Tyll sighed heavily as the portal collapsed. He trudged towards the temple, fully robed and masked, the Kephomeh's summons in hand. Vrema snuffled him in concern, pacing him. Tyll stroked her neck and murmured. "He's going to make me retire. I know it."
She heaved a smoky sigh. Tyll retiring meant she retired. She imaged Tyll surrounded by children and herself with a foal. There was longing associated with the thought of a foal. Tyll tugged on her forelock. "Go find yourself a nice stallion, then, my dear. I have to go face S'Lienst."
She whinnied in delight and imaged Varn. Tyll laughed. "He's a handsome one. Good choice!" She accompanied him to the building, gave his face a quick goodbye nuzzle, galloped off and translated. Tyll trudged inside now. He delayed the inevitable by entering the nave and enjoying the Fall of Night service.
When the rite ended, Tyll finally headed for the Kephomeh's office. His steps tended to drag. He kept getting distracted and sidetracked. So many people to say hello to, so many things to look at, so many mastigi to feed... he ended up with fifty of the little lizards clinging to him.
Tyll stepped into the Kephi wing and gently shoo'ed his passengers. "The Kephomeh is waiting for you," a novice said and politely ushered Tyll in the correct direction.
"I'm sure he is," said Tyll glumly. He allowed the poor novice to usher him, then paused to nod to a fellow. "S'Pajel, when did you get back?"
"Not long ago. I heard the news that you were recalled," Pajel replied. Tyll's recall had been a secret, but Pajel was a top ranked Kephi and found things out.
Tyll spread his hands. "And here I am. How did your last mission go?" asked Tyll, procrastinating.
"We both know what this is about," Pajel said, brushing aside Tyll's question. "Sun's hells, the novices know what this is about. Look on the night side, you'll have time with your children."
"I just can't abide the idea of sitting around doing nothing," muttered Tyll.
Pajel laughed. "Have you not spent time with your family lately? Sitting around and doing nothing is far from the description of your home!" Pajel and the novice combined forces to herd the recalcitrant Tyll to the Kephomeh's office door.
"Okay, you have a point there," said Tyll after a moment's thought. He sighed and caved in. "Well, here we go."
"And I want you to tell me all about this 'Valer' when you get out," Pajel said.
"Has everyone heard?" asked Tyll in surprise.
"You wound me," Pajel said. "You think I wouldn't find out? But yes, everyone knows."
Tyll shook his head in bemusement and walked into the Kephomeh's office. "You wanted to see me?" he asked.
The Kephomeh had waited patiently. He had all the reports in front of him. He picked each one up rather pointedly before putting it down. That way Tyll could see each of them. All were about his retirement, from different priests, some from the same sect, some from others. The ones from the Therrai were prominent. Tyll had suffered two heart attacks while in Koilatha. There was no way the Kephine could avoid taking the trainer's job now. Tyll studiously ignored the reports.
"S'Tyll, you have always been one of the best," the Kephomeh said.
"I still am one of the best," replied Tyll.
"Always did things in the best way. And this is no exception. Not one but two heart attacks!"
"Anything worth doing once is worth repeating?"
"Was it worth doing?" The Kephomeh waved Liast's report about.
"It wasn't very fun," Tyll admitted.
"Think of the night side," the Kephomeh blithely repeated Pajel's comment unknowingly, "You'll have a lot more time to spend with your children."
Tyll sucked on his lower lip for a moment. "How about this. You spend three nights with the horde and then tell me what you think of that idea."
The Kephomeh laughed. "Is that why S'Avetina's short temper is legendary? Oh no, I raised my children. And survived. Barely." He once again pointedly tapped the reports. "But I have an offer. You don't want to retire. Think of your talents. What else could you do?"
"I could take a court bard position," said Tyll. "In Koilatha, perhaps. Or Katasky."
The Kephomeh blew out his breath. "What part of no field work did you not understand? Here, in Okyro! What can you do where you can use your talents and still see your children...for part of the night..."
"I could teach," Tyll finally said. "Or I could spy on the Ekli. They always bear watching."
The Kephomeh looked skyward. "Oh, if only I could spy on the Ekli. But the punishment load of paperwork when they caught us would be sure to kill you. Let's go with the teaching."
"How many acolytes?" asked Tyll, resigned.
"I promised Ave that I wouldn't overburden you...uhm, not that we talked about this..oh no... I mean, I'm sure she wouldn't want me to overburden you. Two acolytes."
"Just two?" Tyll was annoyed. If he had to train, fine, but let him train. Two? That was a joke. Four was normal.
"Three then. So Ave doesn't fry me...or you, and claim it is good for your heart."
Tyll tapped his fingers on his belt, then nodded. "Very well, three trainees. I don't suppose you have some ready to enter training?"
The Kephomeh picked up three files. "Yes, right here. S'Pajel helped pick them out."
Tyll accepted the files. "If you don't mind, sir, I'll use one of the empty cells to look these over."
"Feel free, feel free." The Kephomeh sighed in relief. Mission accomplished and the formidable mage should be pleased.
Tyll headed out of the office and nodded to Pajel again. He wondered why being around the younger Kephi always made him feel horny. "You were right," he told Pajel.
"You doubted me?" Pajel put a hand over his heart.
"No, I just thought I'd be able to talk him out of it again." Tyll had managed to win the retirement argument in the past.
"Now, come with me. We have much wine to consume and you must debrief me in detail." Pajel's grin was a winning one and Tyll tucked the files under his arm and let Pajel lead him off.
Pajel chose the tavern that he and Tyll often frequented during those all-too-brief times when Tyll was home. Tyll's memories of the place were vaguely pleasant. It was one that had private dining rooms, catering to eclectic tastes and a fanatic desire for privacy. It was the sort of tavern the Kephi liked, because it meant they could remove their masks.
This dining room was tiny, meant for only two or four. Instead of seats, there was a padded bench that encircled two thirds of the table. Tyll nodded in approval, set the files down, and stripped off his mask. "I suppose I no longer have to wear this," he muttered.
Pajel stripped down to his thin silk undershirt and silk pants. "Get more comfortable," he urged.
Tyll agreed with that. "Summer already," he said as the heavy belt was removed. He peeled off his gloves and tunic next, leaving the thin undershirt. Tyll offered his occasional lover a crooked grin. "Tell me about my new trainees. S'Lienst said you picked them?"
"No, no, no." Pajel waggled a finger at him. "Tell me about the Valer first." He scooted close to Tyll, so that their legs touched.
Tyll shivered in delight at the contact. "Yes, the Valer." He told Pajel everything he knew, in the detail of a trained observer. He didn't notice the control spell threading through him, waking up at the touch of its creator, causing him to speak of things that should have been left private.
"Ah, so he turned you down?" Pajel's lips twitched in amusement, a mirror of Rak when he said that comment, but inside he rejoiced.
"He eventually gave in," said Tyll. "I enjoyed bending over for his magnificent cock." His legs spread wide at Pajel's silent suggestion, the laces of his thin pants inexplicably having become undone.
"I imagine no one can resist you for long," Pajel said. "Did he stress your heart too much?" He ran a hand down Tyll's thigh.
"No, he was very careful," admitted Tyll. "He means well, and tries hard, but he's not very experienced, and he's not at all familiar with more sophisticated pleasures. S'Rak's need for pain really disturbed him. But his size, natural dominance, and raw talent make up for a lot. Mostly his size."