Assigning Blame, Part IV
Master Moudren led Sirshi to the second floor of the castle. On her first day, Master Daktra had told her that apprentices weren’t allowed on the second floor without a master present. It was full of administrative rooms about which apprentices didn’t need to worry.
It didn’t look that special. They walked down a corridor with doors on it, just like the corridors on the first floor. But she still felt a creeping sense of dread, made worse by the eerie silence.
“Remember,” Master Moudren said in a low voice, “do not speak unless spoken to. Be respectful to everyone. Keep your voice down. Deep breaths. Do whatever you have to do to remain calm.”
“Yes, Master Moudren.”
Despite her fury toward Master Indyur, the weight of the situation was getting to her. She hoped her friends would be there, which itself was a strange feeling. Yet, thinking of them made Sirshi feel a little better about it.
When they rounded a corner, Sirshi saw Master Indyur and Lady Runslo waiting for them. The slightest hint of a smirk from Master Indyur made her blood boil, but she forced herself to stay calm.
Lady Runslo’s eyes were half open, as they were every time Sirshi had seen her. Her hair was cut close on one side, but fell almost to her shoulders on the other, a style which Sirshi liked, if only because it annoyed her parents. Her tan skin stuck out, but being from Alforn never seemed to bother her. In fact, nothing ever seemed to bother her.
“Master Moudren,” Lady Runslo said in a voice that sounded half asleep. “And Apprentice Sirshi. I hope all is well in your worlds today.”
The two of them bowed to her.
“This is wonderful,” Lady Runslo said, “everyone’s here. Let’s all go inside and work this out.”
Lady Runslo opened the door and led them inside. A single podium stood at the opposite end, which Lady Runslo took. Sirshi took her place in front of the podium, with Master Moudren on her immediate left and Master Indyur farther to her right.
Sirshi tried to push down her disappointment at her friends not being there. Oshal’s blind optimism and Kurgm’s faith that it would be alright would’ve made her feel a lot better about this.
“Master Moudren’s ability to be Apprentice Sirshi’s master has been called into question,” Lady Runslo said, still sounding like she would fall asleep at any minute. “After reviewing the information provided by her and others, I have concluded that there is a real concern here. The big concern is that Apprentice Sirshi is resistant to learning respect for servants of the court. Several small instances were seen by Master Daktra during her first year, but the other priests at the Temple of the Rising Sun say she’s way chilled out. But the big ones are her yelling at Master Ekla, and now Master Indyur. That’s not okay for someone a few months away from starting her fifth-year assignment. I’ve spoken with Master Ekla, Master Daktra, and the other priests at the temple. There were a bunch of people that were witness to both incidents.” She put her focus right on Sirshi. “Apprentice Sirshi, Master Ekla tells me that your relationship isn’t the greatest. Would you say that’s correct?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Your friends say you’re both different people when you’re together, and Master Moudren said she’s taken steps to avoid the two of you starting an argument. This sounds to me like a master that recognizes her apprentice’s shortcomings. Apprentice Sirshi, did Master Moudren give you instructions for Master Indyur’s visit?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“What were they?”
Sirshi wracked her brain for what Master Moudren had told her.
“If I needed to take a break, I was allowed to excuse myself.”
Lady Runslo turned her half open gaze to Master Moudren.
“Master Moudren, why did you tell her that?”
“Because Master Indyur can be difficult to work with at times, and I know Apprentice Sirshi has trouble getting along with people such as Master Indyur.”
“So once again, it sounds like Master Moudren knows Apprentice Sirshi super well. But Apprentice Sirshi still didn’t respect Master Indyur as a servant of the court, isn’t that correct, Master Indyur?”
“Completely so,” Master Indyur said. The sound of her voice grated on Sirshi’s nerves. “She raised her voice far beyond anything I’ve ever heard from an apprentice, much less from one addressing a servant of the court. It might be the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
Probably because everyone does it to your back.
You’re going to have to apologize to Master Indyur.
Her sister’s words echoed in her head. How could she apologize to this woman? Sirshi hadn’t done anything wrong! It was all Master Indyur’s fault!
Lady Runslo leaned over her podium and stared into Sirshi’s eyes. Sirshi didn’t know what she was doing, but she had trouble returning her gaze.
“Apprentice Sirshi,” Lady Runslo said without breaking her creepy stare, “what would you do if I insulted Apprentice Roshil right now?”
Sirshi didn’t know how to respond to that. That was not among the questions for which she’d been preparing over the past few days.
“I’m not sure, My Lady.”
“Apprentice Roshil was a rare case among apprentices. Most of them are decided entirely by their officer, with the others making a routine vote for them. But I don’t really like her vibes, so I voted against her. I don’t really like her being here.”
Thoughts raced through Sirshi’s mind. What was she talking about? Why wouldn’t she want Roshil at the court? She was different, that was all. Like Aonva, and Kurgm, and Oshal, and Nourd. Like Sirshi. There was nothing wrong with Roshil, and Sirshi was tired of people treating her like there was.
She met Master Moudren’s gaze for a second. Master Moudren didn’t think that. She liked Sirshi and her friends. Not many people did, but she’d always liked her. This wasn’t about Sirshi or her friends, this was about the nicest person Sirshi had ever met.
“With all due respect, My Lady,” Sirshi said, struggling to keep her voice calm, “Apprentice Roshil is different. But so am I. So are our friends. And… she has done a lot for the Temple of the Rising Sun. And for me, by being my friend. I’m… sorry that I disrespected servants of the court. Master Moudren warned me, but I didn’t listen. It was my fault, not hers.”
A lazy smile spread across Lady Runslo’s face. She motioned to Master Indyur.
“I’m not the one to whom you need to apologize.”
Sirshi turned to Master Indyur. She fought the urge to punch her stupid face as she bowed.
“I’m sorry that I showed you disrespect.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you did.” Master Indyur glared at Sirshi, then turned back to Lady Runslo. “My Lady, this wasn’t an isolated incident.”
“What I’ve seen here today suggests otherwise,” Lady Runslo said. “Apprentice Sirshi is chill, and so willing to acknowledge her mistakes. If she keeps being all that, I’m sure she’ll be giving off good vibes in no time. Everything’s great here. Hearing over.”
She stepped down from the podium, then walked out of the room. With one last glare at them, Master Indyur followed her. Master Moudren and Sirshi were the last to leave.
“I’m so proud of you,” Master Moudren said as they left.
Sirshi felt a strange warmth. What was that feeling? She wasn’t sure, but she liked it.
“Thank you.”
Sirshi was excited to have everything done with. She’d done it. Her skin was still crawling from having to apologize to Master Indyur, but she’d done it.
“I’m glad that’s over,” she said.
“For now, it is,” Master Moudren said. “We’ll need to keep an eye out for Master Indyur in the future. I’m not sure she’s going to let this go.”
“Why does she have ‘good vibes’ and not Roshil?” Sirshi thought for a moment. “What are vibes?”
“I’ve been here for many years, and I still have no idea,” Master Moudren said.
Despite everything, Sirshi started laughing. Master Moudren joined her for a moment, then shushed her.
“We’re still on the second floor. We’ve got to be quiet.”
Sirshi stifled her laughter. She’d done it. They’d survived another complication. They were still together. It was like Olmgra taught them: All will be well.