Read Online Student of Kyme by Storm Constantine - Free Book Online Page A

Sulh of high rank. The Kymian phyle leader was present,
the illustrious Poltenemy, who I had never seen before. He greeted
me in a distant manner, and then devoted himself entirely to the
Nagini. One of them sat on Malakess’s other side, so I was able to
listen in to their conversation. It appeared that only a few of the
delegation had graced the dinner. No second generation Nagini was
present. I was eaten up with curiosity. I wanted to meet one of
those younger hara. I had presumed the Nagini would be ascetic and
distant, but this was not the case. They were perfectly affable
with the Sulh and other tribes, maintaining their disdain for the
Gelaming alone. Haruah, who sat next to Malakess, drank wine like
any other har and then, before the dessert was brought in, showed
us some conjuring tricks. He had a diamond set into one of his
teeth, which glittered when he smiled. His jet black hair hung
loose over his shoulders and was braided with golden beads. He was
also first generation, and knew our language perfectly. I’d drunk
more wine than I should have done by then, and said, ‘Will you
teach me your magic?’
    Haruah
grinned. ‘Not magic, tiahaar, just illusion. Nohar learns the magic
of the Nagini.’
    Malakess
laughed. ‘You are using on it us even now, my friend, aren’t
you?’
    Haruah
gave Malakess a smouldering glance. ‘If you perceive so, then no.
If I were, you would not be able to tell.’
    ‘ Your magic is very strong,’ Malakess said.
    I
realised at that point that my presence might well become
superfluous very soon. This depressed me. My mind was in such a
spin, I wasn’t sure why exactly. When Malakess had met my eyes
across a room, it had touched me. Did I desire him? Was that it?
Why couldn’t I work out what I was feeling? One thing was obvious.
I could not compete with this specimen of harish perfection now
bewitching Malakess with his subtle magic. I felt about two years
old.
    Some time
later, Malakess left the table to visit the bathroom. Haruah
reached out and took hold of one of my hands. ‘It is only play,’ he
said softly.
    ‘ What is, tiahaar?’
    He
laughed and squeezed my fingers. ‘Do not drink any more.’ He
winked. ‘Trust me.’
    I felt my
face grow hot, but put down the wine glass. ‘I don’t think… I don’t
think I can do...’ I shook my head.
    ‘ Then don’t think,’ said Haruah. He paused. ‘You will meet my
son.’
    ‘ Thank you, I’d like that.’
    Another
grin. ‘Oh, nothing to do with me, tiahaar. Nothing at all.’ It had
not been an invitation but a foretelling. How strange.
    It must
have been well after two in the morning by the time Malakess
decided we should leave. Actually getting out of the building took
some time. Malakess was waylaid every few steps and had to arrange
to have lunch, afternoon tea and then dinner with various Gelaming
and Nagini. Sabarah, it was decided, would come to Huriel’s house
to make sketches of me. My feet were aching, even though we’d been
sitting down for most of the night, and my head was still half in
some other dimension. The cool dark interior of Malakess’s carriage
was a relief. I sighed and leaned back against the
cushions.
    ‘ You did very well,’ Malakess said as we began the journey
home. ‘I know it was exhausting, but you were a credit to Kyme and
to me.’
    I grunted
in response. The thought of my bed was the most delicious thing
imaginable, or was it? Part of me was tired and aching, but another
part was alert and panting for action. That part wanted to leap out
of the carriage and run all the way home or perhaps away across the
hills beyond Kyme. I could become a deer and just run for
ever.
    ‘ Gesaril?’
    I opened
my eyes and glanced at Malakess. What did he think of me really?
Only a couple of weeks ago, I’d been affronted at the thought he
might desire me, but now I thought he didn’t and that was somehow
worse. Huriel had been right, it seemed. ‘What?’
    He pulled
a quizzical face.