Book Two
One
New Friends
I poured myself a cup of the cooling cofftea and pulled the chair closer to the desk to dutifully read the ancient text before me. I sipped the cofftea till it was cold, intrigued, but we were controlling and twisting the forces of nature, making a new reality, however temporary, right down to its smallest particle.
I continued reading till the same cheerful acolyte came and told me that the council had invited me to dine with them. They were already seated around the table, several still quietly debating some point. My entrance brought all their attention to me.
"Davor, come, welcome to our table," Lobsang beckoned me from the far side of the table.
I went and took the vacant seat next to him, next to the apex of the oval.
"So, Davor, what say you of our free state? Where our council rules instead of a king."
I sat for a moment, assembling the disparate thoughts as they crowded my mind in response to the unexpected, probing question. And so began an evaluation of my understanding and position on aspects of ethics, politics and justice. At one point we touched on a hypothetical of Rash's case, the appellant's plea without a defendant to rebut and present the opposing case.
I used the argument of each case's circumstances to backhandedly argue to Rash's benefit that while the politics of international relations seemed the primary focus, no person should be prevented from exercising free will and no law in any ostensibly free country should negate that right.
I was surprised when I was asked my opinion of the ethics of Rash's case, the centrality of human rights as the foundation of her reasoning. From the top of my head I poured out my thoughts
"If she were not born to it, I would agree, but then the permission would be implicit in the contract. You cannot have free will if you inherit; one of the words in your motto, your brand statement is liberty." I paused to narrow my thoughts.
"Liberty to pursue your life the way you want as long as it's a private life and it's kept private and consensual. Her choice is to renounce her inheritance and live a free life here. She has money enough to do it so why deny it to her and condemn her to a life of servitude to her family obligations."
I was relieved when the questions ceased as we moved through to a library replete with lounge chairs where cofftea was served. The two that had been debating before ensconced themselves in the far corner of the room while the other five split three/two, with the two joining me.
The two huddled together left first, joined shortly afterwards by the three. The two that had joined me had once again inquired about my talents, low key questions as to what use I thought I could put them to.
We were still talking when Heen'll appeared through a door to join us.
"Gyatso, Ngawang," she greeted my companions, coming to stand beside us.
"Heen'll," they echoed back.
She flashed a smile at me.
"Lobsang thinks you should return," she informed them respectfully.
She turned to me. "And you, I've got a few more books I'd like you to read."
I pushed myself up, following my companions, who were already standing.
I spent the rest of the afternoon mentally wrestling with philosophical arguments on the nature of magic. Some became obvious observations but gave no deep insights while the few stretched the mind with possibilities.
Her acolyte interrupted my studies to bring me a mid-afternoon beverage and some biscuits to munch on. This kept me going till he informed me again that the evening meal was about to be served.
The three of us were again present for the meal. Rash has been shopping for clothes, Miriamni had been practicing healing and learning the proper techniques. With Rash still not speaking to me, I talked about the weather here with someone who was eager to praise it, letting Miriamni talk mostly to Rash. She complained about the price of things in the shops.
I was finished and lying back in my chair, still thinking of the pleasant comfort of a full stomach.
"Davor," Heen'll said, suddenly standing next to me.
I turned to look at her.
"Come, we have things to attend to," she said plainly but firmly, like a nursemaid to a child.
I followed her out of the chatter and into the quiet of the corridor.
"Your belongings are being moved to your new room. If you come with me we can talk while I show you where it is."
I followed on as she turned slowly and started down toward the far doors.
"Do you want to learn magic?" she asked casually as we approached the exit.
"What sort of magic? Like how to use my power?"
"No, regular magic, how to cast spells, how to conjure apparitions, fun things that anyone with strong magic can do."
"Yes," I said, picturing myself in Wizard's robes. "I'd like to do that, have real magic at my fingertips."
"I'm going to put you in the senior students block. I think they've got another four weeks left before they graduate, but never mind. You should come to my room tomorrow morning and I'll start you off."
"I need to get a message home, is there any way to do that?" I asked. "I'd like to let my family know that I'm alright."
"I think the messages have already gone out, one to your village magician and one to the court magician at Harould's court."
"Oh," I said, a little startled at the thought of using magic, wondering if it was a talent I might learn.
We walked on through the grounds, a mix of grass and isolated trees, paths weaving through them. We were walking to two round houses, fifty, sixty yards across and joined by a covered walkway, my presumed new home.
We entered a circular space, Heen'll shouting 'Hello' to the echoing walls. She stopped and looked around.
"There's your room," she said, pointing at a door with a number seven nailed to it.
There looked to be eight rooms in all, four on either side, split by the entrance and a mini kitchen opposite. In the centre was a low table with half a dozen chairs scattered around it.
"Your things should already be in there," she carried on. "Except your clothes, which have gone to the laundry. There should be a clean robe for you to wear, though."
By this time I was at the door. Inside was a single bed, a chest of drawers and a bedside table with a candle holder and half a dozen candles. My things, such as they were, were strewn on my bed. My panniers were at the side of the door along with my tent and sleeping things.
"I'll leave you to settle in, see you in the morning," she said, backing out of the room and closing the door behind her.
I tidied my things away in the drawers, noting the absence of my sword again. I unrolled my shaving kit and then flopped down on the bed to see what books came included. I was still reading when I heard voices coming from the common area. As I listened I heard three distinct voices.
'Two girls and a boy if I'm not mistaken,' I thought. I rose from the bed and walked to the door and walked through.
"Hi," I said, drawing their attention. "I'm Davor, I've been given a room here."
"Well, it looks like you passed, then. Didn't they give you a new robe to wear?" he said sizing me up. "I'm Grepp, these two are Bemnie and Xentha."
He rose to greet me as the two girls who'd had their backs to me turned to look over their shoulders toward me. I walked around the group and took a chair next to Grepp.
"Where are you from?" asked Bemnie.
"I'm from Skire, a Skirelander," I informed them, leaning forward, eyes flicking from girl to girl as I sized them up. They wore the same brown robe as Grepp, both had pretty faces and I could see that Bemnie's breasts were on the large side.
"I'm from Waest Kikkle, Brusburg to be exact," Bemnie answered back. "Xentha is from Ormskirk, lives on the Great Orm itself, and Grepp's from Fingerport."
"I come from a little village called Pike. I live in Pike Manor," I added.
"Xen, can you start the fire for cofftea?" asked Grepp. "I'm sure our new friend here would like one."
