Chilly air encircled them when later in the afternoon, Norah and Klair walked arm in arm toward village center. Today promised to provide a good profit for their collection of bundles as it was caravan day. Their success would depend upon how much the out of town merchants hiked up the cost of their wares. With all the problems around the country I now know why.

Village center was a hubbub of activity as cart, horse and villager gathered together. Painted gnu hides hung from several second floor porches lining the main road and with price markings. Klair studied one colorful scene depicting two armies facing each other at Hurric pass. Seiun Priests, the leaders of the nation of Anvil were dressed in colorful robes with various sized chakrams and knives strewn about each figure. Behind them were rows and rows of armored soldiers. Opposite them in the valley, stood Kapawn wizards adorned in simple clothing with black sheets of hair flowing in the wind with raised hands glowing with power. Seeing the difference in number between the two forces displayed in the illustration, one would expect a slaughter.

The Kapawn almost didn’t win, Klair thought.

The streets of Merrsain arranged in circular rings, started at the main water well and Village center, branching out like pond waves. Side streets positioned like jagged spokes of a wheel connected the circles. It was a pattern practiced by all towns and villages within Fist as it hindered potential attacks of an army and easy pillaging.

“The price of coal is going to drop as it gets warmer,” His mother said, interrupting Klair’s thoughts. She’s thinking about Scov again, He thought. If they get together, I’ll apprentice as a miner.

Several children ran past them, chasing one another. The younger kids with faces covered with clay chased the older waving their fingers near their ears and yelling, “Hurrisick Hurrisick,” The older kids screamed in mock horror. Crazy wizards indeed, Klair thought.

In the distance, they heard: “Norah Lee!”

They looked up to see Constable Trenny straddling a brown horse next to the water well. They were still a ways away from center. Klair’s enhanced vision permitted him to see the mare drink from a bucket posted on the rock wall circling the well. An old woman, the obvious owner of the bucket, tried to pull it away from the horse but the mare and its rider ignored her. Beyond the well were several shoppers yelling at a wagon master which was completely ignored by the mounted officer.

“Constable Trenny,” Norah called back, her voice barely heard above the din of bargaining and livestock. She increased her pace as Klair watched the Constable prod his horse forward; succeeding in toppling over the old woman’s water. Now she’d have to get in line again to refill her bucket.

His mother casually turned, leading the two of them down the nearest side street.

They started to jog. If luck held, they’d make their turn at the second home before the Constable reached them. Klair remembered when he first met the man, three years ago, when Trenny made an offer to his mother: “Hire as Kindred again. I’ll help you.”

“But I’m happy as a midwife.”

“Kindred is your calling,” He insisted. “It could increase your boy’s apprenticeships.”

“Healing is now my craft,” Norah countered. Now, in the present, they ran to avoid him.

“He wants to bed you,” Klair complained as they rushed down the street.

“I know.” They reached the turn in the road and hurried on. If mother was Kindred, Trenny would be an annoying customer. Thank goodness she’s turned down his marriage proposals. Klair had no wish to be an apprentice to the man. In an act of inspiration, Klair pulled his mother through a broken door of an abandoned home. They rushed through the dusty room to the door on the opposite side and one street over.

She grinned at him with appreciation as they walked more casually to Village center, only to be greeted with: “Noon, Norah, Klair.” They stopped to greet the broad form of Scov, chief miner of Merrsain. He looked down at them from the seat of his wagon.

His mother’s smile came more naturally this time. “Morn, Scov. It’s good to see you.”

“And you.” The miner answered, his gaze brightening. He drew his wagon of coal to a stop on the side of the street, set the brake and climbed off. Klair’s mother approached him and rested her arm on his. Klair stood silently behind holding both their baskets. The whinny of a horse announced the Constable’s arrival and Trenny glared down at the sight of Scov and Norah standing close. Klair looked back at the Constable and grinned. He knows we evaded him.

“You find something funny, boy?” Trenny asked sternly.

Klair shook his head, noticing how the sun’s glare silhouetted around the Constable’s head. Klair pointed at the sky, blinking. “Sun,” he lied.

Trenny turned around, and raised his arm to combat the glare. He grunted. Face still sour, he kicked his mount on. “Later Norah,” and rode back to the well. The two of them visibly relaxed. His mother left the miner’s side and went to the head of Scov’s wagon to pet his horse.

Scov stared after her but remained standing next to Klair. “What’s wrong?”

“Constable Trenny’s attention,” Klair answered.

The man nodded as the two of them watched Scov’s horse leaned its head close to his mother’s touch. “Well I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t admit that–”

“She likes you Scov,” Klair admitted. .

Scov grinned at the admission. “Well maybe after I sell a full season’s worth of coal—” She returned to them and tugged at Scov’s arm, her smile in her eyes. With a nod from the miner, Klair mounted the wagon and released the brake. His mother and Scov continued down the side street toward center with Klair, horse and wagon trailing behind. Scov stopped at one end of the clearing and directed the wagon so one side faced the crowd. Klair set the brake while Scov pulled the tarp away from the painted wall. The images on the wood advertised his price. Several villagers in the crowd noted the miner and his mother’s arrival and started forward.

The fight between two villagers and the visiting wagon master was escalating. One heavy set man complained, “You keep raising your prices. You have no reason other than greed when you know we need your seed.”

The visiting merchant stood with arms folded. “Be glad I’m here, other villages have their own worries and I haven’t broken even for this trip. I need to feed my family too you know.” He pointed to the bed of the wagon. “Our harvest is low and I wonder if it’s worth coming to Merrsain.” Glancing at his wagon, Klair noticed that it wasn’t as loaded as he remembered and it’s only the first day of market.

“Every out sider is raising their prices, it’s a conspiracy,” a woman said.

“It’s lean times, everywhere we go,” the visitor countered. “See if you can find better prices elsewhere.” He might be from one of the towns whose hurting, Klair thought. Why doesn’t he admit to what’s really happening? He’s keeping it a secret like everyone else.  He glanced about the market to every other visiting merchant. Some loads of wears looked depleted with owner faces drawn tight in silent worry. Problems are starting to spill over to Merrsain and I never realized it. What can I do? He looked about the square realizing that there were fewer wagons. Klair glanced at the miner who stood near him. Maybe I’ll ask Scov what he’s heard.

The miner dramatically palmed his nose as he stared at the contents of one of his mother’s laden baskets, “more smelly soaps.”

Klair grinned and the two of them exchanged a wink against his mother’s pout.

“You men will enjoy it soon enough,” she countered smiling at their teasing.

“Use my backboard for a table if you wish,” Scov offered. “I’ll take you both home afterwards.”

“I think I will,” Norah challenged. “Let a little lavender accent that coal dust of yours.”

Klair grinned. The man wasn’t stupid; he knew how to press his advantage where everyone benefited. His mother drew several men’s attentions, but it was Scov she favored. “He’s generous and kind,” his mother told him. Looking at Scov’s build revealed him as a man accustomed hard labor for his boots were smudged and dark stains on his hands showed he most likely worked throughout the night. Scov didn’t stink of horse, cow or the smoke of a furnace but of earth and coal. He must have cleaned up before coming to market. Scov was hoping to see Mom.

Apprenticing to him will be hard work; but the press of rock over him didn’t bother Klair as it did others. I could hold back a cave in, I bet.

Klair touched his tunic inner pocket and felt the pieces of wood press against him. He learned how to carve straight simply designed sticks when he apprenticed to the woodcrafter Bejja years ago. While his mother began distributing soaps across the backboard, Klair turned to go. He once suggested mixing scented woodchips into some of the soft paste of one of his mother’s Chamomile soaps and it became one of her most popular. “I’ll see you later,” he offered as the two adults lingered together.

“You have two spans for fun then back here to the wagon,” His mother said.

In answer, Klair lifted his hand to the sky. He noted the time and nodded. “Day, Scov.”

The other nodded, “Klair.” The miner’s hand casually drooped across the wagon behind his mother. He did not touch her, but it was still a small sign of possession to those approaching them. When the miner thought he was out of earshot, he said, “He’s a good lad, Norah.”

He must not have heard about me and Tarrant yet, Klair thought. Mom better see what he thinks about my magic before she accepts him totally.

When he reached the water well Constable Trenny glared down at him, “Sun’s not glaring in your eyes now?”

Klair shook his head. “I’m fine now, thank you,” he said with forced innocence.

“Where’s Norah?”

“Working.”

Constable Trenny grunted.

Klair nodded and continued through the crowd. He found the Jessie twins behind the wine booth, sharing a bottle with Monta and Drace. “Mind visitors,” Klair asked, grinning as he approached them.

“What took you so long?” Loginna said beaming.

“Mom.”

“Busy woman,” The twin, Lance, said.

Klair sat between Drace and Loginna. Loginna nestled close to him, holding his hand low in her lap. “Sometimes when I touch you, I tingle.” She admitted.

Is she serious?

Is that why she’s now so interested in me? He didn’t mind she liked touching him. She’s very soft. The petal water she wears is really strong but… he liked when they kissed a lot. I know she’s interested in me because of Mom’s friends. I make her tingle—whatever that means. She must think it’s because of something I learned from the Kindred. She thinks I’ll know a bunch of stuff when we eventually couple… but what about me as me?

They sat together, on the mat, hip against hip and his heart pounded faster. She wore a low blouse. He looked and she smiled in invitation. He was starting to feel… he shifted.  Better to think about something else.

His eyes settled upon Drace who was sloppily drinking from a water skin, letting trails of juice drizzle down his cheeks. The other was an old enemy, calling Klair ‘Mama’s boy’ or ‘mute head’. True, he only had his mother is a parent and he wasn’t much of a conversationalist, but he didn’t appreciate the name-calling. The two of them had only tussled once with neither proving to be a real victor. Klair had hoped, but that would be adequate proof that he was wasn’t a Mama’s boy. The taunts persisted. Things may have grown steadily worse, until Klair and Tarrant come up with a suitable teaching moment.

Klair smiled at the memory.

“I miss Tarrant,” Klair admitted, glancing down at Loginna’s low blouse. His thoughts warmed to what he really wanted to do. His mom warned him on their way to market for him to be wise. He knew what she meant.

His mother told him, “Loginna is fighting with fire as she seeks attention. She can be hurt.” Her gaze centered on him. “Don’t be the one to do it.” Loginna has already coupled, I’m sure of it, Klair thought. He didn’t tell his mother that, but Klair could not ignore the fugitive looks from Drace as the girl now concentrated on Klair.

Maybe Loginna wants to give all of us a turn.

Klair shifted again and told his friends of his and Tarrant’s adventures and couldn’t resist prodding Drace, “Guess you can’t call us Wogs anymore.” Pollywogs, the size of a hand, were fragile creatures and his ‘friend’ took great delight in calling him that. The two of them had not always been friends, but Tarrant’s friendship had forced Drace’s acceptance. The rest had followed Tarrant’s natural leadership and for that Klair would be forever loyal to his adventurous friend.

Loginna rewarded him for his daring by giving him a kiss and rested her chin on Klair’s shoulder. He kissed her back. She grinned nuzzling close and their lips met for a third kiss. She’ll let us kiss but won’t let us be a boyfriend and girlfriend. That seems unfair.

“—They usually come back early,” Lance told the group and Klair’s thoughts turned to his friend’s conversation. “Who?”

“Tarrant and the others are a day over due from their Gnu trip,”

They’re experienced hunters, he reminded himself trying to ignore his dream of the hunters fighting. The wildebeests started north every spring. Their migration path stretched from the southern tip of Fist to North Anvil and was called The Gnu Trail. Cities and villages lined the path when there were matching water sources. The same path the Kapawn took in their march north to war sixteen years ago.

It’s got to be just a bad dream, he reminded himself and said, “Hopefully they’ll find plenty of Gnu soon.” Hope whatever is happening around the country isn’t affecting Tarrant or the migrations. Both countries relied heavily upon the meat and it was the threat of interrupting the migration that finally stopped the war.

He lifted his hand from Loginna’s lap to pull out his sticks and they began to play.

*****

I’m glad Scov brought us here before taking us home, Klair thought as the wagon carrying Scov, Klair and his mother stopped at the base of a small mountain. He had been here since the night with Tarrant and their trip down the Tonosh. The community fields were beautiful in their orderly lines circling down the incline. A series of terraces were cut out of the ground and looked like huge steps leading down the mountain side. Klair rubbed his back in sympathy as he remembered taking turns in grading the ground at the lower terraces and later digging trenches and hollowing out trees trunks for use of the canals to carry water. Many of the trunks were suspended off the earth on stilts while other canals remained ground level.

The piping resembled a long wooden rope coiled around the mountain. Townspeople gathered to see the finished project. Several were threading themselves through the maze working on canals or firming up a trench.

Klair watched as his mother rested a hand around Scov’s muscled arm and affection­ately rubbed at the strands of blond hair growing there.

Klair stood up in the wagon’s rear. Coal dust frosted his boots. He casually rearranged the drop cloth his mother gave him to protect their laden baskets from their day at market from the fine dust. The fact she brought it—Mom knew Scov would volunteer to give us a ride.

“With this finished, it’ll be good to have full manpower back in the mines.” Scov said.

“Everyone will be glad it’s done,” Klair said. His mother looked back at him and smiled. The look shared between them told volumes. Last six day, his mother admitted she wish to marry. She might have been waiting until I apprenticed and it looks like she might have found the right man. Marrying would discourage the attentions of Trenny. I’ll have a real dad which is better than a pretend Thorn.

“Norah-Lee.”

The three looked up to see Constable Trenny. His was horse lathered and wheezing from its mad dash from the village to the canals. “We need to talk.” He commanded.

“Now may not be the time, Constable,” she said, voice firm as she looked back at the miner.       Scov looked back at Trenny, mouth set in a firm line. “Constable,” the miner said his voice bearing a slight edge.

Trenny prodded his horse forward. The Constable usually known to be a fair man, but occasionally…. it was whispered he sometimes he wouldn’t pay for something at market or he’d demand a second serving without paying extra. Scov stood up in his wagon. Klair automatically moved forward. There was something else about him no one else might know. Trenny recently bore bruised flesh beneath the skin of his hands that wasn’t from hard labor. Who has he hit, he wondered and keeping it a secret.

His mother pulled at the miner’s arm. “Maybe it would be better to talk–” she began.

Scov looked down at her. “No one should be intimidated into doing what they don’t want to do.” He lowered his voice to a near whisper, his gaze intense. “Even with me.”

Klair watched them, his heart pounding for what he saw there. Her eyes glistened. She loves him, he realized as her voice gentled as she held the miner’s arm. “I’m not intimidated by you,” she whispered. Scov gave her a silent nod and squeezed her shoulder. Klair’s enhanced hearing permitted him to hear the exchange against all the hollering of the townspeople visiting the canals.

Trenny nudged his horse forward. “Stay out of this, mole.”

Scov merely laughed and jumped off the wagon.  Why can’t Trenny leave Mom alone?

The Constable dis­mounted and the two men faced one another.

Klair looked about him; everyone’s attention was riveted to the canals. His heart pounded so fiercely it felt like his chest would burst. Maybe Scov could beat him. One reason Trenny became Constable was because of his build. If I was subtle enough I could use magic and trip him up. Make a mistake and I’d betray myself and Ma. The miner was one of the few men with the necessary build to stand against Trenny. Does he have the temperament? The look in Scov’s eyes showed not anger but righteous ignition. He’ll protect his own, Klair realized.

Klair studied the ground where the two men stood. Pebbles lay scattered amongst the dirt. Subtle use of magic was beyond him especially when he was upset. I don’t want to have to move again. His gaze hardened as he gripped his hands into fists. But it we have too— Gaze darting around, Klair wanted to yell, instead, he pressed his two smallest fingers to his lips and blew a shrill whistle. Dozens of faces looked toward him and to see the two men in combat stance.

Trenny paused in his advance.

“Something the matter?” the miner prodded.

“I want a turn,” Trenny said, voice low.

“She’s made her choice. As Constable it is your duty to uphold and honor it.” Scov stepped closer. “Maybe you grow weary of being Constable.”

Trenny clenched his fists for the village provided for all his needs. He stepped back. “I can wait.”

“Not enough,” Scov countered. “It was your intent to force Norah’s attention.” The miner raised his voice. “I’m calling upon the city Elders to support this judgment. Trenny is denied any further contact with Norah.”

Trenny raised his fists. “You can’t!”

“I second the judgment,” another said.

The Constable glared toward the observers.

“I shouldn’t be constantly denied!”

Klair instantly recognized Tarrant’s uncle, Maken, as he walked up to the two opponents while murmurs from others followed him. Maken as one of the senior elders of the village voted against permission for Kindred to advertise at market and when Norah and Klair first arrived he doubted his mother was no longer Kindred. She was required to report her previous occupation wherever she moved; but, after the majority vote, Norah and Klair were permitted to stay. He remained a consistently fair man, even when the vote went against him.

“This is second warning, Constable Trenny,” Maken announced, his voice easily carried across the crowd as he approached. “Your duty is to serve and assist the people of the village, not to put yourself above them.” Maken stepped directly before him. He was not a tall man and the Constable towered over him but the Elder appeared unaffected wearing his authority like a cloak. He raised one hand, palm down, between the miner and constable.

Trenny opened his mouth.

“Second warning,” the assembly echoed.

Second? Klair wondered. What else has he done? Usually his mother was well tapped into the gossip of the town… Three bad misdeeds against the populace of the city and Trenny could be banned.

Maken folded his arms. “Do you wish to con­test?”

Silence followed, eyes riveted on Trenny. Countering an Elder’s proclamation had its own consequences. The Constable was furiously thinking of some rebuttal; that was evident finally: “No,” he clipped.

Maken nodded, dropping his arms to his sides, “very well.” The Elder turned back to the assembly. “Disperse,” he announced.

As one, the people turned from the Constable returning to the sidelines of the fields. Trenny glared up at Klair. He knew whose whistle drew the attention of the others.

Klair glared back.

“Perhaps the market has need of your services, Constable.” Maken said.

Trenny swung away and mounted his horse so fiercely the horse would have bucked except Trenny kicked its flanks to prod it forward. He left in a cloud of dust.

Maken approached the wagon and Scov followed him. The Elder looked up as Norah remained sitting in the front seat. Her eyes were downcast; palms open in her lap in a submissive gesture while Klair stood braced behind her, his look defiant, heart burning.

Voice gentle, the Elder asked: “Do you agree with the judgment, Norah?” Klair’s eyes widened, Elder Maken spoke his mother’s name. In the past the Elder usually addressed her as midwife. That sur­prised him, as Maken made no move to interact with her or buy her soaps, as if intentionally avoiding her, except when Tarrant and I get in trouble.

“Yes.”

“Will you report to the counsel, if the constable at any time talks to you?”

She hesitated for only a moment. “Yes.”

Maken nodded. “The constable can be an easily provoked man. Please inform me if he shows any misuse of any of your Kindred friends as he may do so in an attempt to hurt you indirectly.”

Norah looked up, meeting the Elder’s gaze. “I will.”

Maken looked up at Klair and waved him forward. “Attend me,” he said and turned away from the wagon.

Klair paused for only a moment before jumping off the bed to follow. Maken continued to walk in silence until they were clearly out of earshot of Scov and his mother, who watched on anxiously. When they were standing alone near the lowest ridge of the canal, Maken bent down and picked up some clay. He rolled it into a ball in his hands while Klair looked on. “You whistled.” Maken said.

Klair straightened. “Y-yes.”

“Back at the wagon I sensed your resentment to the judgment—why?”

Klair looked down, shifting his feet. “I…I agree with the judgment.” He dug his toe into a spot of mud and it bubbled under the pressure. “The Constable has been making moves toward mother since we’ve moved here.” He shifted. “She’s tried to discour­age him.”

“Then why are you angry?”

Klair turned silent. Maken was fair and helped the situation by his authority. What’s the use of magic if I can’t use it openly? If I had, Trenny would have been a smear in the ground.

“Had this not happened here with the attention of the people, what would you have done?”

Klair stared at Maken. What does he mean? He shrugged his shoulders. Dark eyes bore into his. “You might feel frustrated that you cannot always protect your mother. You have always been a dutiful son. I realize you’d prefer not to talk? That can restrict you if you don’t present yourself more.” He nodded toward him. “You are becoming a man with a choice of multiple apprenticeships yet you’ve chosen none so far. Why?”

When Klair didn’t answer Maken continued, “You have worked hard here, contributing to the construction of the canal. Every man who you have apprenticed with would be willing to cord you in their craft. You and your mother have established a home in the hearts and minds of these people. With your potential—” Maken paused at the word.

“Perhaps now is the time to decide what you will do and with whom you’ll assign your cords.”

Klair glanced at the man’s own cords woven in the Elder’s hair. They identified him as the smith of the town as well as elder. The Elder was one of the few who hadn’t volunteered to apprentice him. Klair’s gaze flickered across the ground. What potential? What would Maken know without teaching me? His heart quickened for a moment. Does he know what I am? He almost reached for his braided hair, to see if any of the dye had come loose. Klair contributed to the grading the earth, digging ditches, hollowing out the logs. I’m a good worker. He’s gotta mean that.

Maken glanced back at the waiting couple. “Scov and Norah look happy together.” He paused before continuing. “No longer having to worry about the safety of a loved one, can free a man to pursue his own life.”

He wants me to leave.

Klair followed the other’s gaze and his heart calmed, glad to have the topic off him. The two were hugging one another. His mother and his potential father looked contented as Scov pointed out an area of recent construction of the canals. I’ve been useless protecting Mom and me being here makes it worse for her. Klair turned back to Maken. Does he want me to leave?

“Think about it,” Maken said as he dropped the clay and started back with Klair in tow.

*****

It was mid-sixth day that Klair arrived to the storage shed positioned at the lower levels of the terraced gardens.

“I thought a bunch of us was going to help patch the roof?” Klair said as he met Loginna as the door to the community tool shed. He looked around, but there was no one in sight. I should get back to my shift at the community fields.

She said nothing but pulled him inside. The room was still musty from the long winter and would have been dark with all the shutters closed but several candles lined the shelves as she led him to the far back to the second room where he saw several blankets strung across the floor. Remaining silent, she stepped close, hugged him and held him lining her legs next to his as they stood together. She nibbled his neck.

It didn’t take long for him to respond.

He carefully kissed her on the lips, as he hugged her, feeling her softness press against him. We’re finally going to do it. How could his mother object? This was a clear invitation and she was the instigator. How long is a guy expected to resist?

She chuckled against his neck. It’s the quite ones you need to watch,” she murmured.

He was but one more knot to her cord. How long had she been at him, slowly carefully drawing him in? She pressed closer. He would be happy to—

I won’t hurt her. We can finally—

They nuzzled and gently kissed each other’s faces. He slowly trailed kisses from one cheek, across her lips and to the other, caressing her face within his hands. He felt himself respond further to their close proximity and she smiled in anticipation.

Her breath quickened, apparently the tingling she talked about before, affecting her through all physical contact between them.

His voice turned husky. “After this, will we be a couple?”

She wiggled against him. “We’ll couple.”

His heart quickened at the close proximity of their bodies. She pressed her knee forward. “That’s not what I meant. You—” She touched him and he lost all thought. I want her want her want her!

Loginna smiled in silent victory.

Blood rushing, their kissing became more intense hands began to wander. He suddenly froze, her look reminded him of Draces’ smirk of satisfaction when successfully goading him that time at the river a year ago or when Constable Trenny intimidated someone to stand down from a confrontation. He imagined such a smirk from the wizard Thorn if Klair were to ever show up at Taaken city. She’s manipulating me. She wants what she wants and doesn’t care if—

His mother’s words came rushing to his mind, “Whose in control Klair?”

He forced himself to lean back. He didn’t want to step back and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst. And other parts of his body were—

“We need to talk, Loginna. Neither of us is apprenticed. If it gets out that we’ve coupled it’ll—”

She snorted. “You want to talk? Now?” She rolled her eyes. Her hands began wandering. “I hadn’t thought you’d turn into talker when you have a chance to—”

“They’ll call you a Sheet.”

Loginna shoved him back. “I am not!”

Klair gripped her shoulders wanting to pull her close. They were so soft under his touch, so pliable. We shouldn’t… can’t…” Her earlier smirk had rankled him, reminding him too much of the possible manipulation of a father he never knew. Klair stepped further back, trying to suppress the heat of his lower body but her reached out and drew them back together.

Her voice was hot against his ear. “With what your mother once was, who her friends are… you of all people who dare to judge!”

“If we do this, will we be permanent boy and girl friend?”

Loginna stiffened.

Body throbbing with need, blood rushed through his ears. He saw her look of fury quickly suppressed. Just another knot on her cord, he thought. Loginna strangely reminded him of the Kindred Ravenna. His companion’s pressed herself close.

Klair gently pushed her away. “No, I’m sorry,” he told her and left.

*****

That evening his mother smelled the scent of flower water on him and knew, it wasn’t from one of her soaps.

“Getting pretty friendly, between the two of you and Loginna, I see,” his mother queried.

“Yeah,” His thoughts returned to the encounter at the shed. Ever since he had left Loginna he was regretting it. Certainly a little harmless manipulation would have been okay for the chance to… We should have done it, I should have done it. We could have kept the secret so that she wouldn’t be called a Sheet. Ironic, we both couple and it’s the girl’s called the Sheet when guys aren’t.

Maybe he misunderstood her look. They both wanted what she wanted, didn’t they?

His mother fixed one of his favorite meals. Afterwards they sat in front of the fire; she groomed and braided his hair, which always relaxed him. Klair admitted how he liked Loginna and that she liked him back. He vaguely admitted the girl’s not subtle hints for them to couple. “—but she says we can’t be girl and boy friend. I can’t see why not. She says I make her tingle.”

His mother didn’t smile but continued to play gently with his braid.

He closed his eyes for a full meal and the gentle tug on his hair made his sleepy.

“I became a Kindred because a close friend said he loved me and I found out he didn’t,” his mother admitted.

Klair tried to look up, but she held his braid keeping him facing the fire. “I want to love Loginna,” he admitted. “We could eventually even marry. She won’t even talk about it. I can’t see why not. Why doesn’t she want us to be a real couple?”

“That’s not the only commitment before coupling,” his mother warned.

He sighed. Wondering how he could salvage his relationship with Loginna since he had walked out on her.” I was trying to not hurt her. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

“Would you promise me a city, if you could give it, Klair?”

“Oh yesss,” came his easily reply, “Any city you want, Mom.” Glad his mother moved to a safer topic.

She smiled and it became a game. They took turns upping the gifts of family devotion to include all the lakes of Fist, the forests of the country of Blade, all the gold of the world, and both moons given for the joy of the other and as a token of devotion. She rested her hands on his shoulders.

What would life be like if we could have our every wish, Klair wondered.

“Promise me the time of your first coupling,” she offered.

Klair stiffened and sat up staring at her. “What?”

She rested her hand on his arm. “Promise you won’t bed someone until you’ve corded to your apprenticeship and found the one you’ll marry. Promise me Klair.” The intensity of her gaze bore into him.

But I’ve been holding back for so long already. We almost did it today. Maybe it’s okay that she doesn’t want to be boy and girl friend. Aren’t there times I want to manipulate someone like she does? He couldn’t think of any at the moment but it would feel really good to finally…. Every time he was with Loginna his mind was telling him to do all kinds of things. With Mom’s past I thought she’d understand… It’s important to her but I want to… His body twitched in complaint.

He didn’t say anything. I’ve already been waiting a long time already. It’s not fair that she asks me to wait longer…

“I don’t want to talk about it, Mom.”

Her gaze intensified as she looked at him.

Why is it so important to her? She’s never told me why she became a Kindred until now.

Strangely of all the feelings he’s had for Loginna he never saw her as a wife. His willingness to wed her after they couple, shouldn’t that be enough… No other girl in Merrsain caught his interest. When his mom was married there was a good chance he would have to leave, even if temporarily, to find a wife. It was something many young men did.

“Can’t we talk about something else?”

Her hands pressed his shoulders and as if realizing it, she lifted them freeing him. She waited.

Don’t make me promise. Sometimes it seems like that’s the only thing I can think about. He felt the slight presence of her knees behind him, just beyond touch. When had she ever asked much of him? She had to move from city to city because of him, sacrifice who knew what to keep him safe. Her entire life had been devoted to keeping him safe.

For a moment his thoughts turned to the second room of the storage shed. He imagined himself with Loginna, their bodies were intertwined and—

“I promise,” he said.

Maybe when I visit Penostat, I’ll take care of the snakes, without magic. While there, maybe I’ll meet someone, apprentice somewhere, get married and raise kids without magic.

His mother smiled, accepting his vow.