[Mkguild] Life As We Know It IV

[Jack Moore]

AN: Well I got kicked out of school. The reason's are complicated, I posted
them on my FA page. It's due to a combination of paperwork and the school
wanting to set an example.

Life As We Know It - IV

March 31st 707
I was still exhausted when morning came. In the Metamor Keep Watch, you are
overworked and under rested.  We have too few Wardens and an entire valley
we theoretically protect.
I yawned and forced my frayed blue tabard over my dinosaur-style snout.  I
belted it at my waste, making sure to attach my sword, club and a length of
rope.  I straightend my uniform in the mirror.
'Not a stain, not a tear. Perfect.' There is a mindset about Wardens.
We’re incompetent or second rate knights.  When I become Justicar and lead
the Watch, I will change all of that.  Before then though there are small
things I can do, like look presentable.
If you don’t respect the uniform, you can’t expect anyone else too.
Kaysar was still asleep, now sleep growling.  It made me smile as I
watched.  'He’s so innocent.  Eli what did I do for you to bless me like
this?' Kaysar rolled over.  I kissed his forehead.
“Mommy has to go to work now Kaysar.” I whispered.  “I promise I’ll be back
tonight.”  He mewed and rolled over again.  I could wait…no Janelle.  You
have work. Always more work.  I left him asleep as I went off to protect
the Keep.


 I waited at my kitchen table until Mrs. Aubrah arrived.  She arrived with
a basket of food to cook later, over loaded to the point I could only see
the top of her head.
“Let me help you with this.” I grabbed the basket, only to discover she was
carrying a pot with her.  “How on Earth do you carry all of this?”
“With a lot of focus and luck.” The binturong said.  “I gotta bring my own
pot, yours is cracked.”
“I didn’t know that.” I said.
“That’s because you never use it and we ah all grateful to the gods for
it.” I rolled my eyes.  “You look tired.  Not sleep?”
“Not as well as I needed.” I said.  “Is it that obvious?”  Mrs. Aubrah got
a fire started.
“You got red eyes.” She said. I rubbed at them to wake myself up “Actually,
we need to talk.  I brought some sweet rolls for us for breakfast.”
“I don’t eat breakfast generally.” I said.  “I need to be off—
“Janelle we really gotta talk.  A meal won’t kill you.”  I sighed and sat
down, Mrs. Aubrah joining me at the table.  She handed me a large and very
sticky roll.
“I gotta ask about payment.” Mrs. Aubrah said.  “You haven’t paid me for a
month.”  My stomach dropped.  “I’m willing to overlook it Janie cuz I love
you and that wonderful son of yours.  But stuff like food?  That cost
money.”
“It does.” I ripped out a chunk of the roll.  “And I am sorry.  I’ve been
behind on money, I will pay you by tomorrow.  I’ve just…I’ve been busy.”
“I know.” Mrs. Aubrah said.  I could hear the sympathy in her voice but
their was still a resignation in it.  Her arm touched against mine.  “I
know how busy you are.  I know how underpaid you are.”
“I’m more underpaid lately.” I said.  “My rent for this place is up.  Wages
for the Watch have been delayed and Kaysar has outgrown all of his tunics.”
My tail thumped against the stone.  “I don’t know what we’re going to do
but I have an idea.”  Mrs. Aubrah cocked her head.
“They’re offering me a promotion, or the chance to be promoted.  To
Sergeant in the watch.  It comes with a pay raise and a more stable working
schedule.  All I have to do is work for the promotion and it will be mine.”
“That’s wonderful Janie!” Mrs. Aubrah crowed.  “You’ll get more money and a
better position.”  I turned my eyes back to the table.  “You still sound
kinda unsure.”
“It will still take a lot of work.  But I will have more money coming
in...and…”
'And I will be one step closer to becoming Justicar.' I didn’t say that,
but I didn’t need to.  Anyone who knows me knows my end goal.  To fix the
justice system of Metamor Keep.  No more Mean, Low and High, instead
universal justice for all.
I must have been lost in my own little world longer than I thought because
next thing I noticed was Mrs. Aubrah stroking my shoulder.
“You’d also have a lot more work and less time with Kaysar.  That’s
stressful ain’t it?”  I shook her arm off.  “Be honest with me Janelle.”
“I assure you that I am being honest when I say I am fine.”  It isn’t a lie
if you honestly believe it’s true.  “Yes the thought of a promotion and all
that comes with it is a source of stress but it’s worth it.”  Besides
finding that bull is a much bigger source.
“Alright.”  Mrs. Aubrah sighed.  “You know, I never had a kid of my own.
Getting to spend time with Kaysar is the best part of my week.  But he
misses his mamma.  All this Watch stuff stresses you but it stresses him
also.  Don’t let it eat you.”  My stomach started to churn.
“Everything will figure itself out.” I said, standing.  “Eli knows that has
been true in the past.  Now I must get to work now.”  Mrs. Aubrah nodded
but her eyes still burned into me.  I could feel them even as I was halfway
to work.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.integral.org/archives/mkguild/attachments/20170124/d38a2243/attachment.html>