Jacive’s Morning

The Trilla bird sure is singing prettily from the gnarled old tree outside the window. That bird always seems to be outside every morning after I have those weird dreams.

Why it does is a mystery to me, especially since one of the stable cats always climbs the tree to try and catch it. I guess some things are just unknowable.

Kind of like why the Guards of the Tower think that I can be of any use to them. There is nothing I can possibly do to assist them in their missions.

Everyone knows that they secretly run all the governments of the entire world. With all of their dark looks and secret comings and goings, how could even a boy from Lower Jophaid not know this, especially now that my voice cracks when I try to sound important?

Oh well, I’m sure I’ll be back at Lord Shillip’s manse mucking out the stables as soon as they realize my uselessness after breakfast. Imagine, me eating before my chores are done!

Well, there’s another cat climbing the tree, and there goes the bird. Stupid bird.

The food here sure is good. No mold on the bread, and the cheese is all the same color. Plenty of it, too. I may try and take some with me when I leave.

I figure that should be very shortly after my supposed interview with the Master Guardsmen. The Guardsman who brought me to the Tower last night said that there would be a few of the Masters who would question me about my life in Jophaid, and not to be frightened of anything they said or did.

I hope they don’t ask me to read or dance. The only time I've danced was at last year's Festival, and my Lord’s serving girls all laughed at me and said I was completely graceless.

On the wall of the dining hall are several maps of the world. I’ve drawn a copy of one that wasn’t too complex on a scrap of paper I found with some charcoal from the fireplace.

Some of the maps had so many lines and figures drawn on them, I couldn’t even tell what they were for!

Well, the Guardsman is here to take me to see the Masters. I only hope that maybe I can stay long enough for lunch and some more of that good cheese.