“Done.” Riann held out a hand, and the two men shook. Calrain hid a wince at the hard squeeze, but he knew Riann wasn’t purposely trying to hurt him. Maybe the training would harden him a bit and make him stronger. How could he hope to impress a girl with these spindlylimbs?
“Say,” Riann said as Calrain sat down to transcribe the letter, “why is it that you’re still apprenticing for Brother Tersen anyway? You are old enough to have taken your vows and become a full Brother of Roisen in your own right. You’ve been apprenticing in this office for as long as I canremember.”
“I should have taken my vows two years ago,” Calrain said, “but Brother Tersen keeps pushing back the date. He’d never admit it, but I think he intends to keep me as his apprentice for as long as he can so he can continue to use me as slave labor. If I were a Brother of Roisen, he would have to pay me, and that would cut into his drinking fund.” His lips twisted into a mockery of asmile.
Riann scowled. “I don’t understand why you put up with this arrangement,” he said. “Why not write to the Brotherhood and explain yoursituation?”
“Sending a letter to complain about my master is never going to be seen in a positive light, no matter how justified the complaint may be,” Calrain said, shaking his head. “It is better towait.”
Riann shrugged. “As you wish. But at this rate, you may be waiting until Brother Tersen keels over. With all the drinking he does, that could be tomorrow, but it could also be twenty years from now. Are you certain it’s worthit?”
Calrain nodded. The truth burning at his lips, the truth he did not dare speak aloud, was that he wasn’t ready to join the Brotherhood just yet. All members of the Brotherhood swore to remain chaste throughout their lives as part of their vows, and though Calrain had been conditioned for this his entire life, he couldn’t help the raging need in his blood to claim a woman at least once. Preferably Tariel, if he could just work up thecourage.
So, no. He wouldn’t press for his vows just yet. He would train, he would write Riann’s letters, and maybe, just maybe, he would get Tariel to see him as more than just the childhood friend who’d taught her toread.
4
Iwonderif it is going to be hard to learn to read and write,Riann thought as he left the clerk’s office nearly an hour after arriving. It had taken a bit of time to get the letter right, and he’d spent more time talking with Calrain than he’dexpected.
He quite liked the apprentice, and though he was slight of frame, his eyes gleamed with an intelligence that told Riann he was wasted slaving his days away in that tiny clerk’s office with nary a copper to his name. If he were Calrain, he would take his talents to Kalsing and find a wealthy merchant who could pay him handsomely for hisabilities.
Thinking of Fjordland’s capital city reminded Riann that in just a few days, he would be leaving to see it for the first time. The thought made his blood race with excitement—he’d been brought to the castle for training when he was seven years old, and in the fourteen years since, he barely had any opportunity for travel or adventure. This would be the first time in his adult life that he would get to see more of Fjordland and finally go to court. All the recent graduates were to be presented to the king, and while he was there, he would get the chance to introduce himself to other nobles, and perhaps find work with a wealthierlord.
Of course, that would mean leaving Tariel behind. A pang of regret hit his heart at the thought of never seeing her lovely face again, but perhaps it was for the better. He would never be able to have her—their encounter earlier had been a painful reminder of that. As the sixth son of a baron he held no titles or wealth, and with nearly all his coin going to his sister, he had nothing to support a wife. Besides, Tariel would be married off soon enough—it was past time for her to take a husband, and Lady Tyrook could not hold outforever.
“There you are,” he crooned as he approached the third stall, where his beloved horse, Namacca, waited patiently. The dappled gray mare whinnied at the sight of him and eagerly devoured the two sugar cubes in his palm. “How are you feeling today, oldgirl?”
“She’s been doing better lately, sir,” the stable boy said as he approached, his arms laden with various grooming implements. He set them on a workbench as Riann led Namacca out of her stall to brush her coat and give her a proper inspection. “I walked her yesterday and didn’t see nostiffness.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Riann said as he crouched down by his mare’s legs. He ran a hand down her front left leg and gently squeezed her tendon, and she lifted her hoof automatically so he could pick out any stones or debris. Not that he expected to find any since she hadn’t been ridden in a few days, but he always checked anyway. “I’m going to be taking her to the capital soon, so she’ll need all herstrength.”
“Begging your pardon, sir, but you might start thinking about purchasing a new steed.” The stable boy was small, maybe nine years old, with a freckled face and sandy hair, but he spoke with the confidence and authority of someone who had been around horses all his life. “Namacca is a good mount, but she’s getting close toretirement.”
“I know,” Riann said sadly. He should have retired Namacca years ago, but since he was sending all his money to his sister, he couldn’t afford to buy a new horse. It was a predicament, as a knight could hardly do his job without a sturdy mount. With any luck, he would find an employer in the capital who could pay him more, and perhaps even give him a horse on credit. If he could make even a few more coppers a month, he could save some money, and perhaps even have enough to support a family of his ownsomeday.
He had just finished picking the last hoof when a shadow fell overhim.
“Good evening, Sir Riann,” a familiar gruff voicesaid.
“Captain.” Riann rose to his feet as quickly as he could without startling his mare. “What can I do foryou?”
“I’ve come bearing ill tidings,” the captain said grimly. “I know how much you wanted to come to the capital, but Lord Tyrook just handed down the list of names of those who are permitted to go, and you are not onit.”
The back of Riann’s neck heated with anger. “What do you mean, I’m not on it? I have just as much of a right to be presented to the king as any of the othergraduates!”
The captain cleared his throat, an uncomfortable look on his face. “Lord Tyrook worries about leaving the castle undefended during these times of strife,” he said. “He has commanded quite a few men to staybehind.”
“I’d wager none of them are recent graduates, though, are they?” Riann growled. “No, don’t bother,” he said as the captain opened his mouth to speak again. “What’s done is done.” Lord Tyrook never changed his mind about things likethis.
The captain clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, boy. You’ll get your chance to visit Kalsing one day. I’ll make sure ofit.”
Riann shook his head as he watched the captain depart. He would get no such chance, not unless he left Lord Tyrook’s service, and Riann could not afford to do so unless he knew for sure that employment waited for him elsewhere. He knew damn well Lord Tyrook feared another noble would snatch him up after seeing his fighting prowess—that was the real reason he was being held back. His situation was not entirely dissimilar to Calrain’s, now that he thought about it, and a wave of empathy for the poor clerk’s plight filledhim.
There must be more to Calrain’s decision,he decided. Some circumstance that made it impossible for him to write to the Brotherhood, just as it was impossible for Riann to leave Lord Tyrook’s service without another source of income waiting. He resolved to ask the clerk about it the next time he saw him, and see if there was something he could do tohelp.
“Oi, Riann!” Sarian, one of the other newly minted knights, greeted him as he entered the stables. His own steed, a powerful stallion with a golden coat, followed in behind him, his sides lathered with sweat. “Have you heard thenews?”
“If you’re referring to my being left behind while the rest of you get to gallivant off to Kalsing, save your breath.” Riann turned back to his horse. He picked up his curry comb and rubbed Namacca’s coat in circular motions. “The captain just informedme.”
