She yawned silently, and half-closed her eyes. The two young ones across the room from her blurred into a haze of gold and darkest blue. He's got 'Lendel thinking about something other than that damned feud, at least; for that I'd warm to him. Even if I want to knock him into the wall occasionally for being a little prig. 'Lendel does seems to be getting some notion of responsible behavior into his head. And a bit more politeness. Though it's a damn good thing Mardic and Donni are inclined to take everything he says generously, or they might have knocked him into the wall for me! Bless them. He can be so damned rude sometimes - arid not mean it.
She worried a hangnail with the end of her thumb. He's been so isolate I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Gods be thanked 'Lendel seems to be civilizing him. There's more patience there than there was before - and I think, maybe, a little more kindness. Less arrogance, for certain. Withen should be pleased enough with the reports he's getting to let him stay. She noted Vanyel's intense concentration on his book, and restrained the corners of her mouth from quirking up. Looks like he's enjoying himself. Can't say that I 'd mind studying with my 'Lendel coaching! Poor little lad; when he gives his heart to a thing, he certainly doesn’t do it halfway. Still, I'm not certain I like the way he's becoming so dependent on 'Lendel. That isn’t healthy, not for either of them. It could make for trouble later on.
A thin tendril of contact reached for her from across the room, although Tylendel's eyes remained on the book. :A silver for your thoughts, teacher-mine.:
:How pretty you look together, young demon.: she replied the same way. :And how grateful I am that you 've managed to stay discreet :
:Discipline, discipline,: came the laughter-tinged answer. .-Seriously, you've heard no gossip?:
:Only that I'm likely to find you two at knife-point one day :
The aura of amusement deepened. :Well, well, so it worked. I owe Van a forfeit :
Savil raised her eyebrows in surprise, and opened her eyes again to catch Tylendel looking at her with a smile lurking in the corners of his mouth. :How so, demon-child?:
:He's been insulting me behind my back. Popinjay pecking. Mostly on my proclivities. So if anything gets back to Withen . . . We decided I should “find out about it' and go for him if the insults got noticed.:
'.Great good gods!: She bit her lip to keep from laughing. :Pot calling kettle, oh my hope of the Havens! What were you planning on doing ? Are you going to call him out? I'd rather you didn't have at each other with anything sharp :
:Oh, probably I'll make a major confrontation, with as many witnesses as possible. But not with blades, teacher-love; he's too good for me, and we figured he should lose so he gets the sympathy of his flock of doves. Barehanded, we think. Wrestling; we 'II try to keep fists out if it as much as possible too. We had some vague notion of trying it the next time it rains, in the mud. It should be lots of fun :
Savil had to drop the mind-link for a moment until she got herself back under control. Lots of fun indeed - great good gods, both of them tussling in the open in front of everyone and no one guessing how much they 're enjoying it.
:Demon-child, I think I'll put you in for envoy when I grant you your Whites; you have altogether too twisted a mind!:
:-Well, doing it that way we can avoid the chance of hurting each other, and I've already established that I go after people very directly. Poor Van is going to have to decide which outfit of his I'm going to ruin, though. I intend to rip it to rags for verisimilitude :
Savil nearly choked to death, trying not to laugh at the mind-pictures and overtones that came across with that last sending. Verisimilitude, my behind! You just want -:
:Why, Savil!: The eyes across from her were wide with assumed innocence. :How could you think such a thing?:
:Easy enough,: she replied, her own mental tone so dry that it had a metallic taste. .-Given who I've got for a protege.:
:Well - :
Well, indeed.: 'Lendel - just a word of caution, and I may be being reactionary - but I don't like the way Van is coming to lean on you for everything. It isn’t healthy; he needs to learn how to depend on himself a little :
:Oh, Savil.:
:I'm serious.:
:It's just a phase. He's young, and he needs so badly. Great good gods, nobody's ever bothered to love him cept his sister. After he's had me around for a bit and knows I won't vanish on him, he'll grow out of it.:
:'Lendel, I'm not the expert on people that Lancir is, but in my experience people don't grow out of a habit of dependence.: She glanced at the time-candle. :Ah, we'II just leave it at that, all right? Keep it in mind. And that's enough study for one night. Both of you to bed.:
Again the mental laughter. :Why, Savil -:
:To sleep, dammit!:
Tylendel nudged the other boy, and closed the book, then looked across the room at his mentor with that ironic half-smile she knew so well. 'Let's pack it up for the night, Van,' he said quietly -
- and :Of course, teacher. To sleep,: she Mindheard.
Then, as they disappeared into their room -
