BACK TO SCHOOL

  An imperial carriage travels in the early morning sun. “It’s test day, everyone ready? No guild badges allowed. Guys we can do this.” Milly cheers.

  Tanner gives her a smile, “She’s right, we are going to crush this test.”

  Mick nods his head, “Today’s written test is fine, We have the practical tomorrow ‘Legacy’ is over powered for the first year dungeon, there is no way we can do it as a party.”

  Tanner holds up his hands, “Guys worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. Today is the written. I’ll go over the plan if we all pass both semesters today. Not until.”

  A bouncing Claire holds Tanner, and Connie’s hands. “Just think we are two weeks ahead of everyone right now after today we will be a full semester ahead.” The others all smile.

  The carriage halts, and a footman opens the door and drops the steps. Legacy climbs out of the carriage to be met by Edward. “I hear the Adventurer's Guild had a naming. Congratulations. I will administer your test today. If you will please follow me I have a room set aside.” Once inside, they find ten monitors waiting for them. Edward turns to the small class, “Well you will have four tests this morning you have up to two hours per test. Once completed I will grade them. If you pass you will be given four more tests again you will have up to two hours per test. This will be a long day you may take a break after each test is complete, you will not talk to one another, or any one for that matter. A monitor will accompany you at all times today, even to the bathroom so I hope no one is shy. Meals will be brought here. Does anyone have questions?” The decuplet all shake their heads no. “You have assigned seats please find them and we can begin.”

  Twelve grueling hours later, Legacy sits in the Dean’s Office. Her large conference room filled to overflowing. Dean Liafinor calmly sits at the table’s head. A sweaty Edward on her right and an Imperial Justicar on her left. A truth orb sits on the table. The dean starts the conversation. “Congratulations you have all passed. You have all been accused of cheating. This is Benjamin Holt. He has brought this matter to my attention.”

  The Justicar stands looming over the table. “Just admit it this will go easier on you all.” Holt points at Edward and his assistants, “These people already failed an orb of truth investigation.” The room breaks into chaos, as everyone denies the accusation. An angry Mick stands.

  Tanner says, “Legacy stand down.” As his party sits back down. Tanner looks at Dean Liafinor, “Unless I have miss read the Darton rule book. This is not an imperial matter of law enforcement.”

  “You are correct, Justicar Holt has taken this matter upon himself.”

  Tanner looks at Holt with measured calm. “I see, where are our accusers? Under Imperial law we have the right to face them if we are being tried.”

  “You are not being tried.”

  Tanner pauses and pulls three folders out of storage. As he sits organizing the folders, he rubs his thumb on his left hand's ring finger. “We are not being tried, This is not a matter of imperial law. Yet you claim to have used a truth orb on imperial citizens. Care to explain?”

  The Justicar stands and slams his hand on the table, making it jump, snarling, “Listen boy you don’t question me I am the law.”

  Claire clears her throat. “T’s here.”

  Tanner nods. “Marta I have heard enough secure the prisoner.”

  Benjamin Holt slams into his seat. The chair cracking, his arms jerked out on to the table. The ring on his left hand is yanked off along with his figure.

  “Oops sorry about that.” Marta shrugs.

  As she tosses the finger to Tanner, Jax quips, “She just gave you the finger.” A chorus of, “Really Jackson,” and “That was horrendous.” echo around the table. Holt blusters, “You can not do this I am the voice of the law. Unhand me immediately.”

  Tanner opens one folder and slides it to the end of the table. Tanner locks his gaze with the Justicar. “I really do need the name of our accuser now.” Holt stiffens and locks his jaw tight. “Okay then. Sir Edward would you please tells us all what you said earlier that Holt here determined was a lie.” As Edward retells his story, the orb remains the red of a lie. Tanner then asks one monitor to tell her story, and the orb remains white. Tanner grins and tells the room he is the Imperial Princess Claire in disguise, and the orb turns blue. A color that orbs of truth do not use. “That is enchanted glass, this ring controls it.”

  A familiar voice sounds from the table's end. “That will be all Tanner, I and my people will take things from here. Legacy, you have all done well.”

  Tanner slides the other two folders down the table. Tolbur looks them over with a raised eyebrow. “If this is correct based on what we have in front of us now, this goes deeper than I thought. That Captain Smith of yours has done a marvelous job with you Tanner. I’ll take the prisoner off your hands.”

  An imposing figure strides in possessing a sack. He throws the sack over the former Justicar, cutting off his protests, and scoops the sack up. As he walks out the door, he gives Legacy a tight grin and a nod.

  Marta places a real orb of truth on the table. “We will just clear up any misunderstandings about my charges cheating. Sir Edward if you and your people will make statements to that effect we can move on and get grades and class standings. Please be aware everyone, other than the testing, this matter is sealed to the crown. I will have oaths to that or you will not leave this room.”

  After the excitement is over, everybody except the test takers, Sir Edward, and the Dean of Darton Academy, has left the room. Dean Liafinor pulls ten folders out of her storage ring, winking at Tanner, she begins. “So we have held you all in suspense long enough Edward will go over individual test scores and final grades. I will impart your current academic class standings for the first semester. As you all know you are two weeks from the semi-final exam. Your final semester standing may change. We will not know your final year-end class standing until the rest of your class has final exams. You are all currently the top ten for the semester and your year. Edward the meeting is yours.”

  “I would like to start off saying you all did well. I will go in order of standings lowest to highest. Mikhail, you are the lowest both for the semester and final grade. You received a 90 on the semi-final and a 91 on the final. For your year, 90.5. Well done, tenth place out of 1000 students. Even if by some chance another scores higher, you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

  Everyone claps and cheers for Mick, his friends knowing he was worried about his test scores.

  “Jackson, you received a 91 on the semi-final and a 92 on the final. For your year, 91.5 Also well done. Karnnadosandra, you received a 92 on the semi-final and a 92 on the final. For your year, 92 excellent. Lilly, you received a 96 on the semi-final and a 90 on the final. For your year 93, I know I keep repeating this, but I want you all to know how I feel about what you have accomplished. Excellent as well. Irisonalkillian, you received a 96 on the semi-final and a 93 on the final. For your year, 94.5 wonderful job fifth place out of 1000. Dylando, you received a 96 on the semi-final and a 96 on the final. For your year, 96 excellent job you are fourth in the class. Tanner, you have been bumped to third. I know there are four of you left. It will make sense by the time we are finished here. You received a 97 on the semi-final and a 97 on the final. For your year, 97. Our second highest class standing goes to Milena, you scored a 97 on the semi-final and a 98 on the final. For your year, 97.5 for the year. Now for first in the class standings. Connie and Claire are tied for the semi-final and the final. Along with first in the class. Both of you received a 100 on the semi-final and a 100 on the final. For your year, 100 you have exceeded my expectations. An amazing job, all of you.”

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  Dean Liafinor nods her head in agreement with Sir Edward. “Academically you have all done very well. Tomorrow is your practical dungeon test. You must clear both first year dungeons in two delves. We will have to adjust, as the tests are for parties, Legacy out levels both Dungeons. I will have you each run them solo. This is what the upper class men do for extra money. The campus has safe guards for individual dives. I am afraid if your entire team enters you will enrage both and we will pay hell getting things back to normal. Please look over standard Guild policies before entering. I would prefer Darton monitor our own. However my predecessor signed a contract that has proven to be difficult to break. I want no trouble with them please.”

  Legacy agrees to look things over. The dean dismisses them for the night. “Get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a long day as well.”

  As all rise to leave, Jax asks, “Why did they accuse us of cheating? And how did they know we were testing today? And who are they?”

  Dean Liafinor pauses, “Three worthy questions. I keep such thing confidential as does Edward. Did one of you mention this to anyone?”

  Milly looks horrified. “I said something to Janice yesterday. She wanted to study today, I told her we would be too busy taking exams today. She wouldn’t say anything, would she?” Worked up to the point of tears, Milly slumps to her chair.

  Tanner walks to the distraught girl and rubs her shoulders, “It’s fine Milly, everybody makes mistakes. Just remember everything we do has to be kept to ourselves. Okay? Now if you make this mistake going forward. You get to spank Jester.”

  She raises her tear-stained face to smile at the joke. Then asks, “What now? Did I make things harder?”

  “Honestly we have to ask Janice who she told, and go from there. Yes it does make things a little harder, but now you know not to make the same mistake. You are a smart woman, you are doing just fine as a member of Legacy.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “We don’t know if she even told anyone. It may have gotten to the wrong people another way. Don’t beat yourself up. We had a hard day and gained excellent rewards. Don’t diminish your accomplishments today. It has been a successful day for us all.”

  “Sorry to bother you Harry, Any idea where Tolbur is?”

  “Hey Tanner, you all passed, congratulations. Tolbur is currently looking deeper into the mess you uncovered, why?”

  “Someone set him on us we are wondering who and why.”

  “I can answer that one. A young man by the name Bill Clap. You know him?”

  “Know him? No, seen him around school and he was with Janice Gleason at Quincy’s the other night. He met with the children of the Delvers Guild treasurer and vice leader. It looks like Janice may have told him then.”

  Harold cautions, “Tanner it may look that way, but use caution. Verify the facts. Do not assume anything in an investigation. You know this I am sure.”

  “I am headed out to talk to her in a few minutes. I was hoping Tolbur had more information before I talk to her. I really thought she was coming around. Maybe not. Harry don’t work too hard.”

  “Bree is handling the empire’s day to day, I am just going over the last three years of decisions made. That curse hit me harder than the rest of the Imps. Tanner be careful, this is just the tip of the iceberg, you uncovered corruption in the Justicar system, all three stationed at Darton, and it seems more of the academies may have the same, and the academy guards maybe involved.”

  “Sounds like home sir.” Tanner says, frowning. “I’ll warn everyone before I leave.”

  An hour later finds Milly and Tanner standing outside, knocking on Janice’s dorm room door. They hear a sleepy, “Just a minute.” Call from inside. They wait for her to open the door. The peep hole darkens, and then the door opens. “It’s late, what are you doing here so late?”

  Milly nods her head in agreement. “Sorry, Janice we need to talk it is important.”

  “Let me get my robe on. Come in.”

  Janice dons her robe and turns to Milly. “What’s this about, Tanner what are you doing here in my room, I didn’t see you.” Blushing, furiously she scrambles to throw her blankets around her besides her robe. “Your not supposed to be in my room after dark.”

  “Since when, what are you talking about?”

  “The rules, your not allowed after dark.”

  “Sorry Janice that's not true, there are not any chaperon rules on campus between consenting adults.”

  Milly interrupts. “That’s not important. Janice did you tell anyone we were taking our year end test today?”

  “What? No of course not, I told you I wouldn’t.”

  Tanner looks her in the eyes, “You sure about that? Did you say something in passing or anything at all?”

  “No I really didn’t. Our friendship means a lot to me. I want you guys to trust me. Why what's going on?”

  Tanner shakes his head and paces a few steps. Milly explains they were accused of cheating, Janice, wide-eyed in shock gasps. “No way I would not have.”

  Tanner pauses, looking closely at an abstract painting. Startled, Tanner straightens up, then raises and clenches his fist. Milly, catching his gesture, puts a hand on Janice’s mouth, and one hand over her own. Tanner motions for them to step outside of the room. Leaving the door open, Tanner leads the two women down the hall. Stopping a few feet away, he asks, “Janice where did you get that painting? I think it has a listening ward on it. I can’t be sure, I don’t know enough about wards to be positive. I think I am right though.”

  “It was a gift from my boyfriend.”

  “Bill? Bill Clap is that your boyfriend’s name?”

  “Yes why?”

  Tanner slumps and mutters. “Crap,” with a sigh he stands straighter. “Jan this is very serious. After school today I want you to go to the palace alone. Tell no one, including your dad. We will meet after our dives tomorrow. This is important we need to meet off campus and you need to be alone. Got it?”

  “Can I ask why?”

  “Your life is at stake Janice things are not what they seem and you can only trust Legacy. Please meet us.”

  “Who is Legacy?”

  Milly smiles, “Us our party is named Legacy.”

  “Really? cool name.”

  “Thanks you agree you will meet us tomorrow?”

  Janice nods, “yes tomorrow after school.”

  The next day dawns gray and chill, the late fall weather finally giving way to the colder temperatures of early winter. Tanner, calm but sleep addled from a late night of studying the rules. Claire, bouncing on her toes with excitement. Connie, wide-eyed with anticipation, stands at the academy's dungeon complex, feeling the slight wind chill.

  Connie tugs her friends along. “Let’s go in, we can wait for the others at the first dungeon.” Tanner and Clair give in to their friend's eagerness.

  Lane, with a laugh asks them, “Eager this morning Connie?”

  The trio, accompanied by their bodyguards, walk to the desk maned by the Delver’s Guild representative and two academy guards. “Why are you three with us today anyway?” Connie asks.

  “We won’t be interrupting your classes today just standing around waiting for you all to finish. The special squads are around too.

  “First years are not allowed here, leave immediately and we will not report this infraction.”

  “Claire steps forward we are Legacy, you have our tokens in that bag addressed to us.” Pointing at the bag, she narrows her eyes, “Why is the seal broken?”

  Lane steps forward, snatching the bag faster than any can react. When she dumps the open bag into her hands, only five tokens fall out. The three attendants shift their feet nervously. Lane asks. “Why is this seal broken and five tokens missing? You will answer now.”

  The larger guard puffs up and tells everyone. “We searched the bag for contraband.”

  “This is Dean Liafinor’s seal. Do you really expect us to believe that? Where are the other five tokens?”

  The guardsman takes an involuntary step back. “They are being delivered.”

  The guild rep. Speaks for the first time. “I ordered the search, can’t be to careful after all.”

  Tanner, so far has remained silent, allowing Lane to address the situation. At the guild rep’s statement, he can not hold his temper. “You have no rights to order that you have broken privacy laws. This is an academic matter the guild has no standing. Return our stole properties,”

  The confrontation is interrupted by the dungeon pillar flashing a returning party. Four students stumble out of the portal. Two fall to their knees vomiting. The others looking shocked and frightened. Tanner, seeing the foursome that made up Janice’s party, without Janice, grabs Connie’s arm and two tokens, dragging her to the pillar. One guard attempts to cut them off. Lane’s knife slams into the man’s eye, dropping him to the ground. Tanner orders his companion. Touch the pillar and say, “Rescue.” The couple disappear just as the rest of Legacy arrives.

  to the auditorium and settled into the witness area. I will leave two squads to wait for them. Move out please.”