by Lexy Wolfe
Crossing her arms, Kelafy tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The bard and the healer have their own attendants with those two gypsy born men, though we'll have to work on their grooming some. That Swordanzen couple, though." She tsked again. "Desanti or not, no masters, particularly god-chosen masters, should have to fend for themselves, and they've not even students of their own as you have!" Ash could barely repress a smile at the indignity of it all in Kelafy's voice.
Looking through the partially opened curtain into the main room, Ash smiled a little as a familiar wisp of a girl swept past with another tray laden with food for one of the tables. "They both seem to favor Miss Lyra," he pointed out. "At least, Githalin Storm does not manhandle her when displeased as she has done with several of the others when she was last here. I do not think risking anyone else's life trying to find another they both would accept would be necessary. They are... fiercely independent."
Kelafy wrinkled her nose. "It goes against tradition for an assistant to attend two masters, but I suppose Miss Lyra will have to do for now."
Ash was bemused, watching the woman. "Your consideration is very much appreciated."
Kelafy tsked. "Don't patronize me, Master Ash. You know very well a headwoman's duties include guests of the house as well as the household itself." Waving a hand as she rose, she said dismissively, "You and Naveene catch up on the gossip while I see to matters for you, Master Ash." The woman turned to walk out, complaining loudly. "Honestly, you could have come to us sooner but we should have plenty of goods in storage to supply the house until I make arrangements with the market merchants..."
Naveene, hiding his grin behind his hand, watched Ash in amusement. "She's a bit of a handful. Are you certain you do not wish someone with fewer burrs?"
"Until you've had to deal with a stubborn Githalin Swordanzen woman, you don't know what a handful is, Naveene." Frowning slightly, Ash said, "But she is your assistant, you said? I don't wish to deprive you—"
The man waved a hand, dismissing Ash's concern. "Feh! I serve Forenta by training the best servants for our best master mages," Naveene stated. "And you are the Illaini Magus. Serving you serves not only others' perceptions of propriety as it will serve our beloved goddess. Kelafy will no doubt choose only those who are more kindly disposed to foreigners and know their duty to Forenta and to Fortress. She has lived for this day."
"If you are certain, I would be pleased to accept her contract," Ash said, relaxing back into the chair.
Naveene winked. "Kelafy could not be happier. And I am pleased my best will serve the best." Naveene leaned forward, refilling Ash's glass. "So, let me catch you up on the rumor squirrels scampering around Ithesra these days..."
Chapter 6
Light from magelight sconces as well as several oil lamps brightened the dark interior of the otherwise empty home's large common room. Fire crackled in the hearth, giving the place a cozy feel. Emil and Emaris sat at a small chess table along the wall, the smaller man talking with his larger, mute companion, Emaris responding in hand gestures. In one of the high-backed chairs in front of the hearth, Almek looked over with a fatherly smile towards the couch where Mureln and Taylin sat. Having given into exhaustion from the past days, Taylin slept with her head resting on Mureln's shoulder, the bard keeping a protective arm around the healer.
Pensively watching the fire burning, Terrence sat cross-legged on the floor, idly poking at the logs. Eventually, he raised his eyes to look at the Vodani man. "Master Mureln," the journeyman said, breaking his silence. "You speak many languages."
Holding a glass out for Terrence to pour wine for him, Mureln smiled faintly at the oblique question. "I do, yes, Journeyman Terrence. All but Swordanzen, but I am hoping Storm or Skyfire will indulge my curiosity one day to teach it to me." Sipping the deep red liquid, he sighed. "I doubt they will, though."
"I doubt so as well. Skyfire told me that Swordanzen is traditionally only spoken among those closest to the Totani alone. And given their predilection to follow traditions to the letter, it would be very unlikely." When Mureln arched an eyebrow curiously, Terrence smiled sheepishly, then looked away with a sigh. "I do not know much of the other tongues outside of a few words." Terrence kept his eyes on the fire, not looking at the Vodani. "But I noticed that Vodani and Desanti... they do not seem to have more than one form for many of the words that identify people or animals. The word for one is no different than the word for many."
The bard idly rubbed Taylin's shoulder as he considered how to respond. The woman sighed softly, relaxing more. "I see why Ash wanted you as his student, Terrence. You are both observant and insightful. Languages are a window into the heart of a people. When you begin to understand the whys of how they express their thoughts, you begin to understand the perspective of the people." Mureln paused a moment, studying Terrence's profile. "Among the Desanti, there is very, very little emphasis on the individual over the group. The good of others comes before the good of self. I suspect it was a product of their harsh environment and short lifestyles."
"So different from how Forenten approach life." Terrence's eyes remained fixed on the dancing flames. "Putting others before self. It seems like such an alien concept." He finally looked at the master bard and the Dusvet Guardian with some shame. "We focus on our own achievements and disregard everyone else's. Though it really shouldn't be that way, should it?"
"Forenta was not always so focused inwardly." Almek offered a warm, reassuring smile to the young man. "And there is nothing wrong with being proud of yourself or your accomplishments, dear boy. Or expecting respect for the work put into achieving them." He placed his hand over his heart. "It is what you do with your gifts that make you who you will be known as."
"Focusing on the group over the invidual." Terrence looked up in puzzlement to Mureln. "Don't the Desanti... I don’t know. Remember special people? Heroes? Anyone notable?"
Mureln nodded, careful not to disturb Taylin. "Oh, yes. The Desanti remember individuals in their stories, songs and dances. But they can't survive long alone in their deserts. Just as Vodani can't survive long alone on the ocean. Those who go off on their own?" He shook his head slightly. "Lost and forgotten."
"But Swordanzen don't belong to tribes." Terrence frowned as he looked at Mureln finally. "They survive well enough alone. Don't they?"
"Not really, no." The bard's usually jovial expression turned very serious. "Most Swordanzen die within five years of becoming full Swordanzen, or they step down and become trainers of Swordanzen. They are called Tyluri." Before Terrence could open his mouth, Mureln said, "Swordanzen sometimes have a th'yala. As close to a mate as they are allowed. Regardless, Swordanzen nearly always have a beast companion, usually a drizzen."
"One of the nine Swordanzen killed when the Vi'disa tribe was attacked had been Storm's th'yala," Almek stated, gazing into the fire. "When we thought the Totani Dzee was merely a darkling that had killed or corrupted the Vi'disa, Storm considered my decision not to banish her and to allow her to remain a betrayal. Had she not given me her Blood Oath, Storm would have killed you and me without a thought. Even then, she only barely restrained herself."
Unconsciously touching the scar at his throat where he'd created the gem that protected Dzee, Terrence nodded soberly. "I knew I was very close to death just by the look in Mistress Storm's eyes. And then when she realized she nearly killed a Totani..." He closed his eyes, remembering. "It broke something in her mind, I think. Master Ash was very brave to aid her."
"I suppose if you consider aiding risking death letting an unstable warrior cut you up, he was, yes," Mureln said drolly. "Some of us would call it rather, ah, unwise."
Terrence smiled. "It was not logical, but then, logic rarely enters into the realm of the heart." The journeyman sighed softly, smile fading. "Neither Mistress Storm nor Master Skyfire seem very accepting of new things, though he is much more willing to embrace change than she seems to be."
Mureln smiled wanly. "Change to a Desanti is a very bitt
er thing. The Great War devastated Desantiva and the Desanti's way of life, so they try to hold onto what they have. Fiercely. We brought a great deal of change into Storm and Skyfire's world." He tilted his head. "Did you not wonder why Skyfire left Desantiva with Storm?" Terrence looked back, expression puzzled. "His presence is keeping her sane, as hers keeps him sane."
"Sane?"
"The children of Desantiva, Desanti and Vodani both, are connected," Mureln explained. "Not to the degree that we can hear each other's thoughts, but we can sense each other's emotions. We know when one comes into the world, and we know when one leaves it." Kissing Taylin's hair lightly, he kept his voice low. "Desanti cannot live long alone."
Eyes wide, Terrence said slowly, "Oh, I... did not understand."
Almek smiled faintly. "The Desanti are a mystery, even to Fortress. Mureln probably understands them better than they understand themselves, able to see things as he does, seeing the deeper meaning beneath their stories."
Mureln chuckled softly as Taylin roused, stretching as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. "It is more a matter of listening than seeing. It took many careful questions to learn as much as I had, to get them to reveal what little they willingly shared with me. I still feel ignorant when it comes to discussing Desanti culture without either Storm or Skyfire here to confirm my assumptions." His expression looked sad as his gaze focused on a distant point. "Because of the need to survive, Desanti as a people have lost the desire to question the world around them, to learn and explore. They have come simply to accept the way their world is simply as it is. So long as it does not impact their ability to survive, they rarely ask 'why'. They live in the moment, not dwelling on either past or future."
Both sad and troubled, Terrence said, "How sad. Do you think they can—" he began when the front door burst open. Everyone looked up, startled, as what seemed like a small army filed in, each person carrying enough seemingly to support an actual army, disappearing down the servants' hall. Ash was the last to enter, closing the door with an amused look on his usually dour expression.
Both turning away from their dice game at the chess table, Emil and Emaris watched the unexpected show of industry, speaking together in silent hand gestures. Emil squinted as the older woman who seemed to know her way around immediately and was bossing the others around, directing them here and there. "Thought ye were only goin' fer a quick shoppin' trip? What did ye do, Andar? Bring all of Ithesra t' work 'ere?"
Bemused instead of irritated with the questions, Ash shrugged. "Traditionally, Forenta provides servants and a generous stipend for their senior most mages, so they may focus on serving Forenta and the Great Mother." He accepted the glass of wine Kelafy handed him, walking to join the others and get out of his new staff's way. "I never claimed them after I made master because it just felt a waste of resources employing as many as I would be allotted for my position as Illaini."
"You always were the most reclusive sort, Master Ash. Even as a child." The woman who had taken charge joined them, offering a bow of greeting to Almek and the others. "We all have just been waiting for Master Andar to say the word. And it is about time he did!" Kelafy gestured expressively as she spoke, drawing smiles from the others. "It is so much better, now that things are finally settling to where they are supposed to be. Especially with that tramp off his arm. I swear no one was willing to be in the same room as her."
Kelafy's gestures were passionately emphatic. "I admit, we were rather grateful he spared us and limited himself to simply one servant back then. Yes, quite grateful, though we were hoping he would dismiss that creature quickly." She turned towards Ash, wagging her finger at him. "I still say you should have come to us before you departed to goddess knows where and we would have had your house properly prepared for your return!" The woman, while mostly differential towards Ash, also seemed quite happy to scold him.
And Ash seemed quite happy to have the woman chiding him so boldly. He looked over to the authoritative woman, amused, inclining his head in acknowledgement of her scolding as he introduced her. "This is Miss Kelafy. She decided she was going to be my headwoman."
Almek offered a nod in greeting to the older woman. As Ash's words registered, he looked at the man with mild surprise. "She decided?"
Kelafy replied matter-of-factly before Ash could even open his mouth. "Indeed I did, Dusvet Guardian. Naveene's Rest is where the best servants for the Great Houses and master mages are properly trained in Ithesra. When a master is newly named, he is permitted to choose who he wishes to serve him. Goddess bless him, he kept his childhood friend Dessa by his side. And then when Master Ash became Illaini? Believe me when I tell you I had been waiting on him for years to stop being so stubborn and get a proper household staff. Though, none of us were too anxious when that dreadful woman was assigned to him as a student."
Bemused, Almek settled back in the chair, leaning on his hand as he watched the woman. "Do tell," he said blandly, the others coughing behind their hands to hide their laughter.
Eyes twinkling, the woman continued. "Well, when Master Ash came to Naveene, he didn't know where to begin, so I told him I would take care of everything, so I did." She turned towards Almek, bowing deeply to him. "To be able to serve the Illaini and Fortress? Oh!" The woman comically fanned herself with an empty hand, as if keeping herself from swooning. "If there was not so much work to be done here, I would have gone and died happy the moment I heard Master Ash finally say he needed servants." Kelafy paused, frowning as she took a headcount of those present. "Where are those Desanti of yours, Master Almek?"
A familiar young woman peeked out from the servants' hallway, looking around with a slight frown of worry. "Master Skyfire and Mistress Storm are still traveling with you, aren't they, Master Ash?" Lyra asked with cautious hesitation.
The others brightened, smiling broadly seeing the slight woman. "Lyra!" Mureln rose and went to draw her out of the hall to join the rest of them. He bowed with such flourish the girl's very fair complexion turned a brilliant red. "What a surprise to see you among such august company!" He placed a chaste kiss on the back of her hand lightly. "A most pleasant surprise."
Kelafy looked smug as she crossed her arms. "Miss Lyra is to be the Swordanzen's assistant. It is unheard of that two masters of the Desanti's levels would have no personal attendants. Especially two who have been god-touched! Even you and the master healer have them." She waved an indifferent hand towards Emil and Emaris who both traded bewildered looks. Taylin blinked and giggled behind her hand. "Though Lyra was the only one suited to the position." The older woman was annoyed. "It goes against tradition for one to serve two, but given how peculiar Desanti are, it will take a great deal of time to find another both suitable and acceptable."
Lyra blushed brightly again and explained, "I'm the only one not afraid of the Desanti, and Skyfire... er, the Desanti like me." She looked around again. "They are still traveling with you, aren't they?"
"They are," Ash reassured the young woman. "The journey was especially... difficult for them. Being unused to the cold weather as they are." Ash ignored the looks from the others who knew better and were surprised he stretched the truth as far as he had. "I am sure they will be pleased to see you after they have rested."
Chapter 7
It was only with great reluctance that Kelafy allowed Ash to step outside of normal propriety and inform Almek and the other students which rooms in the newly opened family hall would be theirs. "All right, then! Now, all of you, go wash up and relax. You've been without decent food for far too long." She made a shooing motion. "And as I do not want to see anyone any earlier than late morning, you should have full stomachs to sleep on. Be down here in three hours." As they started departing, Kelafy called, "Now don't be late!"
Ash leaned against the archway, watching with amusement. "Indeed, or you'll never hear the end of it," he murmured to himself. Turning to return to his suite, Ash stopped short when he heard Kelafy start speaking with Lyra.
"Now, you know
the Desanti's preferences best, Lyra. Before you go up to inform them of the evening meal, make sure you tell Cook—"
"No, Miss Kelafy," Ash interrupted reluctantly. "The Swordanzen will not be joining us for supper. They are still acclimating to the colder weather here and need their rest." Lyra covered her mouth, the worry bright in her eyes.
Kelafy started to open her mouth to argue with him, then closed it. Ash repressed surprise at how uncannily her intense stare reminded him of his former master Bennu, as if she could see right through him. Finally, she relented, albeit unhappily. "Very well. It would not do to make their acclimation more difficult. Masters or not, those children have enough to contend with." Turning away, she put her hand on Lyra's back, guiding her back towards the kitchen. "I will have Lyra take food to their room, then. I will not have anyone go hungry under my roof."
Smiling inwardly, Ash knew it was a concession for the woman. "Thank you, Miss Kelafy. I am sure they will appreciate it."
Turning back, Kelafy put her hands on her hips. "Master Ash, you look about ready to drop yourself. Go and clean yourself up so you don't look like you had been rolling around in the sticks and leaves." She made a shooing motion, as if he were a small child, not the Illaini Magus. It was a gesture Ash found oddly comforting and was happy to accede to.
Leaning against the heavy door after securing the latch, Ash exhaled, closing his eyes. After some time, he pushed himself away, absently undoing his belt and kicking off his boots. Holding up a hand, he concentrated briefly and the oil lamp on the desk near the large bed flared to life without needing to speak the spell aloud. He reached out to touch the lamp, troubled. "Bennu was so proud when I could cast spells silently. When did I forget how special that was?"
His eyes drifted to the small, thin journal etched with flowers on the leather cover he had made when they were still young. "Dessa," he said softly as he traced her name, unable to stop a tear from escaping his eyes. Shaking his head sharply, he shed his clothing with a growl, tossing them over the back of a chair. "What is wrong with you, Ash? Keep your mind disciplined!" .He stalked into his private bathing room.