TWO HUNDRED FORTY-SIX: Baby Blue

246

Rapport I’s time wasn’t very different from Anesidora’s on that Wednesday, so Alden arrived at the school not long after nightfall. He appeared in the educational summonarium, with its map of the building, the arrivals board overhead, and the descriptions written on the floor beside the summoning areas.

The student benches along the wall of windows were empty, but Rel-art’h stood in front of them. The knight was in a gray uniform, his long black hair kept out of his face by the two jeweled clips he’d worn every time Alden had seen him so far.

“Hn’tyon Rel-art’h.”

Rel had given him permission to use casual address when they were both at the siblinghold, but not elsewhere. Alden thought the formal came more naturally in his case anyway. He’d almost worn one of his pezyvas, like social armor, but since the reason he was here tonight was to spend time with a big, drooly bisonvark he’d left both vests in the suitcase the Artonan was now looking at.

“Thank you for thinking of me before sending the bokabv back. Bokabvs.”

“You’re the reason I acquired them. The students have enjoyed having the mother animal on the grounds, and every year group took turns observing the new life today. Many have benefited. Do you need to carry your bags with you, or would you prefer to leave them here?”

“I’ll carry them.”

One of them likes me, and the other has my learning cushion in it.

“Do you want food or a drink?”

“No. I’ve brought some with me for later.”

“Will something else assist you with your study?”

Alden was reminded of the string of questions and instructions this man had hit him with before he left for his first visit to see Yenu-pezth. “I can’t think of anything else I need.”

Rel-art’h looked him over like he was trying to find something to fix, then said, “Come with me.”

Alden knew the way, but he wasn’t going to tell a knight how to host him. They left the summonarium and followed the same route he’d taken with Stuart on his previous two trips. This was a school night instead of a weekend, and there were students out in the large courtyard at the back of the main building. Three of them were standing with their arms outstretched toward each other, forming a triangle shape as they looked up at a fourth who was rising swiftly into the air.

That’s Quinyeth.

She was in a casual tunic instead of her votary garb, and her pale hair was down…although, down was technically up right now since it was leading the way into the sky like it had gotten the lift from the spell before the rest of her. She waved at a couple of people watching from the upper floors of the student house as she passed. There were lanterns in the courtyard, but she was swiftly moving beyond the reach of their light.

Rel-art’h paused to watch the students. Or he paused to watch Alden watching the students; Alden wasn’t sure which of them had stopped first.

Isn’t she going too high? Of course if she was, Rel-art’h would say something instead of letting her fall to her death. Right?

Alden wondered if she’d shared her honey or if she was keeping it beside her vanilla candle.

“She’s very high,” he said finally.

“Yes, they’ve done the spell well.”

Okay. It’s only me who’s worried about her going splat.

They left before the students noticed them, and they started down the long staircase set into the steep terrain, the steps ahead of them glowing to light their way and then fading behind them.

“Were you worried the students here would open your bag if you left it behind? Normally, I would defend their manners, but it’s so obviously from another world and so interestingly repaired that I think a few of the more curious ones might have been unable to resist if they found it. None of them would have damaged your belongings or the learning cushion my brother gave you, though.”

Alden stopped. Does he have x-ray vision? Did he read my mind? Oh shit, he does do something telepathic. What if…?

Rel-art’h looked back. “Are you coming?”

“Yes.” It wasn’t a confident yes, but his feet started moving again. “How do you…my learning cushion is in my bag. How did you know that?”

I use my learning cushion to study things that aren’t spell books. I don’t even know what spell books are. Science. Engaging with the Unexpected. Intro to Other Worlds. Boring, ordinary classes—

“Evul was teasing Stu about having a second human over every time you come, since the luggage is so large. He told us you take the cushion with you everywhere. Rather proudly.”

“Oh!” Thank you, God. I’m not good enough to avoid thinking wizard thoughts while I’m talking about my wizard cushion. “I don’t carry it everywhere, but I have been carrying it anywhere I think I might have plenty of time to study.”

“I’m glad you value my brother’s gift. I hope you also value the amount of time he finds to spend with you. I thought I was going to have to travel to LeafSong and use <<a kind of spell-resistant glue>> to stick him to his own cushion. He wanted to skip this evening’s special lecture when he found out you were coming here.”

Alden had texted Stuart to let him know Rel-art’h had invited him. “I do value his time. Very much.”

Did he bring it up because he had the impression that Alden didn’t?

“It is not my intention to suggest you do not.”

And now I’m back to thinking he’s reading my mind!

[Hello? You’d tell me if all my secrets were flowing directly into Rel-art’h’s head, wouldn’t you?]

The text he sent to no one received a single word in reply: [Haha.]

She’s laughing at me. That means…I’m safe?

Laughing at his worries, about this at least, would be out of character.

“In the coming years, Stu will be busier. Once he’s settled onto his path, your lives will <<diverge>> more. That was my meaning.”

“They’re already so different nobody takes either of us seriously when we say we’re friends. Soon-friends.”

Rel-art’h’s steps slowed. “I believe most members of our family now understand that Stu’s wanting of a friendship with you is very serious to him. If they also have concerns about the difficulties of such a friendship, those are their feelings to manage. Not something you or my brother should consider much.”

Alden was surprised to hear him say that. He’d assumed Rel-art’h would be someone who thought a wizard and Avowed being friends was too impractical. He’d been the one to ask Stuart about whether he’d had Alden swear to Privacy of the House…which didn’t mean anything, now that Alden reconsidered it, except that Rel-art’h was someone used to making sure others had their business in order, and he was familiar enough with Stuart to know he might not have treated the human visitor the way everyone else thought he should have.

He isn’t exactly saying he approves, though. More like, don’t worry about what’s going on in other peoples’ heads when you’ve got your own thing happening. Maybe?

Alden liked that advice, so he was going to take it that way.

“It’s unfortunate you overheard some of our parents discussing the relationship you two are developing as if it might exist for their advantage.”

“You know about that!”

Rel-art’h sighed. “Stu warned me not to join in plots against you when I spoke to him this afternoon. So I asked him why he thought there were any plots against you.”

That’s one way to handle it, Stuart. Just directly tell any family member that’s going to spend more than a couple of minutes alone with me that you suspect them of plotting.

“I would ask you to excuse the one who suggested the idea, but I can’t think of any reason why you should.”

“I’m not sure which of your parents suggested using me to change Stu’s mind,” Alden said cautiously. “I didn’t recognize their voice. But I understand they’re all trying to take care of him in their way.”

“Their way shouldn’t involve a young guest, an alien, or a person whose healing we’ve helped to arrange. And it was Aymeg who wanted to manipulate you, according to Stu. He has likely been persuaded toward more moderate behavior by the others since then.”

Rel-art’h paused on the next step and pointed up at the sky. The night was clear and full of stars.

“Does your culture observe stars as constellations? I’ve heard humans do.”

Alden stopped beside him. “We do. I know how to identify some on Earth. As individual pictures, though. Not a skystory.”

“One of the skystories from this part of the world starts with that red star. It’s the first spark of fire made by the first wizard. She’s on her hands and knees beside it. And from there, the story is told in this shape.” His finger wove through the air. “About how she almost burned her home forest down and had to learn to be careful with her power. And then, starting from over there is the second story, about how she persuades the people of the forest to trust her again so that she can help them with her magic. I’ll send them to you. If you’re visiting us, you may enjoy learning to read our sky.”

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“Do you think Stu can persuade your family to trust him? If he keeps trying.”

The man’s brows rose, and he regarded Alden until Alden found himself resisting an urge to drop his gaze.

“I was trying to guide you away from the realm of our family’s togetherlife by changing the subject. I didn’t expect you to hear a metaphor in my description of the second story.”

“Sorry. It sounded like…” Alden did look away. “The bokabvs are over there. I’ll just head in that direction.”

“Stu speaks as though he has no doubts, doesn’t he?”

Alden turned back to find Rel’s expression a little sadder.

“I don’t think he has any,” said Alden.