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Chap ceased rumbling and glanced over his shoulder at Leesil and Magiere.
"Fine!" Magiere grumbled, swatting off the droplets of seawater ru
Chap lifted his muzzle, looking up for Wy
Chattering seagulls circled overhead, and Chap wondered what lay beyond the shore.
Wy
The crystal provided their only light. Sea air wafted through the open porthole, and the ship sat steady at anchor. The cabin seemed a cozy and welcome place.
"I am sorry you had to stay behind because of me," she said in Elvish. No one else was present, and Elvish was easier for Osha, even with their differing dialects.
Osha poured two cups of tea. "I am glad to fulfill such a purpose in service to you."
Wy
"Do you know where they are going?" she asked.
Osha rocked backward slightly, trying not to meet her eyes.
"Please do not ask such questions," he said, though it sounded like a plea. "Sgailsheilleache has put his faith in me. I ca
Wy
"Why are you here, Osha?" she asked. "Why did Sgaile bring you?"
Then she wanted to cringe. That had not come out right. It sounded as if she thought Osha would have been the last of all possible choices. But he appeared oblivious to her slip. He took a breath and exhaled, as if he had achieved something which brought him long-sought relief.
"He is now my jeoin."
"Your…," Wy
Osha cocked his head. "It is the word for what he is, my… " He, too, had to turn to Belaskian as well. "I find my teacher!"
He took another long breath before continuing in Elvish.
"It has been hard to find one who was willing enough for me to even ask. But when Sgailsheilleache said I should come to stay with his family, I knew my search was over."
Wy
As an assassin, among other things.
"I am glad for you," Wy
Osha blinked. "My family? You wish to hear about my life?"
Her smile was sincere this time. "Has no one ever asked you this before?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Never?" She sat upright in surprise. "Yes, I wish to know about your life."
Osha seemed to gather his thoughts for a long moment.
"I am of the alachben"-he switched briefly to Belaskian-"the Rock-Hills clan… a place not like Crijheaiche or Ghoivne Ajhajhe. My people live simply, raising goats in the foothills to be shorn for their hair."
"And the hides for our new coats?"
"Yes," he answered, then hesitated. "But my father was not well… a difficulty with his heart." Osha placed a hand over his chest, and his gaze drifted. "Our healers could not mend it, and he died young, only sixty-three years of age. My mother fell into mourning and could not rise again."
"I am sorry," Wy
He looked at her, amber eyes clearing in the cold lamp crystal's light.
"No, I have three siblings, and my brother and sisters took charge of the herds, but I was the youngest by many years. Even Chio
He dropped his eyes to the untouched meal between them, and Wy
"Both my parents passed over," she said, wishing to distract him. "I grew up an orphan in the sages' guild in Malourne."
Osha raised his head. "No clan?"
Wy
But Wy
"This is why you became a… a 'sage' yourself?" Osha asked. "Because you value their way of life?"
She was uncertain how to answer. "Yes, in part. I wanted to learn and explore, to share knowledge and teach others." She tilted her head. "Why did you join the Anmaglahk?"
Startled by this sudden shift back to him, Osha swallowed.
"Three seasons before I went for name-taking, two of the caste came to my enclave with a message for our clan elders. This had never happened before. And such a pair-two Greimasg'ah at once-Great Eillean, Leshil's grandmother, and Brot'an'duive. Everyone was in awe of them, and I had never seen anyone treated with such respect. I could barely bring myself to peer from around the tree of my home, and with all my body, I wished to be like them."
Osha lowered his head, lifting only his eyes at Wy
Wy
Through the glow of the cold lamp crystal, Osha stared at her. His hand started to tremble, and he slowly pulled it from hers. Long muscles in his forearm clenched tightly. Wy
"But," she began, "are there not other ways you could have earned the respect you desire… other ways to serve your…"
She trailed off as puzzlement spread across Osha's long face.
"Never mind," she finished.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"No, I do not think so."
He nodded and stood up. "Then you should rest. I will sit vigil."
Was he not going to sleep? Wy
She unrolled one of the mats and a blanket on her bunk ledge, realizing she was tired. When she settled there, Osha had dropped back to a cross-legged position in the middle of her cabin.
Wy