“Mine,” he replied in a way that told Stevahn it meant much more than a simple word.
Stevahn found himself experiencing scrutiny from Tharak Karak. Though he was thirty-one and far from sheltered, he found the experience simultaneously unnerving and in some way soothing, as if he could look into those exotic, dark eyes for hours without wanting to do anything else. Then the Thrun Highest Chieftain nodded and grinned.
“Yes, he is the one,” he said to Borsen. “Thetan a’ Thrun – Balancing Man. A blessing on you both.” He reached out both hands and shook Stevahn’s firmly, then turned because Menders had reached them.
“Magic In The Eyes!” Tharak bellowed as he and Menders grasped one another’s forearms and then embraced. Again, Stevahn got the impression that the embrace was longer than the usual. Tharak said something in a low tone and hugged Menders a second time before releasing him.
“And now, my friends, we will show you hospitality!” he announced. He grabbed Borsen off the ground and set him on one enormous shoulder, despite Borsen protesting that he was a grown man now. Then he put an arm around Katrin’s shoulders and beckoned to Hemmett to join them. The music began again as he strode on toward the house. Borsen looked back at Stevahn, shrugged, grinned and waved.
Menders walked over to Stevahn.
“And it begins,” he said. “You’re as bad as the rest of them, out here without a coat.”
“Menders… what is Thetan a’ Thrun?”
A brief flash of surprise crossed Menders’ face.
“It’s a complex name,” he replied slowly. “A force that brings balance to the world – literally, ‘Balancing Man’. He called you that, did he?”
Stevahn nodded.
Menders was silent for a moment.
“Tharak rejoices in the mystical,” he finally said. “Sometimes it’s best not to think about his pronouncements a great deal.”
“I know about the prophecy, as much as Borsen knows,” Stevahn said.
Menders sighed. “Yes, and Borsen would know more than Katrin or Hemmett because Borsen would think to ask a Thrun, being Thrun himself,” he said slowly. “Stevahn, I don’t know the entire prophecy and I’ve made it a point not to know. I believe that you understand, without a lot of explanation, why this is the best thing to do. I will say one thing – you will keep Borsen from burning himself out with his own fire. You have already done a great deal to settle him and you will continue to do so. You are the only person who has ever been able to.”
“He’s a very motivated young man,” Stevahn said.
“It goes beyond that,” Menders replied, linking arms with him and following in the wake of the Thrun. “Borsen is a driven man, as he was a driven boy. Ever since I met him, he has always pushed himself to and beyond his limits, determined to be the best at everything he attempted. With much patience and care I’ve managed to deflect some of that. Because he is devoted to me, he has taken my advice. I saw him go to Erdahn with trepidation, though I encouraged it, because he was becoming determined to give up his dreams so he could stay here with Katrin after she was injured.”
“What?” Stevahn was stunned. “Borsen was going to give up opening his store?” Stevahn could hardly imagine it.
“Yes, he was.” They had reached the house, where Stevahn gratefully retrieved his heavy fur coat from the rack. He pulled it on as they walked back out onto the steps.
“I asked Katrin to encourage him to go to Erdahn,” Menders continued. “Borsen doesn’t know this. It was difficult for her, as they are very close. He was a rock for her during the first year of her illness. Like me, she realized Borsen was about to destroy himself to help her. But I also feared the possibility that he would push himself far too much once he was on his own in Erdahn.”
Menders was silent for a moment, his hands in his pockets.
“One cannot follow one’s children around all their lives,” he went on, his voice lower. “At some point it’s necessary to step back, and this is the time for me to step back from Borsen. He accomplished the impossible getting Borsen’s open so quickly and he’s already two years ahead of his plan for the place.”
Menders drew Stevahn’s attention to where Tharak was standing, shouting directions, Borsen still perched on his shoulder. Then he continued speaking.
“I had begun to despair, to be truthful. I saw in my mind’s eye the possibility of Borsen working himself to death before the age of thirty. I can’t leave Katrin for long, because she has been so desperately ill. I simply could not be a continual tempering influence in Borsen’s life because of the distance involved.
“That was a terrible decision for me to make, because my late-arriving boy is incredibly dear to me. I had to let him go and hope what I have given him would carry him through. At times it appeared it might not be enough. I was infinitely relieved when we received his letter about your bonding.”
“Thank you,” Stevahn said softly. “I have managed to keep him from overworking and driving himself so hard. He’s begun to listen – and you were right, he was on the way to working himself into ill health, at the least. Hells, I’ve physically prevented him from going off to work alone at the store on rest days, which was more than a minor tussle. By now he’s getting used to the idea and last week he even groused at me when I got up at eight on a rest day and woke him by dropping something in the bathroom.”
Menders smiled. “You have no idea what good news that is to me,” he said. “Let that be your answer for the meaning of your Thrun name, Thetan a’ Thrun. You balance this young man. You must have noticed how infinitely precious he is to all of us.”
“I certainly have noticed. I’ve never seen anyone more loved,” Stevahn replied, watching as Tharak finally crouched and let Borsen off his shoulder.
“Borsen was a very lovable and endearing child,” Menders said. “He caught your heart and held it – and he desperately needed love. It was easy to forget how driven he was because he was so adorable. Then it surfaced with a vengeance as he got older. I recognized it, of course, because being driven is also a trait of mine. I’m glad he’s finding that he needn’t pour every ounce of his energy into his ambition.”
Menders put his hands in his pockets and looked out over the spectacle of the Thrun rapidly converting an empty lawn into a town of circular tents. He seemed to stand taller suddenly, tension leaving his body.
“I had meant to speak to you of this at some time during your visit,” Menders continued quietly. “I hadn’t intended to do it in the freezing cold or standing on the steps but there you are. Sometimes the opportunity arises and you have to take it. Now – my family is here and there will be five days of contests, trading, races, eating and drinking far too much. Tharak will once again try to trade me an enormous pile of saddles, jewelry, knives and furs for Eiren to become his seventh wife. Let the worries go, Stevahn and let’s go join the carnival.”
***
“He’s gone completely Thrun,” Borsen said with some amusement, watching Stevahn try to lift a small block of wood from the ground from the back of a running farlin. It was his fifth attempt. This time, instead of tumbling to the ground, he grazed the block with his fingers and managed to haul himself erect on the farlin’s back.
Katrin, who was strolling toward the Thrun carnival, her arm linked with Borsen’s, laughed.
“He’s entranced with it,” she agreed. “I can just remember how I was the first time the Thrun came here and he’s the same way. I was so thrilled when Menders and I spent a night in Tharak’s tent! Stevahn’s having the time of his life out there, though he’ll be black and blue when the bruises come up.”
Stevahn took another run at the wooden block. He managed to snatch it, then swung himself upright on the farlin’s back.
“Well done!” Borsen shouted excitedly. It was no easy feat, particularly for a large man. Stevahn was an excellent rider but no matter how skilled, any stunt from horseback was made more difficult with every pound of body weight.
&nb
sp; “How much plunder has he traded for?” Katrin smiled.
“It’s good we’re going home on the launch and not by train, because the train wouldn’t be able to pull it all. As it is, the launch will ride much lower in the water,” Borsen replied. “Being a banker, he’s driving good bargains too. I know he has designs on putting most of it, gems and jewelry, into his vault at the bank. He also has five jugs of kirz stashed under the bed, to take back to the fleshpots of Erdahn.”
Katrin burst out laughing. Borsen was glad to see some color in her cheeks. It had been good for her to get outside, despite the cold. The distraction of the Thrun carnival was working on her like a tonic.
“Before he’s done he’ll have a horned hat and a gown,” she said.
“He has the gown already,” Borsen laughed. “Of course, it’s beautiful and now I don’t have to hide mine away so he won’t find them and think I’m a nancy. Try not to laugh yourself to death, my lovely sister and Princess. Now, what would you like me to trade for as a gift for you? We’ll have to do it fast, before Stevahn gets everything.”
“Oh, a dress, I think,” Katrin said. Borsen raised an eyebrow. It had been a long time since she’d shown much interest in clothing, and he’d expected her to ask for a saddle or bridle for her farlin, Trouble. As far as he was concerned, it was a good step forward.
Stevahn had returned the farlin to its owner and was walking over to them.
“Ah, the Thrun city boy,” Borsen said as Stevahn reached them.
“My two favourite country bumpkins,” Stevahn responded, unfussed.
“I beg your pardon, sirrah, you are in the presence of royalty,” Katrin said regally. “We’re going to go and trade for a dress for me, if you wish to come and see true business acumen.”
“Indeed, fair lady, I would love to be tutored in the ways of finance by one who can so crush my pride,” Stevahn answered, turning with them and keeping pace.
“Borsen, you’ll need to trade for a gown for yourself, for the Last Night celebration,” Katrin said suddenly. “Unless you brought yours with you.” Borsen was so delighted to see her eyes sparkling with mischief, that he decided not to kill her on the spot.
“I’ll look around,” he replied casually, but Stevahn was already gloating.
“So Reflection Of My Friend has a Thrun gown?” he asked, grinning. “After all that jeering I was given after trading for mine?”
“He has four, actually,” Katrin said very innocently. “Or is it five now, Borsen?”
“All right, yes, I have five.”
“He didn’t want you to know, so he’s hidden them,” Katrin said confidingly to Stevahn, who was squiring her along in a courtly way. “He says he was afraid if you knew, you’d think he was nancy.”
“Why would I ever think such a thing?” Stevahn responded, managing somehow to keep a straight face.
“Katrin, I think I might not get you that dress,” Borsen teased. “Where’s Thira? Her mother always has the best gowns and dresses, and yes, evil ones, I am going to get myself a gown for Last Night now that the secret of my nanciness is out.”
“Gods, I love you both,” Stevahn laughed. “I haven’t found a staid boring person around this place yet!”
“We have them all locked up down cellar,” Katrin said blandly, making him hoot some more. “There’s Thira’s tent.”
Thira, a tall and attractive young Thrun woman, looked up and saw them coming her way. She smiled, shooing her two children away to play. She put her arms around Katrin and kissed her cheek.
“I haven’t seen enough of you,” Thira said in careful Mordanian.
“I know! It’s been so busy, but we’ve two days left. Come to the house tonight and we’ll have a good talk,” Katrin smiled. “I also need a pretty dress for Last Night.”
“I have a beautiful blue and gold, embroidered with snowflowers,” Thira answered.
“It’s obvious the ladies want to talk,” Stevahn murmured to Borsen. “May I speak with you for a moment?”
“Let me just signal Hemmett,” Borsen replied. He looked around and caught Hemmett’s eye, motioning with his head toward Katrin. Hemmett nodded and took Flori’s hand, moving closer to Thira’s stall.
“Of course Katrin is entirely safe with the Thrun here, but I want someone near in case she feels ill or needs to get into the house,” Borsen explained as he walked beside Stevahn.
“I wanted to ask you about Katrin’s charity – the orphanage. I’d like your opinion about something.”
***
“You hadn’t mentioned to me that Borsen’s finger was broken,” Tharak said, taking another glass of kirz from Menders and settling back in one of the deep upholstered armchairs in Menders’ office. Menders poured himself a measure and settled in the other armchair. He clenched his jaw for a moment, then looked at his friend.
“It was, before we went to the Middle Continent. That’s how we found that his bones are brittle. It was a minor mishap and shouldn’t have done more than smart a bit. Instead – well, it healed, but it’s crooked. He says it works as well as ever.” He sipped from his glass, knowing what was coming.
“So, all three of the chosen children have had their maiming injuries,” Tharak said, looking steadily at him.
“I’m sure you noticed that Katrin’s had far more than that,” Menders snapped.
“Aylam – the Suspension Ritual was prophesied as well,” Tharak said calmly. “You say that you don’t remember the Prophecy Saga, but I know you. Your mind is not that weak.”
Menders counted to ten – twice.
“I thought we were going to talk about the Thrun Kingdom,” he finally said.
“Indeed. The Prophecy affects it as well as the rest of Eirdon.”
Menders stood abruptly and went to the window behind his desk. He could just see the eastern end of the Thrun camp beyond the leafless orchard. Hemmett was leading a farlin with Katrin and Flori on its back.
“When I look at them and know what they’ve been through, I don’t give a damn about the rest of Eirdon,” he said vehemently. “Yes, I remember that Saga. I hate every word of it and I can’t believe that it dictates the lives of those three young people! I know how it spins out! I know what is supposed to happen to them! Do you think I want that to happen to my children, Tharak?”
“There are those who wish to exterminate all Thrun as they would rats,” Tharak’s voice replied by his ear. Menders nearly jumped out of his skin. He had never heard his friend move. “They come with larger and larger guns. They mow us down like stalks of grass. Do you think I want that to happen to my people? We have waited hundreds of years for the Circle to turn.”
Menders closed his eyes.
They had arrived at stalemate and stood there silently. After a few tense moments, Tharak put his hand on Menders’ shoulder. Menders reached up and coverered Tharak’s hand with his own.
***
“Of course, it’s frustrating to have to wait for the winter to pass before we can begin construction again, but I’m happy to see the delay in going ahead hasn’t affected the construction that was completed,” Katrin said, leaning on Stevahn’s arm as they surveyed the site for the orphanage. Hemmett and Menders were checking the covers that had been put over the incomplete building.
“No, it’s been well protected,” he replied. He’d been on a tour of the proposed hospital site and the functioning home for elderly tenants as well as looking over the half-built orphanage.
“In spring we’re going to use the same method that got The Shadows Academy built in five months and Borsen’s renovated in six,” Katrin smiled. “No more delays.”
“Excellent. Now, we’ve been out in the cold for two hours – why don’t we get back to The Shadows? I have a few ideas that might be of interest to you.”
After their brisk sledge drive back, they were grateful to find a good fire going in Menders’ office, as well as coffee and sandwiches. Borsen was waiting for them, with Tharak and Eiren.
“Now,” Stevahn said once everyone had chatted and warmed themselves with the coffee and food, “you know me as Borsen’s bonded, the man who took more than a year to bring about a runaway match with him.”
As the laughter died, he went on.
“In my professional life, I’m known to be far more decisive and directed. I’m an investment banker, yes – but another thing I do as part of my work is the direction and management of the business affairs of a number of charities.”
Katrin looked directly at him.
“Your ideas are wonderful,” he told her. “They’re feasible and they provide for definite needs. You have the wherewithal to make them reality. All this we look for when we are considering whether we wish to take on a charity’s account management at the bank – or for that matter, when we are deciding whether we want to back the charity financially ourselves.”
He saw Katrin’s eyes kindling and she smiled.
“Yes, my dear – I feel entirely confident in offering the assistance and support of The Rondheim Bank,” he said.
“The Rondheim Bank!” Katrin gasped. Stevahn burst out laughing.
“Surely you know my last name is Rondheim,” he grinned. “Did you think I ran some little loan service down near the docks in Erdahn?”
“I didn’t make the connection,” Katrin gasped, still laughing at her own naiveté. “My life has become very insular of late.”
“And that is what I wanted to explain to you,” Stevahn said, masterfully keeping the conversation focused. “If you have management for your charity, should something happen where you can’t cope with it – like this terrible injury and illness you’re recovering from – your charity will continue to run effectively. You’re walking into a similar situation to Borsen’s, biting off far more than you can chew. If an issue comes up that makes it impossible for you to chew, everything comes to a grinding halt. If people are dependent on your charity and it stops functioning, people suffer.”
“What about the possibility of abuses?” Menders asked. “I’m sure you know that there are those who will find employment at charitable institutions who are seeking to exploit something.”
Love and Sacrifice: Book Two of the Prophecy Series Page 51