Into The Ruins by Bob Blink Page B

funding as well otherwise they would have simply moved up the schedule, but not required us to meet in Talmara.”
    “I wonder what Nals will be like,” Garss wondered jealously.  “I’ve never even been to Talmara, and that is only a week away.”
    “Me neither,” Fen admitted, and realized part of him was eager to see the adventure begin.  He found he kept vacillating, jumping from eagerness to begin his journeys, and discomfort leaving the security of the life he’d always known.  “I guess the whole family will be going.”  He kind of hoped it would be just him and his father, as having everyone present in Talmara would make the separation more difficult and he didn’t want to appear weepy and embarrass himself around the other novices who would be gathering there.
    “Isn’t that expensive?”
    “The family had a bit of good luck, and we have come into some extra money that’ll help,” Fen said without explaining about the crystal he’d brought home.  His mother had sold it for far more than even Fen had expected, bringing in the equivalent of a year and a half the normal income for the family.  As a result, they had funds to spend on a vacation trip to see him off.  His parents had taken him shopping for two sets of new clothes to take when he left rather than the one set that had been planned.  He’d also been given a purse of his own as spending money.  Most he planned to hoard until he arrived at the University, but he’d spent the day shopping for the best pencils and brushes he could find in Slipi.  His mother had suggested he might want to do so as they knew the shopkeepers here and could expect a discount whereas he’d probably have to pay more once he reached the capital.
    Fen had also splurged on a supply of high quality colored paper, much like the sheet he had used for the spell that had freed the crystal.  The variety of colors would give him a means of experimenting with certain aspects of a group of spells he had been curious about.  He’d also purchased a new carry pack, one designed to transport his items in a more protected manner.  He wore it on his back at the moment, his purchases stored carefully inside.
    “Come on,” Fen urged.  “Let’s go see what shows are being planned for today.  I have my allowance.  We can stop and get something to eat, my treat.”  He didn’t want to talk about his leaving anymore.  The unexpected change in his departure had come as a bit of a blow and he had butterflies in his stomach when he thought too much about it.  It was all a bit overwhelming.  He sometimes worried that he might not be as good as he believed, and that he might find himself outclassed by the mostly female novices who would be his classmates.  He didn’t know how to voice his discomfort, but he knew he was going to miss Garss immensely.
     
     
    “It’s getting late,” Garss said much later as he cast a glance at the nearly cloudless sky and the sun lower on the western horizon.  It was still too early for the city engineers to be making the rounds and lighting the street lamps that illuminated the main thoroughfare until late in the evening.  Only a few streets had the oil lamps, and then they were only used at the end of each eight-day week when enough people had time to be out late in the evening, but they made the village look different.  They weren’t the fancy magical glow lamps the capital and a few of the larger cities were said to have now, but their presence made the village seem more modern.  The heat of the day was already dissipating and the temperatures returning to a more comfortable level as evening approached, not that it ever was very cool this close to the wastelands with the constant heat coming out of the wilderness.
    “You promised your mom you’d be home by dinnertime,” Garss added.
    Fen sighed.  They might as well get started.  It was a long walk and the jugglers and acrobats that provided the shows on freedays had