Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3) (39 page)

His voice turned into a whisper. "I still don't understand half of what my tutor is saying, Grandpa. I know he thinks I'm stupid, maybe I am."

Jacinda had been content to sit there in the shadows without letting Brett know she was there. She realized while listening to him that he did this every night, that his talking to the stone was a lot like Cyndy's talking to it. It was something that didn't judge or criticize him, but she couldn't just sit there and let him think he was stupid. "You're not, Brett."

Brett spun around, his eyes wide when Jacinda leaned forward so he could see her in the light of the full moon.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"The same thing you are, I think. I wanted some time alone and this is the perfect spot."

"Yeah... well... I'll just go and let you..." He turned and started gathering up his things.

"You're not stupid, Brett." Her words halted his movements.

"You can't know that," he whispered.

"I can, but you tell me why you think you are?"

"Because I don't learn as fast as Kayden and Jacob. They're
way
ahead of me in all our classes."

"That's because they have had cycles to learn what you just are. What else?"

"The teacher... he looks at me and just scowls when I can't answer a question."

"He shouldn't do that. Everyone learns differently, Brett, at their own speed and in their own way."

"Even Mom is disappointed in me." He turned sad eyes to her.

"What are you talking about? You could never disappoint your mother. She loves you."

"But I do. When I ask her to help me like I used to back in the bunker, she just shakes her head at me and walks away. I've even seen tears in her eyes. She's so disappointed in me she cries." He dropped his head in shame.

"Oh, Brett, no." Jacinda dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the boy, surprised to find how thin he still was. "That's not why."

"Then why?" The eyes he raised to hers begged for answers.

"You're Mom doesn't help you, Brett, because she
can't
."

"What?" Brett gave her a confused look.

"She doesn't know the answers to the questions either, Brett," Jacinda told him again.

"Mom knows
everything
," he argued back angrily.

"Back on Earth, maybe she did, but you're not on Earth anymore, Brett, and your mom is having to learn things just like you are. She walks away because she doesn't like letting you down. Doesn't want you to think that
she's
stupid."

"Really?"

"Really, and if you ask her, I'm sure she'll tell you the same thing."

"I could never think Mom was stupid."

"As she would never think you were." Jacinda hugged him. "Can I see what you drew?" she asked gesturing to the piece of paper still face down on the ground.

"Drew?"

"The drawing of me. The one you showed your grandpa."

"Oh," Brett's gaze turned to the paper. "It’s just a dumb drawing. I shouldn't be doing them. I should be concentrating on my school work or I'll never get into the Academy."

"Is that what your teacher has been telling you?" Jacinda felt her anger at this man beginning to grow. "That you
have
to get into the Academy?"

"Well, yeah. All the Zafar men go there and both Dad and Grandpa Jacob went into the military on Earth. I
have
to go too."

"Oh, Brett." Jacinda's heart broke for the boy. "No one
has
to go to the Academy. It's a choice."

"Dad would be disappointed if I don't," he whispered.

"Did
he
say that to you?" Jacinda demanded.

"Well no, but..."

"But nothing, Brett." Jacinda used her best 'mother's' voice. "Never let someone else
tell
you what your father thinks. If you have a question, ask
him
. You might not always like the answer, but at least you'll know it's the truth."

"Alright."

"So can I see the drawing?" She gestured to the paper he still held in his hand.

"I guess, but it's not very good."

"Well, since the best I can do is stick figures I'm not one to judge."

"Stick figures?" Brett frowned at her.

"Yeah, you know." Jacinda put her finger in the dirt, drew a circle with a straight line from it for the body, with two lines jutting off from the end of the line for the legs and then one on each side of the line about half way up for arms. "See?"

Brett giggled. "That doesn't look like anyone."

"True, but it's the best
I
can do. So can I see?"

"Okay," he said softly then very slowly, he handed her his drawing.

Smiling at him, Jacinda knew she was going to tell him she liked it no matter how it looked but turning it over she found herself speechless. She expected to find a very rudimentary drawing, one better than hers but what she found was extraordinary.

With just a few simple lines, Brett had captured her profile in a way that anyone that knew her would recognize her. Everything was perfectly proportioned and accurate, right down to the fine lines around her eyes and mouth. That was something she wished he hadn't noticed.

"This is absolutely amazing, Brett."

"Really?" He looked up at her with hopeful eyes. "You like it?"

"Oh, yes. Do your mom and dad know you can draw like this?"

Brett just shrugged his shoulders. "I used to do it a lot in the bunker. The dust always seemed to get in, so I'd use whatever was on hand and draw something. Usually something from one of the books we had, but sometimes I'd draw Mom or Dad. They'd last for a while, but then more dust would get in and cover it. I'd just do another one. They seemed to make Mom happy."

"I'm sure they did." Her gaze went to his bag. "Do you have more?"

"You want to see my other drawings?"

"If you are willing to show them to me. It's up to you."

Slowly, Brett reached into his bag and pulled out a thick tablet, running his hand over its cover. "Tori gave me this when she discovered I liked to draw. She told me I didn't have to worry about them disappearing, that I could draw whatever I wanted and I could always have more paper. She also gave me 'pencils'. Did you know they come in different colors?"

Jacinda had to force back the tears that wanted to fill her eyes at this young boy’s pure astonishment that a simple pencil could come in
colors
. "I actually did. Have you used them much?"

"Not much. I thought I should save them and only use them when really necessary."

"Brett."

"Yeah."

"On Carina, colored pencils are like paper. You can get more."

"Honest?"

"Honest, so if you want to 'color' something in you can."

"Okay."

Slowly, Brett opened the tablet and began to show her his work. There were landscapes, black and white of course, but most of the tablet was filled with drawings of his life since arriving on Carina. Drawings of Cassandra and William, with their heads close as if they were discussing something. Of his parents holding hands. Of his newly discovered cousins, each doing something she knew they shouldn't be. There were guards and flowers, and what she knew were statues. There was even one of Fudge Torta. It was as if everything he saw he had to put down on paper and he did it beautifully.

Brett said nothing as he closed the tablet and she knew he was waiting for her to tell him she hated what he had poured his heart into.

"Brett, I told you how terrible I was at drawing."

"I understand." His chin dropped to his chest.

Jacinda put a gentle but firm finger under his chin and raised it until he looked her in the eye.

"You don't. What I'm saying is that just because
I
can't draw and create anything as amazing as what you have here, it doesn't mean I can't recognize beauty and talent when I see it. What you've drawn here is beyond amazing and you are only nine. You may not like what I'm about to say, but I'm going to say it."

"What?" Brett asked in a scared little voice.

"You will never go to the Academy."

"But..."

"You, Brett Chamberlain, are meant for the Art Academy at Montreux."

"What? What's that?"

"It's a very important school, your sister Tori graduated from there. They only take the very best in that field of study."

"But I could never do what Tori does."

"You don't have to, all you have to do is what you do."

"What's that?"

"Draw, Brett." She carefully took the tablet from his small hands and opened it to its first page, the landscape that she somehow knew was his first glimpse of the new world he had been brought to. "Let them see the beauty of this world through your eyes. Color our world, Brett, and it will never be the same."

"Do you really think I can?"

"I really do, and if your Grandpa Jacob were here, he'd tell you that too."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"What do you mean you didn't escort her to our Wing?!!" Jotham demanded of his guards.

"Majesty, she never left the Queen's Wing." One of his guards told him.

"You're telling me she never came out these doors?"

"No, Majesty."

Jotham looked to Cassandra's guards and they nodded that she hadn't passed them. "Stay here!" he ordered. "Notify me immediately if she passes."

"Yes, Majesty." All the guards nodded.

Jotham's mind was racing. Where could she have gone? He knew she was upset, but Jacinda wouldn't try to circumvent Royal Guards. She knew better.

A slight breeze caused a curtain to billow inward and Jotham realized behind it was the door that led to the Queen's Garden. Knowing that's where she would have gone, he followed.

Jotham let his instincts and the Carina moon guide him and found he was outside the Memory Garden. He was about to enter when he heard a voice, a very young voice.

Jotham unashamedly eavesdropped as Brett and Jacinda spoke. He shared her anger at how the teacher was treating Brett, and he would bring it up to Will. His heart also ached for the little boy trying so hard to be like his father. Jotham remembered doing the same thing. Gaining his father's attention and acknowledgement had been a driving force in his young life. It was only after he went to the Academy that he'd begun to find his own path, starting with Lata. But still, that desire had been in him, it had driven him to prove himself in the Academy, in the Coalition, and to the Assembly. He had no doubt his father would frown on his relationship with Jacinda, just as he had with Lata. It made him smile because he knew it meant it was right.

Hearing Jacinda's reaction to the drawings made him want to see them for himself. He’d heard Jacinda give out 'polite' truths before, you couldn't be in politics without knowing how to give them, but all he heard in Jacinda's voice was awe and sincerity. No matter what Jacinda had said about not being able to draw, he knew she had an amazing eye for style and beauty. If she thought Brett belonged in Montreux, then he must. He may be just as big a prodigy as Victoria had been.

Hearing the crunch of gravel along the path, Jotham turned to find Peter walking toward him and he headed down the path so they could speak without being overheard.

"What are you doing here, Jotham?" Peter asked frowning.

"I was searching for Jacinda. It seems she decided to take a walk before returning to our Wing."

"I was looking for Brett. He likes to come out here before bed."

"They found each other in the Memory Garden."

"Really." Peter crossed his arms over his chest. "So why are we standing here talking instead of in the Memory Garden?"

"You know, I never met your father, but from what Tori and Cassandra have told me he was truly an amazing man."

"He was."

"He served in your military too, I understand."

"Yes."

"And that had an influence on you. After all, every little boy wants to do what their father does. To connect with him on that level."

"I suppose so, yes." Peter frowned at Jotham. "Where are you going with this?"

"You were very successful, emulating your father, and those skills are sought after here."

"Yes."

"Yet you never would have qualified for the Academy
here
. You don’t meet the minimum height requirement."

"I realize that."

"Brett doesn't."

"What are you talking about?"

"I took a page from your daughter's book and accidentally overheard Jacinda and Brett talking."

"You mean you blatantly eavesdropped." Peter openly acknowledged he knew of his daughter’s habit.

"Yes, and Brett thinks he
has
to get into the Academy, not only because you and your father served, but because all his cousins will be going."

"Shit!" Peter swore softly. "I just want my son to be healthy and happy. I could care less if he follows in my footsteps."

"I'm glad to hear that because from what I heard I believe your son is going to be more like Cyndy than you."

"Like Cyndy? You mean a singer?"

"No, but an artist just the same. He has been showing Jacinda the drawings he's done."

"Tori got him that tablet. He takes it with him everywhere. The look of awe on his face, when she told him his drawings wouldn't 'disappear' anymore, is something I'll never forget."

"Jacinda was truly impressed with his work, something hard to do because she has a discriminating eye. She even mentioned Montreux."

"The school Tori graduated from?"

"Yes."

"Brett doesn't want to be a doctor, Jotham."

"Of course not, but Montreux is the premier art school on the planet. If Brett's as good as Jacinda thinks he is, then
that's
where he needs to go."

"We've got years... cycles before we have to worry about that."

"Not if he's a prodigy like his sister is, like his mother is." Jotham started to chuckle. "I don't envy you, Peter. Here you are the most sought after security trainer on the planet, already a legend. Yet your wife and two children are going to overshadow you. Some men might have a problem with that."