In Which Severin Tries Something Strange

April 9, 1184

Three months in and so far, school was a colossal disappointment.

The students were divided into four classes according to their ages. Severin was in the oldest class, ages thirteen through fifteen, taught by Lady Xeta. On paper, it was a good deal--no annoying kids.

But then he'd had to start spending time with people his own age, only to find that they weren't all that much better. Arguably worse, even. At least little kids were aware that they were annoying, and would cut it out if called out harshly enough--and would even leave you alone if you really got the point across.

People his age, though... not so much. People his age liked to talk smack about each other behind their backs, or to their faces, or in that passive-aggressive compromise between the two; the phrase "Oh, I didn't know you were here!" might have been the most frequently spoken sentence in class. The girls called each other fat. The boys shoved each other about and threw their fists in each other's face. And most of them found all of this social bullshit much more interesting than the actual curriculum, which explained why they were all so fucking stupid.

And why all of the work was so mind-numbingly easy that Severin had stopped bothering to return to class after the lunch break.

Normally he left the school grounds, but he was quickly running out of ways to kill time before he could meet up with his siblings and head back home, and there weren't many more favors he could do for Alina to keep her from telling their mother. This way, if she tattled, at least he was, technically, still at school.

That, and the only reason he still bothered to show up for morning lessons had chosen to linger on the grounds too.

Nearina Tamrion had only been in class for a week, and Severin wasn't sure why he'd made a point to remember her name; there was only one other classmate whose name he knew for sure, and that was only because they'd once spent nine months cramped in the same uterus. She didn't say much, and no one else seemed to find her too interesting. She was a noble, so the commoners assumed she couldn't be bothered with them, but the other nobles seemed to give her her space too. The Kemorin kid--Roddie?--had talked to her a couple times, but that kid had a ton of friends and there was only so much of him to go around, and Nearina had only half-listened from what Severin could tell anyway.

He wasn't sure why he found her so interesting. She didn't seem to do much other than sit there and stare blankly. She wasn't doing too well in school if her non-answers to Lady Xeta's questions said anything, but Severin was telling himself that it was because she'd started three months later than the others; if he had to have a crush on someone, he didn't want it to be anybody stupid. He supposed he liked that she wasn't pretty. Her face was peppered with freckles and she had bags under her eyes more days than she didn't. She was bone thin and he feared her slender neck might snap under the weight of her disproportionate head. None of the other boys had looked twice at her, nor did she get any jealous glares from the other girls.

But she was beautiful. He wasn't sure why, but she was. Maybe it was the eyes, blue as sapphires between her brown hair and her brown dress. Or maybe it was something deeper, something hidden. Severin didn't really want to think about it. That romantic crap made him want to puke.

He ventured another look at her. He probably could have stared all he wanted--he doubted she'd even noticed he was still there--but he got the feeling she didn't like to be looked at, and since he could relate, he'd resolved to limit himself. But for someone who didn't know he was there, she looked damn uncomfortable. Was she sick, maybe? Her face was all scrunched up, and she kept pawing at the ground with her slipper, somewhat like Teodrin's cat did when she was...

No. Not sick. In pain.

"Uh... Nearina?"

She jumped in her seat. Severin cringed; he hadn't wanted to startle her. But if she was hurt...

He rose from his own bench and headed over to hers. Her gemstone eyes drooped, like they couldn't take the sight of him at such close range. "Sorry, uh... you're Severin, right?"

She knew his name? He wouldn't have guessed she'd been paying that much attention. Then again, Lady Xeta did yell at him quite a bit, and rather loudly...

"Yes. But, uh... you looked kind of uncomfortable." And probably felt it. He knew he did.

"Why do you care?"

Huh. That sounded like something he would say. Maybe that was why he liked her--not that he had any prior evidence to go on. "Trying to be nice, I guess?" God, that felt strange.

"Sorry." She looped a finger beneath her hanging belt as her hands met in her lap. He doubted she actually was sorry, but why the hell was she apologizing anyway? It was natural to be suspicious, especially if she'd been hurt in the past--and he got the feeling that she had been. "Most boys don't try."

"Most boys are idiots. Most people in general are." She glanced down, but he thought he saw a tug at her lips. A small smile. Didn't do much for the strain, though. "So... what's the matter? Can I help?"

"Uh, well..." She raised her head, sapphire eyes catching a few sparks of high noon sun. Dark blue, deep blue. He was used to lighter, grayer blues that never sparkled much. "It's my... my monthly..."

"Oh." Well... he wouldn't presume to know anything firsthand about that. But he had a mother, and sisters, and sisters-in-law--and while they could usually power through it, they'd all had times when they'd had to sit down for a while, even lie down for a while. And the staff were all women; they'd understand, wouldn't they?

"Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?"

*

"So... is she all right?"

It wasn't Severin's first time seeing Lady Camaline--technically Princess Camaline, but all of the staff used 'Lady' in the school--in her office, but it was the first time Lady Xeta hadn't sent him. It was also the first time she'd seen him after the lunch hour in quite some time, but with Nearina's condition, she hadn't mentioned that.

"She, uh..." Lady Camaline sighed. Severin got the sense that she didn't know quite what Nearina was going through. Maybe she was one of the lucky ones who just got four days of light bleeding and no cramps? Not that he was itching to inquire about his principal's courses. "I haven't heard of anyone dying of a course, but she does seem to be in a lot of pain. I don't think she'll be able to return to class any time soon."

"Will she be able to get home all right?" She'd said as he'd taken her inside that she lived with her uncle, Sir Garrett. His castle wasn't too far, but it wasn't across the street either.

"On her own? I wouldn't send her out just now." Lady Camaline's eyes flickered to the door. "Severin, be honest with me: are you planning on returning to class today?"

Well, if anyone could say a good thing about him, it was that he was honest. "Wasn't even considering it."

"Do you know how to ride?" He nodded. "Good. I want you to take my horse--the white mare--and ride to Nearina's uncle's castle. Tell Lady Nanalie to head over here immediately, and to bring the wagon. After that, ride to Sir Tarien's and tell Lady Arydath to pay Nearina a visit, some time today if she can. Then go home and have your mother scold you for cutting class, and commend you for helping someone in need. Your father can return the horse tomorrow morning."

Maybe he'd skip the part with his mother. But the rest, he could do. "All right."

"And before you go, I want you to explain to Lady Xeta that you'll be out on a favor to me, then tell her to report to the infirmary. I'll cover her classes until Lady Nanalie arrives; Lady Xeta will be a better help to Nearina than I would be."

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