“It’s amazing!” Christian cried, shaking his head.
The crow danced around until it was looking at Julian. It made a few chirps. Julian slowly reached out and touched the bird’s neck, caressing it. The crow rubbed itself eagerly against Julian’s hand.
“I think it likes me!” Julian laughed.
The crow immediately hopped up Julian’s arm and sat on his shoulder, continuing to clean its feathers and occasionally Julian’s hair.
“You did brilliantly,” Kaly/Caemorn said.
And Kaly had to agree. This appeared to be Julian’s first attempt at reviving anything and he’d done it effortlessly. All that had been holding him back was the desire not to hurt the crow. It showed what a brilliant teacher he was, but also, perhaps more importantly, what a good student Julian was. Another amazing student considering Christian too.
“Did I miss it?” An arch male voice asked followed by the grumblings of what sounded like abear.
“You haven’t missed the aftermath, Balthazar!” Julian called out.
Christian was heading towards the door where a very handsome Vampire emerged followed by a bone bear. It followed at the Vampire’s heels like an eager puppy. Balthazar immediately embraced Christian and kissed his right temple.
“Were you being brilliant? I bet you were!” Balthazar sounded like a proud father.
Ah, the Master! Does he realize he’s controlling that construct of the bear? He seems to be both irritated and amused by it as if he is not the one causing it to rub on his pants leg.
“Caemorn, call off BB, won’t you? I swear to the gods that I have cleaned every bit of mold and dried skin off of his bones, but somehow he comes back withmorethat he drops in Christian and my bed! Like he’s rolling around in dead bits of himself which is a horrifying thought,” Balthazar complained, but he was smiling. There was no bite to his words yet the pattern of them, the way he tossed his head, the way he grinned was all very familiar.
“I have nothing to do with that,” Caemorn/Kaly said mildly.
He doesn’t know he’s doing it. Balthazar has no clue he’s controlling the bear himself. How interesting!
“I did offer you a chance to join us for the lesson, Balthazar,” Caemorn/Kaly went on in that patient, mild way as if not to hurt the other man.
“Oh, yes, of course, you did! You always do! But I had a few things to do for the academy so I couldn’t sit and watch these two brilliant students of yours do their work!” Balthazar answered. “No matter how much I would have liked to.”
Christian gave Balthazar a sad smile. “You didn’t come because you’re out of excuses for why you won’t let Caemorn teach you about your Kaly gift.”
“I really don’t have one, Christian! That all passed to you,” Balthazar objected.
Christian rolled his eyes as if this was an argument they’d had over and over, which Balthazar would not fully engage in. Caemorn/Kaly said nothing.
Why doesn’t he want to know how to use his Kaly gift? Does he think he’s too good for it being an Eyros Vampire?
“Speaking of people who want to see what you’ve both been up to, Daemon’s upstairs. Go talk to him. Show him your newfriend, Julian, and I’m sure he’ll be interested in your protectors, Christian,” Balthazar urged.
The two young men hustled towards the door with eager smiles on their faces. When they reached it, Christian looked back at them.
“Aren’t you two coming?” Christian asked.
“We’ll be right with you. I just want to talk to Caemorn for a minute,” Balthazar said with an easy wave.
The two boys clattered away like puppies. It was quiet in their wake except for the bubbling of liquids in the alembics. Caemonr/Kaly began to clean up from the lessons while Balthazar stood there, biting his lower lip.
“You need not worry I’ll be offended, Balthazar, if you do not wish to learn the gift you got from me,” Caemorn/Kaly said in a gentle voice. “I know that as Eyros Reborn you have enough to handle recalling your own gift.”
Eyros Reborn? I am the Master of Eyros in this future?
Kaly wished he could laugh. He would have been rolling on the ground in tears if he had the power. But Caemorn was not doing that. He seemed to view this conversation–this whole state of affairs–as deadly serious and very important to handle well.
Balthazar lifted his head. His lips parted. “No! That’s not why I…” He grimaced. “Having the Kaly gift isamazing. If I could actually use it, but there’s no guarantee–”
“If you do not try then you can never know if you can use it,” Caemorn/Kaly said.
