watched as
Seboth, at the head of a full escort of armsmen in their green
uniforms, rode from the outer court of Seboth’s manor. Several
women, including Lallia, also watched, but from half shuttered
windows, as the riders wound out into the town’s narrow
streets.
A flash of silvery blue
and Farn swooped above the contingent when it emerged from the town
gate. He spiralled and pirouetted, then swerved back towards the
manor. Tika muttered under her breath. Ren raised a brow in
question.
‘He is encouraging
Seboth to do something awful to Hargon,’ she explained irritably.
But watching Farn’s graceful flight over the manor roof, she was
unable to restrain a smile of complicity.
A large part of that
day was spent working with Lallia, who showed great promise in the
talent of far speaking and also for far seeing. As with her
husband, Tika and Ren taught her first to shield herself, then
Maressa took over. Maressa was impressed with Lallia’s abilities
and told the others so.
‘She would be an air
mage among my people and a powerful one too. In this short time she
has learned what it takes years for many to comprehend.’
‘Perhaps she just
somehow remembers?’ Tika suggested. ‘I still do not know quite what
I can do or how I do many things.’ She shivered. ‘Farn’s healing
for instance. I have no real idea of what I did then.’
They were gathered in
Seboth’s library with a new face among them: Olam introduced
Pallin, a grizzled man who reminded Tika strongly of Lorak. It was
made plain that both Olam and Lallia had a fondness for the elderly
man. Gan later explained that Pallin had played the part of father
to Seboth and Olam when their true father was killed in the Ganger
Wars. He had devoted his life to serving Seboth and Seboth’s family
but had reached an age when he should be retired from strenuous
duty.
‘Where do you hear all
this gossip?’ Maressa asked Gan with admiration.
Gan laughed. ‘Armsmen
are the worst of all for gossiping. Seboth has tried to give Pallin
lighter duties but the arguments have been heard halfway into the
town apparently. And he never won any of them.’
Next morning, the party
assembled in the inner court. The three armsmen, with Olam and Ren,
were mounted on koninas, and all except Ren led a spare animal
which carried supplies. Maressa and Gan climbed onto Brin’s crimson
back while Tika bade a last goodbye to Lallia within the
manor.
‘We will make no
attempt to contact Seboth,’ Tika told her. ‘And nor must you. But
once he is home again, it will be safe to do so.’
‘I wish I could come,’
Lallia said wistfully.
Tika grinned. ‘Would
you bring the baby, and a couple of nursemaids too?’
Lallia laughed. ‘I
know, I know. But one day, I swear I will leave this town and see
something else of this world.’
She spoke so
forcefully, Tika could only hug her in delight. Running out to the
court where Farn waited impatiently, Tika chuckled to herself. She
had a feeling Lady Lallia would achieve her ambition.
Chapter
Five
In Gaharn, Emla found
Ryla icy with rage. The very idea that two Discipline Seniors
should attempt a virtual coup within the Asataria seemed
preposterous and infuriating. Secretly, she was also upset and
worried that these two had been joined by roughly one hundred other
Discipline Seniors and Seniors. A mere handful of students remained
in the building – those who excelled at fawning and toadying. The
vast majority had been ordered to leave. Some of these had returned
to their homes laden with books in the hopes of continuing their
studies unsupervised, while others had made for the Golden Lady���s
great House.
And fortunate it was
that the House was so large with so many students moving in to it.
The great hall was put out of bounds, the students relegated to the
fractionally smaller chamber in a distant wing of the House. All
three Pavilions were also forbidden to them, although one was at
present unused
Seboth, at the head of a full escort of armsmen in their green
uniforms, rode from the outer court of Seboth’s manor. Several
women, including Lallia, also watched, but from half shuttered
windows, as the riders wound out into the town’s narrow
streets.
A flash of silvery blue
and Farn swooped above the contingent when it emerged from the town
gate. He spiralled and pirouetted, then swerved back towards the
manor. Tika muttered under her breath. Ren raised a brow in
question.
‘He is encouraging
Seboth to do something awful to Hargon,’ she explained irritably.
But watching Farn’s graceful flight over the manor roof, she was
unable to restrain a smile of complicity.
A large part of that
day was spent working with Lallia, who showed great promise in the
talent of far speaking and also for far seeing. As with her
husband, Tika and Ren taught her first to shield herself, then
Maressa took over. Maressa was impressed with Lallia’s abilities
and told the others so.
‘She would be an air
mage among my people and a powerful one too. In this short time she
has learned what it takes years for many to comprehend.’
‘Perhaps she just
somehow remembers?’ Tika suggested. ‘I still do not know quite what
I can do or how I do many things.’ She shivered. ‘Farn’s healing
for instance. I have no real idea of what I did then.’
They were gathered in
Seboth’s library with a new face among them: Olam introduced
Pallin, a grizzled man who reminded Tika strongly of Lorak. It was
made plain that both Olam and Lallia had a fondness for the elderly
man. Gan later explained that Pallin had played the part of father
to Seboth and Olam when their true father was killed in the Ganger
Wars. He had devoted his life to serving Seboth and Seboth’s family
but had reached an age when he should be retired from strenuous
duty.
‘Where do you hear all
this gossip?’ Maressa asked Gan with admiration.
Gan laughed. ‘Armsmen
are the worst of all for gossiping. Seboth has tried to give Pallin
lighter duties but the arguments have been heard halfway into the
town apparently. And he never won any of them.’
Next morning, the party
assembled in the inner court. The three armsmen, with Olam and Ren,
were mounted on koninas, and all except Ren led a spare animal
which carried supplies. Maressa and Gan climbed onto Brin’s crimson
back while Tika bade a last goodbye to Lallia within the
manor.
‘We will make no
attempt to contact Seboth,’ Tika told her. ‘And nor must you. But
once he is home again, it will be safe to do so.’
‘I wish I could come,’
Lallia said wistfully.
Tika grinned. ‘Would
you bring the baby, and a couple of nursemaids too?’
Lallia laughed. ‘I
know, I know. But one day, I swear I will leave this town and see
something else of this world.’
She spoke so
forcefully, Tika could only hug her in delight. Running out to the
court where Farn waited impatiently, Tika chuckled to herself. She
had a feeling Lady Lallia would achieve her ambition.
Chapter
Five
In Gaharn, Emla found
Ryla icy with rage. The very idea that two Discipline Seniors
should attempt a virtual coup within the Asataria seemed
preposterous and infuriating. Secretly, she was also upset and
worried that these two had been joined by roughly one hundred other
Discipline Seniors and Seniors. A mere handful of students remained
in the building – those who excelled at fawning and toadying. The
vast majority had been ordered to leave. Some of these had returned
to their homes laden with books in the hopes of continuing their
studies unsupervised, while others had made for the Golden Lady���s
great House.
And fortunate it was
that the House was so large with so many students moving in to it.
The great hall was put out of bounds, the students relegated to the
fractionally smaller chamber in a distant wing of the House. All
three Pavilions were also forbidden to them, although one was at
present unused
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