Chapter 156
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Pronged Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2041, Planet: Grimoire
In hours, Firenze had Grifton settled into his small apartment. "I wish there was more space here," Firenze told him.
Grifton smiled at him. "No worries," he appreciated Firenze's willingness to allow him to stay there. "Besides, as I told you, I was scheduled to relocate to the Student Dormitory Lamberton Building two days from receiving the notification." He glanced at the time. "Now, only one day."
Firenze nodded. "Fortunately, we're right across from the student dormitory building that Lamberton owns." That was the only silver lining as far as he was concerned. "I'll also see about applying to the Lamberton building."
To Grifton's obvious amusement, Firenze heaved a disgruntled sigh. "So that when I return from that unpleasant situation in the foreseeable future, I won't need to worry about housing."
Now that Firenze thought about it, he realized that Grifton was being patient about what obstacles had forced their decisions differently than either had expected. "So, how are the young ones?"
Grifton held out a hand to Firenze. "Feel for yourself." He was amused when Firenze took his hand and let Grifton place Firenze's hand on his abdomen.
Gentle movement immediately occurred, and then a light smack! swatted at Firenze's palm. A few other smacks and bumps made Firenze's eyes widen in amusement. "The bump might be a kick, but that swat was a fist."
Grifton nodded. "They aren't trying to make you go away. They're just letting you know that they're aware of your presence."
Firenze concentrated for a moment and smiled. "Hmm, they're quite content with where they are. They don't want to move." He nodded. "Well, that explains why you haven't been in too much misery." He frowned. "Though did they find out because of morning sickness?" Firenze referred to Darmono and Lamberton.
"Oddly, no, that wasn't what tripped me up." Grifton shook his head. "No, I believe I was hungrier and sleepier than usual." He shrugged. "Well, I've also put on some more weight, so that might've been a tip-off."
Firenze was exasperated. "You'd think I would've known just from all those signs too." He shook his head. "Heck, I didn't even know that Molly was expecting either." Oh well, at least it was all coming together as to why Grifton was letting him into his life more thoroughly now than before.
That reminded him: "What do you think of those eight kids?" Even though they were clearly teenagers, Firenze didn't get the impression that they were adults.
Grifton shrugged. "Still naive greenhorns. They'll smarten up quickly in the academy environment, no doubt." He'd already seen the list of new students enrolling. All eight of them were in Cornell Academy. "I've also heard whispers going around about their mother.
Firenze nodded with a frown. "So did I." He hadn't cared for the innuendo either. "Well, we should get some sleep." They were both exhausted and had a full day ahead of them. Somehow, they'd been dragged into joining the welcoming committee for new students. Not what they'd had in mind for the day, but whatever. They could do their regular duties once the ceremony finished and class assignments were handed out.
The light was turned off, and they fell asleep in their separate rooms. Firenze knew Grifton appreciated that since he wasn't in a familiar lodging.
~*~
The fact that he knew what happened that day shocked Hermina. How was it that he and Darmono knew, but no one else had found out? They clearly had eyes and ears everywhere. That was very disconcerting, to say the least.
It took Hermina a bit to understand what they referenced. At last, she did a search on the orphanage and sucked in her breath. "Oh my, was this where that Tinroy fellow grew up?" Until he was acknowledged by the eight, Hermina wouldn't treat him as one of the siblings' relatives.
Lamberton nodded. "Indeed, and that is why we sought to warn you and the others that you may need to return as soon as possible." He exhaled. "There is one slight anomaly you should be aware of if you haven't already found out..." He paused.
Hermina had experienced the snobbishness firsthand, as had the eight siblings. "Hmph, if you're referring to the teleportation portals within Three-Pronged Fork." She watched the two men closely. "I did learn the hard way that they're only available for the elite and royalty visitors from other countries."
When they rolled their eyes and scowled, Hermina understood that they, too, suffered from that insult quite a few times. "In that case, yes, I am aware of that problem." She heaved an exaggerated sigh and made the two men smile at her ire. "I know where to find one that isn't restricted." Hermina rubbed her forehead. "I was contacted by Shiloh, as it happens before we even settled in here." Let them know they didn't need to worry about when she and the escorts would depart. "We've already made arrangements to depart as it happens." Hermina shrugged indifferently. "As soon as the eight settled in here and would be reassigned elsewhere, we completed our original duty." Essentially, those eight children were on their own now. "Of course, they can contact me when something legal arises, but otherwise." She spread her hands as she spoke. "Now that they've decided which institute to attend, my part in this matter is satisfied."
Lamberton looked at Hermina thoughtfully. "I want to think that you were a good friend to Davina Glasson." He sighed. "I'm assuming that the sire of the youngest ones was Amos Denbigh?"
Hermina frowned in confusion. "Yes, but what does that have to do with..." An absurd notion struck her. However, it also corroborated rumors she'd heard about Lamberton's youngest brother. "Don't tell me, he was your youngest brother who jumped bodies?" That brat had developed a ruinous obsession for Davina.
Lamberton closed his eyes at her words and roundabout confirmation of his suspicion. "That would be correct," he sighed. "So, I take that she's passed on if they're here?"
Hermina nodded. "My last duty when honoring Davina's deathbed wish was to bring them here safely." She shrugged. "Well, the first eight, that is." Hermina found this entire situation draining in terms of physical energy and emotional endurance. "As for the youngest ones, I'll watch over them," She would damn well retire from everything that had to do with lawyering and other types of solicitor work. "Of course, when they're sixteen, I'm completely finished with my duties regarding her legal matters and responsibility for the whole brood." Hermina made it clear that she wouldn't be involved with anything else.
~*~
Someone was in a seriously nasty mood. Darmono couldn't put a finger on it, but he recognized those symptoms. He hoped he was wrong in thinking that Hermina Marten might have a few health issues. A sigh escaped him. "Ms. Marten, are you perhaps having health problems?" Darmono decided to question her outright before she tried cutting them off.
Hermina looked shocked at his question. "Why would you think that?" She sounded puzzled and a bit defensive if Darmono wasn't mistaken.
"I know of someone else who had similar symptoms health wise." Darmono sighed. "He wound up dying most unpleasantly." Of course, he was referring to Doyle Moline.
Darmono frowned in concern. However, Hermina probably wouldn't have noticed what he had referenced since she had just learned about the Flange Orphanage incident when he mentioned it in their conversation.
Lamberton sighed. "A longtime colleague of ours died in that implosion that destroyed the Flange Orphanage," he patiently explained to Hermina. "We're simply concerned because you're showing signs that something is wrong physically."
Hermina folded her arms. "Yes, I do have some health issues. It is a genetic illness that is incurable." She shrugged. "Last time I was checked out, I was told I had five years at most to live and enjoy life as I pleased." What happened with the Glasson offspring wasn't part of what she'd envisioned doing with her time.
Darmono and Lamberton exchanged glances. That didn't give them any confidence in what they heard. Surely, Ms. Marten knew that reports could be falsified if someone wanted her to remain emotionally unstable? A sigh escaped Darmono, and he shook his head.
Lamberton hesitated before suggesting. "Would you mind considering getting a second or third opinion, depending on the last person you consulted?"
Hermina frowned when she heard that. "Are you implying that my physician might've been bribed?" Clearly, she wasn't pleased with the idea.
Darmono shrugged. "Nothing is beyond the realm of possibility." He reminded her. "Do consider who you angered by not falling in line with compliance recently." He folded his arms. "I already told you that the Matriarch hadn't died." Darmono watched Hermina's mouth tighten in aggravation as he added. "Despite the best efforts of other beings attempting to ensorcelled her soul in a contraption that she couldn't escape, correct?"
Hermina sighed in aggravation. "Fine, I'll consider your recommendation and get checked before I depart this place." She hesitated. "How do you know this person can't be bribed, as others are easily corruptible?"
Well, at least she wasn't going to refuse them outright. That was a relief. Darmono patiently informed her, "This person is someone we've worked with before." The physician was one of seven disciples of the late Madam Murray. "The name of the physician is Esmeralda Cordell." He saw Hermina's eyes widen. Darmono nodded in satisfaction as he listened to Hermina's response. Even Lamberton looked relieved, although both were shocked by why she was so shocked.
"Will wonders never cease," Hermina shook her head in surprise. "She actually chose to go down the path of a medic after being against it in her youth?" Hermina's recognition and recollection of what Esmeralda had been like in her youth.
"That's correct," Darmono nodded calmly. "Here is her information so that you can contact her."
Lamberton added, "I also alerted her to the fact that you'd be taking off soon." He believed that Hermina needed another opinion of her health, not from someone who might be affiliated with that matriarch of Glaston Township.
Her response indicated that not all her memories of this place had disappeared. Darmono and Lamberton listened to Hermina ramble with some curiosity.
She grinned as she remembered. "I didn't even think that was possible for her to consider." She confusedly looked at Darmono and Lamberton. "Do you two even know who her parents were?"
That was something they had yet to bother to look into.
"No," Darmono told her.
"I hadn't even thought of that source as a point of conflict." Lamberton admitted.
Hermina sighed. "Her mother was Madam Takesha Murray, and her father was someone named Alistair Draxos." Her mouth flattened when she remembered something else: "Just the fact that she gave in after all the fights she'd gotten into with her parents." Hermina shook her head in surprise. "Sure, I'll talk to her and see what she thinks about my condition."
Huh? Now, the two men were truly shocked. At least the truth, coupled with the horrified sorrow Esmeralda Cordell expressed when discovering her mother's death, made more sense. "So how did she come to possess the surname, Cordell?" Darmono found that puzzling.
At their baffled reaction, Hermina shrugged. "You didn't know then."
The two men shook their heads, realizing she was probably going to tell them something very disconcerting.
Sure enough, she gave them another horror story. Only at least this time, it seemed some good had come out of the whole ordeal; that's what Darmono wanted to assume.
Lamberton looked aghast as he listened to what she told them.
Hermina frowned when she mentioned, "Cordelia married early at the behest of her very conservative father." They scowled in disgust when she added, "I will tell you that this was done against Takesha's recommendation."
That was true. Takesha Murray had strong views of when a good marriageable age was determined by several factors. Clearly, the father didn't care at all about those factors.
Hermina sighed. "I was around when she gave birth to some very innocent young children." Her mouth tightened angrily. "That went on for at least six years."
Lamberton and Darmono winced.
Hermina finished her tale. "Cordelia had twins or triplets every single one of those six years," she shook her head angrily. "It was only after the last set of twins were weaned off her milk that she was divorced and kicked out of the Cordell family."
Darmono and Lamberton exchanged shocked glances. "Was that family trying to kill her with childbearing?" That was the only thing they could actually draw from that story.
"I don't know, but it might've been possible." Clearly unsurprised at what happened, Hermina shrugged. "She wasn't able to get rid of her surname." She listed all the pertinent details to the two confused men. "Her mother took her back in after her father disowned her from the Draxos registry for disgracing that family clan name."
A sigh escaped both of them. "Well, just do us the favor of checking in with Esmeralda, please." Darmono requested. "Otherwise, we won't hear the end of it if you don't go see her." That was why they'd contacted her so late at night.
After exchanging a few more bits of information with Hermina Marten, they signed off and headed to their respective beds. They still had a mountain load of work, and attending the Cornell Academy entrance and welcome ceremony wasn't something they wanted to miss.