Chapter 1
The King’s Visit
Harks’ mother was always right, at least that’s what Harks thought. His mother had said there would be trouble for him to enter the Academy, she’s right. His mother had said she’d be able to let him study in the Academy, that’s right, too.
“Janus, there’s no way we can let your son stay,” Kolana, the Headmistress of the Academy, said softly in her office. “The Academy is no place for men. We just aren’t equipped to accommodate two sexes.” Any other staff in the Academy would have told Janus that the Academy was not for men just because men shouldn’t be there. The Headmistress had more grace than that.
“Mother,” Janus said. Kolana was not exactly her mother, but that was how all weavers address headmistresses. “You have to understand. Harks can really hurt himself with that much potential and no proper training. There’s only so much I can teach him.”
“No,” Kolana interrupted at once, “don’t teach him anything. You’re a talented weaver, my child, but you’re far from being a good teacher. Janus, think of the impact. As soon as Harks enters the Academy, other male will have excuse rush in. We all know how powerful weaving can be, and we both know how men behave. We’ve been able to keep men from weaving for about a century now and I’m not about to change this peace. I have strong feelings that some years from now we don’t even have to worry about male being able to weave. None of them will have the potential. Besides, my dear, the only reason why men don’t treat us like commodities is because we have some abilities they don’t.”
“Mother, I really thank you for putting all these gently to me. But when it comes down to it, my only concern is that of my son. I don’t want him to get hurt. I’m sorry that your duty prevents you from getting children of your own, but just between woman and woman, you should understand my feelings.”
“Child, try to be reasonable. You have to look at the bigger picture. I thought ten years of training had taught you to think more rationally.”
“I’m irrational, yes, so are all mothers. We’re entitled to be. Frankly, I’m delighted to be able to act from the heart and not from the brain.”
Janus seemed to be more determined then Kolana had thought. The Headmistress was beginning to feel irritated. She didn’t have to spend all this time with Harks’ mother, because in the end, Harks was not going to enter the Academy, and that’s that. Kolana, however, did not like to lose, even on verbal reasoning.
“Janus, Harks’ not only your child. He’s also my child. Everyone in Centa is. Sometimes the only choice you have is to either hurt one child or another. That’s where we have to make bitter decisions.
“Child, I shouldn’t be sharing this, but I trust that you can keep a secret. It has come to my attention that the ability to weave in a man, contrast to woman like everything else, degenerates with time. By the time your son reaches the proper age of studying, he probably will lose the ability all together.” Sadly, the respected Kolana lied.
“Then that’s all the better,” Janus said at once. “You don’t have to teach Harks anything before he’s ten. Just make sure that he doesn’t hurt himself out of mischief.”
“Janus! This is a place to learn, not to leave children for baby sitting!”
“Sorry, Mother, I don’t mean that. I only want to make sure that Harks’ well tended for and if he happens to be an exceptional case when he reaches ten, he gets some proper training.”
Kolana had exhausted all her excuses other than the Rules of the Academy, and she would not quote that, for it would mean the ultimate defeat. I can’t let your son in because that’s the Rules. No, I won’t let you discredit my status as the Headmistress by saying that I can’t change the Rules. “Janus, I’m sorry but my schedule is quite busy. The King is arriving any moments from now. He has just reached eighteen, you see.” – At least that much is true – “If Harks can still weave at ten, come back and the headmistress then shall decide. Child, I hope you understand. I’m retiring in two years. I don’t want to start something at this moment. The next headmistress might not approve of what I have started.”
“So that’s the whole point, isn’t it? Your retirement. You want your last years to be as peaceful and quiet as possible. You’re a selfish woman.”
“I can say the same thing about you. Anyway, I’ve got to go. I wish your son best of luck.” What’s his name?
Janus had won the battle, but she had lost the war. It’d be an easier world if things were done according to what made sense. Janus knew she was wasting her time when she decided to plead the Headmistress. But she had to do something. One thing the Academy had taught her was not to be a naïve, accept life as it unfolds kind of person. She knew as much what the outcome was, but she still could not help but felt a stab in her heart.
“At least see once what he’s capable of?”
Kolana ignored Janus’ request. “I’m leaving this room now. You may stay if you so wishes. Just make sure you close the door on your way out.”
—
Harks had been waiting outside, kept busy by a couple of plump Academy staff. The argument inside got quite loud and the two staff heard every single word. When they realized Kolana was coming out, they changed their posture to standing still with their heads down. So when Kolana actually came out, they weren’t taken by surprise.
Kolana glared at them. “You two seem to know I’m coming out. Did you hear our conversation?”
“No, Mother,” they both said in unison.
“Good, keep it that way. I don’t want you to dream about it, or even speculate what went on in there. Then again, you’re always welcome to do otherwise.”
“We’d be stupid not to follow Mother’s instructions,” one of them, the shorter of the two, said in a trembling tone.
“You would be, wouldn’t you? Fortunately the Academy has never had stupid students and I’m sure you’d do fine.” She glanced at Harks, who was looking confused, turned her head, and left.
—
The King’s procession was quite a spectacular sight. Thirty white horses accompanied two carriages, ten in front, ten at the back in two rows, and five on each side. They were all wrapped in magical weave that made their skin shine under the sun. Both carriages were shaped like pumpkin on wheels, in royal purple and a bit of gold. There were windows on both sides. Like the front entrance of the carriages, the windows were covered with magically woven fabric that was transparent from the inside but gold from the outside. The carriages were not driven by horses. Four spokes extruded from the sides of a carriage. Three strong men pushed at a spoke to make the carriage move. The same procession would be held each year then until the day the King had chosen a queen.
This tradition started after the Mage War. In order to show the Kingdom’s support for the Academy’s decision for banning men from learning the Art of Weaving, the King or the Crown Prince of Centa would, starting from his eighteenth birthday, visit the Academy to look for a proper Queen. The potential Queen must be the Mistress Weaver – the best weaver – for the year. The visit would carry on until the King had found one, or until the King reached thirty, when he must take one up. This was one of the few times the King was allowed out of the Palace Wevis, which was why instead of summoning a potential queen, the King always chose to go to the Academy.
Twelve more years of torment, what then? The King thought bitterly as the Academy opened her front gate to admit the Royal family.
KenT the Author's Ravings 