then yes.”
“Any spirit at all?”
He smiled, but the expression didn't touch his eyes. “There are names that are legendary and have changed over time and retelling so far from the truth that they are not heeded, and there are spirits that have developed to the point where they do not know their names in life, as it was so long ago from their point of view that they have forgotten. And there are spirits who do not heed the call, or are reluctant to answer. But, yes, any spirit can be called.”
“So you could call my brother?”
“I could, but I will not. I will not bring someone back to taste life, to be reminded of it, for trivial reasons. I am not a priest.” The contempt bordering on hatred was clear in his voice when he used the word priest and my curiosity was piqued.
I indicated the cloak, inviting him to sit and squatted down when he took his ease.
“You called priests rapists,” I prompted.
“Are you thinking of becoming my student? Be aware that I will only instruct my sons.”
“I'm curious, I suppose. Are priests deserving of my anger?”
He nodded acceptance of the reason for the question. “If you were called from the spirit world, your mind slowly stripped from you and what was left shaped as a tool, would you be resentful? Angry? Distressed?”
I nodded.
“So would the tools that priests shape, if they could remember enough of themselves to feel these things. What the priests do is rape and murder. So, are they deserving of your hatred?”
I supposed they were. “But those who they do these things to agreed to be used so, isn't that true?”
“Their followers do not know or understand the consequences. These things are not taught. Did you know them before I just explained?”
I hadn't any contact with priests. There are not many in the city; strictly speaking there are none unless they are in hiding or do not call themselves priests. “I knew that priests call spirits to perform simulated magical effects. I didn't think much about the nature or state of those spirits. I guess I assumed they did what they did willingly, aware of what they did.”
“The mind is a powerful thing, but it can only perform one great thought at a time. A fully aware consciousness has difficulty concentrating all of the mind on one task. Easier to strip away all you don't need and so all the consciousness is always used for the one task only. Like molding a lump of clay into a cup, then firing it, glazing and fixing the shape for ever. It can only ever be a cup now, or a broken cup.”
He seemed saddened by the whole subject, and I guess a little of that touched me too. “Thank you for explaining.” I felt like I owed him more. “We of the city do not tolerate religion.”
“Nor should you, though your reasons are selfish.”
There was no answer to that. It was true.
36
I had decided not to pursue my idea of using spirits as a bridge to learning magic. Using spirits for selfish ends. I now knew he wouldn't cooperate even if he agreed to keep the idea secret. Maybe I could find a priest and use him.
Rastrian had accepted my postponing of the planned meal almost with impatience. It was clearly not an issue with him, and I left it at that.
My tent was ready by then and I retreated to it to wash the dust of the day off me and don fresh clothing. There were new and better fitting trousers.
“Stop buying me clothes, Meran. I need the money for other purposes.”
He shrugged. “I doubt you will lose more weight now anyway.”
I grunted, looked down at my bare and wet torso and had to agree my belly was about as flat as it was going to get. I felt fit and healthy and was pleased enough with that. I stretched, pleased with the feeling, then grabbed a towel and dried off. Clean clothes felt good and I relaxed a little.
The sudden double clap of the ward had me outside with my sheathed sword gripped in one hand and the other on the hilt ready to draw before I thought. This is silly. I knew Sapphire wasn't going to sneak into my area of the camp and knife anyone. Well, I think I knew everyone here was safe enough. And a lot of people were on the move, I didn't need to do anything. Everyone had been told what the sound would mean. I decided to stay put and let my men deal with it and a short while later Sapphire was escorted into my presence by Geheran, one of the four I had originally taken from Tulian as my own. A couple of mages hovered behind but I waved them away.
“He says he is a messenger of your noble father, sir. Says you know him.”
I nodded. So, maybe I'd been wrong. “So you have a letter for me.”
Sapphire's cold eyes rested on mine for a moment. “Yes, young master.” He pulled a letter out of his shirt and passed it over without so much as blinking an eye.
I opened it.
One more drunken binge and you will suffer, I swear it!
Sweet like a lemon. Sneaky bastard had given me one of the negative letters; well, at least I knew that I had been right and there were some.
“Anything else?” Why make it easy for him.
“A private verbal message, young master.”
I pulled open the tent flap and gestured he step inside. When we were alone I asked him what he wanted.
He glanced at Meran, looking him up and down. “Your father does not approve.”
“You are reporting to my father,” I said.
“Of course. You will never have a nobleman of the city in your clientele Your father thinks this is a serious error of judgment. Foolish and immature.” He said this without inflection.
I shrugged. “He may be right. But it's done. Anything else?”
He didn't say anything for a moment, then. “How rusty are you with a sword?”
My turn for a moment's silence. “Very,” I admitted.
“In as little as four days there will be a battle. You may have to fight. If you will allow me I will help you practice. In private.”
“Father's orders?”
“My own judgment. I have wide latitude.”
“You have practice swords?”
“With the edges dulled,” there was a hint of disapproval in his voice.
I thought about that. It seemed that I had better. “When?”
“What is wrong with now?”
I almost sighed. Just when I was starting to feel relaxed. “Now it is then. Extend my regrets to Lentro,” I told Meran. “Tell him I may be late for the evening meal.”
Without another word Sapphire turned to go and I joined him, grabbing my armor in a bundle as I left.
Neither of us had mentioned the letter.
37
Inside the walls there is a wide bare area unused for any purpose. It is there so that missiles lobbed over the walls don't hit anything. It was here that we practiced. I'd brought Kerral with me to field questions from the sentinels and keep people off our case. Other than that he was to watch and do nothing more. I wanted his opinion on my skill and Sapphire's. I'd ask him later.
Sapphire set up four burning brands in a square, grabbed one of the dull edged swords and turned to face me.
