The Book of the Burning

THE WHITEFOOT

HOTEL

Well, before Ohean was to bring it up, Mehta said that informing the hotel new companions had arrived could prove risky. She suggested Theone take Orem’s room, and the rest of them stay in her apartment. When Theone and Orem seemed reluctant about this, then Austin said, “The ladies in one room and the men in another. I’m not entirely sure where I will stay.”

When Anson pointed out that there were only two women, they simply split up in two groups and Mehta, sensing nerves between her master and his lady, put the first in one room, the last in another.

Mehta was used to waking up earlier than anyone else back home at the farm and certainly, even in the city, getting up well before Orem, so she was surprised when the door opened and he came through, yawning.

She stirred from the day bed, and he made a wave to indicate she should go back to sleep and then she turned over and did so. Had he gone to Theone? But that made no sense. They could have had the whole night. It sat in her mind. She needed to ask. But not now. Orem was moving about the room, and now he was climbing into bed. And now she could hear him snoring.

 

“Ahhh Ahhh. Ahhh God, Ah, ohh, ohh, that’s it. That’s it,”

The boy came down from his pleasure, murmuring over and over again, “That’s it. That’s it.”

He licked his lips and lay on his back, squeezing himself, feeling good inside and twisting his body, touching himself lightly as pleasure moved through him.

“It’s sunrise already,” the blond haired boy said. “Should we get something to eat?”

“No, I’m not hungry,” Austin said, sitting up. “Hand me my shirt, will you?”

“In a hurry, are we?” the boy jested.

“Yes,” Austin said, receiving the shirt. “I am. I have to get back to where I’m staying.”

The boy handed Austin his pants and his underwear murmuring, “Are you cheating? A wife? Or maybe a man? Does he know? Are you sneaking back?”

Back to him, Austin unrumpled and shook out his shirt, slipping it on, his white back and buttocks disappearing from the boy’s view.

“I liked you better when you were silent,” he said, pulling on his briefs.

“I wasn’t silent at all last night. Or this morning. And you didn’t want me to be.”

The boy sat up on his elbow. “And I liked you a lot better when you just wanted to fuck me. You were a lot nicer.”

Austin stopped. He buckled his pants.

“I’m sorry about that. I don’t mean to be unkind. I just wanted us both to have a little fun. But it’s morning now, and I have to go, so…” Austin reached into his pocket and pulled ou some coins.

“I’m not a whore,” the boy said.

“I know. But I was. And last night I didn’t have to be. And… I just thought you might like to get something nice for yourself. Say… a breakfast roll. So take this,” Austin said.

He kissed him quickly, reached for his jacket, and then dipped out of the door.

“They’re not here,” Mehta told him when Austin returned.

“Everyone is up so early!” she said. “Theone and Ohean went to the market. I guess to get some breakfast. Anson is nowhere in sight. You’ve been out all night. Same as master?”

“Same as Master?”

“That’s right. Orem came in this morning around sunrise.” Mehta shrugged.

Austin moved through the room, scratching his head. “I think I know why,” he said, yawning.

“Yes,” Mehta said, quietly. “I think I do too.”

“I need a bath,” Austin told her.

The door opened and Orem stood there. “Mate, can I have a word with you?”

Mehta nodded and rose from her sewing.

“I have to talk to you,” he said.

She nodded, and followed him to the next room while he said, “Austin. The bathroom’s empty and the water should be hot again now.”

Austin looked at him and said, “Thank you.”

When Mehta and Orem were in the next room she said, “I’m all ears. I’m ears. What is it?”

“You saw me come in this morning.”

“Yes,” she tried to sound as diplomatic as possible.

“You suspect…. Something.”

“It’s not mine to suspect or not to—”

“Mehta.”

“Theone,” Mehta said. “I thought she was the one you loved. That you waited for. But you didn’t go to her, did you?”

“No.”

“You went to some…. Look, I know you. I know you are a handsome man, and tall and…. Maybe it makes you feel good that you can find a woman like that. Just go into a woman and that’s fine. Really, I don’t care. But it’s not fine when the woman you love is asleep in the next room and you can’t go to her. Why would you do it, Master?”

“Because I wanted to be with her, but I was afraid of her,” he said.

Mehta said nothing.

“I was afraid of what would happen to me. To us. If I went to her. But last night I couldn’t not be with someone. So I did what I did.”

Mehta, who had made a career out of hiding her true emotions, could not do it right now. She shook her head in bitter disappointment.

“It was wrong, Master. She’s a good woman. She’s a beautiful woman. A gracious lady.”

“I know.”

“And she has had so much unkindness in her life. I think she would understand it,” Mehta said. “I think she would know why you did it. You’re so afraid of love, that you run to stick your wick in everything passing, and then pretend you’re  doing it to whoever you love, and come back with shame on your face. You deserves better than that. And so does Theone.”

Orem had endured Mehta’s speeches before, but usually there was nothing to them. They were all air. This time she was serious and he was silent. He remained silent a little longer and then said:

“Listen, Mate. I promise I won’t go off and do what I did again. I… After I was on my own, after they turned me out I had to learn to function on my own, as a man. And as a man I learned fear. So I get afraid, and weak. You’re right. There have been times in the past when I went to women because I could. Because it was fun. But there were also times when I did it because I couldn’t bear to be alone. Or untouched. Last night was like that.

“If it happens happens again you can tell Tea. Tell Tea. But it won’t happen again, and for now I would ask you to forget it.”

“I would never tell Theone. That’s for you. I’m no judge, Master. I’m a housekeeper.”

“And more.”

“Yes,” Mehta said. “A friend.”

THE CITY OF NAVA

“Bring me my bowl, and bring me my spheres.”

Urzad nodded and disappeared. A few moments later the olive skinned young man returned with a laquer box and handed it to Phineas.

“Here you are, my lord. Will you be needing me?”

Phineas looked at him.

“For magic?”

“No,” the sorcerer shook his head. There was a great balcony, but a rice curtain was drawn between it and his view. “This will not be such a strong magic. Go. Take your rest.”

Urzad nodded. “Yes, Master. Thank you, Master.”

As Phineas opened the box set on his lap, Urzad turned to leave, and heading out the door, closing the door behind him, he wished that it was such a magic. On his own he was nothing. But those moments when the mighty Phineas took him and, in the cabin of the Brizhaard, or in this very room, used him as his very own Wand, and the two of them were the same flesh, he was filled with so much power.

“I am the only one living who knows what it is like to hold the High Priest of Shadows in my arms. Or be held by him. The only one whose skin he touches, or who has been entered by him. Or who has entered him in his need.”

It never made him feel proud, not exactly. There was never a moment when being possessed or even possessing Phineas made him feel as if he had power over the sorcerer. One night with the Dominix cut away all of those foolish ideas to the point that even after that first time, when there had been no magic, when he had been scarcely fifteen, and the Lord had turned to him and brought him to his chambers, he knew respect the whole time, respect when it was over. And fear. That first time, as they were dressing again, Phineas had told him “I chose you. I chose you because you were beautiful and your mind spoke to my own. And great things will come of you, Urzad. You will be mine.”

“Urzad!” Phineas called.

Tonight, Urzad pushed open the doors and came into the hall. It floors were like polished black glass, and the hall was cool, low and wide. Phineas was in white. He said, “I have seen a star. The star was descending.”

“Master?”

Phineas waved it off.

“It would only have a meaning to me,” Phineas explained. “But the star descended into this city and… What it means is that I need a guard summoned.”

“Yes,” Urzad turned around.

“Urzad?”

“Yes, Lord?” Urzad turned around.

There was a rare smile on Phineas’s face and he said, “Would you not wish to know why I need a guard summoned?”

Urzad only said, “You are my lord. You commanded it. I was doing it.”

Phineas nodded, pleased.

“An old enemy,” Phineas said. “An ancient enemy is here. He thinks to come into my city and take the Stone from the House of the Bright One. And I want him found.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“Oh, yes,” Phineas said.

“At the Hotel known as Whitefoot.” 

“It is a beautiful day. Hard to believe we’re doing what we’re going to do and not only shopping,” Theone had noted, but Austin, who had become especially grave, and even put aside all eyeliner since he’d arrived in Zahem, said nothing.

“Austin, dear, what is it?”

Austin had stopped looking at the sights and looked to Theone. She had not known him in Kingsboro, only heard tales of his leather wardrobe, his dramatic eyeliner and cultured ways. On the road he had a three days growth of beard and, lately, weary eyes.

“As you think of Orem, so I think of him,” Austin said, pointing to the complex of buildings to the north.

Theone looked to the Temple and then away. Ahead of her, Ohean was entering a book shop.

 “It isn’t only Skabelund,” Austin looked to the buildings that lay beside the Temple, the great Takarand Palace on one side of it, and on the other, the Lion House, the Palace of the Prophet and his Old Council and his Young Council, most of it currently occupied by Phineas.

“It isn’t only Skabelund,” Austin said, at last. “It’s everyone. I may not seem very religious, and I cannot say that I am. But these are my people. That boy is my Prophet. I was there when he was selected, and now…”

“Now they’re going to kill him,” Theone said. “They will kill him, no doubt about that.”

“I got you something at the bazaar.”

Anson, who was polishing his sword, looked up, scowling and said, “We have work to do. You can’t just run around buying presents in bazaars, especially since someone might know you.”

“You’re welcome, and I love you too,” Ohean said.

Anson slowly put the gleaming blade down and Theone looked upon it. She had never seen it unsheathed. Beautiful, like water it was, all mottled patterns flowing beneath it. Almost, she could hear it moving like flowing water, as if, should her eyes leave it, this metal would flow, and the letters etched upon it, which she did not understand, seemed to almost writhe under her sight.

Ohean placed in Anson’s hands a large book bound in leather, chased in gold swirling patterns, and then, while Anson held the book like a plate, Ohean gave him a silver pen.

“What is this?”

“It’s a book for you to write all of your poems, and all of your songs. And whatever else you wish,” Ohean began.

“I’m such an ass,” Anson said.

“Occasionally, yes.”

Roughly, Anson pulled Ohean down beside him and kissed him. on the cheek.

Down in the courtyard, where the water was rippling in the large fountain, Theone found Orem sitting with Conn..

“Here’s the thing,” Orem said, “I actually think I can love you.”

“I hope so,” Theone said. “I’m pretty sure that I can love you too.”

“If we are together,” Orem began, “if you allow me to be with you, I would not press you into anything. We are not back in that horrible castle that is so different from the way things should be. I am not that stupid boy.”

“Nor I the silly girl.”.

Orem kissed Theone quickly, and she did not move away, but held him to her.

“I love you,” he said again, kissing her. “That’s what I want to be to you. The one who loves you. I want to love you.” Orem breathed.

There, in the cool darkness, Theone held Orem’s face, as if looking at him for the first time.

“We were always together,” Orem discovered. “Always. I just came and joined you again. After a long time.”

“Is it safe to come out?” Ohean called. He was in a black open robe over traveling clothes, the hood down.

Theone and Orem both smiled, laughing a little.

“Yes. Yes it’s fine.”

“Oh, good,” Anson added, coming out next, the magnificent sword sheathed in its scabbard.

“I have a feeling we don’t have long to stay here,” Anson said, “And Austin and Mehta have everything packed away.”

“Excellent!” the clear voice of a woman spoke from behind Orem.

 Orem jumped, turning around, his hand to the knife at his side, and Theone turned, wondering. A woman in blue with thick black hair was looking down at them where, a moment before, there had been no one.

“Yarrow!” Ohean said the same time as Theone, and both of them looked to each other.

“I have been traveling many nights to reach you,” she said.

“This is my sister,” said Ohean

Anson looked at him. “You have a sister?”

“And brothers too,” Yarrow said. “In a way, at least. The story is too long to tell here. For now I’ve come to take you and your friends out of this hotel, and not a moment too soon.”

Ohean nodded curtly, heading back into the hotel and Anson, always a man of action, leapt after him and up the stairs, but Conn, Theone and Orem were still waiting for Yarrow who said, in a low voice: “Phineas, the one who calls himself High Priest of Mozhudak and the Dominix, knows you are here. He has sent his men to kill you. They are on their way. Right now.”