ears but peaceful. The children ran in and out of the courtyard, giving Miner shy looks and babbling happily at Yuening. Once the little boy was dragged over by his sister, sobbing over a scraped knee, and Yuening clucked with sympathy and gave the damaged limb a kiss, then sent him on his way. The kitten ran about as well, pouncing on twigs and chasing after butterflies, until it curled into a tiny ball in a patch of sunshine and went to sleep.
Miner’s heart ached with yearning for this life. He could settle here, he thought. Learn the language. Find a plot of land and learn to work it. Build a little house for Ennek and him, one with a window that looked out at the green hills to the west.
But there was his promise to the bird-wizard and the blasted collar. And besides, he wasn’t at all certain that Ennek would be happy with such a pastoral existence. The man had spent his life in a great city, and he’d piloted his little catboats around the bay when he needed an escape. He was a Chief’s son and a powerful wizard. How could he be content with digging in the dirt, chasing after chickens?
Miner must have sighed loudly because Yuening patted his shoulder and gave him a sweet smile. He tried very hard to smile back.
Dinner that evening was a lively affair. Everyone gathered in the courtyard—Luli and Hai-Shui and Yuening and the children, as well as a dozen or so other people whose names Miner couldn’t keep track of and who stared at Miner and then smiled indulgently at him, as if he were a slow child. Lanterns were lit. A constant parade of food was brought out. Miner hadn’t any idea what he was eating most of the time, but it was all delicious. There were even tiny cups of some kind of wine.
As everyone ate, Ennek spoke. Mostly in his stumbling version of the local tongue, although he’d stop now and then to provide a quick translation for Miner. He was telling stories about Praesidium. Nothing personal, but tales of everyday life that must have seemed wondrous and exotic to this audience. To aid his limited vocabulary he acted things out: a fisherman on a wobbly boat, trying to land a string of fish; a hired carriage weaving through the crowds of pedestrians, and the pedestrians ducking out of its way; a woman shopping at the market before a festival. He even told them of small things, like gas lights and toilets and bathtubs.
Miner had the impression that these people didn’t believe half of what Ennek told them, but they certainly appreciated the telling, oohing and aahing and roaring with laughter. For his part, Miner just enjoyed watching Ennek. He was so animated, so naturally the center of attention. Miner had observed this during his rare excursions to the top deck of the Eclipse . Although Ennek seemed utterly unaware of it, he had enormous charisma and wherever he was, people couldn’t help but watch him, gather around him, listen to him. Miner had never been like that. Even among his own family, and despite the fact that he was often the tallest person present, he tended to fade into the background. When faced with an audience of any sort he blushed and stammered. He didn’t mind, really. He’d never wanted to have everyone focused on him. If Ennek was the sun, Miner was content to be the orbiting moon.
After several hours, though, Ennek’s voice had begun to grow hoarse, and Miner thought he detected a tiredness about his lover’s eyes. It was late and Ennek was still not fully recovered, and they had a long journey to undertake in the morning. Miner quietly made his way through the crowd until he stood at Ennek’s side. Ennek smiled up at him.
“Hey,” Miner said when Ennek paused for a moment. “Maybe we should get some sleep.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been going on and on, haven’t I?”
“You’re having fun.”
“I…yes, I expect so. It’s only, at the Keep the Chief’s eyes were always on me, judging me.”
“I understand,” Miner replied.
Miner’s heart ached with yearning for this life. He could settle here, he thought. Learn the language. Find a plot of land and learn to work it. Build a little house for Ennek and him, one with a window that looked out at the green hills to the west.
But there was his promise to the bird-wizard and the blasted collar. And besides, he wasn’t at all certain that Ennek would be happy with such a pastoral existence. The man had spent his life in a great city, and he’d piloted his little catboats around the bay when he needed an escape. He was a Chief’s son and a powerful wizard. How could he be content with digging in the dirt, chasing after chickens?
Miner must have sighed loudly because Yuening patted his shoulder and gave him a sweet smile. He tried very hard to smile back.
Dinner that evening was a lively affair. Everyone gathered in the courtyard—Luli and Hai-Shui and Yuening and the children, as well as a dozen or so other people whose names Miner couldn’t keep track of and who stared at Miner and then smiled indulgently at him, as if he were a slow child. Lanterns were lit. A constant parade of food was brought out. Miner hadn’t any idea what he was eating most of the time, but it was all delicious. There were even tiny cups of some kind of wine.
As everyone ate, Ennek spoke. Mostly in his stumbling version of the local tongue, although he’d stop now and then to provide a quick translation for Miner. He was telling stories about Praesidium. Nothing personal, but tales of everyday life that must have seemed wondrous and exotic to this audience. To aid his limited vocabulary he acted things out: a fisherman on a wobbly boat, trying to land a string of fish; a hired carriage weaving through the crowds of pedestrians, and the pedestrians ducking out of its way; a woman shopping at the market before a festival. He even told them of small things, like gas lights and toilets and bathtubs.
Miner had the impression that these people didn’t believe half of what Ennek told them, but they certainly appreciated the telling, oohing and aahing and roaring with laughter. For his part, Miner just enjoyed watching Ennek. He was so animated, so naturally the center of attention. Miner had observed this during his rare excursions to the top deck of the Eclipse . Although Ennek seemed utterly unaware of it, he had enormous charisma and wherever he was, people couldn’t help but watch him, gather around him, listen to him. Miner had never been like that. Even among his own family, and despite the fact that he was often the tallest person present, he tended to fade into the background. When faced with an audience of any sort he blushed and stammered. He didn’t mind, really. He’d never wanted to have everyone focused on him. If Ennek was the sun, Miner was content to be the orbiting moon.
After several hours, though, Ennek’s voice had begun to grow hoarse, and Miner thought he detected a tiredness about his lover’s eyes. It was late and Ennek was still not fully recovered, and they had a long journey to undertake in the morning. Miner quietly made his way through the crowd until he stood at Ennek’s side. Ennek smiled up at him.
“Hey,” Miner said when Ennek paused for a moment. “Maybe we should get some sleep.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been going on and on, haven’t I?”
“You’re having fun.”
“I…yes, I expect so. It’s only, at the Keep the Chief’s eyes were always on me, judging me.”
“I understand,” Miner replied.
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