LeOmi's Solitude (24 page)

LeOmi went to work, making it just in
time.

After work, Gunnison was there to escort her
to the Council of Elders, and the room that she had been to in her
dream on her birthday, and then after she had been pre-chosen by
Fireball, the dark arena with a beam of light in the center with
twelve Elders high above.

Bekka was waiting for her and they went in
together.

Mrs. Shadowitz’s voice echoed throughout the
chamber. “This is not the convincing that the Council needs, Miss
Jones. You should be doing everything better than everyone else. As
you know, there is more to being a Magi than physical strength and
training.”

LeOmi stood waiting for the Council to speak
their piece; they weren’t going to kick her out of the Magi school
just because she stayed out on the grounds at night.

LeOmi heard shuffling of papers.

“By your own admission, anger makes you lose
sight of your true purpose. Trained Magi blend mind, body and
spirit to help people and to fight as secret warriors—whenever
needed.”

“Bekka, what have you to say on this
distressing matter?”

Bekka shuffled a little, looked at LeOmi in
apologetic type glance. “I tried to get LeOmi to come with her
father and myself, to get a pizza, but she wouldn’t join us. She
was crying, hurt and angry. She went into the wooded area. But she
works there in the Rain forest, so I didn’t think that she would
not return at dark. I knew she was upset, but I didn’t think she
would ignore the rules.”

Bekka stepped forward and pleaded with the
Council, “You all know how I feel about LeOmi, you know that I have
confidence that she can complete Magi school and become a true and
dedicated Magi, but she has to have time to learn, to know how
to…”

“Bekka,” Mrs. Shadowitz began, “We also have
a letter from Albert explaining why he feels that LeOmi should not
be severely punished for her disregard of school rules. Rules, may
I add that are geared to protect all students and inhabitants of
The Seventh Mountain and Magi City for that matter.”

Mrs. Shadowitz sorted through some more
papers,

“Have you ever heard of the Fog of War, Miss
Jones?”

LeOmi didn’t volunteer any information.

Mrs. Shadowitz said, “That is when you fire
on whoever is in your way—friend or foe. When people aren’t where
they are supposed to be or if it is for the greater good. Do you
understand?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“The grounds can be a very dangerous place.
There are all types of enemies that you don’t even know about yet,
and a first year student wouldn’t have a chance all alone. Mind the
rules and you will keep yourself safe and those who try to protect
you.”

LeOmi nodded.

“You have those who speak up for you but
there are also those who think that you shouldn’t even be here.
Your grades are exceptional and you have done very well in the
extracurricular studies, now if you could just get that temper of
yours under control.”

LeOmi lowered her head and waited to be
dismissed.

Mrs. Shadowitz said, “Now, will someone
please tell me the whole story on these ostriches.”

LeOmi felt an elbow from Bekka, and she said,
“I found some ostrich eggs. I took them and they hatched. I
couldn’t take proper care of them so I took them back where I found
them.”

Mrs. Shadowitz looked at LeOmi expecting more
than the brief outline about the ostriches. LeOmi shrugged. Mrs.
Shadowitz turned to Bekka.

Bekka took out her note book and gave the
specifics about the ostriches, their mother, the dorm room trunk,
mother ostrich’s encounter with LeOmi and Albert.

“I see. Well, we will see what can be done
about that situation. I am sure that Albert has everything under
control.”

“As for you LeOmi; remember, do your best and
follow the rules. School grounds, at night, are off limits to all
students that have not yet developed Rooack Mareh or are not
accompanied by an instructor or school staff. You will be notified
in a few days if there are any repercussions from your adventure
last night. You may be excused.”

They stepped outside of the Council Chambers
and LeOmi’s father was there, standing off to the side.

“What happened? A man called Gunnison came
and asked me to come with him. That was all he said.”

“Everything will be just fine. LeOmi didn’t
come back to the mountain last night, but she was well looked after
by Albert.”

“Albert?”

“Albert is in charge of all the wild animals
here, lions, tigers, bears…Don’t worry. Didn’t you ever meet
him?”

“No. How did he look after her?”

“Albert is able to understand what animals
want and need and therefore he was able to keep her safe.”

“So, you’re okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, she is okay physically, but she has
received another notation on her record, and we have yet to see
what will happen because of it.”

“But I just stayed outside all night. I
didn’t do anything bad.”

“Yes, you did. You made a conscious decision
to disobey the rules.”

LeOmi looked at Bekka with anger in her
eyes.

“You don’t take criticism well either.”

“What?”

“Look at the way you treated your father and
me yesterday, because we were happy for you that you did well at
the flags match.”

“It wasn’t you, it was me.”

“What?”

“I don’t understand why he,” she pointed to
her father, “didn’t make it.”

“Why I am not a Magi?”

LeOmi nodded, the tears were welling up in
her eyes.

He grabbed her to hug her, but she pulled
away. His hands dropped and he pleaded his case. “I wanted to be a
Magi, but I couldn’t do even the most common things for Magi.
Spirit Sight, Dream Casting and Healing Powers were completely out
of the question. So there came a day when they called me to the
Council of Elders, that very room that you just came out of. I
worked in Magi City until I paid back what I owed for my partial
year. I never told you any of this because I was told that there
was a problem with your registration and…I thought that there would
be a better time.”

LeOmi didn’t say anything, she didn’t even
look at her father; she just backed against the wall and folded her
arms in front of her.

“I know that all of this is a lot to take in,
but I think that it is time that you knew.”

Bekka gave her arm a quick squeeze as Mrs.
Shadowitz came out into the outer chamber.

“Oh good, you’re still here. The Council has
decided that you need something to occupy all of your extra
time.”

LeOmi’s dad said, “Like she has any.”

“Ah hummm. Jacob Jones, you can still be
disciplined here, if you give me a reason.”

“Sorry ma’am, but it is a little frustrating.
I know how busy her brother and sister are, and she is trying so
hard…”

“Ah hummmm. As I was saying, something to
occupy your time. This is Kayleen.”

Kayleen had entered the outer Council Chamber
just behind Mrs. Shadowitz. She offered a vigorous handshake to
LeOmi and then her father.

“Kayleen works in the same general area as
Albert.”

“Oh, with the animals?”

“Yes.”

“We have a pair of orphans who recently came
into the animal Game Preserve. Would you be willing to take care of
them, -within the proper guidelines?”

“Guidelines?”

“Yes, these animals are coneys. Their pack
was destroyed in a flood. These two are all that remain and they
are too young to take care of themselves. There would be conditions
as to where you could take them, and if they become unruly, then
you would be responsible for their actions.”

“How long would my daughter have to take care
of them?”

“Well, she doesn’t have to take care of them
at all. We just thought that she would want to.”

“Would I have to pay for their food, or could
I get food from you to feed them?”

“Well, I should think a little of both. But
the main thing is that you will need to be a good family to them.
They have lost not only their home but everyone close to them. If
you just give them back after a while, then they will suffer. This
breed becomes very close to its pack.”

“Can I meet them first?”

LeOmi’s dad spoke up, “Can we both meet them
first?”

“Yes, Mr. Jones, we definitely encourage that
you meet them as well.”

* * *

The coneys were wonderful little creatures, a
peculiar type of rabbit. LeOmi cuddled them close and they snuggled
up to her, one under each ear. Then they climbed right into her
book bag and went to sleep…after sharing three apples and each
nursing on a bottle of warmed milk.

Kayleen showed her all the different food
they could eat, which was just about any natural vegetable and some
fruits. She then suggested a cage style that they could stay in at
night and when she had activities that required her full
attention.

“But now is a critical time for their growth
and the milk is necessary many times during the day—and night. They
will slowly not need the milk any longer, but until then it is a
condition...or a rule. Do you understand? This can be life and
death to them. I have to have your promise before they go away in
your book bag.”

She and her dad smiled in agreement.
“Yes.”

“This is a wonderful thing,” said Mrs.
Shadowitz.

Kayleen said, “I am sad to see them go, but I
know they will be just fine with you…now, remember, coneys are
always hungry, tired or needing to ah…discharge their waste. Coneys
are also very wise creatures and a lot can be learned from
them.”

The coneys made themselves right at home in
her book bag and in the same disinfected trunk that she had used
for the ostrich chicks. It was refashioned with additional fencing,
a heating lamp and rocks placed in a cave type structure.

LeOmi named their little trunk condominium
Nightingale Floors, because like the specially built Japanese
Palace hallways, the coneys would chirp or squeak a warning of an
intruder. When they were in the trunk, one of them always acted as
a sentry or look-out. At the slightest squeak, both coneys would
prepare for possible danger, but unlike the Japanese warriors, the
coneys just hid in the rocks until they felt it was safe to come
out again.

* * *

Gunnison stepped into The Quarters and walked
over to LeOmi and Bekka. He was surprised to see the two heads pop
out of the back pack.

“I heard that you have accepted two little
ones to take care of.”

Did he smile?
That was the first time
she had seen that, and it was a little unnerving. The coneys ducked
back into the bag.

“Maybe animal communication is your
field.”

LeOmi smiled and nodded. She and Bekka were
having salads with extra carrots for lunch.

“I just came by to check on you and see if
the animal orphan idea was a good one.”

LeOmi seemed shocked. “Oh you mean that was
your idea?”

“Well, yeah. It seems to be keeping you busy
and out of trouble.”

LeOmi gave him a smirk that she saved just
for the right kind of person.

“Why is that so hard to believe? Music notes
put together form a tune and chemists first made ice cream in a
lab. There are always routes to take to get to your destination.
Even if you don’t quite know what your destination is.” He stood
with his arms akimbo, assessing LeOmi.

“Well?”

He pulled out two envelopes: one for LeOmi
Jones and the other for Rebekka McGraw. He handed them to Bekka and
then Gunnison turned to leave; the coneys peeked over the edge of
the book bag and watched him.

LeOmi handed each of them another carrot
chuck. They all chewed noisily as they watched him go.

Bekka handed one of the envelopes to
LeOmi.

They looked at each other and tore open the
envelopes, each revealing a single card.

Reports Room

Five p.m.

Chapter 12

There are Some Roads to Follow and
Some Roads Not to Follow

As Bekka and LeOmi walked into the usually
empty office, Mrs. Shadowitz was pouring a cup of hot tea and she
offered them some by raising the cup and directing them to help
themselves at the small table of fixings.

Gunnison and Mr. Diefenderfer were there too,
already sipping out of dainty cups.

Dutifully, Bekka poured hot water into cups
and found spicy Tai and blueberry green tea packages for herself
and LeOmi and they set about the process of steeping and dipping
till everyone was contently sipping in the circlet of chairs around
the hot water pot.

“As you know LeOmi, the Council has had time
to consider your actions of the night spent outside of the school.
Gunnison recommended the adoption of the orphaned coneys, which
seems to have added stability, not to mention much joy, into your
life.” As if the mention of coneys was their cue to produce
themselves for inspection there was a stir in the book bag that
LeOmi had set on the floor, but no noses peeped over the flap. They
were content to wind themselves in the bottom of the bag and look
up towards LeOmi in their quiet mode.

“Magi sometimes have to do things that an
outsider may not think wise.”

Bekka hadn’t stopped fidgeting since they
entered the room.

“Bekka, do you need to step out for a
moment?” Gunnison folded his hands in his lap as to display the
proper lady-like posture that she should be an example of.

“No sir. I was just wondering what direction
this meeting is going?” She proposed her question to Mrs.
Shadowitz, but Gunnison jumped in before she could answer.

“With your permission, Mrs. Shadowitz?”

She graciously bowed her head to give him
permission to continue.

He nodded to her and proceeded to speak to
LeOmi, “It is known that you have spent some time with Slone Voif
and his followers.”