Part 5 (1/2)
The little things she did fascinated him-never taking two successive bites of the same thing, holding her gla.s.s with the stem between her fingers, even the way her nose wrinkled when she scratched it. He valued the attachment she shared with his son, and not just because it filled some small part of Warren's longing for his mother. There was little doubt in Caleb's mind how Warren might take to Telai as a new member of the family; his own feelings were more complicated. But he knew his grief could easily outlast its day and turn into a betrayal all its own, ruining what few years of happiness fate had allowed for his son.
Caleb turned to see him drooping in his chair, Telai's gift clasped loosely in his hand. He shrugged at her look of surprise. ”He does that a lot.”
Telai gestured for Eke to approach the table. ”There's a guest room on the upper story,” she said to Caleb. ”Eke can watch over him for the rest of the evening-if you don't mind, that is.”
”Your trust is good enough for me, Telai.”
A dash of impertinence sparked her eyes as they fixed on Caleb. ”Be careful, Eke. I've let a charmer into the house!”
The old woman grinned, then walked around and gently woke the boy. Warren looked to his father, who gave a rea.s.suring nod, and followed Eke out the door.
Knowing his son would be well cared for, Caleb returned to his host. A change had happened since this morning, he realized. Now that Telai was freed from her role as teacher, she could approach him as a woman-flirt with him, challenge him, turn the tables at every opportunity.
Mesmerized, it took him a while before he noticed the growing smirk on her face. He sat up straight. ”Sorry, I shouldn't stare.”
”Maybe it's the wine. Enili does put out some heady vintages.” She lifted the flask. ”More?”
The memory of an unb.u.t.toned blouse popped into his head, and his face warmed. Her grin broadened; she filled his cup, and when he lifted it to his lips, the tremble in his hand only added to his chagrin.
”How did you come to be Loremaster?” he asked, desperate to change the subject.
She set the flask aside, abruptly serious. ”It's a little complicated.”
”Oh. If it's personal-”
”No, not really. It was too many years ago. And it's hardly a secret,” she said, rolling her eyes.
She took a sip of wine, while Caleb relaxed, his embarra.s.sment forgotten. ”His name was Tenlar-and he was quite the charmer,” she added with an emphatic glare. ”I was very young at the time. Too young. I was still struggling with what I wanted to do with my life. He had no doubts, though: The n.o.ble life of a Raeni soldier,” she said, deepening her voice in mockery. ”But he kept putting it off, for I would have to become a Raen, too, if we were Joined.”
”Why?”
”The law requires it.”
Caleb shook his head. ”That sounds so unfair. Choosing to spend your lives together is a big enough decision.”
Telai locked stares with him. ”Remember what I told you: the Oath always takes precedence.” Caleb straightened in his seat, nodding quickly to forestall an argument.
She turned thoughtful, swirling the wine in her gla.s.s. ”Anyway, my mother thought Tenlar was pressuring me too much, and told me to wait. Once he found this out, he became ... annoyed, to put it mildly. And typical of a young recruit, he approached the problem with rash confrontation.”
”The Overseer? Your mother?”
”She was only First Underseer of Spierel back then,” Telai explained, attempting a smile. Caleb leaned in, his arms crossed on the table, no less spellbound than he was at the theater. ”It's still the second-highest position of civil authority in Ada, though,” she said. ”His convictions about the Raeni were, shall we say, challenged by fire. He took the Oath the very next day.”
”Now there's a man I'd like to meet. But how did this lead to your decision to become a Loremaster?”
”I had already begun a few introductory studies. Raeni recruits are required to do the same. So Tenlar was right there with me while I was struggling with my decision. Acallor, my mentor at the time, wasn't too pleased about that.” She shrugged. ”Can't say I blame him. Then Tenlar took the Oath without even telling me, and-well, you don't want to know how dramatic I got when I found out. Let's just say it clarified my choices.”
”Joining the Raeni didn't appeal to you?”
She s.h.i.+fted in her seat, frowning. ”I admire them as much as anyone. I'm just not cut out to be a soldier.”
”Well, don't beat yourself up too much. Tenlar would be lucky to have done as well as you.”
”He has-Master Raen of Spierel, no less.” Her gaze drifted. ”He never Joined with anyone, though.”
Caleb drew a long, quiet breath. Neither did you.
Telai shook her head as if to clear it. ”All this talk about my youth is depressing me.” She filled her cup of wine, lifted it to her lips, and the ruby on her finger glinted in the light.
Caleb gestured. ”What does that signify?”
She took a moment to identify the target of his attention, then set the cup down and stretched her hand forward for a closer inspection. ”It's the sign of my position. Most every major city and fortress has its own Loremaster, including Ressolc, the Loremaster of Ekendore. Each wear an amethyst, but I wear the ruby. For certain official functions I wear a larger version of this in the form of a pendant. The red symbolizes the blood of our ancestors.”
”Yours is the highest position?”
”Yes. As Grand Loremaster of Ada, I make the final decision about the validity of written works or artifacts.”
”How long have you held that position?”
”Three years. I've been a regular Loremaster for longer than that, of course. Which reminds me. How old is Warren?”
Caleb knew that Adan years were about a six percent longer than Earth's, so he did a quick sum in his head. ”Ten, I think.”
”Then he was born the same year I became Loremaster,” she said. ”I like that for some reason.”
He said nothing of how much time had pa.s.sed while in artificial hibernation: no point ruining her pleasant fantasy. ”He's actually closer to eleven in Earth years. He's a bit small for his age.”
”And you?”
He grinned. ”Am I small for my age?”
”Very funny. Answer the question!”
He worked it out on his fingers this time, brows knotted. ”Thirty-three.”
”Good. I've always been attracted to older men.”
His stomach did a flip. ”What? Just how old are you?”
”Thirty-two,” she answered, eyes twinkling.
Caleb blushed again. He definitely needed to up his game. ”At least it isn't the other way around. I was afraid the Grand Loremaster would turn out to be a d.a.m.n good-looking old maid.”
She nodded slowly, lips pursed. ”Thanks. At least you didn't criticize me for being too young.”
”Um ... young for your position, you mean?”
”The youngest ever-and I have to be careful not to brag about it. I've always enjoyed Ressolc's support, though, so no one takes their jealousy very far. I rely on him for plenty of other things, too. No one possesses the long-lost knowledge of the Prophets, but he comes close.”
”Prophets? You mentioned them earlier today.”