Page 34 of Valdemar

There was a long pause as Lythe’s face took on an odd stillness, as if this was another totally unexpected question. “Is it too late for me to learn to read?” she blurted, and blushed. “I always wanted to—no one but Father Willum knows how at home—but my mother said it was a waste of time for anyone who wasn’t god-called—”

Kordas nodded with approval, Isla smiled, and even Restil found himself nodding. “Actually, I can do something better and faster than teaching you how. I can put the knowledge straight into your mind, with magic. I’ll stick to Imp—I mean, Valdemaran, though. We don’t have any Tayledras books.”

“You can always help Alberdina and Delia and the scribes who are copying books once you know how to read and write,” Isla added. “With mage-lights, light to see to write clearly isn’t a problem, and good copying is largely a matter of going slowly and taking great care. Our copies don’t have to be fancy, just accurate.”

Lythe perked up immediately, clasping her hands beneath her chin. “Would you really do that?” she asked, nearly breathless with excitement.

“Of course. One more copyist will be invaluable, and it will give you something to talk to Rothas about, so he isn’t doing all the talking, and you all the listening.” Isla smiled slyly.

“When?” Lythe asked eagerly. “When can I learn how to read and write? I don’t care if it hurts, I can’t wait!”

“Now,” Kordas replied, and reached across the table to touch the middle of her forehead.

• • •

“Well,” said Isla as the door closed behind a dazzled Lythe, who was cradling one of Restil’s old books of wonder tales in her arms, with instructions to read it thoroughly first, then go to Delia and get the materials to copy it. “We’ve lost a wall watcher.”

“It was make-work anyway,” Kordas reminded her. “This is actually much better. I’ll put her to making extra copies of schooling books in between entertaining ones, and that will help the literacy project immensely. And it will give her something else to think about besides her own emotions.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, and got up from the table. “I think at least part of her problem is that she’s been wallowing in those emotions far too much.”

“What else did she have to think about?” Restil pointed out in her defense.

“Good point. I hope you didn’t mind sacrificing your book—”

“She’ll give it back once she’s made a copy for herself, and I’ve memorized them all, anyway.” Restil grinned. “I don’t mind giving her that one even if she forgets to give it back. It’s something Sai threw at me one day to make me stop pestering him. Now, if it had been one of the ones you and Mother gave me—not a chance I’d loan it out. Now I just need to figure out how to approach Rothas tomorrow.”

“Ah, you caught my hint, did you?”

“Hint?”Restil choked. “It was practically a signed decree with all the royal seals on it!”

“You were not exactly subtle, dear,” Isla said mildly.

“As long as Lythe didn’t figure out what I was talking about, it doesn’t matter.” Kordas stretched. “I’ve had a long day. A long Council meeting, followed by a long Court session for hearing petitions, and then—well, I wasn’t planning on this session with Lythe, but I’m glad we had it. At the very least, she has something to make her feel less miserable. If she feels less miserable, Rothas will feel less miserable. I’m not entirely sure I want them to be more than friends—outside of the lifebond, that is—at least for right now.”

Well, that certainly seemed counterintuitive. “Why?” Restil asked. “What could possibly be wrong with them being in love?”

“Two people in love who barely get to spend any time together? The misery will be back, and this time I don’t think we’d be able to distract them.” Kordas nodded as Restil’s eyes widened. “Yes, you see. Let’s stick to getting them to like each other. And you see if you can keep Rothas from overwhelming her. I must say, I do find one thing quite . . . odd . . . about her.”

“What’s that?” Isla asked.

“Well, she was the little queen of her village, from all I can make out. Her mother indulged her, her friends all did whatever she asked—”

“But did they?” Isla countered. “They didn’t stay up all hours of the night to indulge her. Her mother didn’t believe her about her powers. By the way, what does ‘seeing Elementals and spirit creatures’ translate to in terms of a Gift?”

“That, I’ll have to ask the Old Men about. I don’t think she’s mage-Gifted, but it might be something subtle. From what she said, she seems to be able to see things I can only see when I deliberately evoke mage-sight. It would be useful if she can see and talk to Elementals or spirits without needing to do that.” He yawned. “But that will definitely be for tomorrow. In fact, I think it’s already tomorrow, so I am going to go to bed.”

Restil took that as the command it actually was, and went to his room.

He wrestled with what, exactly, he was going to say to Rothas. The fellow seemed to be oblivious to an awful lot that was going on around him . . . but that didn’t mean he was insensitive.

It could just mean he has no practice in thinking about anyone but himself.He found himself yawning. Tomorrow I’ll see about getting his history. There may be something in it that will explain everything.

• • •

Restil had decided to ease into things over lunch. Rothas was getting his lessons in the morning, and practicing in the afternoon—now practicing three instruments, since he was learning the fiddle as well. So Restil had helped himself to a basket, filled it with bread rolls, cheese, butter, and hard-boiled eggs, and taken it off to the workshop, figuring to catch Rothas as soon as he left the premises. And in fact, as he was coming through the gardens, he saw the unmistakable blond mane ambling away from him.

“Rothas!” he called, and the young Bard turned toward him and waved. He hurried to catch up. “You busy?” he asked, as soon as he got close enough.

“Not really,” Rothas admitted. “I thought I’d check on Lythe and then get some food. I’m starving.”