Magic's Pawn

'The quickest way to make them talk, love,' Tylendel said in what was almost a whisper, 'is to change. Is to even be friendlier to me than you have been. You told me the girls told you I was a pervert.' Vanyel's eyes widened at Tylendel's directness. 'It can't have escaped your notice how they sniggered and giggled about it, and they were being polite. My preferences are not generally socially acceptable. There are only two reasons why I have as little trouble as I do. The first is that I'm a Herald-trainee, and Heralds are allowed a bit more license than ordinary mortals. And my patron is Savil. She just happens to outrank everybody in the Circle except the Queen's Own.'

'And the other reason?' Vanyel said in a very subdued voice.

What stretched Tylendel's mouth was something less than a smile. 'The fact that I took a couple of the worst offenders on and kept knocking them down until they didn't get up.'

'Oh.'

Tylendel caught up one of his hands in both of his own. 'I know you want everyone to know about us. I can't tell you how much that means to me. But it will mean a lot more to me to know you were going to be able to stay with me.'

'And to do that, young Vanyel,' Savil said, intruding into the intense interaction between them, 'you are going to have to begin a performance a Master Player couldn't equal. 'Lendel and I have been talking about you this afternoon.'

From the complete astonishment on his face, Savil could tell that he hadn't guessed they'd been in conference via Mindspeech. For that matter, it might be that he didn't know they both had that Gift.

'We share the Mindspeech Gift, lad, and it's damned useful at times like this. He's told me some of what you told him, and it rather changed my mind about you. But I will not lie to you; I'm going to help you because he wants it, because he wants you here. So now I'm going to order you; outside of this suite you are to be the same arrogant little bastard that arrived here. And if you can manage to be slightly rude to 'Lendel, that's even better. And in return, I'll make this suite a little sanctuary for the two of you. Is it a bargain?'

Vanyel, who had gone rather pale, gulped, and nodded.

Savil smiled for the first time since she'd begun this conference.

'That's a good lad. If you're half of what 'Lendel claims for you, I'm going to come to like you a great deal, and I'm sorry for the treatment you've had from your father. I'll tell you that he isn't the same person I knew when I was Chosen. He's gone stiff and stubborn, and altogether hidebound. Maybe it's age; maybe it's that a lot of his old friends have taken the Long Walk and he's seeing Death looking for him, too. Maybe it's that priest he's gotten tied up with - I just don't know.' She coughed. 'Well, that's not to the point; what is to the point is that you'll only have to keep up this charade until you're eighteen; you'll be your own man then, and can do what you please. And I'll see to it that 'Lendel begins having trouble with his Mage-lessons.' She winked, and Tylendel chortled. 'I think we can keep him out of Whites until you're of age. After that,' if this love affair lasts that long 'you'll have to make your decisions on your own. Fair enough?'

'More than fair, Aunt Savil.' Vanyel looked very subdued, and quite unlike the boy that had faced her something like a month ago. She couldn't quite pinpoint why.

:'Lendel, what is it about him?: she Mindspoke, letting her puzzlement drift over.

:No masks,: came the immediate answer. .-This is the real Vanyel, dearheart. The one nobody but me - and maybe his sister - has seen. Now see why I love him?:

The last thought stopped her cold. :Are you that sure, ke'chara? Are you really that sure?: 

His eyes caught hers over Vanyel's head; caught and held them. :I'm that sure.:

:And him ?:

:I don'( know; but he was willing to defy his father for me, and I think that says something.:

She closed her own eyes against that burning, intense gaze. :Then may the gods help and guard you.:

She turned her attention back to Vanyel, and quickly. He was still looking toward Tylendel, and the very same look was in his eyes - and a vulnerability and apprehension that cut at her heart.

'I'll help you all I can, son,' she said quietly. 'I'll help you all I can.'

Six

Don't go yet,' Tylendel said abruptly, as Vanyel picked himself up off the floor.

Vanyel gave him a look of uncertainty. He was still too new to this - being open. He was still waiting for blows that never came.

But Tylendel seemed to know that.

'It's all right, Van,' he said softly. 'It's really all right. I have a good reason.'

'I've got a lesson,' he protested. 'History, and I'm still behind the other three.'

Tylendel made a wry face. 'You're a law unto yourself, remember? At least that's what you're supposed to be acting like. You skipped your lessons this morning, skip the rest of them today; tell 'em you were sick. Tell 'em