‘A jester was an entertainer of sorts who catered to the royal courts of the time. Because he was, as some put it, a fool, he had latitude to make fun of his social superiors. It’s said that many wise kings took the words of their jesters to heart when some joke was made of their actions. The fool was pointing out that the king was not, perhaps, taking the wisest course of action. You are clearly no fool, but you don’t let social niceties get in the way of pointing out flaws. I think I like that. It could be very useful.’
Nava gave a shrug. ‘I’m not big on social niceties. You might even get my vote for president if your actions match your words.’
‘I’d v-vote for you,’ Melissa put in. ‘Um, might I ask w-why someone like you is using the b-baths all the way out here? You m-must have better ones c-closer to your ap-partment.’
‘Probably,’ Mitsuko replied. She stretched. It was a little like watching a cat waking up after a good nap. ‘Today is my birthday. Of all days to start at a new school, I have to do it on my birthday. If I were to spend my evening where my social equals spend most of their time, I would be faced with too many people inclined to false flattery and I’d want to challenge someone to a duel before curfew. I am, I suppose, in hiding.’
‘H-happy b-birthday.’
‘Thank you. It’s just another year to add to the collection.’
‘Every year above ground is a year to be celebrated,’ Nava countered.
‘You are an enigma, Nava Ward. I’m going to keep an eye on you.’
‘If you wish. I think you’ll be quite bored doing that, but if it’s what you want, I can’t stop you.’
235/1/18.
‘M-m-m-may I s-s-sit here?’
Nava looked around at the person asking to sit with her and Melissa at the refectory table they had selected for lunch. She was not entirely surprised to see Rochester Hunt Leighton standing there holding a tray. ‘If you wish.’
‘Thank y-you. I am R-Rochester Hunt L-L-Leighton.’ He sat down on the bench beside Nava. He left more than a respectful distance between them.
Nava was beginning to wonder whether she just attracted people with nervous stammers. Rochester had shown no signs of being nervous in class, however. Melissa had begun to get over her reticence to stand out in class and was speaking more or less normally when she answered a question, but she had been shaky. Rochester spoke clearly every time, though Nava had noticed that he did not look directly at Luca Newton when he spoke to her…
‘I know,’ Nava said. ‘I’m Nava Ward, but I suspect you know that.’
‘I’m Melissa Connelly Avorn,’ Melissa put in.
Rochester turned his head to look at Melissa. His eyes did an abrupt swerve from her chest to her hairline and his cheeks coloured. ‘I-I-I-I kn-know that as w-well.’ His attention returned to Nava, or rather Nava’s fringe. ‘I w-wanted to t-talk about–’
Nava held up a hand, bringing the speech to a stop. ‘If it would make you more comfortable, I am quite all right with you speaking to your food. You seem to have some difficulty talking to women.’
Of course, Rochester’s cheeks went so red that orbiting satellites could likely see them. His head snapped around so that he could stare at his tray. ‘I-I-I–’
‘Take a deep breath… and then continue.’
He did. And he did continue while not risking a look at either of the two women. It did seem to work better for him. ‘Y-you seem to have a very good intuitive g-grasp of metaphysics, Nava Ward. I have been impressed w-with your performance in class. Y-you are almost on a par with me.’
‘You’ve learned more than I have,’ Nava replied. ‘It’s clear that you’ve been studying the subject on your own before coming here. I’m simply good at picking up the lessons and in using the science in practice. I appear more learned than I am, perhaps.’
‘You’re the only person even close to my level.’ He paused and then added, ‘Uh, no offence, Melissa Connelly.’
Melissa grinned. ‘None taken. I know I have a lot to learn. That’s why I’m here. I bet you plan to take the academic track in your final years though.’
‘Metaphysics is my passion! Metaphysics and chess. I don’t suppose either of you p-play?’
‘I don’t, sorry.’
‘I don’t really play games,’ Nava said. ‘Perhaps I should learn, but I have other priorities currently.’
‘Chess is a game of tactics and strategy,’ Rochester said. ‘It teaches valuable lessons about war and the tactics of winning it.’
Nava considered that for a second. ‘It’s a game, is it not? With rules?’
‘Yes. Yes, of course.’
‘The problem I see there is that war has no rules. Assuming that it does is a recipe for disaster. However, I’ll look into this “chess” and see what I make of it. It may be interesting.’
‘You make it sound like you’ve never heard of chess before,’ Melissa said, grinning even more brightly.
‘I think I’ve heard mention of it. I had a rather… isolated early life. There are a lot of things I’ve never heard of which I’m sure you would consider everyday knowledge. For example, I’ve no idea who the singing stars the girls in our class swoon over are. For that matter, I have no idea who the female singers the boys seem to find so interesting are either. Sporting teams are a mystery to me.’
‘W-well, same here,’ Rochester said. ‘I have n-no interest in sports.’
‘You don’t talk about your life before you came here much,’ Melissa said.
‘No, I don’t,’ Nava replied. There was a finality to the statement that had Melissa looking down at her food. ‘I don’t like talking about it,’ Nava went on because it seemed like the right thing to do. ‘It…’
‘It brings back painful memories?’
‘That’s one reason. Rochester Hunt, did you have a motive for complimenting me on my skill in metaphysics?’
‘W-well, I th-thought we c-could study t-together. St-study partners c-can be
