Free Dwarven Ruby by Richard S. Tuttle

“I am not used to such demeaning tasks and cannot find the proper room. Where is it?”
    The soldiers looked at each other briefly and shrugged.
    “Which children’s room do you mean?” asked one of the soldiers. “There are many. There are prayer rooms, playrooms, meal rooms, sleeping quarters, and education centers. I fear that I cannot help you without knowing which room you seek.”
    Bin-lu stared at the soldiers and shook his head in dismay.
    “I was informed that the child was hurt in a garden,” offered Boris. “I believe that they were studying lessons in Sordoan culture at the time of the accident. Does that help any?”
    The two soldiers chatted with each other for several moments as they discussed which room it might be. Finally, one of the soldiers asked,” How old is the child?”
    “Between eight and ten years,” answered Bin-lu. “A female child.”
    “That is just down this corridor,” smiled one of the soldiers as he pointed. “You cannot miss it. It is a few doors from the end of the corridor.”
    “Show me the way,” ordered Bin-lu.
    “But…,” the soldier frowned.
    “Now,” demanded Bin-lu.
    The soldiers dutifully nodded and turned around to lead the way. Their pace was brisk, but the infiltrators kept up as the soldiers marched silently towards the end of the corridor. When they reached a door, they stopped and pointed to it.
    “I think this is the room that you seek,” one of the soldiers stated.
    “Good,” Bin-lu said brusquely. “I want the two of you to stand guard while the healers are inside. Nobody gets in and nobody leaves without my authorization. Do you understand?”
    The soldiers nodded glumly and took up positions at both sides of the doorway. Bin-lu opened the door and stepped into the room. Boris and Tedi immediately followed him and closed the door.
    The room was fairly large with several doors leading out of it besides the one the infiltrators had entered. There was a large desk at the front of the room and a couple of dozen smaller desks. About twenty young children were seated at the smaller desks. They all looked up as the door closed. Bin-lu scanned the room and saw that there were no adults present.
    “Where is your teacher?” Bin-lu demanded.
    “You did not bow to me,” frowned one little girl in the front row. “I am the Emperor’s daughter and demand your respect.”
    Bin-lu stared at the little girl. Swiftly he bowed before he breached some unknown protocol. The rest of the students began laughing.
    “She is not the Emperor’s daughter,” shouted another girl while the rest of the children continued laughing. “She made you bow.”
    “Where is your teacher?” Bin-lu demanded again. “I do not have time for games.”
    “She had to go somewhere,” answered a student. “She told us to study until she returned. Who are the men in the white robes?”
    “What is your teacher’s name?” asked Bin-lu.
    Before the students could answer, there was a loud knock on the door. Boris swiftly moved in front of Tedi so that he was blocked from the view of the doorway. Bin-lu strode to the door and opened it.
    “She says she is the teacher,” offered one of the soldiers. “You said nobody was to enter without your permission.”
    “Let her in,” Bin-lu nodded.
    The woman swept into the room as Bin-lu closed the door.
    “What is going on here?” the woman demanded. “Who are these men?”
    Bin-lu smiled broadly as he recognized the woman. Slowly she recognized him too.
    “You?” she said softly as she stared at Bin-lu.
    The teacher turned and gazed at the other two men, although she could not see the second one because he was hidden behind Boris. Bin-lu held his finger to his lips and smiled. Master Khatama stepped aside and the teacher saw Tedi for the first time. Her knees buckled with recognition, and Tedi raced across the floor to catch his mother before she fell. Lara shook her head to clear her vision and gazed at up Tedi. Tears started