Safar looked and by the time he raised his head the priest had darted off. Wait, Holy One! he shouted after him. But the little priest had already gone out the door, slamming it behind him.
Safar fetched the bucket and brush and got on his knees and scrubbed. As a village lad he saw no shame in necessary labor, no matter how mean the task. He scrubbed for hours, making little headway because the water was as filthy as the floor. At spellsong an older acolyte came to take him to a huge dormitory, crammed with first- year students. He was given a blanket, a place to stretch out on the bare floor and a rusty metal pail containing a cold baked potato, a hard wheat roll and a boiled egg.
While he wolfed the food down the acolyte gave him a quick summery of his duties, most of which seemed to involve scrubbing dirty floors.
'When do my studies begin? Safar asked.
The acolyte laughed. They've already started, he said. And he left without further explanation.
Safar had learned long ago from Gubadan that teachers liked to make obscure points. Very well, he thought, if floor scrubbing is my first lesson, so be it. He scrubbed for a month, lingering as he toted buckets of water past foul-smelling workshops and lecture halls that echoed with the wise orations of master priests.
Then Umurhan summoned him and he never had to scrub another floor again.
Safar drifted out of his reverie. He rubbed his eyes, noting the view through the window had been replaced by glistening stars. He saw a comet tail just near the House of the Jester and became absorbed in the astral meaning of the occurrence. Then he heard a sounda scratching at his door. Through a fog of concentration it came to him that he'd heard this sound only a moment before. And he thought, Oh, yes… I was thinking about Umurhan and something interrupted me. And that something was a noise at my door.
He heard a voice call, Safar? Are you awake?'
It was a young voice. Safar puzzled, then smiled as he realized who it was. Come in, he said.
CHAPTER TEN
On the other side of the rough plank door Nerisa hastily combed fingers through her hair and straightened her clothes. She wore a short loose tunic that showed off her long legs, belted tightly about her small waist to draw attention away from her boyish figure. The gray tunic and pale leggings were castoffs, but the cloth was of such good quality that the patches barely showed.
'That is Nerisa, isn't it? came Safar's voice. She heard him laugh. If it's some rogue instead, you're wasting your energies, O friend of the night. For I've spent all my money on drink and other low pursuits.'
Nerisa giggled and pushed the door open. Safar was grinning at her from the other side of the room, lolling on the windowsill, white student robes hiked up over his strong mountaineer's legs. Nerisa thought she'd never seen such a handsome young man. He was tall and slender, with wide shoulders and a narrow waist, accented by his red acolyte's belt. His skin was olive; his nose curved gracefully over full lips. His dark hair was cut close, with a stray curl dangling over eyes so blue they had melted her heart when she first looked into them.
He beckoned her to the window. I've just sighted a comet, he said pointing out at the star-embedded heavens.
She came to him, leaning over his sprawled out legs so she could see.
'Right there, he said, directing her. In Harlethe House of the Jester.'
She saw the long, narrow constellation of Harle, with its distinctive peaked hat and beaky-nosed face. Crossing at about chin level was the wide pale streak of a comet's tail.
'I see it, she said, voice trembling from being so close to Safar. Troubled, she drew away, turning her head so he wouldn't see her blush. I hope I wasn't bothering you, she said.
'Nonsense, Safar replied. I'm lonely for my sisters. If you ever meet them don't you dare say I told you that. They'd never let me forget it. He chuckled. But I do miss them. There, I've said it. I grew up surrounded by my sisters and now I pine for them. I hope you don't mind being a substitute.'
Nerisa minded very much! She wasn't quite sure exactly what reactions she wanted from Safar but she could say most definitely brotherly feelings were not among them.
She put a hand on her hip, trying to look as adult female as possible. If you miss women so much, Safar Timura, she said, bold as she dared, why don't I ever see you with one? Except me, of course. She unconsciously touched her hair. The other students spend all the time they can chasing women at the brothels.'
To Nerisa's enormous delight Safar blushed and attempted a stumbled answer'I… uh… don't go in for… that sort of thing. He recovered, saying, I made a fool of myself once. I hope I know better now.'
Nerisa nodded, thinking, I knew it was a woman! A bad experience, obviously. She hated the woman who'd made Safar suffer. But she was also delighted that her rival, although probably beautiful and certainly more mature, had made a bad job of things.
'What happened to her? she asked.
'Who?'
'The woman in the bad experience.'
Safar made a wry face. I didn't know I was being that obvious, he said. Then he shrugged, saying, Her name was Astarias. A courtesan I was fool enough to fall in love with. But she made it plain she had no intention of making a life with a potter's son. It seems she had grander plans which didn't include me.'
As Nerisa was mulling this over Safar motioned for her to sit on the pile of old pillows and rugs that were the room's sole furnishings. She sank down and he joined her. She made herself look away as he sat, robes carelessly riding up over his long limbs.
'I suppose Katal gave you a bad time, Safar said, sliding away from the previous subject.
'What? said Nerisa, in a bit in a daze.
Safar smiled saying, After the, ah, large gentleman and his… friends left I believe you called the entire thing a, ah… misunderstanding?
'Well it was! Nerisa said. She saw with reliefand some disappointmentthat his robes had been properly tucked over his lap. I was trying to pay for it. But he thought I was a thief. Guess he didn't see the money in my hand.'
'You must admit, Nerisa, Safar said, you have been known to engage in, shall we say, long term borrowing?'
Nerisa shrugged. It's how I live, she said. I know old Katal can't understand it. Maybe he thinks I've got a family someplace. And any day they'll come back and I can stop sleeping at the Foolsmire and be with my family again. But that isn't ever going to happen. So I steal. I'll stop when I don't have to anymore.'
'I understand that, Safar said. It wasn't how I was raised, but I can see how things can be different in Walaria. I wish I could do something to help you. But I have a hard enough time helping myself.'
'Oh, but you have helped me, Nerisa said with unintended passion. She calmed herself, took a breath, then, I mean, you show me your books. And teach me things out of them. It's almost like I'm a student myself. The only girI mean, woman student at the university.'
Katal had given her reading and writing lessons, but her interest hadn't really been sparked until Safar had taken her under his intellectual wing. Nerisa was so bright and eager to please that she quickly caught on to everything he introduced her to.
Safar sighed. I've also tried to teach you logic, he said. Let's go back to your basic defense. Which was that as a poor orphan child you're forced to steal in order to live.'
'That's true, she replied firmly.
'Very well, he said. I'll accept that. But pray tell me what did you find at that fat old knave's stall that was so important?'
'This, Nerisa said, softly, shyly pushing forward a small paper wrapped package. It's for you. It's a…
