Candra pulled a face. “Why would I do that? You are nice to me. Even though you are Galatea’s age, you treat me as though I am human. To Galatea, I am just a pest.”
“Probably because you act like a pest to her.”
“Why should I ruin her delusions of grandeur? She thinks of herself as the...” Her voice suddenly cut off. I looked up to find the reason. Galatea stood in the open doorway glaring at her younger sister.
“I think of myself as what?” she asked Candra, barely contained anger flaring behind her eyes.
“Nothing,” Candra replied, picking at the toe nail of her bare foot.
“What do you want?” I asked before further hostilities were exchanged.
“Father wants you in his study,” Galatea replied without taking her gaze from Candra. “He wants to talk to you while Korneli is still here.”
Taking up the heavy code book, I stood and crossed to the door. Galatea stepped inside so that I could pass.
“Please don’t break anything while I am gone,” I said and then quickly left.
Behind me, Galatea closed the door, her voice rising even before the latch caught. I hugged the tome to my chest, grateful that I wasn’t going to have to witness the two of them argue. I wasn’t really afraid that they would hurt each other. Despite their noise, they did love each other, and some days could be so loving toward each other that I yearned for a sister. Other days, like today, they couldn’t seem to get enough strife. Yelling, backbiting, and sneaking, they drove each other to distraction.
As I stepped into the front room on my way to the study, I met Adreet coming from the kitchen. She was wiping her hands on her apron and frowning. “Have you seen Galatea?” she asked.
“She and Candra were in my room when I left.”
“Good, I need to speak to both of them. Elione is in the kitchen watering the floor with her tears and will not tell me why she is crying. I am hoping one of them can enlighten me.”
“Where is Eldivo?” I asked.
“Oh, he is out looking at the gardens with Delmar. He thinks he knows what is eating our tomato plants, but he won’t be sure unless he sees them.”
I nodded and continued toward the study. Adreet’s even tread climbed the stairs. I was certain that she would sort it all out. I just hoped it was before Errol was finished with me so I wouldn’t have to get involved.
Chapter XIV
Zezilia
The corridor was surprisingly silent as I approached the study door. I had expected at least some of the conversation between the men to be vocal. Tentatively, I knocked on the heavy wooden door.
“Come,” Errol’s voice responded.
I lifted the latch and entered.
I noticed Selwyn first. It wasn’t because he was visibly obvious. In fact, he was the least noticeable of the three men. Standing in the dark corner, he hid in the dim shadows behind bright sunlight coming from the window. Head down, arms crossed, tanned skin, dark clothing, only his eyes caught the light. But as I met his gaze, I caught a storm of emotions that made me pause for a moment on the doorsill. Something was warring within him, tearing him apart.
Korneli and Errol’s attitudes were similarly uncomfortable. Errol leaned back comfortably in his customary chair, arms crossed across his slightly rounded belly. Korneli also reclined slightly, but he didn’t look comfortable. Perhaps it was his personality, or just some past training, but he was sitting as straight as one could and still be relaxed. His handsome features were bland, but a definite essence of annoyance emanated from him. His emotional cloud wasn’t nearly as thick or strong as Selwyn’s, but it was still pronounced.
“Please take a seat,” Errol instructed.
I moved to obey with hesitancy. The air fizzled with unspoken words, both sent and unsent. I was fully aware of the contention between Selwyn and the two men seated before me. As I claimed the chair where I sat for lessons, Errol shifted and a loaded sending passed between him and Selwyn.
From his corner, Selwyn frowned darkly. “That was a low blow,” he answered aloud.
“But it is true,” Korneli responded.
“Your answer?” Errol asked.
Selwyn met my curious gaze. His emotion changed and a strange look crossed his face. “You say it is the only way.”
“If there was another, I would have pursued it.” Errol replied.
“We do not take this lightly, Selwyn,” Korneli assured him. “If it was for anyone else, we would not ask you for this.”
Selwyn’s dark eyes clouded. Pain flickered in their depths. “If it were for anyone else, I would not even consider it. But for him...” He closed his eyes. “I will.”
Although none of the men’s physical attitudes changed, the air was suddenly less tense. Selwyn’s cloud shrunk, but the forbidding feeling didn’t leave. He still was unhappy about the agreement.
“I received a letter from the Sept Son last week,” Errol began. I turned to find him lifting a heavy parchment piece from the top of the desk. “An unknown group is launching attacks upon his person. So far, there have been four fake accidents. It isn’t clear if the attempts on his person are meant to maim or kill. Either way, the letter has brought it to our attention that you are going to need more defender training than I can give you. Korneli, as your tester, cannot take on the role of teacher. That is why we have asked Selwyn to train you for the next months.”
This was the answer to my question about what they intended me to do after I completed training. “So, you mean for me to be a defender?” I asked because I wanted to be sure I understood it
