After a short silence, Leyladin said, “You think too highly of Jeslek, even as you worry about him.”
Cerryl frowned. “Do you really think that? Why?”
“You seem to think Jeslek thinks beyond himself. I have doubts of that. Either way, he would have you with him to do those tasks he would rather not do. So would Anya, for different reasons.”
Cerryl offered an enigmatic smile.
“You aren’t listening. You always give me that order-cursed smile when you don’t want to tell me I’m wrong. Anya is pure poison, especially for you. Everything she says is twisted, but you listen to everyone, and then you have to figure it out. You usually do, but while you’re trying to understand it all, you can do stupid things…” Leyladin shook her head. “I don’t know why I bother.”
“I don’t trust her, either. I have few choices. I would rather stay with you.” Cerryl sighed slowly. “There. Is that better?”
“It’s more honest,” said Leyladin. “Why don’t you try it?”
“What? Honesty?” Cerryl laughed gently. “I have. It doesn’t work. Except with you, and you’re a Black.”
“You were honest with Myral. You’re honest with Kinowin.”
“I never lied. I’ve misled them both with partial truths.” Cerryl’s mouth twisted. “In that way, Jeslek is honest. He doesn’t pretend to be listening. He can afford that. You can, you know, when you’re the most powerful White wizard in recorded history.”
“What about the ancient Whites?”
“I don’t trust legends. In any case, that knowledge has mostly been lost.” Cerryl finished the last of his beef and pearapples and then wiped up the sauce with a scrap of bread. “That was outstanding. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now you understand why I like to come here.”
“I do.” He frowned.
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh, nothing. You said I’d understand, and I do, but most people don’t. People talk about understanding,” the gray-eyed wizard mused. “What they mean is that they want you to understand what they want or believe enough so that you’ll change. Understanding itself doesn’t change anything.”
“You are cynical.”
“Truth isn’t cynical, Leyladin.”
“Enough of truth or cynicism. We don’t have that much time left.” She gestured toward the server, who had peered into the rear dining area, then waited for the woman to approach.
“Yes, lady?”
“What of sweets?”
“We have a honey cake and an egg custard glazed with the rare raw sugar of Hamor.”
“The egg custard,” Leyladin ordered.
“I’d like that also.” Cerryl nodded in agreement.
With a smile, the server turned. Cerryl refilled both their goblets, emptying the bottle. “I’ve enjoyed the meal…and the company.”
“I liked the company, too. But not another word about the Guild.”
“Yes, lady.” He smiled at her.
“What was your uncle like? You’ve never said, except that he was a master miner.”
“He was a miner. His words were rough, and his heart was good. He believed in doing his best in working. Dylert-the mill master-once said that he admired him above all the other craft masters. I didn’t know he was a master crafter until after I’d left the mines.”
“Did he know you’d be a mage?”
“He and Aunt Nall both knew I had the talent. They tried to keep glasses away from me when I was young.”
“Wise of them.”
“I didn’t think so at the time.” Cerryl laughed, then paused as the server arrived with the egg custards, each in a circular dish covered with a hard and dark brown glaze.
Leyladin raised her eyebrows at the server and mouthed something.
“Seven and five, lady.”
“Thank you.” The healer turned to Cerryl and smiled. “Go ahead. Try it.”
The glaze was powerfully sweet, sweeter even than honey, contrasting with the subdued richness of the custard.
“Rich…but good,” he finally said, looking at the empty dish.
“I take it you like rich but good?”
Cerryl flushed.
“I like it when you do that.” She giggled.
“I’m glad you do.” He could feel that he was still red.
She reached across the table and touched his hand. She was still smiling. “Let me enjoy this…now.”
He had to smile back. “I guess I do like rich…and good.”
She giggled again.
Cerryl tried not to wince as Leyladin left eight silvers on the table for the server-almost his stipend for an entire eight-day. Instead, after they donned the jackets that the server had returned to them, he offered his arm as they left the rear dining area and walked through the half-filled front area.
“Lady Leyladin…He’s a mage…don’t know his name…Patrollers say he’s one not to anger…”
“…fair…though…”
“…her father…almost as many coins as Jiolt…”
Cerryl wondered if he’d ever get used to the whispers and the speculations that seemed to trail him. As they stepped out into the dark and chill, he bent toward Leyladin. “Thank you again. It was wonderful.”
“I’m glad.” For a moment she leaned her head against his, and he could smell the faint floral scent and the scent of the woman he loved-and wondered if he would ever have, except as a friend.
They walked slowly back up the Avenue and then westward toward Leyladin’s house. The wind was colder, wet, raw, promising another winter storm before long.
Leyladin took Cerryl’s hand. “Promise me that you’ll follow Kinowin’s advice for now. Not always-just for the next year or so.”
“You have visions, too?” He smiled gently, squeezing her fingers gently.
“Not visions, feelings.”
“I trust them, and I’ll do my best.”
“Don’t humor me.”
“I’m not. Sometimes…I can’t always do what I want. I didn’t want to deal with either the prefect or Duke Ferobar. I didn’t get that much of a choice.”
She squeezed his hand, and they walked up the stone walk toward the door of the house she considered modest-compared to those of factors in other cities.
LXXVI
CERRYL SETTLED INTO the chair uneasily, waiting for Jeslek to speak, his eyes half on the heavy flakes of wet late-winter snow that plummeted past the windows of the White Tower.
“Overmage Kinowin has already told you that I’ll like you to accompany the expedition against Spidlar.” Jeslek smiled tightly, seeming almost coiled like a serpent in his chair, for all that he appeared to be sitting normally across his table from Cerryl. “Anya has also told me that you have discovered on your own the order strength of the young smith Dorrin-and that you have concerns that he may act against the Guild.”
Cerryl forced a shrug. What can you say? After a moment, he answered, his words deliberate. “The smith left Recluce, and he forges items embodying great order. I found that out in trying to find out where the road coins were going.”
“So? They are still only toys and implements for crafters.” Jeslek raised his eyebrows.
“He has built a home and a smithy and a barn. I doubt that he wishes to return to Recluce. Perhaps, with what he has forged, he cannot.” Cerryl hoped he was as correct as his words sounded.
“That is most likely the case.”
“Well, he carries a great deal of order, and if he has nowhere else to turn, and if the Guild attacks where he lives, he might feel compelled to act against us.”
“That is also true-but he is an order smith. He cannot even make edged weapons. I doubt he will be more than a nuisance. I worry far more about the two who have become officers. They have already done much damage.” Jeslek frowned briefly. “Have you made any more discoveries about the misdirected road tariffs?”
“I’ve found a few more people in the viscount’s court that seem to have prospered more than there is any way to find through a glass. It’s hard from here, and not knowing much about them,” Cerryl admitted, shifting his weight on the hard chair.
“We will be gathering levies in Jellico, and you can continue your efforts there as well, since you will have little else to do until we actually begin the campaign against Spidlar.” The High Wizard’s sun-gold eyes glittered, and for a moment Cerryl thought he could smell chaos and brimstone in the Tower.