Competitions (12 page)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Lorand was the first to be picked up by the coach, and at first he thought he might be the only passenger. By now he was used to being the last in the group to accomplish whatever they were supposed to be doing, so he half expected the other men—and the women in their own coach—to have returned to the residence hours earlier.

So it surprised him when they began to slow, and he looked out of the lefthand window to see Vallant Ro and Pagin Holter waiting beside the symbol for Water magic. Two strange men stood with them, just as Hestir, his Adept guide, had waited for the coach with
him
. It had been Hestir’s idea rather than Lorand’s, and even from a distance it seemed that Ro and Holter were no more eager for the company than he had been.

The coach slowed to a complete stop, and Lorand’s two residence-mates climbed inside without wasting any time. The two strangers looked as if they meant to wave goodbye, but Ro and Holter ignored them completely as they settled into the seats opposite Lorand. Then the coach was moving again, and both men let out sighs of relief.

“I think I was happier when they were lookin’ down at us,” Ro said to Holter, and then, when the small man nodded emphatically, added to Lorand, “We earned their masteries, both of us. Before that I was one of their group of ‘boys,’ and Holter was lower than dirt. Now we’re both really important men, and that made me very nervous.”

“I know what you mean,” Lorand agreed with a sour nod. “Before I tested I was ‘dear boy’ to my Adept guide, but afterward I was ‘sir.’ And I didn’t like it nearly as much as I thought I would.”

“Made me feel like more uv a stranger’n anythin’ yet,” Holter put in, a painful expression on his face. “Din’t ’spect ’em t’ make me a brother, but a little friendliness wouldn’a hurt. But they wus jest as scared as Ginge an’ them others, so we ain’t never gonna have friends agin.”

Lorand could feel the pain radiating from the small ex-groom, and groped for something comforting to say as he exchanged a glance with Ro. Holter
needed
friends the way most people needed food and shelter, but at the same time he seemed to be refusing to accept it. Ro parted his lips to say something, but that was when the coach began to slow again.

Lorand looked out to see Rion standing beside the symbol for Air magic, but no one was with him. Ro saw the same and again they exchanged glances, both clearly wondering and worrying. Was Rion alone because he hadn’t attained any masteries? They’d have to find out, but they would also have to be delicate about it.

When the coach stopped Rion got in, a neutral expression on his face. Lorand waited for the man to settle himself beside him, and then he cleared his throat.

“We were wondering how you managed to be waiting alone,” Lorand said in as light a tone as he could produce. “The rest of us were forced to put up with the company of our guides, so we’d like to know your secret.”

“There’s no secret involved,” Rion said, sounding distracted and sober. “I simply told the man to go away, and he did. They may not take you seriously to begin with, but once you pass their foolish little test their attitude changes completely.”

“Yes, Ro and Holter and I were just discussing that,” Lorand replied with a great deal of relief. “And Holter said something I was about to disagree with when the coach stopped. You said we would never have friends again, man, but you’re forgetting something important. You and me and everyone in our group are now friends, and no one will ever be able to change that. Don’t you think that counts for
something
?”

“He’s right,” Ro agreed quietly when Holter simply looked uncomfortable. “We’ve all had to say goodbye to our old lives, knowin’ we’ll probably never be looked at the same again by our family and friends. But in their place we’ve got each other, and you won’t find us turnin’ our back on one of our own. If you think you don’t belong with us, that’s
your
idea, not ours.”

“I know you been tryin’ t’treat me kindly,” Holter said after a brief hesitation, apparently struggling for the right words. “You’re all good folk who don’t like talkin’ down a man jest ’cause he don’t use purty words, but you cain’t see yer bunch frum th’ outside. You all
fit
t’gether, even Mardimil there who din’t fit in nuthin’ to start with, but me? I don’t fit, friend, an’ never will. If y’ever hadda choose betwixt Ro an’ me, which one would y’choose?”

Lorand started to say he didn’t see a reason for choosing, then understood Holter’s point. Ro and Holter shared the aspect of Water magic, and if everyone else needed to choose between them, their choice would be obvious. But why would they have to choose? The only place they would need a single representative of each aspect would be—

“Wait a minute,” Lorand said, completely sidetracked. “Unless I’m mistaken, you’ve seen something the rest of us have missed. Are you saying they’ve kept us together like this because they plan to form five of us into a Blending? But this is a twenty-fifth year, so that has to be absurd. We’re here to try for High positions, not—”

Lorand discovered he couldn’t say the words, but Ro didn’t have that trouble.

“Why
not
as candidates for the Fivefold Throne?” he demanded, revelation widening his eyes. “We don’t know how good we are compared to other applicants, but the testin’ authority does. If they think we’re good enough, who’re we to argue? Holter, you’re a genius!”

“Definitely more observant than the average man, and also quite astute,” Mardimil put in, studying Holter quietly. “The theory seems an excellent one, and may indeed prove correct. In the event that it does, our friend’s question becomes more than academic—assuming
we
are the ones who are allowed to choose. Cynicism, however, suggests the choice will belong to those who consider themselves our superiors.”

Everyone looked startled at that, even Holter, but Lorand knew his own expression must be stranger yet. Funny how he’d never seriously thought about being part of one of the challenging Blendings, even though the possibility had always been there.

“I think that covers the question about choosin’,” Ro said after the moment they all seemed to need to adjust to the new situation. “We could be kiddin’ ourselves and find they don’t want us after all, but we should be braced in case they do. And we’ll have to tell the ladies about this.”

“I hope they haven’t already thought of it themselves,” Lorand said with a small headshake. “I was starting to believe that women are generally sharper than men, but Holter has helped to restore my self esteem. Since he’s definitely a man, there’s still hope for
me
.”

Everyone including Holter chuckled at that, but then the conversation died completely. Mardimil and Holter withdrew back into their brown studies, Ro fell into one of his own, and even Lorand was captured by his thoughts. He’d been concentrating so hard on winning to a Seated High position, that he’d never even considered being part of a challenging Blending. Now that he’d been forced to consider it, he saw the benefits in the changed circumstance immediately.

If winning a Seated High position would let him make a happy, permanent life with Jovvi, how much better would it be if the two of them were part of the winning Blending? Their careers would last no more than twenty-five years, but Lorand was fairly certain that would be time enough to put aside enough gold for a comfortable retirement. He chuckled at that thought, then spent the rest of the ride daydreaming about how wonderful it would be if—
when
!—Jovvi became his alone.

They were only a block or two away from the residence when a coach passed them going in the opposite direction. That said the ladies had gotten back before them, which raised Lorand’s spirit even more. He wanted to see Jovvi and tell her how much better their prospects for happiness had become, but when they left their coach and entered the residence, the entire downstairs appeared deserted except for the servants.

“I believe I could use a quick trip to the bath house,” Mardimil said, taking Lorand’s attention from looking around. “Would anyone mind if I made the time solitary? I promise to be in and out as quickly as possible.”

Lorand shrugged and shook his head to show that it was fine with him, and Ro did the same. Holter had already disappeared as usual, so Mardimil nodded in turn and headed directly for the back hall and the bath house.

“I could use a bath myself, but waitin’ until he’s done won’t hurt,” Ro said then. “I’ll just go to my bedchamber and get a wrap to wear instead of these clothes, and if I take my time he ought to be finished just about when I’m ready to start.”

“I could use the same, so if you don’t mind I’ll join you,” Lorand replied. “Unless you’re in need of the same solitude? Personally, I could use someone to talk to.”

“That makes two of us,” Ro agreed, clearly not simply being polite. “Let’s meet back down here in that sittin’ alcove near the back door, and when Mardimil comes out of the bath house, we’ll go in.”

Lorand was happy to add his own agreement, so they went upstairs and separated to go into their respective bedchambers. Just for an instant before he opened his door, Lorand fantasized finding Jovvi in his bed, gloriously naked and eagerly waiting for him. Then he opened the door and found the chamber empty, which made him sigh as he walked in and closed the door again. If he didn’t get things straightened out with Jovvi soon, he just might find himself daydreaming about her at the wrong time. Like when he was supposed to be achieving a mastery, and that couldn’t be allowed to happen. Only the best of the best would be chosen to be in a challenging Blending, so that’s what Lorand would have to be.

He took his time getting out of his clothes and into a wrap, but he still reached the sitting alcove near the back door first. He had no idea how long he would have to wait for Ro, but before he had time to consider the question the man appeared. And a moment after that Mardimil came in through the back door, wearing a towel wrapped around his middle and carrying his worn clothing. He nodded his thanks for their patience when he saw them, then headed for the front hall and the stairs leading upward. That meant the bath house was now theirs, so they went outside together and walked to it.

The silence he and Ro maintained during the walk and while they undressed felt somewhat strained to Lorand, so he decided to restart the conversation and see how it went. If the strain disappeared, all well and good. If it didn’t, he might have to cut short his own bath time.

“Once I’m dressed again, I intend to go looking for Jovvi,” Lorand stated with a brief glance over his shoulder, giving most of his attention to entering the bath. “She and I have a—disagreement going on between us, but that’s no reason for us to avoid each other. I still don’t know why she seems to feel for me what I feel for her, but I’m not about to question the best luck I’ve had in my entire life.”

“You and Jovvi?” Ro blurted as he followed Lorand into the bath. “I had no idea—But what about what was between you and Tamrissa?”

“What made you think there was ever anything between me and Tamrissa?” Lorand asked curiously as he bent his knees so that his whole body would be wet. “The lady is charming and delightful and was wonderful about helping me with part of my problem with Jovvi, but that’s all there ever was between us. Is simple friendship what you were talking about?”

“I suppose it was,” Ro answered with a grin, just standing there in water up to his chest. “I didn’t know it was, but I’m happy to say I know it now. I like you, Coll, and I would have hated to find that I had no choice but to murder you in cold blood. Now murder won’t be necessary, so I can get on with plannin’ other, more pleasant things.”

“Ah, now I understand,” Lorand said with his own grin, also understanding about the strain in the silence they’d earlier shared. “You’re having a problem with Tamrissa, and you were afraid I’d take advantage of that to make time of my own with her. Well, you can believe it won’t be happening, so what do you have in mind for healing the rift between you two?”

“Nothin’ yet,” Ro admitted, losing his grin and relief together. “I’ve decided I’m not about to give up tryin’ to get through to her, but how I’ll do that I can’t quite figure out. What I do know, though, is that if I choose the wrong way of handlin’ it, life could get really …
hot
for me.”

Ro submerged after saying that, leaving Lorand momentarily puzzled over what he’d meant. Then he remembered that Tamrissa was a potential High in Fire magic, and quickly began to pity Ro. The worst Jovvi could do to
him
if she decided she didn’t want him around was turn off his interest, and that would only be temporary. What Tamrissa could do to Ro was an entirely different story, and Lorand had to duck under the water to wash away the picture of it.

The two men used soap and shampoo first, and only then chose resting areas to relax in for a while. The constantly recycling water was fresh and warm, silently urging soaking, so they let themselves be talked into it. Once they were settled, though, Ro looked over at Lorand with a less hopeless expression.

“You know, our conversation in the coach comin’ back here may have given me an idea,” he said, using one hand to smooth down his soaking wet hair. “I don’t know any more about Blendin’s than the next man, but if we’re goin’ to have any chance at all we have to be as … close as possible to each other. That means she’ll have to stop actin’ the way she’s doin’, and give me a chance.”

“That sounds logical to you and me, but don’t forget she’s a woman,” Lorand warned. “I hate throwing cold water on your idea, but I’d hate seeing you turned into a pile of ash even more. She could decide that business about our being a challenging Blending has nothing to do with how she treats you, and you’d need a
compelling
—and not necessarily logical—counter argument.”

“You’re right, blast it,” Ro muttered, obviously unhappy but just as obviously not depressed. “I’ll have to add somethin’ else, like … like tellin’ her animosity will be too distractin’. We’ll have to be payin’ attention to workin’ together, but her thinkin’ hate-thoughts and me thinkin’ unrequited love-thoughts might ruin it for everybody. She’s not the sort who’ll hurt others just to get what she wants.”