Penny is Disciplined

Although Vedagaisic saw that many of his hosts would glance and smile in his direction, he was allowed to eat his dinner in a much appreciated silence. He had been given plenty of time to eat the main course, a large bird that the Aqualarians called chicken. He was not familiar with it, but it kind of tasted like a plains snake. Of course, everything that was not a deer or cow tended to taste like a plains snake.

Just as he was finishing his plate, he noticed Rose marching out of the kitchen, with Penny following her. Rose had squared her jaw, furrowed her forehead, and was making a bee-line for Lucia. The color had run out of Penny's face, and she was slumping. Vedagaisic had wondered if this had something to do with her request of him from earlier in the day. After finishing talking to Lucia, Rose turned and marched back to Penny. She pinched Penny's chin and moved it up, forcing Penny to look into her eyes. She said something, and pointed to the timbered passage to a room. Penny walked as if on thin ice, through the passage frame and into the room. She wrung her hands and looked down on the ground.

In the meantime, Lucia had gathered a few of the important people from the table, and had also pointed at the timbered frame. These people entered the room. Vedagaisic asked one of them, as he went by, if there was anything wrong. the man replied that there was news, and apologized for not inviting him in, but they were still trying to see how significant it was. He then told Vedagaisic not to go very far. He might be needed soon.

Those who had not been invited into the room buzzed, trying to figure out what was going on. While standing to stretch his legs, he was served a glass of red juice. Vedagaisic talked to her.

"Was there something going on in the kitchen?"

"I am not supposed to say."

"I will tell you what I know if you tell me what you know."

"You were not there. Do you know something?"

"That girl is called Penny, and she was asking me earlier about survivors of the dragon's caves. I am guessing at a few things. First, that someone she loves was one of those who went of a quest against the dragon without magical powers. Second, I am guessing that Penny gave magical aid, despite the wishes of those in charge. And third, I think that Rose believes that as well, and let Penny know about it."

The server arched her eyebrows, and said, "You do know a lot. Yes to all three."

"Any details?"

The server opened up, unable to supress the urge to tell some good gossip. "Penny's fiancee was a painter named Simon. After some sharp questioning from Rose, Penny admitted giving him a couple of spells. Rose threatened to expel her from the college. Penny said that she did not care, and that Rose did not understand he love for Simon, and that she thought it was more noble to be a common farmer with her love than to be in the college and have her conscience haunt her if her lover died, when she could have done something about it. And then she said that the College needed her as much as she needed them, as one of the spells was one that she had learned, and that the college did not know."

"And what did Rose do?"

When I heard Penny say that to Rose, I cringed. You just don't do that with her. Rose was silent for what seemed like a long time. Rose said that if Penny had been hiding knowledge, that was far worse, and that they would have no use for her on the expedition that was forming to rescue the survivors. She would have to appear before the collegiate courts, and her liberty would be at stake. But then she said that she was not totally heartless, and that if Simon came back, she would make sure that she would see him once. Rose would make sure that she would attend Simon's wedding - as a bridesmaid. Rose had knocked Penny off her high horse hard when she said that. She then went on that as Simon would be a hero, it would just not do to reward him with a girl below his station, especially one dishonourably discharged from the college."

"I will have to remember not to cross Rose."

"Yes. She has that reputation. Well, I have to be getting on."

Vedagaisic finished his glass, and noticed that people were gathering back to the table, and Rose was standing before the head of the table.

Rose had explained, in more measured language than she had spoken in the kitchen, that it had been discovered that Simon the Painter had been given special knowledge that he was not entitled to. One of the students had an old and valuable book concerning the essence of soil and stone. From this, the legendary spell that allowed one to animate stone had been realized. This of course was dangerous and irresponsible. The Collegiate Court had convened, and an appropriate punishment had been declared. The offending student would be stripped of any rank and honours that she had achieved, and endure the hazing of a first year student. As further penance, she would have to coach the "Black Team" in the Themyscira Games in the upcoming year. Finally, due to her special knowledge, despite the misgivings of some on the Court, it was decided that she would be accompany the expedition to assist the Dunchovians in finding any of the dragon's survivors.

1. The main force of the Aqualarian expedition gets underway.
2. Back with the Dunchovians....
3. Meanwhile, back in the basin with Fred and the survivors....

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