“From what I’veheard,” Isaac replied.“Yes.”
“But he ain’t you.”
“Well—”
“You wanna be likehim?”
Isaac took a momentto speak.“It wouldn’t be a poor choice.”
“People gotta maketheir own way in the world, love.”
“That’s not how itworks,” he said, frowning at the sun.The light was burning his face, and hewas already sick of it.“I’ve inherited his magics, his propensities.Thebaseline potential of someone’s magic is governed by their heritage.I havegood heritage.Thus, I have his potential.And his expectation.”
“How good’s thisheritage?”
“My mother was anenchanter, which wasn’t extraordinary.My father was close to becoming a masterin both elemental transmutation and necrotic counteraction, which marked him asproficient in two separate schools, whichwasextraordinary.”He paused.“Is still extraordinary, I should say.”
Zaria nodded,walking beside him.
“It was discovered,”he continued, “that I responded very well to my uncle’s training.Through him,I’ve managed to become proficient in both elements and necrotics, just like myfather.”He peeled another flap of skin.“Though, of course, I’m still only ajourneyman.I have much more to learn.”
She hummed toherself.“How old are you, exactly?”
“Old enough.”
“Oh, aye.Big strappin’ lad, you are.‘Scuse my asking.”
“How old areyou?”
“Now, now.”Shewagged a clawed finger.“That ain’t a question to ask a woman, squire.”
“I don’t think youqualify as a woman.”
She gave a roughchuckle, muzzle opening wide beneath the shawl.Her teeth were yellow andsharp.
“Anyway—” Isaacbegan.
“You know,” Zariasaid, “I keep seein’ you peek at my lady bits, youngsir.”
“Anyway—”
“If it settles thematter, I’ll drop my skivvies—”
“Anyway,”Isaac continued, loudly.“My father.”
“Aye.Your father.”
“I’ve heard,” Isaacsaid, “from others that he was very generous.He would do any favor anyone everasked of him.He was—he was kind, and sensitive, and he never let his prowessturn into arrogance.This sort of attitude never got him far in the Diet, butit earned him many friends.I’ve hardly met anyone who didn’t have a goodimpression.”
Zaria did not respondimmediately.He had a feeling she was watching his reaction, perhaps stillthinking about his comment about her, as a woman, a creature of the oppositesex.Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the sashayof her thighs as she walked beside him, each of which was about the size of historso.They suggested a great deal of strength.She could easily run him downif he ever tried to flee.
He tried to find themoons in the sky, forcing his mind onto matters of astronomical orbit.When wasthe next phase of the lunar eclipse?
“Sure,” the hyenasaid, eventually.“I imagine so.I also imagine it’s why your uncle never goton with the man, being all miserly and such.”
Isaac shook hishead.“Very much so.”
“I imagine he hadsome choice words about your father’s capture.”
