A New Day: A Charmers' World, #0

By B.C. Roger

In this opening to A Charmers' World, Miona shows how easily she can get in trouble and wreak havoc in her master's house.
A New Day is the prologue to the series, with an extensive sample of Shadows on the School Grounds, book 1 in the series, where Miona gets trapped into playing a spying game against an unsavory boy from her class, and his just as unsavory friends.
When the game turns more dangerous than she expected, she finds herself at risk of ruining her master's career and derailing a fragile peace between the planet's main species--without mentioning just getting killed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.C. Roger
• Release date: Jul 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201716578

Book preview

A New Day

She couldn’t make any more mistakes. The last one had cost her a painful blow on her right arm, and she’d barely managed to disengage and run away. She only owed her life to the pond, which Darveena hadn’t dared follow her into. It was only knee-deep where she had crossed it, but that was too much for the water-wary Trowan girl.

Now her only way to capitalize on her advantage was to circle her opponent and attack her from the rear. And the only way to do this without Darveena seeing her was to leave the park and go through the house. If she made her move now. The kitchens were right behind, just a few trees away. Without further thinking, she ran to the last tree, looked around one last time, and jumped behind a large garbage crate. Then she rushed through an open door that let out the usual clatter of pots and kitchenware, as well as the shouts from the chef.

Hey, what are you doing here? You’re not on kitchen duty yet!

Just going through, Paolo.

And you’re wet! More red came to the cheeks of the rotund chef—they were always a little red, what with the heat from the cooking range and his frequent outbursts. Out!

Miona sidestepped the large man and ducked under his outstretched arm, narrowly avoiding a big spoon coated with sauce.

Go back the way you came! Stop her, you two!

One of the young chef helpers was busy over the range, turning a spoon in a saucepan. The other had his back to him, and was carefully emptying a large bowl full of cream into another pan, bent over a long working bench. When they heard the chef’s command, they turned to block the girl. Unfortunately they didn’t take the time to let go of their pans.

Fortunately for Miona, her speed allowed her to duck under the pans a second before they banged into each other, and she was several steps away when the sauce and the cream flew out of the pans. She heard the splash the sauce and cream made when hitting the floor, and decided it better not to look back to enjoy the sight. She rushed out the next door and went on running between a long sink and a column of big refrigerators.

A large swinging door shut behind her, muffling Paolo’s screams. She kept on running. Soon the wet clatter of her shoes gave way to a high-pitch squeaking as she tried not to slip on the hallway’s waxed wooden floor. She threw several quick glances on her right as she passed the doors to several salons. Then she heard other squeaking steps, just ahead of her. She spotted two legs coming down a big staircase at the end of the hallway. Charles.

She threw herself through the entrance to the service corridor. If Charles caught her inside with wet shoes, it would get to the Rittress's ears, and she'd be in serious trouble. And Charles himself always had plenty of chores ready for her. She’d be slaving for the rest of the day.

She had barely run a dozen steps when the door to the laundry opened. If it was Tedora, she was in for a good dressing down. The big maid never missed a reason to scold or slap her, even if she had to make up one. She’d be all too happy to catch her in her wet shoes too! There was only one way to go now. Miona pushed the door to the garage.

Not quite in time. What are you doing here in combat gear? she heard Tedora shouting before she could close the door. She dashed between the rows of cars, toward the garage entrance. If she could make it through the small side door before Tedora decided to follow her (alone or with Charles), she’d be much better off.

Mother? She’d stopped in her tracks. Her mom was near one of the smaller cars, holding the door, one foot in. She looked startled for a second.

In trouble, Miona? The slender woman stepped out and walked calmly toward the little girl.

Er...no.

I am not sure you’re allowed in the garage, though. Are you?

Well, Miona started, unsure how to get out of this new complication. I had to shake off Darveena....

Going through the house with wet shoes?

Miona bit her lip. The trouble with her mother was that she knew instantly everything Miona was ever trying to hide. She searched her mind desperately for a way to justify herself, but nothing came. She needed a diversion. She noticed her mother's coat. Mother, are you going somewhere?

The woman hesitated a split second. I have a doctor's appointment.... Routine checkup.

I didn't know you could drive....

Well, of course I can. I seldom do. Only when Ruhul can't take me.

Can you fly as well?

The younger woman chuckled. That, no, I can't. But I don't need to. The doctor isn't very far.... Now, why don't you go back the way you came, all right?

Oh no, Mother, I can't! Miona saw the woman's arched brow, and sighed. Tedora is in the service area. She'll report me walking with my wet shoes.

Well, shouldn't she?

Please, Mother. She'll tell the Rittress, I'm sure.

The tall woman considered Miona sternly for a moment. Then she smiled. Certainly it'd be better if you'd stepped out in the park instead of going back in the house wet as you are—

Oh thank you, Mother. Miona prepared to run to the small garage door.

Miona?

Yes, Mother? Miona said, checking herself.

Take off your glasses for a second, will you?

Yes, Mother, Miona said, taking her glasses off, wondering what her mother had in mind. Why?

The woman bent toward her and peered in her eyes for a moment. I like to watch your eyes sometimes, that's all. I don't see them often, with your lenses.

You're the one telling me to wear them, Mother, Miona said, a little uneasy.

That's for your protection...your eyes' protection. The woman straightened up. All right, go ahead, now.

Miona was about to take off, but her mother was still holding one of her shoulder pads. Give me a hug first, the woman said.

Miona thought it a bit awkward to be hugged with her thick armor. Her mother released her after a few seconds and looked her in the eyes again. By the way, Miona, no need to mention my doctor's appointment to anyone. You know the Rittress doesn't like it when I do things for myself. I won't be long anyway. All right?

Yes, Mother. I won't tell.

The slender woman smiled again. All right, now. Off you go. She patted the little girl on her rear and stood up, and Miona took off running toward the small door.

But she slowed down quickly, panting. The door was further than she'd remembered and she could feel her legs getting very heavy. Her recent running, plus the fighting with Darveena, were starting to show.

Come on, Miona. Get in. I'll give you a lift to the door.

Miona stared at her mother. She had started the car and had stopped by her. But she couldn't make out what she was saying next. The car's fans were too loud—

Fans? What did she start the fans for? She'd said she didn't know how to fly....

Come on, Miona! You said you had an important test today. Get up!

Miona shook her head. The girl in the bed next to hers was talking to her, but she could barely hear what she was saying. Oh, yes.... Thank you, she muttered. She sat up bolt straight, looking around her, straining to make sense of the bustle around her. Everyone seemed up already, running to and from the showers, whose door was wide open and letting the racket from the shower fans fill the dorm. She pushed her sheets away and got up, feeling both confused and sad—and a bit angry too—trying to hold onto her dream. She'd dreamed of her mother in the garage again, and like always with this particular dream, she couldn't remember much of it.

A half hour later she fell in line at the entrance to the dining hall, still a little depressed.

What's up, Fortvallor? Not happy to go to class today?

She looked around and stiffened. Poisonohl and his gang were filing in just behind her.

Oh, perhaps she's not ready for the Trowani test. You should skip breakfast, Fortvallor, and run and get your books. You have a few minutes to review them before class. Hurry! The three boys behind him guffawed at the joke.

Miona wanted to ignore them, but couldn't help answering. Because you bunch are ready for sure, right? You wouldn't even know which lesson we're at. She turned her back on them and kept up with the line, which had just moved, not paying attention to the gang's answer. It was going to be another long day.

1 - HISTORY CLASS

"...And the last question..."

Miona’s pen was nearly touching her sheet, and her nose wasn’t much higher. She was ready.

...When did the Constitution...get its first...Slave Rights Chart?

Miona’s pen scratched through the paper, leaving a nasty ink stain.

An easy one for you, Fortvallor, a voice directly behind her whispered. Surely you must know that date by heart.

Several snickers rang behind Miona’s back. She blotted the stain as well as she could and resumed writing. Her jaws were clenched, but she didn’t turn around. Instead she took a small ruler off her desk and slowly drew a horizontal line under the last question, her brows knitted—why in the world did they have to use these stain-prone fountain pens instead of write-on-alls? But for tests, they had to.

Pulling at the back of her rather short, unruly hair, she started probing her memory to answer question number one—‘Of the Trowan, Sriliss, or Human oil fields, which one is the largest known?’ Miona started biting on her pen. It wasn’t going to be fun. The very first question looked like a trick question—like last week’s quiz. What did Professor Nogarol mean by largest? Largest in size, or largest in production? Or else having the largest reserves?

The Trowan field was believed to cover the smallest area, but Sriliss and Human ones were always under clouds, so no one knew for sure how big they were. And each time they’d put up a satellite to spy on the area, the Srilisses would knock it out of the sky. As for the production, no one could trust the Sriliss numbers, and the Humans’ were unknown. Just like the reserves. The only sure thing was that the Trowan oil reserves were dwindling.... That was it! Trowan’s was the answer; it was the largest known oil field, because it was the only one really known at all! Miona hurried to write down the answer.

You know, the teacher’s voice resumed in a detached tone. I can occupy...my time as I fancy while I wait...for you, class, to finish.

Miona looked up, brushing her unruly bangs off her eyes, and noticed that Professor Nogarol was taking a bath behind his desk.

But you students have ten questions to answer, if I dare remind you. He passed the back of his hand over his ear one last time.

A sudden rummaging spread behind Miona. She looked on her left and on her right, and she rolled her eyes. Half the class had been taking a bath too, and it seemed everyone was only now picking up their rulers.

As she started reading over question number two, she couldn’t help thinking that the real answer to the first question should actually be Pyrwondu. Trowans in fact had no oil fields of their own. They’d taken them from the Pyrwondus in the south, who, like the Maruwans in the north, had long ago lost their territories and freedom to the Trowans.

Ten minutes later, she put her pen down and looked around. A dozen kids were done already. Junor Kendrar was one of them, of course. A small kid with short, black fur, he was the best in the class, in all subject matters. Miona didn’t check directly behind her. She didn’t need to. She knew Maltor Poisonohl was done also. He always was. He seemed to make a point of honor to be the first one to finish. It didn’t appear to matter to him that half his answers were usually wrong.

Miss Fortvallor, can you start collecting the copies, please?

Yes, sir. Hurriedly, Miona pushed her metallic collar down—making sure it was well hidden under her shirt collar—and tightened her tie. Then she stood up. Professor Nogarol always made her collect the homework and tests, and it made her uneasy. She didn’t know if he chose her because she was his favorite student, or because she was the only slave in the class. Junor Kendrar handed her his copy, as did two other kids who were finished. When she got to Poisonohl, the boy didn’t move. He was slouched in his chair and looking at her with an arrogant smirk, his copy on the edge of his desk.

Here, Fortvallor, help yourself, he said, hitting his copy with a flick of a finger as she was reaching for it. The copy flew off the table and Miona crouched in a reflex and caught it before it touched the floor. Well, pretty good catch, little slave, Maltor Poisonohl said with the same smug smile, low enough not to be heard by the teacher, who seemed busy with his own work. Thanks for keeping my copy clean. But you know, there’s no need to kneel before me.

Miona had straightened up already. She stared at the boy with contempt for a moment, wondering if she’d feel better pulling a handful of his long, white hairs off his face, or punching his pink, flattened nose. But they were in class, so she proceeded to the next row, ignoring the sneers coming from the boy’s gang. One was sitting next to him; the other two were in the last row. None of them seemed to be finished with their test, so she pointed at her watch and smiled. Their own smiles vanished and they plunged back into their copies.

Thank you, Fortvallor, the teacher said, loud enough for the whole class to hear, when she set the stack of copies on his desk. You may return to your place. I’ll have Mr. Poisonohl collect the rest—he turned and looked up at a large wall clock behind him—in five minutes, he added a notch louder, creating a stirring of papers and a few gasps of despair from the back of the class.

Miona walked back to her desk, in the front row. You’ll pay for that, Fortvallor, she heard Poisonohl hiss behind her as she was sitting down. She hadn’t seen Professor Nogarol observing them, but he must have. All the same, she was divided between rejoicing at Poisonohl's disgrace and worrying on what her punishment would be after class. She’d probably have to run fast. Fortunately today was the last day of the first half-quarter. She’d be rid of Poisonohl and his clique in a few hours.

The rest of the lesson passed rapidly for Miona. She did enjoy watching Poisonohl collect the copies. Especially, she had great pleasure noticing how he had lost his superior airs—his pale, blue eyes weren’t mocking anymore—and how his ears lay flat with anger until he returned to his seat. She wasn’t the only one rejoicing in