Page 6 of Fae Tithe

“Simply because I was asked to include it in my lesson plans,” the teacher replied with a smile. “Just like I’m in charge of you girls when you are in my classroom, I have people who oversee what I teach.”

“Hmm…” Eleanor chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, something about the sudden inclusion of the topic not quite sitting right in her mind.

“El?” Miss Taylor tilted her head and met the teenager’s eyes. “Time for your next class.”

“Ok, Miss… thanks.” Eleanor blinked, trying to rid herself of the thoughts homing in on the Tithe. She clutched her books to her chest and headed to her next lesson.

The teenager normally enjoyed Geography. This quarter of the year focused on the physical features of the different Provinces of Seelieland. The one she would love to travel to, Emerald of Sol, was the area their teacher explained they would be learning about today.

Eleanor’s vague discomfort at the idea of the Tithe rooted in the pit of her stomach. The seed of needing to know bloomed into thoughts she could not shake.

Why would the Fae do that? Who would agree to let their daughter go to some stranger? Eleanor clenched and unclenched at the fountain pen, suspended above the notes she had been taking.

“Are you paying attention, Miss Neycur?” the teacher asked, her clear voice snapping Eleanor from her spinning thoughts.

The girls around her tittered and Eleanor felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment. “Sorry, Miss. I’m listening.”

Her teacher gave a curt nod and rolled out a huge paper map, She hung it over the blackboard and pointed out the key areas. The woman gushed about vibrant valleys and forests. She spoke of an evergreen floodplain that was infiltrated by sapphire tributaries. This was where different woodland faeries – such as Dryads, Anthousai, and Alseids – lived. These faeries, with their combined magical talents, grew an abundance of delicious fruits and vegetables for Seelieland.

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Eleanor. In each of the lessons she tried to keep the incessant questions her mind had about the Tithe at bay. As the bell for the last session clanged, she funnelled into the classroom for comportment.

“Well,” the elderly teacher, Mrs Alred, began, “seeing as it is the first day back, we will start with posture, shall we?”

How does any of this help me get onto the ships? Eleanor stifled a sigh.

She tried to wait patiently, resisting the urge to tap her foot, as Mrs Alred made her way slowly around the room. The teacher’s steps were both slow and deliberate as she placed a flat hard-backed book on the head of each straight-backed student. “Good posture is key!” Mrs Alred called out as a book slipped off one of the girl’s heads.

Eleanor chanced to glance over, her neck still straight. She did not recognise the student. A new girl? she wondered, has she only just arrived? I didn’t see her earlier. She eyed the girl’s hair that was swept up into cloud-shaped bun. That’s not really her fault.

She grimaced as her new classmate swept down to collect the book. When she straightened up, she tried to shove it back into place and it simply slipped back off her curls. The rest of the class giggled at the clatter as it thumped to the floor for a second time. Mrs Alred tutted, clicking her tongue against her teeth as her gaze dropped to the book, eyes crinkling as she narrowed them at the bent spine.

Eleanor swallowed, a flush of second-hand embarrassment flooding her cheeks as she watched the new girl’s mouth tug downwards from the corner of her eye.

I know how that feels, everyone laughing at you.

She could not just keep watching. Instead, Eleanor, with neck straight and head forward, broke the line of straight-backed girls. She picked her way across the room and over to the fallen book. Eleanor squatted down next to it, spying the book in her periphery and plucked it from the floor. She carefully stood straight, gritting her teeth in panic as her own book wobbled on the top of her head. She breathed a sigh of relief as the tremor ceased.

Eleanor turned and met eyes with the new girl. She gave her an encouraging smile as she held the book out. The teenager looked back at her with russet-brown eyes set in a beautiful umber face, eyebrows raised in surprise at the gesture.

Eleanor shook the book in front of the girl’s face. “Here.” She pushed it a little closer.

The teenage girl blinked in surprise and took the offered book. “Thank you!” she replied, a flush across her cheeks.

“Miss Neycur!” Mrs Alred bit out. “Back in line!”

Eleanor bit her tongue in frustration as she carefully trod her way back to her place, the book continuing to wobble precariously. Her gaze briefly met Jessia’s as she went past. The girl smirked at her, amusement dancing in her eyes at Eleanor’s scolding. She shot a scowl back at Jessia before finally returning to her spot.

The iron bell clanged for the final time that day and Eleanor rushed to her room. She planned to write to her mother, to tell her about her day and how she had been introduced to the completely new topic of the Tithe.

Eleanor smiled as she sat at her desk and opened the spare stationery bag her mother had mentioned that morning. Helena, hinting heavily to her daughter, had provided the teenager with a stack of envelopes and a handful of stamps to encourage her to write more that school year. Just as she began to put pen to paper, fountain pen poised, the muffled thud of bags on wood took Eleanor’s attention.

Her gaze widened in surprise. “Book girl!” she blurted out, before covering her hand over her mouth.

“Book girl?” her new roommate asked with a snort.

Eleanor removed her hand. “I’m sorry, sometimes my mouth says things before I can stop it.” She pushed back from her desk, standing slightly taller than the teenager in front of her. She inclined her head slightly in a nod. “I’m Eleanor, El for short.”

The girl grinned back and returned the greeting gesture. “Marina. Thanks, for what you did there.” A grimace passed over her face. “What a way to start at a brand-new school! First, I was late, and then I made a fool of myself. I’ve never had to balance a book on my head before.” She patted the bun on the top of her head. “Otherwise, I would have had my hair down.”