5 Making Arrangements

A team in business suits stormed flight 2223 while it was still at the gate, the young woman in charge brandishing her trumped up permit like a weapon. Of course, the others didn't know that the permit was fake.

"They're not here, Helen."

The young woman reeled in shock. "Did you check everywhere?"

"Of course. We even checked the cockpit, galley, restroom, and overhead bins."

Helen stood dazed for a moment before snapping to attention. "We're done here," she stated simply before turning and leaving, the rest of the team trailing after her.

Helen marched straight up to the attendant at the counter. "Did Kerensa or Robin Fors board this flight?"

"No ma'am. It's well past boarding time. We'll have to takeoff without them."

"Thank you for your cooperation."

"Of course."

The team departed, Helen muttering to her second in command as she left the airport. "We're so screwed. Keep an eye on the airport. I have to report to Elias."

Elias was not pleased. He leveled his piercing gaze at Helen who resisted the urge to fidget. "You don't know where they are?"

"They checked in and went through security, but didn't board the flight. I still have Eduardo casing the airport. If they're still there, they won't be leaving."

Elias sighed. He seemed to be doing that a lot more than usual today. "I suppose that is the best contingency plan. But how did they manage to slip your net in the first place?"

"We tracked their reservation to flight 2223, but they didn't board."

"So they must still be in the airport."

"That was my thought. We considered that they might have bought tickets under false identities instead of using the ones provided by the school. But where would they get the money or the indentification? We're still in process of auditing all the family finances, but everything seems legit."

Elias snapped his fingers and ordered his personal servant to go get a glass of water and aspirin. "I swear those kids are more competent than the people I hire." He sighed. Again. "I'll consider your assignment pending Helen. Get me my children back or your penalty is doubled."

Helen gulped.

-|-

Kerensa woke up the next morning next to Robin. The twin bed was obviously meant to hold only one person, but both of them squeezed together not daring to move around too much for fear of falling off. She had just finished dressing in her new school uniform when her sister stirred and blinked at her sleepily.

"Wait here," Kerensa told her. "I need to go make arrangements for you. Let Mary know where I went when she wakes up."

Mary was Kerensa's new roommate, a taller girl with freckles and orange-red hair. She was surprised, but understanding of last night's odd sleeping arrangements indicating that she would inquire more in the morning after everyone had gotten a good night's rest.

Dr. Michael Terry was expecting Kerensa when she arrived since she had called to arrange a meeting the night before. To her surprise he was dressed like a stereotypical office worker complete with pens in his shirt pocket and black rimmed glasses.

"Oh, the faculty don't have to follow the dress code," he replied smiling genially when she asked about it. "But almost everyone does. Makes us feel like we belong to some sort of secret society or something. I just find it too much of a bother personally although the hat is pretty nice." He gestured to a jet black felt tricorn with an eagle's feather. "So what was this about your sister?"

"She came over to England with me and I need to transfer her into a school here. She's eleven."

"My wife works at a Stephen's." Dr. Terry rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "They're short on international students."

"How much is tuition?"

"Free. It's a public school after all. They're part of the new trial program enticing students from other countries to come study in England. She'll surely be delighted."

"Really?" That was a huge weight off of Kerensa's chest. Although she had made meticulous arrangements for them to get out of the country, she'd neglected to think of what came afterwards. Looks like she didn't have to worry. "That's great."

"I'll call you later with details. What was the other matter you wanted to talk about?"

"I was wondering why you would waive the entry requirements for me?"

"Right. That." He waved a hand airily. "Its not unheard of. Its actually surprisingly common, mostly for people who offer exceedingly generous 'donations' or relatives of faculty."

A flummoxed Kerensa played with a strand of her white hair. The hair dye had been washed out the night before when she showered. "But I'm not..."

"Don't misunderstand me, I'm not expecting any money from you." The doctor waved his hands about attempting to dispel any anxiety she might have. "You're doing me a favor just by being here. It will reflect well on me if you do well seeing as you are not only an international student that I invited but also nobility."

"And here I thought I could run away from my status by going overseas," remarked Kerensa ruefully.

He chuckled. "I honestly don't know how well you can do. The one thing I can see going for you is that you seem to be familiar with Eisen's Philosophy of Magic judging by your written answers."

-|-

"So you're from Germany?" asked Mary curiously. She was standing in front of a full body oval mirror seeing how she looked in the new school uniform.

"No, I'm from the Kingdom of Locus. From Augsburg."

"Strange that they would keep the German names considering they're separate." Mary frowned as she plucked at her skirt. "Do we really need petticoats?"

Kerensa decided to respond to Mary's comment. "Originally they did try to change the names, but everybody just called the cities their old names anyways so they gave up. They tried to change Munich to Origin."

"I can see why the new names didn't stick," laughed Mary. She glanced at Kerensa's reflection in the mirror. "How did your family get white hair?"

"Genetic engineering. Sometimes it doesn't work and then that person has to use hair dye or move to a branch family."

Mary was stunned.