given up why she instilled a surge of hope each time.

She, alone of all those there, carried in her arms books. Two large books. Alone among them all, he realized suddenly, she had time on her hands to read that much. And the size of the tomes hinted at some dedication and perhaps natural intelligence. So, reluctantly, he decided.

A little later, Ember found herself surrounded by curious and mostly happy seeming people and feeling overwhelmed. She looked for her Knight and saw him sitting on a bench in earnest conversation with a girl. Ember was about to call for him. She’d never seen so many humans before, and they were so close and noisy. It was daunting. But just then her Knight looked over, caught her gaze and gave her a smile that she interpreted to mean all was well, so she forced down her momentary fright.

And then the people began bringing in their children, who had been kept outside as the adults took care of the business at hand. Baby humans! Some laughing and giggling, some shy & quiet and some bold, but all apparently fascinated with her in an open and impossible-to-be-a-threat sort of way that relaxed and intrigued Ember, so much so, that she didn’t realize when it had become late and people were reluctantly heading home. She only realized it because the children didn’t want to leave, some loudly so.

That night, before they went to their sleep, her Knight told her he’d found the person he thought could mentor Ember in his absence and make their plan work.

“The girl?” Ember asked. “The one you talked to so long?”

“Yes, her. And I think I know what you’re thinking. She’s too young. I thought so, too. But I’ve talked with her. You saw. She’s got time, she’s bright, she’s probably better educated from her reading than most here, and she’s… I don’t know… she seems more mature than I expected. I confess I overlooked her at first, but now I believe I’ve made the right choice. We’ll meet her tomorrow and you can judge her for yourself. I think you’ll be happy with her.”

Her name was June. She was all of twelve and a half years old. Plus a little. She insisted that the “half” be always put into evidence. It was important. Thirteen was, to her mind, and somewhat in the tradition of the times and the place, almost an adult. And she was tall, though very slender, for her age. A detail she always thought, or hoped, made her seem more grown and responsible.

She was fairly bursting with pride that she’d been offered a chance to be a teacher and guide for this strange outsider. She realized the potential such a role might mean for her. To be listened to more. Taken more seriously. To be asked her opinions. It had always been terribly important to her to be taken seriously. So much so that some people said she never really was a child at all, just a small grownup.

When Ember was introduced to this willowy young lady, she looked at her Knight with her eyebrows raised as though to silently say, “Really?” But he merely gave her a big smile, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. Ember thought he looked like he was enjoying her momentary discomfort.

At first, June seemed overwhelmed by Ember, tall and dark and looking down on her, but then she remembered why she was there and snapped into a very teacherly attitude. The suddenness of the change startled Ember slightly.

“Now then, I stayed up late thinking about what kinds of things you’ll want and need to know and I realized that first I needed to know what you know already.” June drew out a long sheet of brownish butcher’s paper and began reading from a list of hand-written questions. This inquisition went on for some time, with June often scribbling notes on the paper about the answers she received.

At the end of it, June put the paper away, saying that she would use it would inform later lessons. Then she drew out another large sheet on which was a carefully drawn map of the village and immediate surroundings. June got down onto the floor and laid her map out, beckoning Ember to join her there.

Once Ember was comfortably seated on the floor, June began explaining the map and indicating key features one might orient themselves by. Afterwards, June took Ember out exploring and for the rest of the day she marched Ember here and there, pointing out the various map features and quizzing Ember about some of them and their relation to other parts of the map.

Toward sunset, they realized how much time had passed and that they’d not eaten since morning. June made Ember lead them back to her lodgings and then said goodnight to the two. When Ember stepped through the door, her Knight looked up and raised his eyebrows. Ember replied to the unspoken question, “You were right. She’s smart and I think she’ll be a good teacher.”

TO BE CONTINUED