Firene: Calcification

Firene shuts off the mini-telly and pushes it back into its niche in the wall above her bed. The clock on the small nightstand reads 00:17, but she can't sleep. Something's missing, or something's out of place. She sighs heavily and stares at the ceiling. She looks at the clock again - it's now 00:21.

Down the hall, she hears the rustle of Matron's skirts along the stone floor as she makes her way through the long first-year dormitory. There's a sudden startled shriek as Matron catches someone not sleeping, immediately follwed by a series of sharp snaps. Matron rustles past Firene's door but doesn't enter. There's the muffled sound of sobbing coming from the dormitory.

Firene curls up on her side and drops easily into slumber, a faint smile on her lips.

* * * * * * *

Tedwin leans against the doorframe, waiting for his sister to acknowledge his presence. She sits at her writing desk, her dark, severe clothing a sharp contrast to the pale colours of her bedroom and the misty light coming through the domed lightwell.

"Fireeeeeene..."

She looks up sharply from her dingin.

"Do you need help with your schoolwork again, Tedwin?"

"No... I mean, if you can check it later that would be good, but I think I figured it out after you explained how to do it last time. But... 'Rine... I don't like school."

"You're not supposed to like it, little one. I certainly didn't."

"No, but... you know, Da says I have to do good at school so I can go to Longshore and be a metallurgist like him, and I don't want to go to university."

"Do well at school, dear. And why don't you want to go to university?"

"'Cos I want to be in the Brigade of Light. Byron's older brother is in the Brigade - he showed me a picture of him in the Tentenel armour. I want to do that - then I could defend The Company against those dogs from Hirplakker..."

Firene takes as deep a breath as her stays allow, closes her eyes, and does not say all of the twenty things she immediately thinks of saying to her brother. He's just a baby, after all.

"Well, maybe you should wait until you're older before you tell Da you want to join the Brigade. In the meantime, it can't hurt to keep going to school. And I'll help you with your work if you need me to, all right?"

"All right... M'sorry, Firene. Mama said you liked school."

He shuffles back to his own bedroom. Firene still hasn't opened her eyes.

* * * * * * *

She stares at a point somewhere past her reflection in the dressing mirror as Ester fusses with her hair, braiding silver wire and tiny lights into the longer sections and sprinkling her exposed skin with a fine metallic powder. Her mother beams at her.

"Oh Firene - isn't it exciting? The Grand Palova is the biggest social event of the year, and our little girl was invited!"

"Well, at least all those dancing lessons won't go to waste..."

"Now, dear... I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Several of your friends are going, after all. This is a great opportunity for you to meet suitable young men your own age."

"Who will coincidentally be the sons of families in a position to assist Father in attaining his political ambitions within The Company?"

Ester senses a change in the atmosphere and hurries off to perform her regular duties. Beatrice observes her daughter for a moment.

"Firene... that may well be your father's hope for you. Mine is considerably less far-reaching. I would like to see you happy and secure, preferably with a husband whose goals are less lofty and hence less hazardous."

Firene looks up sharply. Her mother looks tired, possibly even a little haggard.

"Mother?"

Beatrice smiles wryly.

"Nevermind, my dear. I speak more than I think. You look radiant. Here..."

She steps forward and wraps her thin, pale arms around her daughter's shoulders for a moment. When she pulls back a heavy, ornate locket hangs around Firene's neck on a thick ribbon of some iridescent material.

"Make us proud, my darling."