robes. The andat had no need of breath. Maati had known that since he
had first met Seedless over half a century earlier. Clarity-of-Sight's
deep, regular sighs were manipulations, but Maati welcomed them. To hold
something so much like a child but as still as the dead would have
unnerved him.
Irit especially talked in light tones, but no one seeing them would have
guessed that one of the group had been swinging a knife at another
earlier in the day. Apart from a mutually respected distance between
Ashti Beg and Vanjit, there was no sign of unease.
Large Kae and Small Kae left to prepare a simple meal just as Eiah put
the torch to the pit of leaves. The flames rose, dancing. Pale smoke
filled the air with the scent of autumn, then floated into the sky while
the rest of them watched: Vanjit and Eiah, Ashti Beg, Irit, Maati and
Clarityof-Sight, who was also Blindness. The andat seemed captivated by
the flames. Maati stretched his palm out to the fire and felt the heat
pushing gently back.
They ate roasted chicken and drank watered wine. By the end of the meal,
Vanjit was smiling again. When the last wine bowl was empty, the last
thin, blood-darkened bone set bare on its plate, she was the first to
rise and gather the washing. Maati felt a relief that surprised him. The
trouble had passed; whether it had been Vanjit's pride or Ashti Beg's
jealousy, it didn't matter.
To show his approval, Maati joined in the cleaning himself, sweeping the
kitchen and building up the fire. In place of the usual lecture, they
discussed the difficulties of looking too long at a binding. It came out
that all of them had felt some disquiet at the state of Eiah's work.
Even that was reassuring.
He and Eiah sat together after the session ended. A small kettle smelled
equally of hot iron and fresh tea. The wind was picking up outside, cold
and fragrant with the threat of rain or snow. By the warm light of the
fire grate, Eiah looked tired.
"I'll leave in the morning," Eiah said. "I want to beat the worst of the
weather, if I can."
"That seems wise," Maati said and sipped his tea. It was still scalding
hot, but its taste was comforting.
"Ashti Beg wants to come with me," she said. "I don't know what to do
about that."
He put down his bowl.
"What are you thinking?" he asked.
"That she might leave. After today, I'm afraid she's been soured on the
work."
Maati snorted and waved the concern away.
"She'll move past it," Maati said. "It's finished. Vanjit overstepped,
and she's seen it. I don't think Ashti's so petty as to hold things past
that."
"Perhaps," Eiah said. "You think I should take her with me, then?"
"Certainly. There's no reason not to, and it will give you another pair
of hands on the road. And besides, we're a school, not a prison. If she
truly wants to leave, she should be able to."