Part 8 (1/2)
”A right to pet.i.tion, my lady. And I've asked the Council many times to introduce a law requiring at least two years of citizens.h.i.+p.”
”Why? You have the legal authority to enact your own equivalent.”
”Would you object if I did?”
”Very much so. I've always known you to be a suspicious man, Soren, but there must be a reason in this case.”
The servant returned with the drink. Soren rose to accept it, and took a few paces toward the dark windows, all pretense of etiquette forgotten. ”I sense a vague threat about this man.”
”I sensed something, too. But you don't have my gift of insight, unless you've been deceiving me all these years. You know how the Judgment works.”
”Of course,” he said, facing her. ”Might I know what you discovered?”
She leaned back and shook her head. ”I gave my word.”
”It was that dark a secret? Why did you admit him?”
A tense silence fell. Soren caught the look in the Overseer's eyes, and stiffened. ”Because,” she said as she rose from her chair, ”it was not dark, as I first supposed, but personally distressing for him. I respected his privacy, and his honesty. Or do you find a flaw in my discretion?”
He bowed. ”Forgive me. When will the ceremony take place?”
”That's between you and Caleb Stenger. He requested your presence at the ceremony before I did-for the Fet'anidare, no less.”
”Indeed!”
”Why not? You are the first of the Raeni he ever met.”
The Master Raen stared at her, then emptied his flask in a long, fierce draught.
She pursed her lips. ”Soren, I won't be so imperious as to undermine your authority. Use your own judgment as always. Yet find some room to be diplomatic. The Treth still haven't forgiven your rejection of one of their best candidates, when you already knew how vital their seafaring trade is to us. If you reject this man, do so with a clean conscience.”
”I seldom refuse a candidate with such surety as you demand. I reserve my confidence for those I accept-the Oath demands no less.”
She sighed and resumed her seat. ”I have no doubt you will make him aware of that. At least consider postponing your decision-and be civil about it. You may go.”
He turned to leave, then stopped. After a brief hesitation he faced her again, always ready to place his loyalty to Ada above his respect for the Overseer. ”If I may be so bold to ask a personal question-might there be another reason behind your request?”
Garda slowly rose from her chair again, pale with fury. ”You are dismissed, Master Raen!”
He offered another apology, and left. Her response was all the answer he needed.
The sound of laughter and splas.h.i.+ng reached Caleb's ears: children and their accompanying adults at the Tarn enjoying a respite from the relentless heat. Swimming was definitely not his thing, however. He was more than content to sit on a park bench along the main path, enjoying his own respite in the cool shade of a large maple. But there were other reasons.
True to her promise, Telai had been spending time with Warren every week since the fateful confrontation in her office. Today she had knocked on their door well before noon and asked if she could take Warren swimming. Caleb's answering smile didn't appear to impress her, so he felt a bit self-conscious sitting near the beach, and decided to wait in the park instead. Besides, the last thing he needed was to watch that slender beauty in swimming clothes leaping and splas.h.i.+ng around like a mermaid.
Caleb leaned back and closed his eyes, losing himself to the sounds around him-the faint buzz of insects, a distant h.e.l.lo, the rumble of cart wheels along the thoroughfare behind. He wished he could sit here like this every day, with no artifacts to find, no secrets to keep-an ordinary man doing nothing more complicated than waiting for his beautiful wife and child.
”You seem rather relaxed for someone who's made a big decision.”
He snapped his eyes open. The Master Raen glared down at him in the dappled sunlight, gripping the hilt of his sword as if ready to charge into battle. ”My lord!” Caleb blurted, jumping up. ”Good day to you.”
”I certainly hope so. We have much to discuss.”
Caleb gestured behind him. ”Please sit down,” he offered, knowing what was at stake. ”It's been a long time.”
Soren made no motion toward the bench. Instead he took another step toward Caleb. ”Indeed. Many things have changed since then.”
”Are you here to check on my progress?”
”In a way. I find it curious that a man who has been with us for only a year aspires to our most honored profession.”
Caleb tried to keep the disappointment from his voice. ”You disapprove.”
”I haven't yet.”
”I see. What is it that unsettles you?”
”An accurate word. Some accuse me of being too suspicious. They forget that suspicion is an inherent part of my duty to Ada. I did not become a Raen to make friends. Therefore I ask you one simple question: Why?”
”You've spoken with the Overseer.”
”That's none of your concern, Caleb Stenger.”
”Neither is what happened at the Judgment yours! She promised everything would be confidential.”
”A promise she's kept, one I wish she hadn't made,” said Soren. ”Is your past so heinous you are afraid to reveal it? Or do you place so little faith in the Overseer's integrity?”
Caleb clasped his hands behind his back. ”Is your opinion of the Overseer's discretion so low you are afraid to trust it?”
The old man smoldered. Caleb knew he had scored a point, but he kept a straight face. ”I have a few questions as well-that is, if I'm allowed to ask.”
”If they're asked respectfully, then yes.”
”If I become a Raen, how will it affect my son?” he said, nodding toward the beach. ”I can't take him into battle with me, of course, but what about my other duties?”
”Hasn't Feitseg explained this to you?”
Caleb shook his head. ”I want to hear it from you.”
”You seem to have a problem with trust as well, Falling Man-something you need to work on before your life depends on the men and women fighting at your side. But about your son: there's no law against him journeying with you. In fact, as the child of a Raen he'd enjoy certain privileges. There's a group called the Frehaiani in every city and town, people who care for our children when our duties become too difficult or dangerous.”
”That doesn't sound so bad-”
”-I'm not finished!” he snapped. ”Make no mistake, Caleb Stenger: your responsibilities as a soldier come first. Longing to see your child is less distracting than fearing for him. I've seen too many Raeni lose focus and endanger the lives of their fellow soldiers. If a superior orders you to send your son to a distant Adan city, you are duty-bound to obey-whatever the reason, as long as it's military. Even for those who seldom wield the sword, the constant travel inherent in a Raen's life is hard on children.”
”Warren's used to that already. And he's tougher than he looks-we've both had some wilderness training.”
”Nothing compared to what's in store for you.”