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. Not at all, my friend, Armanreassured him quickly. But it s selfish of me to keep you as a servant, when you could dosomething else if you wished. Your family gave me and my mother a home and a role when my father died.I venever had a moment s regret over that.I have blessed the day I was set to serve you.Pleasedon t ask such questions.I m happy with you, and will be until you no longer wish me tostay.Arman put his arm around Loke and hugged him to his side, regretting the inadvertenthurt he had caused. Apologies.I was only trying to be a friend.Loke rested forgivingly against him, his slight body a comfortable weight to hold. Asyou ever are.A true and kind friend, the best I could ever wish for.Please don t send meaway. I won t, Arman murmured, his lips against Loke s hair. I m sorry, lad.Forget Ispoke, and don t let the fate of the Darshianese concern you either.The Prij are just rulers,as you know. Yes.It s a fair land, but I think I like Kuprij better, for all the sea does such cruelthings to my guts.It s disquieting, being so far from water, is it not?Arman supposed it was.He didn t tend to become attached to his surroundings in thatway, and was still curious enough to enjoy new sights, new adventures.One day, hesupposed, he might be like Jozo, and see it all as a necessary evil, liking nothing more thanto retreat to the comfort of the tent and his house at the end of his campaigns, but the lackof hospitality in Arman s home made him less wedded to his comforts.Being candid as hetried to be with himself, he admitted to himself he could be content because he had hishome with him.But he said nothing of this to Loke for fear of being seen as sentimental and putting aburden of responsibility on young shoulders that already carried so much.Still, if Loke waswaiting to be sent away, he would be waiting a very, very long time.~~~~~~~~It had been a good harvest this year and the surpluses across the outlying areas wouldfeed Darshek well.The clan had spent a furious week bringing in their own grain from thelocal farms, and another week threshing and storing.Already the winter crop of beans wasbeing planted, ready for the rains which would come in a month or so.Peit and the huntershad returned with several good-sized wild jombeker carcasses, many desert hisks, valuablefor their meat and their fur, and cages of live wildfowl, so the harvest feast would be a richone.There would be plenty of other contributions, not only for the celebrations, but to tidethem over the coming season.Tido trees had been stripped of their fruit, baskets of gikeplums and refik berries collected, some for the feast, most for drying.Hives were robbed oftheir honey and their wax, and any big oroj cricket crossing a child s path was likely to bepounced on with glee and stuffed in a cage, since they made good eating and were deliciousroasted.For days now, there had been a flurry of baking and brewing, houses being cleaned,clothes being mended and new ones made for the night of the ancestors.Kei was glad Rejiwould be here for it this year, even though he would leave shortly after, taking grain anddried medicinal plants to Darshek.No pujum ore this time, although having just taken aload north, it wouldn t be expected.By the time he returned after the rainy season, Rin sfamily should have a good supply ready for Reji, with their kiln now rebuilt.Kei had done his bit towards cleaning the house, but had kept out of Myka s way asshe cooked, since she tended to become rather irritable when she was baking.Instead, heworked with Reji, helping him make minor repairs to his house, checking his larders, andmaking love as the mood took them.He d miss Reji more than usual this time.It had been ahappy month, no serious illness in the clan, the successful harvest putting everyone in agood mood, and with the anticipation of the feast a cheerful occupation.For the first timesince he had returned from Darshek after his parents deaths, Kei felt entirely comfortablein his skin and in his role in life.This morning, he and Reji took a walk, spending a last day together being idle beforeReji left to go north again.Everywhere people were busy, rugs being shaken at doorwaysand brooms worked furiously, men on roofs here and there, or patching walls.Kei feltpositively debauched not to be similarly occupied, but not so guilty he was going to help.He d completed all his own tasks the day before, and Myka had again forbidden him tospend the day at his books, so unless he wanted to be unusually altruistic, he had no one butReji with a claim on his time.He spotted two familiar figures heading out of the village,and called to them [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]