Chapter Fourteen – An empty desk
Fake and Andin were given a faculty dormitory to share. There were a few pieces of worn furniture already in the room. “That’s you,” said Andin pointing to the right room. “That’s me,” pointing to the left.
“Looks a bit like the inn at Breakwater,” commented Fake. “A bit nicer too,” he added. Fake paused his tour, remembering the constant teasing from Andin and Sorrel for his drunken spectacle at the same inn. Fake saw Andin’s predatory face, “Don’t even start.”
Andin feigned innocence, “I didn’t say anything.” The two quickly bored of their bare dorm and set to wandering the campus.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to do while you’re here?” asked Andin.
“Chief said I could work on the ship if I wanted to, but I think there is something I need to do here,” answered Fake.
“What’s that?”
“My memories from before the Sundering,” Fake tapped on his head, “There’s got to be something useful in here and Dean Harper said I could have access to the Academy Archives.”
“Let me know what you find,” Andin quietly doubted Fake would have the patience to lock himself in a stuffy book closet.
With Sorrel’s help they managed to unload the two smuggled barrels of Fake’s sand from under Pria’s nose. Andin figured the Brothers would eventually discover what they had done, but the longer it took the better. When the deck chief left them Andin reburied the barrels.
“You don’t trust the chief?” asked Fake.
“Only the chief and Gunrow know about these barrels; they can speculate at their contents but let’s not confirm anyone’s suspicions,” said Andin as he buried the barrels much deeper nearby.
“Can you still feel it?” asked Andin.
Fake approached the narrow shaft, the barrels shook as he extended his hand, “Yes.”
Satisfied, Andin commanded a river of sand and soil back into the hole.
“A useful trick,” noted Fake.
“It’s a running joke in Kato,” said Andin. “So many people have buried their secrets in obscure and soon forgotten locations that to say you are ‘buried’ there is to say you are lost or confused,” he explained. They headed back to the Academy.
Dean Harper ran into them in the main corridor. “Come with me please,” he said. He pointed to a large set of wooden double doors, “Here is the campus library, within are all our records, I’ve informed our archivist about you two.” The three continued on quickly down the main corridor.
“And here,” said Harper stopping at another set of doors. He continued, “These doors lead to the faculty laboratories, where you will be doing your research with some of my staff Prince Andin.” A sign hung on the door forbidding students from entering the faculty labs unaccompanied.
The tour continued through the stone and glass hallway. Dean Harper stopped to point out each place as they passed them. The hallway ended with another set of doors, “In here is the administrative office, my office, and the observatory above us.”
The Dean handed Andin a worn folder filled with papers. “What’s this?” asked Andin.
“Your rosters and course material, one of my professors was called to the fleet unexpectedly and you’ll be teaching two of his magical science courses in addition to Advanced Fire.”
Andin looked through the schedule, “I’m only teaching three classes?”
“The Brothers have expressed a desire to keep as much as your time directed at the portal research,” answered the Dean.
“I’ll need one of your astronomers on the team as well,” said Andin remembering the long laundry list of staff and lab equipment he sent to the Academy.
“I’ll let her know,” said the Dean. His impromptu tour concluded and Harper left the two young immortals.
“Let’s check it out,” said Fake already climbing the stairs up to the observatory. Andin shrugged and followed him up. “This is like what we made in my world isn’t it?” asked Fake pointing at the telescope.
“Yes, just much bigger,” answered Andin.
Fake walked around the large telescope in awe, fingering the metal rivets disguised as chocolate drops.
“These teeth let it rotate so you can look anywhere you like,” said Andin pointing out the large gearing at the base of the telescope.
“What do you look at with it, other planes?” guessed Fake.
“Oh no, it’s for looking at stars and planets.”
“How do you look at the other planes?”
“Well you can’t, no one is really sure where they are in relation to each other.”
Fake looked through the eyepiece and frowned, “I can’t see anything.”
“It’s daytime; you need a dark and clear night. More importantly,” Andin grabbed Fake’s shoulder pulling him away from the eyepiece. Fake looked confused. Andin pointed up. Fake looked up for a moment deciphering Andin’s gesture, Fake smiled when he realized it, “Oh this ceiling opens up doesn’t it?”
Andin rolled his eyes, “Yes, we’ll come back tonight before the moon rises.
The two friends spent the rest of the day marauding the Academy. Andin had slowly filled his classroom with goods taken from long forgotten cupboards and closets. Fake walked into the room, “Where did you find that monster?” Andin looked up from the broken percolator he was fixing.
“The chair? My secret – but there weren’t any extras if that’s what you were wondering,” answered Andin.
Fake sunk into the comically large upholstered throne, “Are you teaching them or lording over your subjects?”
Andin grinned, “Well, both really.”
Fake uncorked his bota and made himself an exaggerated crown and scepter.
Andin bowed, “Milord.”
“Your plebeian cloths disgust me commoner – and you failed your exam,” said Fake sternly.
Andin fought the laughter and approached Fake with a grimace. He grabbed Fake’s collar and conjured one of his sickles slowly and dramatically, “Long live the king.”
Without missing a beat Fake calmly added, “I’m sorry but there simply will not be any opportunities for extra credit.”
Andin lost his composure and the two filled the room with laughter. The prince returned to his salvaged percolator. Fake opened the roster folder, “You know I think teaching sounds fun.”
Andin reattached the spigot to the brass body, “It is – it’s very rewarding.”
Fake slumped in the chair skimming the rosters, “Your alternative magics classes are pretty full.”
“It’s a required course for first years; how many are in Advanced Fire?” asked Andin who hadn’t looked at the numbers yet. Fake flipped through a few pages as Andin peered inside the main reservoir. The fire prince made a sour face discovering a small forest of mold.
“Eight,” answered Fake. Andin sent a puff of flame to clean the inside.
“How many did you say?” asked Andin.
“Eight,” repeated Fake.
“Must not be a very popular discipline,” said Andin.