but I guess his head, because he fell down. And he was dead.”
She began to tremble again, but her voice was steady. I had to give it to the girl, she had spunk. It was apparent she thought she was facing a murder charge, despite our assurances, yet she stood strong and told her story without wavering.
“How did you know he was dead?” I asked as I looked around the area. We were now on the street I lived on. The block was made up mostly of bars and restaurants. Even at dusk the music drifting out would have drowned out the girls screams. That explained why no one came to help her.
“Because of the way he looked.” She said matter-of-factly. “I mean, no one could look like that and be alive. I’ve never seen a dead body before. I didn’t know they would shrivel up like that so fast. It was so weird.”
“What do you mean shrivel so fast? How did he look before he fell.” Ian’s voice startled them both. He’d been silent for so long and had been lingering behind them. I had almost forgotten he was there.
“Well, normal I guess. He was a normal live person. But then when he fell, after I kicked him, it was weird. Like one minute his face was all normal then it went all white and spotty and sucked in. Like all the air and stuff had been sucked out of him. Looked a little like the dried apple chips Mama makes.” She paused uncertainly. “Isn’t that what happens when someone dies?”
“Not usually.” Ian said distractedly. “You are sure there wasn’t anyone around?”
Millie’s tone was firm and sure. “I’m positive. I didn’t see anyone at all until after I kicked him. This street wasn’t as busy there were a few people walking, but they were on the opposite side of the street.”
Ian checked his pocket watch. “Well, I think our fifteen minutes is just about up. Thank you for your time Millie. You’ve helped a lot.”
“Really, that’s it? I’m not in trouble and I can go?” Her face brightened.
“You aren’t in trouble. But, before you go, I need to know a couple of more things” I said.
“Okay.” She said, cautiously.
“Is it true you are a charger?”
“Well, I haven’t had an official Mage-Level test. But, those are my powers. I’ve been working part time with a charger to learn. She says I’m good.” Her face fell as if remembering her situation. “But it doesn’t matter. There isn’t another public test for six months.”
I took a small tablet of hemp-paper and a short charcoal pencil out of a small pocket in my vest. I wrote on the paper then offered it to Millie.
“Take this to Maurice at the Academy Testing Center. He arranges the Mage-Level tests for the Blades. He will be able to get you into the next test, which should be in the next couple of days.”
Millie stared at the paper, but didn’t take it.
“This isn’t charity,” I said. “You were the victim of a crime and you have helped us today. This is the least I can do for you.” I shook the paper a bit and Millie took it.
I scribbled a message on another page, tore it out and handed it to Millie. “After you get your results take them and that note to Leesa Parks. Her office is on the first floor of the Blades building. The Blades employ their own chargers and Leesa is the head of the department. This isn’t charity either. If your results are good enough, she should be able to find a position for you. You’ll have to work hard.”
Millie’s face broke into a wide grin. “I will, I swear. Thank you, Miss Moon.”
I winced. I have no objections to my last name, as a matter of fact it was exactly what I wanted it to be. But Miss Moon sounded like a school marm. I disliked it when anyone used it. “Call me Fiona. Do you need a ride home?”
“No. I don’t mind walking as long as it’s day time. Thank you Fiona!” She started back down the alley and stopped.
“Mr. Barroes. Are you really going to cancel your account with Mr. Fegley? And tell the Guard about him?” she asked
She began to tremble again, but her voice was steady. I had to give it to the girl, she had spunk. It was apparent she thought she was facing a murder charge, despite our assurances, yet she stood strong and told her story without wavering.
“How did you know he was dead?” I asked as I looked around the area. We were now on the street I lived on. The block was made up mostly of bars and restaurants. Even at dusk the music drifting out would have drowned out the girls screams. That explained why no one came to help her.
“Because of the way he looked.” She said matter-of-factly. “I mean, no one could look like that and be alive. I’ve never seen a dead body before. I didn’t know they would shrivel up like that so fast. It was so weird.”
“What do you mean shrivel so fast? How did he look before he fell.” Ian’s voice startled them both. He’d been silent for so long and had been lingering behind them. I had almost forgotten he was there.
“Well, normal I guess. He was a normal live person. But then when he fell, after I kicked him, it was weird. Like one minute his face was all normal then it went all white and spotty and sucked in. Like all the air and stuff had been sucked out of him. Looked a little like the dried apple chips Mama makes.” She paused uncertainly. “Isn’t that what happens when someone dies?”
“Not usually.” Ian said distractedly. “You are sure there wasn’t anyone around?”
Millie’s tone was firm and sure. “I’m positive. I didn’t see anyone at all until after I kicked him. This street wasn’t as busy there were a few people walking, but they were on the opposite side of the street.”
Ian checked his pocket watch. “Well, I think our fifteen minutes is just about up. Thank you for your time Millie. You’ve helped a lot.”
“Really, that’s it? I’m not in trouble and I can go?” Her face brightened.
“You aren’t in trouble. But, before you go, I need to know a couple of more things” I said.
“Okay.” She said, cautiously.
“Is it true you are a charger?”
“Well, I haven’t had an official Mage-Level test. But, those are my powers. I’ve been working part time with a charger to learn. She says I’m good.” Her face fell as if remembering her situation. “But it doesn’t matter. There isn’t another public test for six months.”
I took a small tablet of hemp-paper and a short charcoal pencil out of a small pocket in my vest. I wrote on the paper then offered it to Millie.
“Take this to Maurice at the Academy Testing Center. He arranges the Mage-Level tests for the Blades. He will be able to get you into the next test, which should be in the next couple of days.”
Millie stared at the paper, but didn’t take it.
“This isn’t charity,” I said. “You were the victim of a crime and you have helped us today. This is the least I can do for you.” I shook the paper a bit and Millie took it.
I scribbled a message on another page, tore it out and handed it to Millie. “After you get your results take them and that note to Leesa Parks. Her office is on the first floor of the Blades building. The Blades employ their own chargers and Leesa is the head of the department. This isn’t charity either. If your results are good enough, she should be able to find a position for you. You’ll have to work hard.”
Millie’s face broke into a wide grin. “I will, I swear. Thank you, Miss Moon.”
I winced. I have no objections to my last name, as a matter of fact it was exactly what I wanted it to be. But Miss Moon sounded like a school marm. I disliked it when anyone used it. “Call me Fiona. Do you need a ride home?”
“No. I don’t mind walking as long as it’s day time. Thank you Fiona!” She started back down the alley and stopped.
“Mr. Barroes. Are you really going to cancel your account with Mr. Fegley? And tell the Guard about him?” she asked
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