Howard’s Final

Note: I’m teaching creative writing to my 8th graders. I got a little too into the worldbuilding segment we did. And I spent the next day writing when I should have graded…worth it! Welcome to another land: the Aurum Ledger Empire. We’ll begin in Ledger’s Reach, an island just off the coast…

The Aurum Ledger has known peace for nearly 300 years – 298 exactly, according to The Ledger. That was Howard Vencair’s first line of his graduate paper for the Ledger School. He looked over the shoulder of his best friend, Benji Scravven, who skirted away when he felt Howard’s breath. Howard backed off, reminding himself of Benji’s skittishness. Benji whipped his head around, long, black, coarse hair like a horse quickly revealing his suspicious face. Howard was smiling still, energized to be this close to graduation. Benji’s scrunched face returned to his face of few emotions. After several years, Howard knew how to find Benji’s true feelings, able to assess his friend in a moment. To others, Benji was off putting.

“I thought you were Ansel. Gods, I hate that kid,” Benji whispered, eyes flashing ahead at Instructor Tovren, who continued lecturing at the podium.

“Ansel? He’s nothing to be afraid of,” Howard giggled.

“Who said–” 

“Gentlemen, might one of you summarize the last sentence I spoke,” It was a question from Instructor Tovren, who was suddenly not more than six feet away.

“Well, Instructor Tovren,” Howard began.

“The final paper will be due next Thursday,” Benji finished.

“Yes, Master Benji. Thank you for focusing.” Instructor Tovren attuned his eyes to Howard for a sliver of gold’s time. Tovren performed a perfect about face, returning to his pulpit.

“Meet me after school,” Howard whispered, blowing Benji’s hair again.

It was the sixth bell of the day, marking the high place of the sun. Spring’s tangy mud softened winter’s empty frost scent. Howard trekked with Benji to their meeting place in the wood’s just behind the Ledger Guild School, conveniently located on the outskirts of Howard’s family plot. Howard and Benji, walking normally on the worn trail interspersed with other students and instructors, dipping between trees and ducking in the shrubs. The remainder of the faculty and students continue on towards home for most, the tavern for a few, and others to a more frowned upon destination. 

“What is this meeting called for?” Benji asked, laying in the worn hammock they had established behind a web of leaves and moss.

“I’d like an update on the party plans,” Howard grinned, gripping the front of his chair as he yanked himself under shelter. It was beginning to rain.

“At First Weight’s? All set, my friend. Or are you asking if Mira has decided to come?” Benji projected one of his rare winks. Despite the teasing, Howard treasured these occasions.

Yet a blush rose on his face. “I mean, I’m still curious if she’s coming. But are we sure we’ll be alone there? Just the class?”

“My sister hasn’t heard any rumors at the trading yards or inns,” Benji bit into a nut.

Howard stopped leaning his chair on two legs. He thought briefly of Mira, her small and slightly upturned nose, eyes that sang opera tragedies or comedies. All through the two years of first memorizing the empire’s history and then assessing its future potential, Howard watched Mira. Bright and ambitious Mira. It did and it didn’t help that she was a close member of their friend group. Not only did Howard direct his attention to mostly her in the confines of the dark oak and mahogany classrooms, he found her out in the taverns, library, or elsewhere. But he had yet to declare his true thoughts. He hadn’t told Benji or Gideon. Benji didn’t need to be told – he knew. Gideon, on the other hand, took everything literally and hadn’t been entrusted with a secret in six years. 

Benji watched him zone off, knowing too well where Howard had left for. Benji tossed the nut shelling at his friend, striking him on the shoulder. 

Howard shuddered, “Thanks, brother.”

“Was that the only reason you called this assembly of two?”

“Yeah,” Howard smiled, “What are you writing for your paper’s thesis?”

Benji laughed, a more rare moment. His laughs were unprocessed jolts of straight endorphins. Howard joined in, cackles rising like flames from a bonfire.

“Hiya, lads,” a voice described as soft and littering by Howard – tolerable by Benji – called.

Mira Vaelcroft lept out from a stump. Howard froze, immediately processing potential rebuttals if she had been there long enough to hear the boys talk about her. In fact, Mira had made her way underneath the webbing just when Howard had thanked his friend. She waited for Howard or Benji to speak. That’s what her mother taught her: announce your entry with gusto and then wait for a remark. Howard never disappointed.

“Hello, Mira,” he nearly shrieked. Benji judged his friend’s poor attempt at not acting surprised.

“What are our thesis statements…ladies?” Mira snorted at Howard.

“Miss Howard’s states: Ledger Reach serves as a critical service for the empire due to its natural port, proximity to the capital, and centerpoint of trading,” Benji enjoyed ganging up on Howard.

Howard reddened, “How did you know that?” 

“He can tell you what we wrote in our last course too,” Mira said.

Howard knew this, and was glad he didn’t have to make an excuse for talking about her. 

“We could use my father’s study to write these papers right now,” Mira offered.

“I’m going to work on my own,” Benji said expectedly.

This left Howard in an awkward position. Benji was both cautious to show his writing routine and hopeful his friend might act on his affection soon. He was surprised when Howard accepted Mira’s offer. Surprised and proud. Benji bid his friends farewell, taking the cobblestone path Howard lived on to where it met with the Road of Trade. Benji’s parents occupied a modest household, employing a maid and cook. These were requirements to have steps unfolding on the Road of Trade.

Howard and Mira stepped over the cobblestone path and entered another wooded area, although much smaller than the area between Howard’s home and school. Mira could just see glints of the cobblestone if she looked intently through the telescope in her father’s study. Although Mira’s father helped run the Office of the Governor, they lived just off the Road of Trade, one house back.

Regardless of their distance from the vital road that ran along the island’s port and the modesty of the Vaelcroft’s estate, Mira’s parents were well liked and established. As General Inspector, Castien serves the Governor in an unofficial capacity. Officially, Castien is the Official Messenger of the Office of the Governor, which answers any potentially hazardous questions.

Castien Vaelcroft gave Mira access to his study two years ago as a place to study. It meant secreting away certain documents and tools of the trade, but worth it to assist his only daughter in making her new life. Mira opened the simple door that led to her father’s study. Inside, a fireplace and books. One fireplace. Many books. Castien had one book that provides access to a safe, but he doubted Mira would find it. 

Instead, Mira and Howard snatched a bundle of non-gilded paper. They were required to hand in a final copy written on the official parchment of the Aurum Ledger, but they had a few drafts ahead. Howard’s attention was torn between Mira and his essay at hand. Howard once considered the possibility of splitting whatever cord there was that kept his eyes in the same direction. Maybe he could observe more with his eyes in different directions. Mira, much to Howard’s gratitude, remained unaware, ignorant of her friend’s thoughts.

“What’s your essay on, Mira?” Howard loved to say her name.
“I’m studying the history of the First Weight Sanctum,” Mira said, flipping a page. “Did you know some people think there’s still a cult guarding the artifact? They say it’s the most holy relic from a thousand years ago.”
Howard looked up, one brow raised. “A cult? Still active?”
Mira didn’t smile. “My dad says it’s totally false—‘drunken dock talk,’ he called it. But I don’t know. The more I’ve read, the more it feels like someone’s trying to bury it.”
She tapped her book, General Knowledge of Heretics and Antagonists. “There’s a passage in here that mentions a group called the Weightbound. No one’s confirmed it, but I found three references that link them to the Sanctum.”

“Speaking of the Sanctum…are you coming to the party this weekend?” Howard couldn’t believe the words came out of his mouth. All I need is a transition!

Mira looked up from her book, General Knowledge of Heretics and Antagonists.

“I haven’t decided yet. Should I?” she grinned dangerously, lifting the line of friendship for Howard to duck under and say what he wanted.

“I don’t see why not,” Howard felt Mira’s move, but couldn’t discern the meaning, “we’ll all be there. Plenty of ale and a fire.”

Mira laughed inside, silly Howard. “You had me at ale!”

“Well, Mira,” Howard said, voice caught between nerves and ceremony. “I wonder if you might walk with me?”

Mira propped her head up on her hands, elbows on the table between them, “As what? Friends?”

He didn’t answer immediately, doubt preventing the breath in his lungs to vibrate his vocal chords. Mira waited.

“I don’t want to ruin what we have now,” Howard finally said.

“And what do we have?”

“Trust. Camaraderie. We get along.”

“And how might you ruin it?” Mira questioned.

Howard met her eyes, “By telling you that I want more.”

At first, Mira was shocked, surprised by Howard’s bravery, the way his eyes stopped wavering. Mira couldn’t see the sweat beading on the back of his neck or his shaking leg. Howard was ready to run, stop seeing anyone on Ledger Reach, and swim to the mainland. Mira wondered if Howard would say more.

She decided to be kind. “Pick me up with the rising of the moon.”

Chapter II: The Fifth Coin