Chapter 19
For the two week break between years, I didn't have enough time to go home. I stayed at the school, and browsed the library for any information I could use. I didn't find much that I hadn't already learned, read, or already figured out, but it helped passed the time. A few other students also stayed in, as they, like me, had families that were farther away than we had time to get to them. I suppose the Copter Pattern might have gotten me home faster, I still didn't have the strength to run it for that long. Although I could run it for a few minutes now.
One day, I ended up with a visitor. The students manning the front desk sent a runner up to my room. Apparently, someone wanted to see me, and the runner was in awe of whoever it was, because he looked up at me as if I was nobility. I went downstairs to the front desk to see who it was, as that got me curious.
A well dressed man, who looked at me like I was a peasant, waited for me at the front desk. Looking down at me he said, "Are you Jorth, son of Marta and Jarrod?" The contempt in his voice was clear, and immediately put me on edge.
"Yes...." I said, hesitantly. I really didn't want to deal with this guy, but the quickest way to get rid of him was to see what he wanted. "What can I do for you?"
"Come with me, your presence is requested at the Palace." At his words, mutterings began among the few students who remained. Great, more rumors. Not that I needed more rumors on top of what's already happened to me.
"Who at the Palace would even know who I am?" I asked.
"The Palace knows more than you think, peasant. Now come." With that, he turned around and began walking out the door, fully expecting me to follow, as if me disobeying his instructions never ever crossed his mind. I seriously though about just going back to my room, but I didn't think that would be a good idea. If someone in the Palace wanted me, the Academy couldn't protect me long. Most likely, the Headmaster would turn me over the second he heard I hadn't gone like I was asked.
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I slowly followed the man out, while whispers surrounded me of why they wanted me at the Palace. I heard every theory, long lost son to threatened the Emperor. I was wanted for my own kidnapping, I was too young to be as powerful as I was, so I must know some youth Pattern. I didn't think any of those theories were correct, though a few did sound plausible.
The trip didn't take too long. The Palace wasn't that far from the Academy. As we entered, the man walked like he owned the place. Servants got out of his way, quickly. Some bowed a little, or had a look of fear in their eyes when they saw him. I couldn't imagine this was a good guy, from the looks I saw. I did not hear whispers here, not in his presence.
As we walked, I looked for Patterns and saw more than I could ever imagine. I wasn't able to decode any. Most looked old, almost unraveling. Others looked brand new. Some of the new ones looked a lot like the old ones, but I couldn't tell if they were the same. The Patterns were way more complex than anything I had ever seen before. As I didn't have time to study any of them, and still hadn't figured out how to have a photographic memory, I just looked at them, and continued walking.
We walked up the central hallway, which looked more like a Cathedral, until we reached a pair of gigantic doors. They easily would top 5 yards wide and 10 yards tall. Embedded in the doors were thousands of intricate details that I couldn't even begin to decipher. If this was an RPG, it would be like me having a 10 in Int, while whoever designed this had a 50. That thought actually gave me an idea for a Pattern I wanted to try, but that would be later. Right now, I was watching this guy literally tap the doors in front of us, which were about 1 foot thick, causing the doors to swing open slowly.
A pair of guards were on the inside of the door. They saw the man, and immediately saluted. He leaned in and spoke with one. While they were speaking, I looked around and what I saw froze me in place. Dozens of nobles were standing around. In the center, a red carpet ran towards a throne. What froze me solid, was the sight of a man, sitting on the throne. A man, who should not exist here. He was fully human. He was wearing a crown and carried a scepter. He wore a long, soft, flowing purple robe. On the right breast of his robe, was sewn in a patch that should not exist here. On the left breast, was another patch, written in a language that also shouldn't exist here.
The right was the logo of NASA, in the 80's. A stylized red NASA on a white background. The left was a name. In English. Written white on a black background. A name I had once seen in my early life on Earth. A man who died, along with six others in a horrific accident. A man, who had the name "Dick" on his name tag. If I recall my history from Earth, is full name was Francis Scobee. The Commander of the Challenger crew.
He looked over at me, smiled, and said in perfect English, "Welcome, Jorth. Or do you prefer John? Mr. Stiltson? Any way, you may call me Dick," motioning to his name tag, "and we have much to discuss. Come."
