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“No, no-” the Aoife woman giggled. “I meant the storm!” Her laughter was cut off shortly by her hissing intake of breath.
“Are you all right, Ma’am?” Teine asked, speaking loudly to be heard over the muttering conversations of their other diners. He felt a bit guilty at his relief they were in a crowd- surely in that press of people there would be many knowledgeable about childbirth. Delivering a baby was not something he felt like adding to his resume right that moment.
Before she could answer, the power was restored. Dimly, at first, but gaining in strength, the overhead lighting hummed softly, then brightened back to it’s original luminescence. There were scattered cheers, a few claps, then everyone simply resumed their conversations as if nothing had happened. “Oh, I’m fine.” Mrs. Aylmer added. “The little one always gets more active during this kind of weather. I suppose it would probably be prudent to head to the main house before it gets worse.”
Samia was instantly at the ready. “Would you like me to go and secure you a ride?”
The Aoife woman waved her off. “No, no… that’s not necessary. It’s not far at all, and I do have an umbrella.” She allowed Samia to help her to her feet, then rummaged through her tapestry valise until she found it.
“Please, Ma’am.” Samia pleaded. “Allow me.”
Mrs. Aylmer handed over the umbrella, and Samia rested it on her shoulder while reaching for her mistress’s valise with her other hand. Mr. Aylmer apparently had the same idea, for the two of them rapped their knuckles together, both reaching for the handle. Samia rubbed her hand, looking horrified. She began to apologize, but Mr. Aylmer simply laughed it off. “How about you carry the umbrella, and provide a strong arm to her support?” he suggested. “Then, I’ll follow with the bag.”
“But, you’ll get wet!” Samia protested.
“It’s a big umbrella. Besides, a little rainwater won’t do me any harm,” the Aoife quipped, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he shouldered the valise. To Teine, he added, “I’m a field reporter for the Empyrean Gazette and I write a regular humor column, as well. I go where the stories are. You'd be surprised to find out how often good stories happen in the rain.”
Despite himself, Teine found himself wishing he could speak more with Mr. Aylmer. He’d dreamed of being a reporter, himself, until he’d found out that being an Aoife was a qualification. Humans could work for the papers, but rarely had the opportunity to write for them, instead serving in a sales or distribution function. But before he could say anything, Mr. Aylmer was patting him on the arm. “We’ll take good care of your little sister. My wife has been waiting a long time for a Solmurry handmaiden.” With the valise strap secured on his wiry shoulder, he pulled his wife close and kissed her gently on the cheek.
“Thank you, Sir.” Teine replied, charmed by Mrs. Aylmer's girlish blush and the genuinely adoring way she looked up at her husband. But, feeling the Aiofe deserved a little more personalized response, he added. “It’s probably best that you head for the big house. Now that I know you’re a reporter, I’d be likely to monopolize your evening with endless questions about your profession. I’m sure it’s fascinating work.”
“Indeed, it is. If you make it to Paxnem and care to stop by by for a visit, you’d definitely be welcome.” Mr. Aylmer reached into the inner pocket of his jerkin to produce a folded leather case, from which he pulled a monogrammed business card to offer to Teine. “Here is our address…” he said, pointing to the backside of the card. Then he flipped it over, revealing the Gazette’s distinctive logo and another address. “… and here is the address for my office in the city. Let me know if you hear any good jokes.” He also produced a booklet of postage stamps, and tore off two sheets of four, handing one each to Teine and Leis. “Don’t forget to write your sister while she’s settling in. It would only be natural for her to be a little homesick at first.”
Teine accepted the card of stamps, sliding them into the pouch on his belt while he nodded his agreement and made his thanks. If it was possible, he’d grown even more impressed with Samia’s new family with each passing minute. Their unabashed affection for each other, and openhanded generosity had been a surprise balm on his earlier fears and hurt feelings. He’d heard it said before that common folk were the salt of the earth, and was beginning to see that it might be true. Emboldened by the exchange, he shook the Aoife man’s hand and grinned. “You know, it’s not too late to see if you can arrange a trade with the young Master.” he nudged, giving Mr. Aylmer a playful wink. “So I could come and assist with your reporting!”
The Aoife man roared with laughter, and Teine was rewarded with playful swats from not just Samia, but Mrs. Aylmer as well. “Teine, you stinker!” Samia scolded him. “Mine! Go away! You can’t have them, they’re mine!”
“See- I’m outvoted.” Mr. Aylmer countered. His ivory complexion was ruddy with good humor. “But, truly kids- don’t be strangers. We’ll be happy to hear from you anytime.” They all said their goodbyes, Teine and Leis even accepting a kiss on the cheek each from the Missus, before the Aylmers and Samia departed.
“They are really, truly kind people.” Leis mused. “So…" she trailed off, at a loss for the correct word. "I don’t know. So genuine, perhaps?”
Teine nodded his agreement, and the two siblings stood in companionable silence for a moment, before Teine’s attention wandered back to Boric’s party. His guests were all laughing at some joke while Boric himself was carving up the cake and putting it on small plates to share. Enviously, Teine watched. He couldn’t begrudge Boric’s hard work and good fortune, but he could mourn the death of every possible option that had been taken away from him. Then Leis’s hand was on his sleeve, and her enthusiastic chirps shook him out of his dark thoughts.
“Congratulations, by the way. Isn’t it exciting?” It sounded more like a statement than a question. “Just think! We’ll get to see each other every day now!”
“I suppose that’s true.” Teine agreed, somewhat reluctantly. He’d been so wrapped up in the shock of it all he hadn’t considered the fact that Leis had been promoted to her new station, not to mention a year ahead of schedule, as well. It was likely that she'd feel like celebrating and they’d be seeing a lot of each other.
Leis eyed him, taking in his uncharacteristic lack of enthusiasm. “Well, you don’t have to act so overjoyed.” She countered, raising an eyebrow and turning on the sarcasm. "I’d have thought you’d be pleased.”
Teine sighed. “Pleased” wasn’t exactly how he’d describe what he was feeling. In fact, he was getting downright annoyed by her exuberance. “You thought I’d be pleased?” he growled, turning his back on Boric’s party and slumping down in a chair. He beckoned Leis close, so no one else could hear. “You thought I’d be overjoyed? To be threatened with castration, and being sold into hard labor?” He paused, taking a shameful momentary satisfaction at the stricken look on her face. “No, no.” he continued, lowering his voice even more, so it only a hiss slightly louder than the rain. “You thought I’d be utterly delighted to go on to a job where a brain is optional, and to have every twist and turn of my own fate from here on out decided at the whim of some spoiled, deficient, selfish little Aiofe brat?” He choked off his tirade, realizing he was dangerously close to having more tears fall. Besides, he really did want to hear what Leis had to say to him in case she had some silver lining he'd overlooked.
“Teine, look at me.” Sulkily, he did as she asked, fully expecting her heartfelt sympathy. But when he met her gaze, he was surprised at the fire he found there. “Hush, you fool!” she snapped. “If I wanted to hear babies wailing, I’d have asked for a post down at the nursery. Are you too dumb to realize that you’ve utterly and completely won?”
He stared at his sister, stupidly. Teine could count on one hand the times he’d seen Leis lose her temper. And, truth be told, he was having a hard time figuring out what she was so angry about. “Won?” he repeated, feeling like a complete simpleton. “How could I have won?” he sulked. “I’m never going to get to go on to a real job, a real career! I'm never going to have the chance to prove myself, or gain any influence. To maybe have my own cottage someday, or get known for my art or writing-”
“Yes, won, you idiot!” she countered, giving him a completely exasperated look. “First of all, if you had been sent to almost any of the trades on your list- including Fabal with that dumb Vosh friend of yours- you wouldn’t get to keep up with the things that matter to you. Likely, you’d have to forget your art and writing completely! You’d be too busy. Now, you’re going to not only be allowed to keep it up, you’ll be actively encouraged! And you’ll get to keep taking classes, too! Any classes you want- if you want them.”
Teine blinked. He’d never considered what would happen to his hobbies, once he’d taken his place among the working ranks at Solmurry. He’d always envisioned having plenty of time for his sketchings and scribblings at his leisure, during lectures or in his free time. But Leis had a point. There was no place for a sketchpad or journal on the Fabal field, shipyard, or at the power station.
“Second.” Leis added, “I know you crave the well-earned comforts of station, and I can appreciate that, I truly can! But you’re about to get something far more valuable! Something nearly everyone- men like Boric included- would trade you for in a heartbeat!”
“What’s that?” Teine asked. He couldn’t help but be skeptical. If he were in Boric’s place, he couldn’t see anything worth trading for.
“Adventure.” Leis threw back at him. “You are going to get to go places and see things most of us will only dream of.” She gestured wildly, enthusiasm and envy soaking every word. “When Marne goes skiing with his Uncle, up north in the mountains, who do you think will go with him? When he and our Master take out the new ships, out on the open sea with the waves crashing all around and the sails flying, who do you think will be standing there, on the bow? While the choir might get to go to Paxnem and sing at the temple once every couple years, you’ll be there several times a season, watching Fabal from the Solmurry private box. While I change linens, you’ll be learning how to defend your charge with blades and staves. Perhaps you’ll even be given a horse of your own to ride!” She paused, her eyes wild with more passion than Teine had ever seen from her. It startled him, a bit, as she had always been so collected. “Honestly, Teine, how can you not see the possibilities?”
Teine muttered his assent, hoping he sounded non-commital. She sure painted a pretty picture, with all her talk of adventure. And as forlorn as he was with the situation, even he had to admit that she was probably spot on, at least about some of it. Even their Amagi had spoken of the trips she’d gotten to take with Marne, telling Teine of the unearthly beauty of the mountains she’d seen, and the trips on the steam powered riverboat. Perhaps there were possibilities he had overlooked.
“And third…” Leis added, her eyes darting back and forth to be sure no one was about to hear what she said next. “Marne isn’t anything like how you make him out to be.”
“Well- how is he, then?”
“You haven’t even met him yet?” Leis asked, her eyes widening as she suddenly noticed the folder with Teine's registration papers tucked under his arm. “What are you doing here?”
Teine shrugged, gesturing in the direction of his cohort’s barracks. “I stopped in to tell you the news before I went to pack a bag. They might want me to go with him to his Uncle’s tower.” It hit him, then, that Leis was probably right. The adventure was starting. Ready or not. Suddenly, the note she had sent him in the infirmary made all kinds of sense. “I know something you don’t know.” he added, quoting her note under his breath. Apparently, she had, indeed.
“What?” she asked, not following his chain of thought. “Never mind… forget it! Just go!” She swung her arms at him, as if she were chasing a goose out of the garden. “Get on, and get your bag packed! They could be leaving any minute, and they’ll be expecting you! I don't know what you're going to do about your other things, but I suppose we can get someone to move them to the Demesne while you're gone.” A spectacular chain of lighting blazed across the sky, throwing the entire dining hall in sharp relief and adding emphasis to Leis’s words. The other people in the hall all exclaimed in appreciation at the light show- Humans tense and slightly fearful, Aoife fierce-looking and excited.
“To the Demesne? I'm moving to the big house? Are you sure?" Teine asked, hearing his voice crack. "You’d think they could have actually told me.” Teine grumbled. Rising to his feet and running a hand through his unruly damp hair, he prodded on. “I’ll go now. But, what were you going to say about the young Master? He’s not-?”
“Yes. I'm sure." Leis told him. "I've seen the room, it's right off Marne's and it's smallish, but very nice. And," she whispered, leaning in. "He’s not a selfish brat. And he’s definitely not deficient, either. But he’s- well, he’s kind of hard to explain.” She looked thoughtful, as Teine watched her mentally try on a few adjectives to describe the Aoife boy, and discard them all. “Well, our Amagi adores him.” she finished weakly. “Says he’s just the sweetest thing.”
Teine was unconvinced, and now, his head was whirling. “Amagi has never met a child she didn’t love. Human or Aoife. She’s hardly choosy, that way.”
“I don’t really know him well, yet, myself.” Leis admitted. “He’s no trouble, though. Actually, he seems kind of shy, and unassuming. He watches everything. Doesn’t miss a trick.”
His brow furrowed unconsciously, as Teine considered the implications of belonging to someone who “watches everything.” Perhaps he was being a bit paranoid, but the possibilities were kind of chilling.
“Quit scowling, you dunce!” Leis remanded him, again shooing him toward the door. “And get going! You have no time to waste! You do want to make a good impression, don’t you?”
Nodding, Teine turned and began to walk away. “Yes, I suppose I’d better, if I want to keep the rest of my man-parts.”
Leis ignored his fatalistic speculation, following him to the door. “Don’t forget the story! It’s still your turn, and you can work on it if you have time- and Teine?” She caught his sleeve, as his hand was on the latch.
“What?” he asked, turning back once more to face her.
“This.” she said, pecking him on the cheek. Out of habit, he groaned and pretended to try and escape, but it didn’t deter her from hugging him, too. “It’s not that I’m unsympathetic.” Leis whispered. “But I think you’re not seeing the silver lining in this dark frightening cloud.” She paused, looking at him as if she could see right in through his eyes, to read his mind. “Also, it’s probably fortunate that you’re getting the chance now to realize the truth- that any control we seem to have over our lives is really just an illusion. Learning this lesson now is probably less painful than it would be to learn it later.” She smiled, almost maternally, and brushed the wet bangs out of his face, making Teine fervently glad none of his cohort were there to see. “Plus, I’m just selfish enough to be glad I’m not going to lose you, too.” She looked up at him, her long lashes damp, the freckles across the bridge of her nose standing out against her pale skin, her eyelids slightly reddened and puffy. Now that he looked closely, it was completely obvious she, too, had spent part of the day in tears.
Surprised, Teine paused. He hadn’t considered Leis’s point of view, at all. Samia, her favorite sister, was soon to be gone forever. And he, too, could easily have been assigned elsewhere. From where Leis was standing, Teine staying at Solmurry and getting assigned at a post so close to hers must have looked like a minor miracle.
“Uh… I’m sorry I was such an arse.” he muttered, offering up his apology. She deserved it, after all, but it seemed a trivial thing and not nearly enough to begin to make up for his appalling selfishness. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to see anything other than my plans being thwarted. And it will be fun to get to see each other every day.”
Leis smiled, tears welling up in her eyes, darkening her lashes. “See. Now there's my Teine. You’d better go. Good luck.” She turned him loose, and held the door open for him.
“Stop crying already,” he returned, embarrassed. “I’ll see you again soon.” Leis nodded, then pushed him out the door, closing it behind him.
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The Gilded Shackle is the first book in The Evermancer Saga, a series of online serial novels. Go go right to the most recent chapter, go to www.evermancer.com.
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