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Outside, the wind screamed and howled impotently, lashing the leaded glass window over the sink. For all its bluster though, Teine felt very safe there- safer even, than he'd ever felt in his own Commons or barracks. There was something comforting about ancient stonework that was perhaps thousands of years old. It felt like he was sheltered by the very bones of the world itself.
"The world is filled with small people," Madric said, reaching eagerly for the tea that Hamoni handed over the table. "People who, in their smallness, will try to play you small."
"He's not speaking of their stature," Hamoni added.
"He gets it," Madric snapped. "He's not a halfwit. You don't need to spell it out for him." To Teine, he continued, "My brother is one of those people. Through a cosmic joke and a bit of betrayal, he managed to secure a station for himself far greater than his talents or strength of character warranted. And the saddest part of this whole tale is that he knows its true."
Teine wanted to nod, but didn't dare. It wasn't his place to agree or disagree with the Lord of Solmurry's deposed brother. And besides, it could be that the test for magic wasn't the only test Madric had planned for him. This could well be a test of his loyalties. Teine was absolutely certain Madric was clever enough to play that game well, if he chose. His only prudent course of action was simply to give away nothing and just listen.
But it seemed that either Hamoni's interjection had knocked the magician off course, or Madric had already spoken his peace and was finished. Teine sat there, watching Madric watch him, wondering if he should speak next. Finally, the silence got to him. "Thank you for your insights, Lord Solmurrian. I'll be sure to consider them in my next encounter with your brother."
The magician regarded him for a second longer, making Teine feel quite exposed. "You can call me Madric, when it's appropriate. We don't stand on ceremony here, unless we have state guests." Teine nodded again, then decided it was probably all right to have another bite of the pear. Out of season, the fruit was still firm, sweet, and tasted just like it had come off the tree.
"Good, isn't it?" Madric asked. "Well, magic's useful for more than just war and digging wells."
"I'd drink to that!" Hamoni added, reaching over Teine to grab an orange, which she cheerfully tossed in the air and caught before beginning to peel it. "If I were the drinking sort."
The four of them ate in silence for a moment, and it took Tiene another moment to realize that he was comfortable. He didn't know what he'd expected, but this sure wasn't it. Perhaps Leis had been right and this was nothing short of a huge opportunity in disguise.
"Well, we'll have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow." Madric poured himself a cup of tea from the pot Hamoni had set down. "First, right after breakfast, we'll do your evaluation. Although the storm is supposed to continue through tomorrow night, the minor magics we'll be using in the tests shouldn't be enough to stir it up. Then, while I attend to other business, I have a couple projects for you to work on around the place."
"Yes, Sir," Teine replied, habitually.
"Don't 'Yes Sir' me," Madric scolded, pointing a finger at him. "You'll like the end result of this project. There's a very nice suite up on the third floor that's currently just storing furniture. You'll be cleaning it out to be permanent quarters for when you and the boy visit. Each of you will have your own room, and a spare in the middle for a playroom."
Teine blinked. A suite. His own room. His second own room, as he seemed to remember one of the maids mentioning he had his own room in the Demesne proper as well. No more life in the barracks, at the mercy of everyone else and their sleeping quirks. No more endless nights where Seymour had insomnia and woke up everyone to debate the validity of one fabal team strategy over another, or the nature of good and evil, or whatever else was rattling around in his brain at that moment. No more explaining to any and everyone passing by what he was writing, drawing or working on, until he decided he was ready. "It sounds like heaven," he told Madric, trying to hold his exuberance down to a dignified level.
"It won't when you see how much furniture there is to clear out." Madric retorted. "It's practically floor to rafters in there, and it will all need to come down to the main floor if it's to be carted away, or the basement if it's to continue in storage. Hard work. And lots of it."
Teine reached for another piece of fruit, this time selecting a firm, brightly colored orange. "I don't mind the work. It sounds like a pleasant way to spend a rainy day." Madric nodded his approval and Teine was relieved to see the wizard had the same reaction that nearly all his teachers or bosses had exhibited when he professed his willingness to work. It seemed that Madric was, as he had insisted, straightfoward and probably not difficult to please. Perhaps it was time to see how his real personality, not his polite facade, would be received? Reaching for the heavy golden bracelet still laying on the table, Teine placed the orange on it, as if it were a crystal ball on a stand. "Behold, the mighty orange, resplendent upon its throne! " he intoned, wiggling his eyebrows playfully at his audience. "Oh, King of all other fruits. Mere apples and berries bow to thee."
"Not the grapes, though," Madric added mildly. "Grapes bow to no one." Kenneth rolled his eyes and chuckled. Teine chalked it up as a win.
Hamoni ruffled Teine's hair. "You're silly." she giggled. "You should fit in just fine here." To Madric, she said, "Certainly you don't want him in the basement with Marne tonight? There's only the one bed."
"He can stay in one of the guest quarters tonight," Madric replied, waving her off before standing. The magician was still as barefoot as a newborn Human, and Teine had to forcibly restrain himself from looking. He didn't know if he'd ever seen an Aoife's bare feet before. Completely unaware of Teine's curiousity, Madric had continued speaking. "The servant rooms are all full except Kenneth's and I hear he snores."
"Do not," the groom huffed, sipping his tea. "Well, not unless I have a cold."
"Nonetheless, one of the guest rooms will be appropriate, just this once." Madric confirmed, patting Teine on the shoulder. "Consider it my welcome. I think Marne chose well, and we're pleased to have you. Good night." Without another word, Madric padded out of the kitchen.
Teine was still practically glowing from the unexpected praise. "He must be exhausted," Hamoni sighed, watching Madric leave. "I bet he goes straight to bed, and it's barely after nine."
"Being at Solmurry takes a lot out of him," Kenneth added.
Hamoni began cleaning up, clearing Madric's cup and topping off the tea for the others. "Teine, are you planning to eat the King, or is he going back in the bowl with his subjects?"
"Oh, I think his days on the throne are over." Teine replied, pleased she was taking up his joke. He snatched the orange and began peeling it, noticing with satisfaction the fine mist of juice that sprayed, as he dug into the skin. "It was a short, but magnificent reign."
Bending over to wipe the table clean, Hamoni grabbed the bracelet and tucked it away in one of the front pockets of the apron. "Are you tired, as well?" she asked Teine. "Or would you like to have a quick tour before retiring to your chamber for the evening?"
"That's my cue, eh?" Kenneth groaned, pulling himself to his feet. "I'll go see if the louts brought in your bag." He waddled, bowlegged and stiff, out the door to the carriage house, then immediately turned around and came back in. "It was right here. Apparently the boys are at the top of their game tonight." The groom returned to the kitchen, handing Teine his overstuffed satchel.
"Thank you, Kenneth," Teine replied, slinging the bag over his shoulder. Then he turned to Hamoni. "I'm tired, but not overly so," he told her. "And I'm very curious to see more of the building. It's got some historical significance, you know."
Hamoni laughed, mischief in her eyes. "Oh, yes. I know of its historical significance. I grew up nearby in Emmett, and I've probably had as much, if not more, schooling than you." She placed both her hands on her narrow Aoife hips and looked down at Teine, who was still seated. Even seated, he was nearly as tall as she was. "It's amusing to be lectured on history by a, what.... sixteen? A sixteen year old Human."
Teine went beet red. "Fifteen, actually." He hoped fervently that he hadn't lost too much ground with Hamoni. She was fun, and he would have hated to make her angry when he was only trying to show himself as smart and worldly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"It's all right." Like Madric, Hamoni dismissed Teine's thought with an airy wave. "I know how you meant it. I'm not angry. When you're done with His Majesty, there, I'll show you something really interesting. Something you won't find in any history book..."
Unable to keep from rushing, Teine stuffed his face with one section of orange after another, dying to see what Hamoni had to show him.
To read Chapter 8 "All the Brothers Blue" (part a), click HERE!
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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.
To read the whole story, starting at the beginning, click HERE!
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