Oracle (Book I)

First Lesson

"Don't get carried away. The baths are nice for any bathroom. Lessons starts soon. Bossa, that means you especially," warned Nezzle.

Bossa pouted and slunk off, carrying a towel, some kind of rough, cactus-shaped sponge, and cloth for washing.

Nezzle turned to her once the other girl disappeared inside a stall.

"That was for Bossa. Making sure she comes out a little early. She'll do anything to dodge Earithean's lesson, even loiter in the bath. You, Caprice, you take your time. Enjoy it."

Hugging her towel, Caprice went into the stall across the tiled floor from Bossa. She undressed, hanging her cloths and the towel on the hook outside. She expected to find a tub, pale, or pool behind the curtain. Instead she found a tiled area with odd spout protruding from the wall; it was conical and its face was flat with a dozens of holes in it. About level with her raised hands was a set of pale gold knobs. Frowning, Caprice touched one.

Water burst through the series of holes in the head of the spout. Caprice jumped against the furthest wall from the spout, heart pounding as she watched the water turn into heated mist and vanish at her feet. A slow smile curved her lips. Reaching hesitantly through the water, she touched another of the knobs and the water showering from the spout rained down in sawing pattern. Carefully, she edged away from the stall wall and beneath the raining water. It was like standing outside in hot, cleansing downpour. She giggled, touched another knob, and turned around to let the hot water spray in an S formation over her shoulders and the nape of her neck.

A row of colored bars lined the wall beneath the spout's knobs. She touched one. Soapy liquid that squirted into her hand; it smelled like lavender. She pushed the little tab on the same bar and it opened like a small door, revealing a bar of soap the same color as the liquid. She tried a few until she found one she liked and took the bar of soap from the other side of its little door. She fiddled with the knobs. As the water kept pouring over her, Caprice sighed and her shoulders loosened. This was so was much more relaxing than a bucket of water from the well and a communal bar of lye soap for a chilly bird's bath. She even took the time to lightly wash her hair.

Back in their room, Bossa was toweling off. Carrying her clothes and hitching her towel up, Caprice started to go over to the wardrobe in the corner by her bed only to remember it was empty. The only thing she had were the clothes in her hands. She glanced at her new friend. Caprice's jaw dropped and a laugh burst out of her.

Bossa was pulling stays on over her strange, short chemise, pulling the laces tight, and tucking the abbreviated ends of chemise into her short, tight breeches.

"What are you wearing?" It was even more outrageous and bold than what she wore yesterday. What was more, she was wearing velvet "shorts". "Shorts" was the only word Caprice could think of for the small, fitted breeches Bossa favored. The legs of the shorts stopped above mid-thigh and cording laced the crotch decoratively. Bossa's curvy figure had not gone unnoticed by Caprice and these garments hugged every one of those curves.

"Pretty nice, huh. It's what my idol wears. She's a fierce sorceress."

"Idol? Who is that?"

"I don't know yet." She shook her head. "But I dream about her sometimes. Must have seen or read about her somewhere."

"You're going to class wearing that?" Caprice was anxious just looking at her. It looked so showy. Nothing like anything Caprice had ever seen before let alone worn.

That earned her a shrug.

"Why not? It looks good on me, doesn't it?"

"It's very flattering," Caprice laughed.

Bossa sat on the edge of Caprice's bed and laced her calf-high boots. "That village of yours must be a sad place for kin if you can't even wear what you want."

"It's not mine, though it is the only place I know. Yes. Yes, it is sad."

"Are you wearing that towel to class? Or are you shy?" Before she could answer, Bossa hopped to her feet and went for the door. "I'll let you get dressed. Be right back."

The door closed. From the pocket of her worn skirts, Caprice plucked the giving pin bestowed on her by Professor Earithean and put it on the bed. She thought about the things she might need today. Undergarments. Paper. Assigned books. Something to write with. School robes. She thought of Bossa's garments and shook her head, smiling. Something modest... Perhaps shoes, if that wasn't asking too much.

Without realizing she'd closed her eyes, she opened them.

Everything she'd thought of and imagined in her mind was there on the bed. "It worked," Caprice whispered.

The eggshell-colored gown was plain and bore a simple embroidery around the edges of the bodice and hem. It was so simple and yet she was filled with a thankfulness for the little pin that had given her so much.

A few minutes later, Bossa came back into the room. She stopped and her head went back as she saw Caprice standing by her wardrobe. Caprice pulled a bag for school things onto her shoulder and closed the wardrobe door on the old clothes she'd hung inside.

"Look at you."

She had pulled her hair into a sort of rise in the front and tied the rest into a thick, high tail.

"I asked the pin Professor Earithean gave me for hair pins and a few hangers. That should be all right."

"Earithean gave you a pin that gives you stuff?" Bossa poked out her lip. "She didn't give me any such thing when I got here."

The door opened and Nezzle stuck her head inside. She whistled when she saw Caprice.

"The bath agreed with you. Ever prettier, Caprice."

"Thank you." Blushing, she shifted around in her new shoes.

"I wanted to walk with you, but I have to go ahead. Advanced Sorcery awaits."

"We'll see you soon then," said Bossa.

"I'll walk Caprice to history and encha then—that's Charms and Enchantments with Professor Mosshue. Don't make her late, Bohs, I mean it."

"As if I would." Bossa flapped a hand at her.

Nezzle ducked out of the room, leaving them together. Outside in the corridor, they joined other students leaving for lessons.

"Is your brother your only family?"

"No. I have another brother. Thackery. Two years younger. My mother and father are there."

"What about your grandmama? Mine is all I had after the white raiders came and the traitors started feeding us to them."

"She passed away." Caprice got a knot in her stomach for some reason. It wasn't just the mention of her grandmother. Bossa hadn't mentioned anything about her family or past until now and what she'd just said didn't sound good. It sounded no better than her own story.

"I'm sorry."

"It's been a long time. But we are still healing from her loss."

"She watches over you from The Wings. I'm sure of it."

Caprice didn't know what The Wings was but understood the sentiment and nodded. Her grandma probably would have touched her cheek and told her how pretty she looked. Taking a deep, wavering breath helped push her tears back.

Stopping and closing her eyes, Bossa murmured something. When they started walking again, Caprice asked, "What was that?"

"A prayer. In my tongue."

Bossa grabbed her hand and jogged ahead, pulling her along. She held onto the hand around hers.

"Let's hurry. Maybe if you're with me Earithean will be nice."

On the other side of the portrait as they came out, for the third time, Karrigan appeared. She grabbed Caprice's other wrist.

"There you are. We're leaving. I've received word that father is waiting."