“I am presently considered to be the human equivalent of nineteen.”
“How long has the League been in existence?”
He straightened. “I cannot answer that.”
“But it’s been a while?”
“I can confirma while.” He wiggled his shoulders, as if trying to get comfortable, and then reclined again. “I can also share that the current environment is relatively new. Not long before my inception, the League underwent a major reorganization. Discipline had become lax. Beings had become overly servile, and human masters had responded with attitudes of…entitlement. The League reacted by overhauling our policies and procedures. While I applaud their attempts to protect Beings and clarify our mission, it is my opinion that the revised rules lack healthy flexibility.”
“Will you help to loosen things?”
His lips twitched. “As much as my influence permits.”
“Influence, huh?” I finished my limeade and waited for him to finish his tea. When he nodded with resignation, I continued. “Can you be other things besides a genie?”
“Indeed. Benevolence assumes many forms. There are a variety of roles to supply it.”
“What kinds of roles?”
“Caretakers for the lonely. The earliest responders at emergencies. Friendly strangers.”
“How are your roles assigned?”
“As long we have the proper skills, we can choose.”
“Skills?”
He grinned. “There are four experience levels in the League’s hierarchy. We spend one year training as a novice and two as an apprentice. To be promoted to principal, we have to become skilled at fourteen human traits or emotions, such as discernment and compassion.”
Oh, wow. The more he answered, the more questions I had. “Name a trait that would surprise me.”
“Humor.” His eyes brightened.
“Why humor?”
“We want to appeal to humans. Humor eases the process.”
“Are you considered proficient?” I swallowed a laugh.
“You wound me, Sara.” His smile said I hadn’t.
“So novice, apprentice, and principal. What’s the fourth level?”
His expression faded to neutral. “I don’t know its name. It’s quite elite. Only Beings who have joined its ranks can know its secrets.”
His attitude shouted at his discomfort. I would change direction. “Have you granted wishes for your entire time?”
“No, there have been cases where I served as a guardian.” He looked out the window, seemingly consumed with the people passing by.
Interesting. That last question bothered him, too. I wouldn’t press it either. “How was my brother paired with Camarin?”
“I’m not familiar with the particulars, but it’s my understanding that the League sent her last summer while Sean was recovering from surgery. After the initial assignment was completed, she accepted his request to return as often as he needed.”
“Okay.” Now it was my turn to have exhausted my tolerance for a topic.
He slid from his seat. “Shall we go?”
I dropped a tip on the table and stood.
