Chapter 7 - Part E
"Coming with me or are you going to wait for Cece?" Agatha asked with an inviting smile. Tristan quickly scrambled to her feet and climbed on top of the seat next to Agatha. "With you, please." Agatha clucked and the horse pulling the cart begrudgingly trudged on. With soothing clucks, Agatha told the horse that it's only a few short yards and that it could have it's weight in sugar if it wanted. At that, the horse seemed to trot a little faster.
The path up the hill was a winding one; however, Tristan could see well worn foot paths slicing through the main path. Obviously the main path was for goods. Turning around to kneel on her knees on the cart bench, she looked down the hill. It was apparent the woods leading up to this hidden valley was pretty small compared to the countryside. But she had been looking up at the mountain the entire journey. Why hadn't she seen this gleaming shiny building?
Agatha answered her question. "Just beyond us, where the mountain protects us are unpassable cliffs. The mountain circles around the school so you can only see the school if you're just south of it. Well, the cliffs circle around to the south; thus the only way to get to the school is if you're west or southwest. From those directions, you can only see the mountain, not the school itself. In terms of defensive strategy, it's the most protected school in the realm. However, it's a bitch to work around offensively, that is, if you listen to Remy."
Tristan nodded. "Only one way out? You know Agatha?" Tristan stopped seeing through her eyes, looking back at the past. "I was worried about that during the fight. I got Tiny into the corner, but part of me was worried that if we had to run for it, we had to run into Arete and his gang. But then I thought if they had a chance to get at us from all sides, they would. I just figured..." Agatha reined the horse into a walk giving Tristan a chance to finish with the past before facing her with her future. "... with two sides safe, I could make sure at least Tiny'd make it out alive. Say, Agatha!"
"Yes?" Agatha didn't look at Tristan but the smile was there in that one word.
"You guys stopped the fight! I just realized it. Weren't you supposed to wait for four survivors? I mean, that's how it's been the last few times." Tristan wondered why that realization never occured to her before.
"Hmm, yes, yes, I'd say a few rules were broken in the process." Agatha clucked amusedly to herself. "I dare say that our invitation would be rescinded next year. Actually, it was Cece who said that." She glanced over at Tristan still clucking. "Curious, really. This is probably the first and last year we'd get permission to hand out scholarships. Apparently, that slave camp was producing such poor quality candidates that schools were requesting coin to attend, figuring the camp was profiting enough from the attendance. We were the only school left that didn't require a fee."
[Author's Notes] Again, another big surprise. Agatha is surprising me more and more. She's really taken on a life of her own. Somehow in my mind, it's Tyne Daly who plays Agatha. Maxine, the character she plays on Judging Amy, isn't like Agatha at all though. I like Maxine enough that I might make her into a character, though I'm not sure I know where to put her yet. Every story could do with a no-nonsense, straight-talking-till-it bleeds, type. Maybe Agatha is a kinder gentler Maxine LOL I'm having too much fun amusing myself. Gotta remember, THIS is the reason I write. It helps that I have the soundtrack to Bend it Like Beckham in the background and it's just happy music.
Agatha ruffled Tristan's hair. "Want me to point out stuff?" At Tristan's nod, Agatha gestured, "Those gates are worked by a pulley system operated by that wheel over there to the left. We have three students on duty at all times. You'll be expected to participate." Tristan looked over at the three girls loiling about near the wheel. Two of them peered over scrolls, while the third was exercising. They all seemed strong and healthy. As she watched on, the one exercising took out a scroll to read, and one of the ones reading stood up to exercise.
As they entered the school, Tristan realized that the mountain nearly totally encircled the school. The gates were each about eight feet across and the stone walls on either side each were about thirty feet across. The rest of the protection surrounding the school was the mountain. The diameter of the encirclement was probably about 500 feet, perhaps more. This place was huge!
Agatha pointed out the stables to the right saying that's probably where Tiny would be since the smithy was there too. Beyond that were gardens. Agatha, with obvious pride, said "That's where you'll be learning about plants and herbs. My department." She pulled the horse towards the left just past the wheel to a wondrous smelling building. "The kitchen," Agatha explained. Half a dozen girls poured out of the building as Agatha drew up, squealing as they looked over the delivery.
Just then, they noticed Tristan, who blushed under the scrutiny. One of them, a reddish-brown haired, freckled girl, came over with one eyebrow arched and a twinkle in her eye. "So, Aggie, is this for us to stew?"
"No, nor is she for you to stew." Hoots of laughter followed. "G'wan, Donna. Be off. Give Tristan a bit of time to adjust before you set your claws into her." Agatha's clucking betrayed her amusement. Tristan jumped off the cart after Agatha but soon found herself circled by Donna. "Hey Aggie, this little lemur needs some muscle if she wants ta - HEY!" Tristan couldn't help herself; she dropped to a crouch, stuck out a leg and swept around in a circle, effectively sweeping Donna off her feet. Standing up, she held out her hand to help Donna up. "Nah, muscle slows you down," Tristan said with a grin.
Laughing, Donna let herself get helped up and yelled out to Agatha, "Good one, Aggie! I approve!" Tristan could hear Agatha clucking "as if we needed your approval" just as Donna wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Name's Donna. Yours?"
"Tristan." And a strong friendship began.
The path up the hill was a winding one; however, Tristan could see well worn foot paths slicing through the main path. Obviously the main path was for goods. Turning around to kneel on her knees on the cart bench, she looked down the hill. It was apparent the woods leading up to this hidden valley was pretty small compared to the countryside. But she had been looking up at the mountain the entire journey. Why hadn't she seen this gleaming shiny building?
Agatha answered her question. "Just beyond us, where the mountain protects us are unpassable cliffs. The mountain circles around the school so you can only see the school if you're just south of it. Well, the cliffs circle around to the south; thus the only way to get to the school is if you're west or southwest. From those directions, you can only see the mountain, not the school itself. In terms of defensive strategy, it's the most protected school in the realm. However, it's a bitch to work around offensively, that is, if you listen to Remy."
Tristan nodded. "Only one way out? You know Agatha?" Tristan stopped seeing through her eyes, looking back at the past. "I was worried about that during the fight. I got Tiny into the corner, but part of me was worried that if we had to run for it, we had to run into Arete and his gang. But then I thought if they had a chance to get at us from all sides, they would. I just figured..." Agatha reined the horse into a walk giving Tristan a chance to finish with the past before facing her with her future. "... with two sides safe, I could make sure at least Tiny'd make it out alive. Say, Agatha!"
"Yes?" Agatha didn't look at Tristan but the smile was there in that one word.
"You guys stopped the fight! I just realized it. Weren't you supposed to wait for four survivors? I mean, that's how it's been the last few times." Tristan wondered why that realization never occured to her before.
"Hmm, yes, yes, I'd say a few rules were broken in the process." Agatha clucked amusedly to herself. "I dare say that our invitation would be rescinded next year. Actually, it was Cece who said that." She glanced over at Tristan still clucking. "Curious, really. This is probably the first and last year we'd get permission to hand out scholarships. Apparently, that slave camp was producing such poor quality candidates that schools were requesting coin to attend, figuring the camp was profiting enough from the attendance. We were the only school left that didn't require a fee."
[Author's Notes] Again, another big surprise. Agatha is surprising me more and more. She's really taken on a life of her own. Somehow in my mind, it's Tyne Daly who plays Agatha. Maxine, the character she plays on Judging Amy, isn't like Agatha at all though. I like Maxine enough that I might make her into a character, though I'm not sure I know where to put her yet. Every story could do with a no-nonsense, straight-talking-till-it bleeds, type. Maybe Agatha is a kinder gentler Maxine LOL I'm having too much fun amusing myself. Gotta remember, THIS is the reason I write. It helps that I have the soundtrack to Bend it Like Beckham in the background and it's just happy music.
Agatha ruffled Tristan's hair. "Want me to point out stuff?" At Tristan's nod, Agatha gestured, "Those gates are worked by a pulley system operated by that wheel over there to the left. We have three students on duty at all times. You'll be expected to participate." Tristan looked over at the three girls loiling about near the wheel. Two of them peered over scrolls, while the third was exercising. They all seemed strong and healthy. As she watched on, the one exercising took out a scroll to read, and one of the ones reading stood up to exercise.
As they entered the school, Tristan realized that the mountain nearly totally encircled the school. The gates were each about eight feet across and the stone walls on either side each were about thirty feet across. The rest of the protection surrounding the school was the mountain. The diameter of the encirclement was probably about 500 feet, perhaps more. This place was huge!
Agatha pointed out the stables to the right saying that's probably where Tiny would be since the smithy was there too. Beyond that were gardens. Agatha, with obvious pride, said "That's where you'll be learning about plants and herbs. My department." She pulled the horse towards the left just past the wheel to a wondrous smelling building. "The kitchen," Agatha explained. Half a dozen girls poured out of the building as Agatha drew up, squealing as they looked over the delivery.
Just then, they noticed Tristan, who blushed under the scrutiny. One of them, a reddish-brown haired, freckled girl, came over with one eyebrow arched and a twinkle in her eye. "So, Aggie, is this for us to stew?"
"No, nor is she for you to stew." Hoots of laughter followed. "G'wan, Donna. Be off. Give Tristan a bit of time to adjust before you set your claws into her." Agatha's clucking betrayed her amusement. Tristan jumped off the cart after Agatha but soon found herself circled by Donna. "Hey Aggie, this little lemur needs some muscle if she wants ta - HEY!" Tristan couldn't help herself; she dropped to a crouch, stuck out a leg and swept around in a circle, effectively sweeping Donna off her feet. Standing up, she held out her hand to help Donna up. "Nah, muscle slows you down," Tristan said with a grin.
Laughing, Donna let herself get helped up and yelled out to Agatha, "Good one, Aggie! I approve!" Tristan could hear Agatha clucking "as if we needed your approval" just as Donna wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Name's Donna. Yours?"
"Tristan." And a strong friendship began.
posted by resigned idealist @ 11/25/2004 01:02:00 PM
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