I had decided not to pursue my idea of using spirits as a bridge to learning magic. Using spirits for selfish ends. I now knew he wouldn't cooperate even if he agreed to keep the idea secret. Maybe I could find a priest and use him.
Rastrian had accepted my postponing of the planned meal almost with impatience. It was clearly not an issue with him, and I left it at that.
My tent was ready by then and I retreated to it to wash the dust of the day off me and don fresh clothing. There were new and better fitting trousers.
“Stop buying me clothes, Meran. I need the money for other purposes.”
He shrugged. “I doubt you will lose more weight now anyway.”
I grunted, looked down at my bare and wet torso and had to agree my belly was about as flat as it was going to get. I felt fit and healthy and was pleased enough with that. I stretched, pleased with the feeling, then grabbed a towel and dried off. Clean clothes felt good and I relaxed a little.
The sudden double clap of the ward had me outside with my sheathed sword gripped in one hand and the other on the hilt ready to draw before I thought. This is silly. I knew Sapphire wasn't going to sneak into my area of the camp and knife anyone. Well, I think I knew everyone here was safe enough. And a lot of people were on the move, I didn't need to do anything. Everyone had been told what the sound would mean. I decided to stay put and let my men deal with it and a short while later Sapphire was escorted into my presence by Geheran, one of the four I had originally taken from Tulian as my own. A couple of mages hovered behind but I waved them away.
“He says he is a messenger of your noble father, sir. Says you know him.”
I nodded. So, maybe I'd been wrong. “So you have a letter for me.”
Sapphire's cold eyes rested on mine for a moment. “Yes, young master.” He pulled a letter out of his shirt and passed it over without so much as blinking an eye.
I opened it.
One more drunken binge and you will suffer, I swear it!
Sweet like a lemon. Sneaky bastard had given me one of the negative letters; well, at least I knew that I had been right and there were some.
“Anything else?” Why make it easy for him.
“A private verbal message, young master.”
I pulled open the tent flap and gestured he step inside. When we were alone I asked him what he wanted.
He glanced at Meran, looking him up and down. “Your father does not approve.”
“You are reporting to my father,” I said.
“Of course. You will never have a nobleman of the city in your clientele Your father thinks this is a serious error of judgment. Foolish and immature.” He said this without inflection.
I shrugged. “He may be right. But it's done. Anything else?”
He didn't say anything for a moment, then. “How rusty are you with a sword?”
My turn for a moment's silence. “Very,” I admitted.
“In as little as four days there will be a battle. You may have to fight. If you will allow me I will help you practice. In private.”
“Father's orders?”
“My own judgment. I have wide latitude.”
“You have practice swords?”
“With the edges dulled,” there was a hint of disapproval in his voice.
I thought about that. It seemed that I had better. “When?”
“What is wrong with now?”
I almost sighed. Just when I was starting to feel relaxed. “Now it is then. Extend my regrets to Lentro,” I told Meran. “Tell him I may be late for the evening meal.”
Without another word Sapphire turned to go and I joined him, grabbing my armor in a bundle as I left.
Neither of us had mentioned the letter.