The wind strengthened, chilly and sharp through her linen dress. And what if Rhodorix should notice her watching him? Hwilli turned around and hurried back up to the fortress. She returned to her chamber and spent the afternoon studying her herbal at the lectern, but her mind drifted often to the handsome man of her own kind, who had awed the arrogant men of the People with his skill.
That evening, after shed made her usual visit to check on Gerontoss progress, Hwilli allowed Rhodorix to escort her back to her chamber, with each of them carrying one of the crystals. Once they were well out of his brothers hearing, she asked what he thought of the People. Much to her surprise, he proved Nalla right.
Theyre as generous as ever any people could be, Rhodorix said, and our prince strikes me as a man more noble than any Ive ever met. But ye gods, they look peculiar!
Even the women?
Especially the women. Now, here, I dont mean to insult your friend Nalla, but her eyes make me uneasy, and those ears! Like a donkeys.
Oh, they are not! How mean!
Very well, then, not as bad as a donkeys. He reached out and touched the side of her face. But shell never be half as lovely as you are.
Come now! Youre just flattering me.
And why would I do that?
Before she could answer, he bent his head and kissed her, just a quick brush of his mouth across hers, but she felt as if hed touched her with fire. He grinned, took the white crystal from her, and left without another word. She stood by her doorway and watched him disappear around the corner before she went inside.
That night she dreamt about Rhodorix. When the dawn gongs sounding on the priests tower woke her, she lay abed for some while, smiling and remembering the dream.
After the morning meal Hwilli went to the herbroom. The day before, the apprentices had cleaned several bushels of plants and set them to dry on wooden racks. They would need turning so that theyd dry evenly. When she came in, she saw Paraberiel perching on a stool and reading from the unnamed brown book. When he looked up and saw Hwilli, he said nothing, just ostentatiously put the book into a cupboard and made sure that the door stayed shut. He caught her watching him and gave her a bland little smile. You swine! Hwilli thought. Master Jantalaber hurried in from the corridor.
Ah, there you are, Hwilli, good, Jantalaber said. If youd finish working with those herbs? Im afraid the prince has summoned me for some reason. The servant didnt know why, so I have no idea how long Ill be gone.
Of course, Master.
Thank you. Par, come with me.
Paraberiel hesitated, turning toward the cupboard.
You can leave the book there, Jantalaber said. Hwilli can look at it if she wishes.
Paraberiel opened his mouth as if he were about to protest, but Jantalaber was striding out of the room. Reluctantly he followed the master. Hwilli waited until they were well and truly gone, then went to the cupboard and took out the little brown book. As soon as she opened it, she realized why the master had been so casual.
Although it was written in the usual syllabary, and the language seemed the usual language of the People, she had no idea what anything meant, simply because the scattered notes mere jottings, really, in Jantalabers familiar script contained a welter of unfamiliar words. Astral, convoluted, etheric, a long list of what seemed to be names, a variety of words marked with various verbal forms, another list of what seemed to be places dweomer terms, she realized suddenly, referring to things that shed never be judged fit to know. The master had drawn a few sketchy diagrams here and there of something he seemed to be planning on building, but she understood none of them. She shut the book with a snap and shoved it back into its cupboard.
Had the master been mocking her, when hed told his other favoured apprentice to let her see the book? While she carefully turned each leafy plant on the wooden drying racks, that question tormented her. Jantalaber returned alone just as shed got about half-way through her task.
My apologies for letting you do all that, he said. Par resents you, you know, because youre smarter than he is, so I knew hed hinder rather than help you.
Hwilli nearly dropped the rack she was carrying. Jantalaber smiled, then picked a stalk of eyebright from the tray and sniffed it.
Yes, you can put those back, he said. Theyre not quite ready. Did you look at the book?
I did. I understood none of it. Of course.
Of course? He quirked a pale eyebrow.
Isnt that why you let me look at it? Because you knew I couldnt make sense of it?
That wasnt it at all.
Hwilli felt herself blush. She hurriedly turned away and carried the rack to the drying room, lined with shelves to hold the wooden racks. The scents of over fifty different herbs seemed to thicken the air, as if shed walked into a foggy day. The master followed her.
Ive often got the impression,Jantalaber said, that youre very much interested in dweomer workings.
I know theyre forbidden to me.
By tradition, certainly. By common sense, not at all.
Her hands started shaking. She slid the rack into its place on the shelves before she did drop it and disgrace herself.
Ive learned as much from you as you have from me, Hwilli, the master continued. All our traditions say that your folk cannot learn dweomer, simply cannot. I suspect that those traditions arose because none of the People ever bothered to get to know your folk.
I She spun around to find him smiling at her.
Now, Ive taught my apprentices to put any guesses and surmises about healing to the test, havent I? Id like to put my suspicion to the test. Do you want to share Nallas lessons?
Id like naught better in the world!
So I thought. If you hadnt bothered to look at the brown book, I never would have offered, by the by. But I felt that youd be curious enough, and you were.
Thank you, I dont know how to thank you enough
Youre very welcome. Now, about that book. Doubtless you noticed that it only contained notes in my hand.
I did.
Theyre notes toward an idea that lies near to my heart, a special place we could use for healing and naught but healing. This fortress exists to serve death. We healers exist to serve life, and we need a place free of death to study healing, somewhere that possesses healing in its very nature. You wont understand all this at first. Suddenly he laughed, and his eyes took on an excitement shed never seen there before. I dont truly understand it all myself. For now, let me just say that other masters in the healing arts agree and are planning on helping me build such a place.
It sounds splendid.
It might well be splendid, when were done. He let the smile fade. Assuming, of course, that we can finish the work now, with the Meradan raiding and killing. Ah well, who knows what the gods have in store for any of us?
Or what our destiny will be. Hwilli felt abruptly cold and shivered. And perhaps thats just as well.
Jantalaber laughed again, but his normally silvery voice took on a hard edge. Perhaps, he said. For now, though, I want you to look at the first three pages of that book again. Ill wager there are words there you dont know. Memorize them, then ask Nalla or me what they mean.
Or what our destiny will be. Hwilli felt abruptly cold and shivered. And perhaps thats just as well.
Jantalaber laughed again, but his normally silvery voice took on a hard edge. Perhaps, he said. For now, though, I want you to look at the first three pages of that book again. Ill wager there are words there you dont know. Memorize them, then ask Nalla or me what they mean.
I already have. Memorized them, I mean. I never thought Id be allowed to ask.
Well, you are. He paused, turned toward the door, and listened to a noise outside. Ah, yes. Nalla, come in. Hwillis agreed.
Laughing, Nalla rushed into the herbroom. She caught Hwillis hands in both of hers and squeezed them. I know it, she announced, I know you can do this!
Thank you. Hwilli was thinking, I know it, too. But the others? What will they say?
Im going to teach you the first steps myself, just the two of us, Nalla said. Once youve caught up to the others, therell be naught for them to say.
Which means they wont like seeing me among them, doesnt it? Aloud, Hwilli said, That will be splendid, then.
While the two apprentices finished turning the drying herbs, Hwilli learned the meaning of the words that had so puzzled her. Nalla also gave her the first principle of magical studies. All things are made of a light that has shone since the beginning of the world, but light that has convoluted, twisting around itself, bending around other rays of light, gaining substance and form with every twist and interaction, melding itself into matter in the way that a master blacksmith pattern-welds a sword from separate strips of iron.
Meditate on that, Nalla told her. The teachers say that its the key to everything. I dont know why, because Im not advanced enough.
You mean youve not worked hard enough, Jantalaber said, grinning. Follow your own advice, Nalla.
Nalla blushed, but she managed to smile.
For the rest of that day, Hwilli felt as if she were floating through her usual work and study. The door to the treasure chamber had swung open, a door that shed been sure would always remain shut and locked. When she went to Gerontos and Rhodorixs chamber to examine her patient, her splendid mood withstood Gerontoss own foul temper. That evening he did little but complain into the black crystal. The leg ached, when could he walk on it, he hated lying still all day, the cast smelled bad and itched him, on and on until she was tempted to drug him into silence.
If youre patient now, she said instead, youll heal properly. If you refuse to lie still for a few more days, the leg will be twisted and strange. Which do you want?
Gerontos set the crystal down, then crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. Rhodorix got up from his seat by the window and walked over to pick up the black pyramid.
Theres a third choice, he said, grinning. Your older brother can tie you down to the bed so tightly that you cant move until the cursed leg heals.
Gerontos said something that made Rhodorix laugh. Just try, he answered. Not that you could right now, anyway.
Gerontos said something else in a less angry tone of voice.
Thats better, Rhodorix said. He tells me that hes sorry if he offended you. Offending me is somewhat else again, but I cant begrudge it to him.
Just so. Please tell him that he really will get better if he lets the leg heal in its own time.
Rhodorix repeated what shed told him. With a sigh Gerontos nodded his agreement. Hwilli gave him his carefully measured dose of the opium tincture, then packed up her supplies.
Ill carry those back for you, Rhodorix said, if I may.
She hesitated, but the night had turned late enough that Master Jantalaber would have left the herbroom.
My thanks, she said, Id like that.
Rhodorix carried her sack of medicaments, then waited, glancing around the herbroom, watching her put things away by candlelight. Without asking he escorted her back to her chamber. Neither of them spoke on the short walk, but Hwilli could feel her heart pounding so hard that she wondered if he could hear it. At the door she hesitated, clutching the white crystal in one hand while he held up the black.
You look particularly beautiful tonight, he said. Your hairs like the winter sun, it gleams so.
Oh, listen to you! You should be a bard.
You inspire me, thats all.
He caught her chin in his free hand and kissed her, a long lingering kiss that made her gasp for breath. She leaned back against the corridor wall, and he stepped closer to kiss her again.
Could you favour me? he murmured.
Cant you see I already do? She regretted her bluntness the instant shed spoken.
He laughed. I had hopes that way, but Id not get you in trouble with your master. What will he do if he finds out youve got a man?
The question puzzled her. The women here in the fortress had always taken lovers when they wanted them, whether anyone else had approved or not.
Naught, she said. Why would he do anything? Im only his apprentice, not his daughter or suchlike.
Well, then. He smiled, his eyes eager, as if he were waiting for something.
Then what?
Then will you invite me in?
Oh! She realized that despite everything hed said and done, shed still been doubting herself. Of course.
As they went inside, he shut the door firmly behind them. He put his crystal down on the stool by her lectern, then slipped his arms around her before she could do the same. He drew her close and kissed her with the white pyramid caught between them. When his hands slid down to her buttocks, she felt so aroused that she nearly dropped the precious crystal. He laughed, caught it in one broad hand, and turned away to put it down next to the black.
Hwilli pulled her dress over her head and let it fall to the floor. She lay down on her bed, so narrow that he barely fitted next to her, but once his arms were around her, it became all the comfort they needed.
After their love-making, she drowsed in his arms, only to wake when a pale grey light filtered through the window. He woke as well, to turn onto his side and contemplate her face. He was smiling, and with a gentle finger he traced the shape of her lips.
Youre so beautiful, he said. Im honoured that youd favour a man like me.
Oh dont say daft things. She kissed his fingertips. Im the one whos honoured.
Indeed? Youre a healer, you can read and write, and what am I? Just a fighting man who happens to know horsecraft.
Id say you know women just as well. I Hwilli stopped, abruptly surprised. Wait! Im understanding every word you say. The crystals are still over there.
Rhodorix sat up, twisting to look at the lectern and the stool, where indeed the two crystals sat some five feet distant.
Ye gods! He lay back down. Well, thats a handy thing, then. He started to say more, but the priestly gongs began announcing the dawn in a racket of struck bronze. Rhodorix swore and winced, then waited till the sound died away. Why in the name of every god do they keep making that wretched noise?
In the name of every god, just like you said. Hwilli grinned at him. Its the priests duty to mark the points of the passing days, and the days themselves, the cycles of the moon and the sun, the rising of some of the stars, all of the heavenly things. Thats why the prince built this fortress up so high, so the priests would be closer to the stars.