Shifting Read online

  She fed Nona and ate breakfast. Spirits were good around the kitchen table, including Jae’s, so Meghan did her best to shake off the nagging nightmarish vision.

  “That kitten is getting bigger fast,” said Mireya, playing with Nona.

  “She follows me everywhere now, and sleeps on my feet at night,” said Meghan. Nona’s white eye gleamed. Meghan got the impression that Nona could look into her soul with that eye, seeing anything she had hidden in there, but never sensed any need to fret about it.

  They took their books and went to the wharf to study. It was nice to be outside, as it had been raining for three days straight. A few other Svoda children were there, each studying or practicing magic. The threesome found an empty space near the shore. Mireya, being a level above the three, studied with another group.

  The twins and Jae took turns questioning each other. They had to memorize the predetermined answers that the Svoda used while in the outside world, in order to retain their magical secret and their safety. Colin remembered the answers, but Meghan struggled. She wished she had Colin’s memory. They spent an hour reciting the answers.

  Next, they needed to memorize the Svoda goals, also set in place to keep them safe and get them back home, permanently. Jae and Colin also had these down, so Jae questioned Meghan.

  “The first one was something about secrets,” she replied, shaking her head in annoyance of her poor memory.

  “Yes, it is,” encouraged Jae. “But you’ll need to be specific if you expect to pass.” Colin put the words own actions in her mind.

  “Oh, right, I got it. As Svoda, we must make sure our own actions don’t divulge any magical secrets to the outside world, since that would compromise our safety.” Jae grinned.

  “Good job. How about the second goal?” This one was easier, since it was an off shoot of the first.

  “It is also every Svoda’s responsibility to watch over our fellow Svoda, and if compromises are witnessed, report it to the proper authorities,” she answered.

  “You’re on a roll, Sis,” boasted Colin.

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  “Maybe we should stop while I’m ahead,” she joked.

  “Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” agreed Jae. “This might be one of the last nice days of the year. We can do more memorization later. Let’s do some actual magic, shall we?” Colin was always up for magic practice. He had begun to draw small crowds of students, who could not understand how he never got tired. Although Meghan was glad Colin’s confidence was building, she unfortunately, showed little improvement.

  They spent the afternoon balancing and moving items; they used rocks, driftwood and books, since they had no pillows. Meghan could not even get the items into a pile, never mind move them. And in the exam, she not only needed to move them, but do it neatly. Colin and Jae feared she would not pass the test.

  The afternoon passed rapidly, and before they knew it, the weekend was over and Monday was back again. Fall exams loomed, a mere week away. Any place you were in the village, students of all ages were cramming, and tension reigned thick.

  The weekend before the exams, the twins finally got the leaf they had been waiting for. It was safe to visit their uncle. The twins took Jae aside after lunch.

  “Finally got a message from Uncle Eddy, it’s safe to go. We won’t be gone long.” Jae nodded that he understood.

  Timothy met them outside of the wagons and led them down a new pathway.

  “New place, your uncle scoped it out yesterday.” Timothy was floating in circles as he talked, looking for any potential hidden dangers. Shortly, they were in a clearing near a small pond with their ghostly uncle pacing back and forth, waiting.

  “There you are, there you are.” He said nervously, but happily. “Getting along better I hope.” The twins glanced sideways at each other and grinned smugly.

  “Good. There’s no lesson today, but I wanted to see how your progress is coming along. Do either of you have any questions pertaining to your exams?”

  Nona trotted along with Timothy, playing near the edge of the woods. Meghan watched her as an excuse not to discuss the exams.

  “I don’t think the exams will be too hard, Uncle Eddy, but we’ve certainly never been so busy.”

  “It’ll keep you both out of trouble,” he chuckled, winking.

  “I don’t get into trouble,” argued Colin.

  “Ah yes, but if you were not so busy, would you?”

  “I don’t get into trouble,” repeated Colin.

  Uncle Eddy laughed and changed the subject.

  “How about you, Meghan, how do you feel about the exams?”

  “Okay,” she shrugged.

  Colin knew she did not feel good at all.

  “I think the written part will be okay, but the magic, it’s just not happening for me, Uncle Eddy. I suck.”

  “You don’t suck, Meghan, never think that about yourself. You need to concentrate and do your best,” he told her kindly.

  She nodded, but did not feel confident about her chances of passing.

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  “By the time your exams are completed, I hope to have located a safe place for us to meet again.”

  “Do we have to wait for you to send a leaf first?” asked Colin.

  “I think it would be best for you to send me a leaf when you’re able to come and I will let you know if it’s safe or not.”

  “Why are you hiding, Uncle Eddy?” asked Meghan unexpectedly.

  Eddy went silent. After a minute he finally answered.

  “There is a ghost out there determined to steal your book, Colin. I don’t want them to track you down, by tracking me down. So, yes, in a way I am hiding. But this doesn’t matter today.

  What does matter are your exams. Put all else out of your minds this week.” Meghan knew, somehow, that he was not telling them the complete truth. Perhaps he was right though, today was not the day.

  He pretend hugged the twins, wishing them luck, reminding them to send him a leaf once the exams were over. They pretend hugged him back and departed, followed as always by Timothy, above, and Nona, trotting behind.

  The first exam morning was chaotic; no one had slept and anxiety was high. Sheila had even asked Ivan to escort the foursome to their exams, just to be sure they arrived on time. Even Irving Mochrie went to work late.

  “Hard work will pay off!” he told them as they departed, his face stern, but hopeful. Ivan took the lead commanding them to hurry. He did not look at, or speak with them, the entire walk.

  “What is his deal?” asked Meghan.

  “Ivan, he’s actually quite shy,” answered Miereya. “And, oh, I don’t know, sometimes he’s rather a big turd,” she giggled nervously.

  Meghan laughed, which she needed, as her nerves were getting the best of her. Ivan waited at the school entrance, and then made, what the twins believed to be, an effort at a smile.

  “Good luck. I am sure you don’t need me to remind you how important this day is!” His eyes grazed Meghan’s but briskly darted another direction. He then promptly sauntered off.

  “Does he have friends?” questioned Meghan. “I can’t even fathom who’d take the job.” She couldn’t help but find his actions infuriating.

  “Ivan’s a workaholic,” said Jae. “I don’t think friends are high on his list of priorities. Dad loves him for it, I…” he stopped, the twins waited but he did not continue on the subject. “We better get inside.”

  Meghan, as she entered the school, felt eyes watching her; she whisked around recalling how the Scratchers had given her the same eerie feeling. She saw nothing and shook it off as nerves.

  Behind a nearby bulky shrub, Ivan Crane hid, watching Meghan Jacoby walk into the school.

  His eyes narrowed and he broke into a smug grin. “Too easy,” he snickered, as she turned and gazed in the direction he was hidden. His smug smile faded as he deftly backed away from the bush and continued on his way.

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  The school was abuzz. All students h
ad been routed into a small auditorium and organized into their class levels; elementary, junior, advanced and graduate. The trio mouthed good luck to Mireya, who was in junior level, and not expected to pass since it was her first try. Meghan, Colin and Jae took their seats amongst the beginners.

  It had not been so bad being amongst them on their own, but sitting with a group of youngsters, with an average age of eight to eleven, and with all the other thirteen and fourteen year olds in junior level(minus Daveena Troast), they were uncomfortably out of place.

  This was not helped by Darcy Scraggs and Dulcy Hadrian, making sure to point out loudly, the three sitting in the elementary section.

  “So Jae,” started Meghan. “There are four grades, and once you pass the four, you’re done?”

  “Yup.”

  “That’s not much, four grades,” she replied.

  “It’s not that easy,” he told her. “It takes some students three tries to pass one grade.

  Everything has to be perfect, or you don’t move on.”

  Colin sensed his sister’s nerves tensing and caught onto a real worry: that he might go to the next level without her.

  “It works well, actually,” continued Jae. “Most kids start school around age eight, a few sooner, some later, like Daveena over there.” The trio laughed nervously. “With our traveling schedule, most kids don’t get to juniors until age eleven or so, and then advanced level around fourteen, and then graduate starts at about sixteen. Ivan was sixteen when he passed graduate, the youngest ever; very smart and spectacular at magic.”

  “I suppose, when you have NO life, anything would be easier,” Meghan jeered slyly, exchanging a knowing look with Jae.

  A bell clanged. The entire auditorium convulsed in unison. The advisor, Muckle Mauch, asked for silence.

  “Today is an important day!” the advisor reminded. “Hopefully, you will all succeed and move forward. Moving forward should be your highest priority, since it leads to full initiation.

  Without getting through graduate level, you cannot attain full status.”

  “What’s he talking about?” sent Meghan to Colin. Curious himself, he threw Jae a questioning look. He leaned in and explained in a whisper.

  “Initiation means you have pledged your life to the Svoda, sworn to the Svoda way of life.”

  “Oh,” they answered together.

  “Before we begin,” carried on Muckle Mauch, “We have a special guest, who will share a few encouraging words.” A door in the back opened and the crowd squealed as Banon Juliska Nandalia Blackwell strode in. A low murmur whizzed through the students.

  “I can’t believe it!”

  “She hasn’t come to exam day in ages.”

  “This is incredible! I can’t wait to tell my parents!” The students rose to their feet and vigorously welcomed their leader to the school. The Banon’s eyes swept through the eager young crowd, slowing briefly on Meghan; Colin would have bet his life that he caught the hint of a wink. He knew it had to be true, when Meghan dropped her head in attempts to hide a 75

  smile. He caught the sensation of something strange in his sister, but couldn’t place it. Juliska began to speak and the entire school hushed.

  “I wanted to come here today and wish you all the best of luck. I realize this is an important day to all of you and your families, and if you have put forth the effort, then you have every right to be proud. I am confident your performances today will prove this.” It suddenly dawned on Colin what he had felt from his sister. She had a desire to prove herself to someone.

  “That’s not like you,” he sent her. She cocked her head sideways, confused. “Never mind,” he sent back, wondering if it was Juliska Blackwell she was trying to impress. Colin suddenly felt sorry. Here was a woman who was building Meghan’s confidence, not that he personally thought she needed that. But he knew she did not believe in herself.

  “Meghan,” he sent.

  “Yeah,” she sent back, listening to him and Juliska simultaneously.

  “You’re going to pass today. We’ve studied all the topics. Besides, if you get stuck you can always ask me, it’s not like anyone would find out.”

  She grabbed his hand and squeezed it nervously. Her eyes said thanks. Colin had never let his sister cheat from him before and he did not believe she would today, but if she knew he was there for her, maybe she would do better.

  “Today starts a new future for you all,” Juliska Blackwell, continued. “I wish you all the very best of luck,” she added, ending her speech. She swept hastily out of the room.

  “Each class to your test rooms please,” began Muckle Mauch. “Today’s test is a written exam; all you need are your heads. Pre-approved pens and papers are already waiting for you. Being caught cheating is an automatic failure.”

  The students filed out to their respective rooms. Each student in the elementary class (about twenty students strong), was some form of pale, green, or blue. Teacher Lindy instructed them to all sit down.

  “You have three hours to complete each exam today. I remind each of you that during your lunch breaks, in between exams one and two, you are not permitted to discuss your results. You may begin.”

  9

  Colin opened his exam and instantly began writing. Meghan’s heart thumped heavily, and she daydreamed about telling Juliska she had passed. She opened the exam. It took Meghan until the last minute of the three hours to write out all the appropriate answers and examples required; she checked over the exam hoping she had not overlooked any small details. Colin and Jae had both finished after two hours, but she had not noticed. Colin sat in the lunch room, keeping his mind opened to her (just in case), but she came out of the room looking relieved.

  “How did you do?” he asked her silently.

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  “I hope good enough to pass,” she sighed. They all sat quietly, as some students came out happy and some angry, and some, downright upset and crying.

  “If time is up,” whispered Jae, “and you’re not finished, you have to repeat the level.” Meghan did not realize how close she had been to an automatic failure, by finishing so close to the final hour. At the same time, she felt terrible for the students who had worked so hard and had to go home, failing.

  Her nerves came back as lunch ended and the second part was to begin. She had lucked out that morning, but would it happen again? She turned the paper over.

  True or false.

  Magic used on another person is forbidden. T / F

  Give examples based on your above answer, on justifications for using magic on another person.

  (At least two required)

  This is much harder her thoughts betrayed. Colin was already busy writing, but sensed his sister sorting through it.

  “I think this is a trick question, ‘cause magic is forbidden on others, so the answer is true. But, they want a justified example of an occasion when you can use magic on someone.” After talking it through, Colin sent her a happy impression, and she knew she was on the right track.

  The only time you would be allowed to use magic on another person is to defend yourself, or if you had written permission from the Viancourt, or from the Banon, she wrote.

  Colin and Jae were nearly finished, though time was only half used up. They were both confident and kept their focus as they finished. Colin sent a thought to his sister as he got up to depart the room.

  “Get back to work and forget about me and Jae, you’re doing great.” She smiled, took a deep breath, and continued.

  12. Give three specific examples, on why you would need to report the actions of a fellow Svoda.

  She choked for a second not sure she understood the question. She heard Colin’s echo.

  “Talk your way through it again, like you did before.”

  Her brain was hard at work when Teacher Lindy announced, “One hour remaining.” She needed to hurry.

  It all came together.

  “This is the Svoda rule of turning in your neighbors if the
y do something to compromise the Svoda way of life. All I need to do is write down three examples of rules that could be broken.

  This one’s easy, seeing as Colin and I have already done that,” she said light-heartedly.

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  “Now that you know you can, hurry up. You still have to write it all out, and be thorough,” Colin reminded her, breathing a sigh of relief.

  Meghan began scratching her pen across her paper, finishing again, with only minutes to spare. At the end of the day the twins had never been so exhausted. They were now allowed to discuss their tests, as they were completed. Numerous children were going over answers and trying to remember if they had answered correctly.

  “I did fine,” said Jae.

  Mireya wasn’t so happy; she hadn’t finished her exam.

  “I’ll be back in junior level again,” she said, sulking.

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” her brother comforted. “You’re already in junior level and you’re only eleven, that’s really good. Keep it up and you’ll be vying Ivan for his graduation record.”

  She hugged him and ran to catch up with her friend.

  “How about you guys?” Jae asked as they walked.

  “I did fine,” said Colin confidently.

  “You always do fine,” scowled Meghan. They both waited for her answer. “I’m not totally sure, but, I think I did… good enough.”

  “They’ll give us our grades before we move on,” said Jae. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

  Don’t get too relaxed though, we still have tomorrow to get through.”

  “Ugh,” grunted Meghan. “Tomorrow. I may have lucked out today, but tomorrow I have to actually use magic.”

  Even Colin could not help her then. She would be on her own.

  The twins sent a leaf to Uncle Eddy before bed, informing him they believed they had passed.

  The night was long and sleepless again. Chaos ensued once more, as morning arrived, and Ivan again escorted them to their exam, day number two.

  “Thank you so much, Ivan,” said Sheila. “I didn’t expect to be so busy, but I’m the only one working the library, since Martha is out having her baby.”