She almost lost the Mindspeech thread with her start of surprise, and had to grope after it. :Sounds like I really missed something! What in the name of the Havenshappened last night?:
:Too much to talk about now.:There were overtones of mental and physical weariness to his Mind-voice. :But he’s going to be all right, Savil. We did more than - just the physical. I think we must have talked for hours, before and after. He handed me the key to himself, and hewanted me to have it.:
She raised a sardonic mental eyebrow. :’Lendel- I don’t want to drench you with cold water, but may I remind you of what happened thelast time morning arrived with you in someone else’s bed?:
:It ‘s all right, Savil, it really is this time.:A feeling of faint surprise. :You know, you ‘re always teasing me about falling in love - but - I don’t know, this feels different. :
Savil snorted. :Right; it always does. No, don’t let an old cynic disturb you.:
:Teacher- Ithink this is going to be something more than just a one-time; I think he needs me.:
:Oh, Havens. All right, if that’s the way you think it’s going - just let me know in the morning if you plan to move in with him. Or him with you, though his is the better chamber. We could use a spare for guests.:
Flavor of laughter like crisp apples. :You just want my room back. :
:If you aren’t using it - seriously, ‘Lendel, this is important. Iwant to have a long talk with him when I get up, and I want you there. He really should know what he’s letting himself in for asshay’a’chern. I don’t think we should let that get out, and I’ll Mindspeak with you on that before we talk with him. Hmm- cancel your classes this morning; I’m too tired, and I have the feeling you weren’t exactly early to sleep:
Another apple-feeling of laughter, and the mind-link faded. And she let exhaustion pull her down into a slumber that she really didn’t want,not anymore.
One last thought before sleep came.
Great good gods, what am I going to tell Withen ?
Tylendel raised himself up on his elbow and looked down at the slumbering boy beside him. Rest had repaired the damages that several hours of soul-wrenching weeping had done to Vanyel’s face; relaxed, and with all his barriers down, he looked as innocent as an unawakened child -
- which he was, as Tylendel now knew quite intimately, not.Not in any way; except, perhaps, his vulnerability.
“Van,” he whispered, touching his shoulder, and feeling just a faint chill of apprehension despite his words to his mentor, “can you wake up a little?”
Vanyel stirred, wrinkled his nose, and half-opened his eyes. And when he saw who was beside him, he smiled with heart-stopping sweetness. With all his masks gone, he was as charming as he was beautiful.
“Hmm?” he said, blinking, as Tylendel felt a surge of relief and gratitude that this was notgoing to be a repeat of the infamous Nevis affair.
“Want a roommate?”
“You - why?”
He grinned; he knew now that you had to showVan that something was a joke, or often he’d taken it seriously. “Savil seems to want my room back - for guests, she says. Besides, I like your company.”
Vanyel’s reply, though not verbal, was a definite and unmistakable affirmative.
“We have,” Savil said dryly, “several problems, here.”
She’d had that Mindspeech conference with Tylendel as she’d gotten herself put together for the day. Nice thing, Mindspeech; let you cover more than one thing at once. And after giving it thorough consideration while she bathed, she decided to have her “little talk” with Vanyel in hisroom. With any luck, he’d feel less threatened there.
She did usurp the most comfortable chair in the room, though. The privilege of age,she told herself, waiting for the two young men to settle themselves. Without seeming to consult about it, Tylendel sat on the edge of the bed, and Vanyel arranged himself cross-legged on the floor at his feet.
And the flexibility of youth. Would that I could still do that!The body language gave her spirits a lift, though; the way Vanyel had positioned himself was interesting. At Tylendel’s feet, below both her head and his lover’s. That could well show he’d given up that pose of arrogant superiority. Very interesting.
Iwonder if having a steady lover at his side might well give ‘Lendel something to think about besides his twin and that damned feud. On the other hand- this lad’s been so affection-starved- this could be another sort of trouble.
“Yes, indeed, we have quite a few little problems here,” she repeated.
Tylendel nodded at her words; Vanyel looked puzzled, at first, then thoughtful.
“The first problem and the one that’s going to tie in to all the others, Vanyel, is your father.” She paused, and Vanyel bit his lip. “I’m sure that you realize that if he finds out about this, he is going to react badly.”
Vanyel coughed, and bowed his head, hiding his face for a moment. When he looked back up, he was wearing a weary, ironic half-smile; a smile that had as much pain in it as humor. It was, by far and away, the most open expression Savil had ever seen him wear.
“ ‘Badly’ is something of an understatement, Aunt,” he replied, rubbing his temple with one finger. “He’ll - gods, I can’t predict what he’ll do, but he’ll be in a rage, that’s for certain.”
“He’ll pull you home, Van,” Tylendel said in a completely flat voice. “And he can do it; you’re not of age, you aren’t Chosen, and you aren’t in Bardic.”
“And Ican’t protect you,” Savil sighed, wishing that she could. “I can stall him off for a while, seeing as he officially turned guardianship of you over to me, but it won’t last more than a couple of months. Then - well, I’ll give you my educated guess as to what Withen will do. I thinkhe’ll put you under house arrest long enough for everybody to forget about you, then find himself a compliant priest and ship you off to a temple. Probably one faraway, with very strict rules about outside contact. There are, I’m sorry to say, several sects who hold that shay’a’chernare tainted. They’d be only to happy to ‘purify’ you for Withen and Withen’s gold. And under the laws of this kingdom, none of us could save you from them.”
Vanyel nodded; by the startled agreement in his eyes, Savil reckoned that this was a speculation he’d entertained before this, although for different causes. “So is there anythingI can do?’’ he asked quietly.
“Obviously,” she said, “Or I wouldn’t be talking to you now. But you aren’t going to like the solution to your problem. It’s pretty heartbreakingly simple. Outside of this room, Vanyel, nothing is to change. “
“But - “ He twisted his head around to see what Tylendel thought about this, only to find that his lover was nodding, in complete agreement with her.
“Savil’s right, Van,” Tylendel said sadly.
“But - “ Vanyel protested, holding out one hand toward him in entreaty, then turning the same pleading eyes on Savil when Tylendel shook his head.
“Mardic and Donni are discreet, and I’d trust Margret to keep what she knows behind her teeth even under torture, but if you want to stayhere, Vanyel, you won’t say or do anything to betray your relationship to ‘Lendel. The moment people start to talk, it’ll get back to your father.”
“The quickest way to make them talk, love,” Tylendel said in what was almost a whisper, “is to change. Is to even be friendlierto me than you have been. You told me the girls told you I was a pervert.” Vanyel’s eyes widened at Tylendel’s directness. “It can’t have escaped your notice how they sniggered and giggled about it, and they were being polite.My preferences are not generally socially acceptable. There are only two reasons why I have as little trouble as I do. The first is that I’m a Herald-trainee, and Heralds are allowed a bit more license than ordinary mortals. And my patron is Savil. She just happens to outrank everybody in the Circle except the Queen’s Own.”