At Somersby-Too Far from Home

[makesthings]

The wind was blowing from the South and Sameth wished he could change it, but the Charter wasn't even there.

Today in class, Cochrane had been lecturing them on the merits of democracy and kept giving him pointed looks so that he had to try and speak up for monarchy.

It was horrible and he didn't do a good job of explaining things since so much of it depended on the Charter and explaining his family's hard history.

In the end, he didn't feel like much of a prince and going outside didn't help since nothing felt quite real enough.

So he ended up in his room staring down at a piece of paper and wishing for ideas, but all the things that he wanted to do needed the Charter.

Comments

[wordofa_sayre]

"Window," he gasps, as he stops moving from rung to rung and hangs still. "Before he gets up here. Can climb out that way, there's a ledge--"

Nick begins to swing back and forth, back and forth, picking up momentum in what looks like preparation for a jump.

"Just let me--"

[makesthings]

"Nick, stop that, the ladder might go."

He keeps edging towards Nick on the rafters and going over spells in his head as he grumbles in Nick's direction,

"Why couldn't you do this someplace useful where I can actually do something? Wyverly was at least closer to the Wall, Mother and Ellie were trained there. Don't put too much pressure or you'll crack the ladder!"

[wordofa_sayre]

"No time," he snaps. "Look out, on three-- one--"

The ladder creaks with the force of his swing, and slips a little further down the bronze face of the bell.

"Two--"

--creak, slip--

"Three!"

As Nick launches himself forward into the air, toward the catwalk, Sameth's dire prediction comes true. The end of the ladder cracks and splinters against the bell, jerking Nick up shorter than he'd expected.

The result of this is that instead of getting enough forward momentum to slam into the stone wall and let it take some of the force of his landing, it's the already-overstrained catwalk that takes the brunt of it as he crashes into Sameth, instead.

Wood shatters under them, and the two young men go tumbling down in a wild flailing spiral of arms and legs, landing with a crash on the stairs below amid a storm of broken boards and splintered pieces of what used to be the bell tower catwalk.

[makesthings]

At the sound of the crash, the men who were below start running and look down at the sprawl of wood and bruised young men.

Sameth groans and looks up to Marks' face and the sounds of a gathering crowd,

"Do you have an explanation for this Mister Sayre and Your Highness? Perhaps you both think that the rules aren't meant for you. Your families will be hearing about this. On your feet and clear up this mess."

[wordofa_sayre]

"We're all right, sir, thanks for asking."

Nick winces as he struggles upright, brushing wood chips from his school uniform, and then directs a cheerfully brazen grin at Marks.

"Good thing Sam and I happened to find that weak spot on the catwalk, eh? Someone might have been hurt going up to ring the bell!"

[makesthings]

Sam groans again as he stands up, there's no way Nick can talk them out of this. Marks glares at Nick and Sam though Nick gets most of it,

"Yet to get in here to check for a weak spot, you just happened to unlock the door? You'll have to do better than that, Mister Sayre if you ever to follow in your uncle's footsteps. Perhaps you have an explanation, your highness."

With a weak smile, Sam looks at Marks and tries to think of some reasoning,

"Well, sir. You know that I do have an interest in how things are made and built. So Nick thought he'd show me the fine craftsmanship of the old bell."

[wordofa_sayre]

This time Nick's wince has nothing to do with his bruises. Still, he rallies aand tries again.

"It was locked?" he starts, only to be cut short by an inarticulate noise as Marks swells up, turning purple with temper, at which point the Games Master steps out from behind Marks and glares them both before turning to Sameth.

"I'm pleased to hear that you have an interest in something, your Highness," Cochrane spits. "We'll have to see if we can occupy your time in putting it to use."

[makesthings]

When Cochrane appears, Sam tries to make himself smaller and winces more, shifting so that he's almost behind Nick,

"I'm glad to be of use, sir. Nick and I always are."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Quite right."

He hastily finishes dusting off his jacket with overlarge movements, trying to distract Cochrane's attention from Sam.

"Before we start cleaning this up, we'll just nip on over to the infirmary, sir -- have Sam here checked over before the big match coming up, you know. If that's all right?"

[makesthings]

Cochrane will not be that easily distracted though his shouting has moved the crowd closer, he opens his mouth but one of the boys tugs at his sleeve,

"Were they badly hurt, sir? We can't see and can't lose both of them before the match."

"Of course they're not badly hurt and let go of me. You are both very lucky that you are so vital to the First Eleven."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Yes, sir," Nick agrees, not moving, trying to discreetly signal Sam to stay still, too. "Thank you, sir."

At hearing this, Marks sputters and protests,

"Cochrane, you can't possibly be serious-- you're just going to let them get away with--"

The Games Master turns on him with a snarl.

"Are you questioning my judgment?"

[makesthings]

"Yes, they broke into a locked building, destroyed the catwalk and who knows what damage they've done to the bell."

Marks almost yells at Cochrane who gives him a look,

"Then if you wish to see the reputation of Somersby as the finest school for cricket in all Ancelstierre be lost than do as you see fit."

"Now see here, I wasn't saying that."

"What were you saying?"

"Not that."

Both the teachers have turned towards each other as they fight, completely ignoring the boys except that they are the subjects of discussion.

Sam isn't sure what to do and leans over to whisper to Nick, "What now?"

[wordofa_sayre]

"Door," Nick mutters back, out of the corner of his mouth. "Go. Now."

He backs one step toward the door, then another, keeping a careful eye on the argument as he moves.

[makesthings]

The argument is growing louder as somehow it devolved into the merits of the players and Marks' and Cochrane's general failings.

Sam nods and turns since he's just slightly closer to the door and slips through before waiting for Nick.

[wordofa_sayre]

The rest of the students, not having any wish to end up as targets of the teachers' anger, have started to disperse.

Nick holds his breath, takes three more steps back, and turns to dart through the door after Sam.

It's just his bad luck that a broken piece of wood cracks under his foot as he does, bringing Marks's head around with a jerk.

"SAYRE!"

"Yes sir -- infirmary, right now, absolutely -- " Nick hastily sketches a half-bow to Cochrane, then without waiting for an answer, bolts the rest of the way through the door.

"Run for it!"

[makesthings]

The yell makes Sam wince and grabs Nick's sleeve to pull him and run. At least Cochrane's forgotten about him for now.

Somewhere halfway across the field he starts laughing with relief and hits Nick in the arm,

"I've got bandages in my room. We're not explaining this again."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Suits me."

Nick claps him on the shoulder in turn, grinning.

"Come on. Let's get out of here."