Dream d2630-s: Both Marks Drawn Large

I had a dream where...

I had a dream where the copying floor was lit by tallow and the Keeper of the Mark stood at the board with a stick of chalk resting between two fingers. Seven learners sat on low benches arranged in two rows, blank slates on their knees. Lano had settled near the door with her nose on her front paws, watching the chalk.

The first mark went up in a single slow stroke: a vertical line from the top of the board to the bottom, as high as the Keeper could reach standing flat-footed. Then a short horizontal bar crossing it near the top. The chalk squealed once on the second motion. The Keeper stepped back. The mark stood there in the tallow-light and the Keeper did not speak.

The second mark was drawn the same way - one long sweep downward, then a curve at the bottom that came back on itself and closed. The curve took three passes before the Keeper set the chalk down on the ledge and stepped to one side.

Rurik had come in at some point during the second mark. He sat in the doorway behind the last bench, amber eyes on the board, tail curled around his feet.

The seven learners lifted their styluses. I watched the first mark reproduced across seven slates - seven vertical lines with seven short crossings near the top. Some were pressed too hard and left ridges. One learner's crossing sat lower than the others. The Keeper stood at the side of the room and did not move.

The second mark followed on each slate. The curve caused trouble. Styluses were lifted and reset. One learner made the curve too early and the line did not close. Lano got up and padded to where I stood against the back wall, pressing her side against my leg. I did not move either.

The copying floor was quiet except for the scratch of slate on slate and the small adjustments of people settling their weight. Both marks stood on the board, large enough to be seen from the back row. Seven hands were making them smaller.

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