LeOmi's Solitude (15 page)

There was a common room just inside the doors
and signs on easels that pointed to the boys’ dorm and the girls’
dorm. There were about fifty students sitting on sofas and at
tables. Standing in groups and talking. Everyone seemed happy and
friendly. As LeOmi came in she ducked her head and made her way
down the hall that pointed towards the girls’ dorm. Some girls
greeted her with hello as she entered the hall and she nodded in
lieu of speaking.

It seemed like it was about a half a mile
down the corridor before she came to the very end and found her
name. It was a single person room, reminiscent of her room at
Grand-Mère’s house in New Orleans. Her trunk was already tucked
into a corner and her night stand had an olive sprig with a little
note that said, “Welcome to your new home.”

Day five was for socializing. Students wore
their tribe colors.

The schedule was geared to help the tribe
students get to know one another. Morning activities included one
on one games in the common room, then lunch at the tribe tables in
The Oasis and then more tribe time in the common rooms until dinner
and the Assembly that began at five p.m. sharp.

Unwilling to spend the entire day in the dorm
room, LeOmi awoke at her usual time and joined Bekka at the Olive
Tree. They both had their favorite positions under the tree and
they each respected the others quiet meditation time.

The stretching and warm-up time had become
their signal to resume conversation.

“Have you made all your purchases yet?”

LeOmi shook her head.

“You haven’t been back to Ms. Vanmie?”

They gave each other their own expected
look.

Shaking her head, Bekka continued, “Well,
there are other places to purchase the things you need, it is just
that Ms. Vanmie may save you some of the expense. She does that for
all the students. Evaluate what you can do and what you have, and
then she builds from that.”

“I thought I would try the little shop near
The Quarters.”

“It is your decision but…Ms. Vanmie will be
in her store most of the day today, until it is time for the
Assembly.”

Even though Bekka firmly suggested that LeOmi
return to the dorms, LeOmi did not return to the Emerald Tribe
Dormitory after their run. Spending time in the full dormitory did
not appeal to LeOmi at all.

She thought that she could spend the entire
time in her room with her head in a book, to shut out the world,
but instead, when their run was over, LeOmi explored the first
level of the school.

She had already seen numerous shops and
eateries, but she was curious what was beyond the gym and jogging
track.

She had her map so she started at the gym and
went past the football fields. There was also a footbridge that
crossed over Canoe Creek, a waterway that wound through a lot of
the activities area which included five swimming pools of assorted
sizes and all sorts of sports arenas including soccer, volleyball,
baseball, basketball, la cross, archery, golf, bowling and
skating.

There was even a small park section within
the mountain. It had different sections that required different
types of environments that were housed in bubble type domes. Each
dome enclosed different habitats such as butterfly collections,
small rain forests and bee hives with clover patches. Some of the
gardens were for studies of heritage variety crops where other
sections were rows of grapes and corn as a sort of communal garden.
It was wonderful just to wander and smell the fresh plants.

After the Activities Area, LeOmi wandered
towards where the barracks were on the second level. LeOmi had seen
some of the artwork for the student’s gallery as she had come and
gone from the gray dormitory, the gray being all the way on the
other side of the mountain, but now she had time to peruse the
halls that were decorated as an art gallery. She took her time and
soon there were groups of other students that were doing the same
thing.

By the time she made her way around the art
gallery, the halls were getting full of students who were emerging
from the dormitories and preparing to attend the Assembly. LeOmi
had just enough time to grab a shower and get a bite to eat.

The Oasis was by no means full. There were
two hundred and eighty-eight new students registered, all were
wearing their school tribe tunic sets except one. No one said
anything about it though. Even Slone and his posse were donned in
their Ruby uniforms; all huddled together as if there was a game
plan.

LeOmi sat to the rear of the gathered
Emerald’s at the colored tables, away from everyone.

Slone made eye contact and motioned for her
to join them, but he knew she was Emerald. She shook her head no
and faced towards the stage, essentially turning him off.

Mrs. Shadowitz began the Assembly at five
p.m. sharp.

“I see that each tribe has separated by tribe
tables. Good, no need for that announcement.”

Introductions to the Council of Elders and to
tribe commanders had begun before LeOmi noticed the hooded Bekka on
stage. Bekka immediately gave her a little wink.

Mrs. Shadowitz briefly spoke of tuition
payment and then she said, “The tribe with the highest point
standings will have their tuition waived for that year.”

This was wonderful news. Why hadn’t her
father mentioned this? Although it wasn’t a sure thing it was
definitely something to strive for.

“As an added bonus, the students of the
winning tribe will have the option to not take final exams or let
their points stand.”

Mrs. Shadowitz continued, “The labyrinth,
though generally inaccessible, is strictly off limits to all.”

Labyrinth, that’s not on the map.

“School grounds at night are off-limits
unless accompanied by a teacher or school staff or those
accomplished in Rooack Mareh.

“No feeding the leviathans.”

Leviathans?

“And practical jokes are encouraged, but not
allowed on teachers.

“Also, in the practical joke area, one worthy
of note is, Mark Young and Nikola Poparov have been awarded ten
points each. They were able to convince Ralph Lawrence, Ricky
Barnes and Keith Richards that if they could touch Ms. Vanmie, when
she tested their reflexive defense, that she would give them a
sword.”

A roar of laughter came from everyone of the
students except Slone’s group who looked over at the Emerald table
at Mark Young and Nikola Poparov.

If looks could kill, the daggers would be
flying.

Mrs. Shadowitz also announced that Mark
Young, Chenoa Day, Jamal Terfa and Nikola Poparov were also
pre-chosen by equestrians with Mark Young being pre-chosen by The
General, the lead horse of the entire Seventh Mountain horse
community.

“Only three others throughout recorded
history of the Magi had ever been pre-chosen, and never by an
equestrian.” The boy with the staff had really caused a commotion,
and a pre-chosen Emerald Tribe member.

Pre-chosen? Horses chose the four of them
too?

No wonder Bekka had made it clear that this
year was not the norm.

Mrs. Shadowitz dismissed the group by saying,
“Next Assembly the first Saturday of October at five p.m.”

Bekka had made her way down from the stage,
visiting several other tables and handing out schedules to some
other students. Bekka finally reached the far end of the Emerald
Tribe table and handed LeOmi her class schedule.

“Who are all those people sitting in the
booths?”

“The additional personnel, Alumni and those
working off their tuition.”

“Who is that guy?” LeOmi pointed with her
eyes to a boy who sat alone in a booth.

“Albert?”

LeOmi shrugged. He was cleaned-up with his
hair combed and he was wearing clean clothes and shoes.

“I saw him when Fireball took me to the
stables.”

“You went to the stables? No doubt, by now
you know that you are not to go behind the wall unless you have
permission or you are accompanied by a counselor or teacher?”

“Albert, told me.”

“You probably noticed that Albert is a little
slow in some things, but he is quite gifted in other areas. He is
in charge of all the wild animals here: lions, tigers, bears…

“All?”

“Yes, all. Most of the animals at The Seventh
Mountain are rescues from fires and floods. Some are from hunting
accidents and some are recovering from just plain meanness of
people in general.

“It is Albert that takes care of these
injured animals, and he nurses them back to health.”

LeOmi nodded acceptance.

“Any more questions?”

“Does he speak to the animals, like the
Balaam’s Tongue?”

“No. There are only a few in recorded history
that can do that. Albert has a kind-of sixth sense. He tries to
look at things on the animals’ level. Does that make sense?”

LeOmi half nodded, half shrugged.

“Okay. Classes begin on Monday. Before you
know it the school will really be bustling.”

“Really?” There were people everywhere. Some
were just mulling around and some had come in for dinner.

“I saw that you showed some interest in the
tribe points, as in the winning tribe’s tuition is waived for the
year.”

“Yes.” LeOmi said as she nodded.

“Well, one of the ways to get points is by
the Flags Matches. I really think you should be on that team.
Try-outs are tomorrow morning.”

Bekka grabbed the schedule and jotted on the
top the time and meeting place for the Flags Match try-outs.

“All the tribes meet in the vicinity of the
Island. You have seen that on your map.”

Bekka handed the schedule back to LeOmi. “Do
you have any questions for me about your schedule?”

LeOmi was still looking over the paper. When
she finished, she shook her head in the negative.

“Good. I am starving. Let’s go to The
Quarters and get some dinner. It is a mac and cheese kind of
night.”

They exited The Oasis as more and more people
were entering.

“Too crowded for me.”

LeOmi silently agreed. “But first, I need to
go by the little shop beside The Quarters; I think it is Aesop’s’
Travels. I need to get some Emerald tunics.”

* * *

Aesop’s’
Travels
advertised on its windows that it
had all the clothing necessary for students.

“What changed your
mind?”

“Nonconformity to the rules might
lose points.”

“Real-ly?”

The tunics were stacked all over
the store in bundles that ranged from extra small, short, to extra
– extra – large and tall.

“The blazon tabards are made
special order. They are designed to accommodate each student and
their estimated growth throughout their eight years of schooling
and beyond. They are expensive but it’s a single purchase for life,
if properly taken care of.”

The little shop had a lot of
business and there was a team of three seamstresses, all sisters
who seemed to be working non-stop.

Bekka said, “I purchased my blazon
tabard here in my first year.”

* * *

After dinner,
LeOmi said, “Let’s stop by
Ms. Vanmie’s
Sword Shop to buy a utility tool and to work out the details of
Combat Class.”

When they reached the shop the sign read
CLOSED and the door was locked.

“I’ll try again
tomorrow.”

“I have to ask. What was it, the
points competition, or something else?”

LeOmi shrugged. “I guess a lot of things, but
I don’t want any more trophies, having to pay a tuition will not
stop me from wanting to be here.”

“I understand.” Bekka paused.

“It would be great for Emerald to win the
points competition, but…”

“Was it your Emerald dorm room, Albert or
learning of the others that were pre-chosen?”

Bekka waited for a response from LeOmi, but
LeOmi only shrugged

.

Chapter 7

There is No Room for
Cowardice

LeOmi stood off to the side. There were lots
of students trying out for the Emerald Flag Team.

Bekka felt that this was something that she
would want to do and she was right, anything to get to ride
Fireball. The horse had come right to her and nudged her under the
arm. LeOmi wrapped her arms around the mare’s neck and nuzzled her
head into the mane, smelling the fresh air mixed with the heat of
the horse.

An Emerald student with long thick dark hair
motioned for the Emerald Flag Team.

“Emeralds, it is time for try-outs to
begin.”

Over twenty Emerald students gathered in
close.

“I am Krisa, Emerald Flag Team Leader. I see
we have some freshmen students joining us for try-outs today so I
will try to be thorough, yet brief. If there are any questions, I
will be glad to answer them.”

She picked up a bundle of javelin shaped
poles that had emerald green practice flags attached to them.

“Flag Matches are on the last Saturday of the
month while school is in, finals are held during the summer. The
way the game is played is a gray flag, with a value number, is
launched from The Seventh Mountain by a specially designed
ballista. It may land anywhere on the school grounds playing
field.”

She removed a javelin from the bundle and
stuck it into the ground.

“The Island,” she pointed towards the moated
Stonehenge type structure, “Is where the bonus flag is placed
before the match begins. The bonus flag counts a whopping 144
points and almost always is the reason for the highest final point
tally at the end of the match. Flag values increase each time a new
flag is launched onto the field.”