them.
Damn.
I picked up a shirt. It was Lomen’s. I handed it over and looked for more clothes among the rumpled bedding.
So rest well. We have no classes tomorrow.
Boy, howdy.
We got dressed. I got out my bike, which I wanted to take to Caeran’s so I’d have it for getting around.
“I can walk it,” I said, collecting my pack.
No need.
We left, and I locked up. Noticed movement in the neighbor’s window; the curtain fell back into place as I looked.
The day was heading toward sunset, light just getting a golden tinge and the shadows slanting long. I walked the bike to the street, got on, then glanced at Lomen.
Go ahead. I’ll keep up.
I rode down the street to the corner and turned east. Lomen jogged along beside me. I didn’t try to race him—we were going uphill so I wasn’t going that fast—but I wasn’t crawling along either. He kept pace with me, even though I was working hard by the time we were halfway to Len and Caeran’s.
I glanced at him a couple of times. When we stopped for a traffic light I was breathing hard. He hadn’t even broken a sweat.
Damn. You’re superman.
He laughed softly. Hardly.
Compared to me you are.
He didn’t answer that. Too close to uncomfortable truths, maybe.
I didn’t apologize. Turned away from regret. Kept going.
The porch light was on at Len and Caeran’s. I parked my bike by the front door and hesitated, wondering if I should knock. Lomen answered that by opening the door and walking in.
I heard the clink of plates and saw Amanda setting the table in the dining nook. Caeran was in the living room, on his feet. He turned to look at us—Lomen, then me, then Lomen again. His eyebrows went up a bit.
“Dinner’s ready.”
I went down the hall to the bathroom to wash my face and hands. Cold water cooled me down and gave me the chance to shield. When I came back the sideboard was full of food and Amanda and Lomen were already helping themselves.
It was lasagne, with salad and garlic bread on the side. I was hungry, and forgave myself for loading my plate. I’d had a vigorous ride up, after all.
Len poured red wine all around and raised her glass. “To Ebonwatch’s success.”
I drank the toast, reflecting on all the things it could mean.
“So,” she said, “how was today?”
“Good,” Amanda said. “I figured out how to set up the business so the seed money isn’t taxable.”
She rattled on a while. I listened with half an ear while I dug into my dinner. Len talked about her own classes—she liked them—and Lomen mentioned changing his schedule.
I wasn’t hot to talk about my day. Not all of it had been fun, and the most fun part wasn’t appropriate for dinner conversation.
“I changed my schedule, too,” I said. “Dropped physics and the student-assisting job. Added molecular biology.”
“Be sure and let me know about any fees,” Amanda said. “And your texts. We’ll pick up the cost.”
Texts! I’d forgotten to check about texts for the biology and genetics classes. I’d do it after dinner.
“I talked to Madóran today,” Caeran said. “We’ve decided that the Evennight celebration will be at his place.”
Len looked unhappy. “Aw, I had it all planned!”
“I’m sorry. It is better this way—with alben in Albuquerque, we dare not risk...”
“No, you’re right, of course.” Len put on a smile. “We’ll host Midwinter.”
“If the situation here is resolved by then.”
Lomen picked up his glass. “Here’s to that.”
We all drank. This time I noticed the wine: fruity but not sweet, dry on the finish. I reached for the bottle to read the label. Montepulciano, Italy.
“You a connoisseur?” Amanda asked.
“Hardly. Just trying to educate myself.”
“Caeran picked it,” Len said. “He knows a lot about wine. He’s educating all of us.”
I glanced at Caeran, who tossed it off with a shrug. “Madóran knows more. He actually makes wine.”
“And carves furniture, and makes pottery. And
Damn.
I picked up a shirt. It was Lomen’s. I handed it over and looked for more clothes among the rumpled bedding.
So rest well. We have no classes tomorrow.
Boy, howdy.
We got dressed. I got out my bike, which I wanted to take to Caeran’s so I’d have it for getting around.
“I can walk it,” I said, collecting my pack.
No need.
We left, and I locked up. Noticed movement in the neighbor’s window; the curtain fell back into place as I looked.
The day was heading toward sunset, light just getting a golden tinge and the shadows slanting long. I walked the bike to the street, got on, then glanced at Lomen.
Go ahead. I’ll keep up.
I rode down the street to the corner and turned east. Lomen jogged along beside me. I didn’t try to race him—we were going uphill so I wasn’t going that fast—but I wasn’t crawling along either. He kept pace with me, even though I was working hard by the time we were halfway to Len and Caeran’s.
I glanced at him a couple of times. When we stopped for a traffic light I was breathing hard. He hadn’t even broken a sweat.
Damn. You’re superman.
He laughed softly. Hardly.
Compared to me you are.
He didn’t answer that. Too close to uncomfortable truths, maybe.
I didn’t apologize. Turned away from regret. Kept going.
The porch light was on at Len and Caeran’s. I parked my bike by the front door and hesitated, wondering if I should knock. Lomen answered that by opening the door and walking in.
I heard the clink of plates and saw Amanda setting the table in the dining nook. Caeran was in the living room, on his feet. He turned to look at us—Lomen, then me, then Lomen again. His eyebrows went up a bit.
“Dinner’s ready.”
I went down the hall to the bathroom to wash my face and hands. Cold water cooled me down and gave me the chance to shield. When I came back the sideboard was full of food and Amanda and Lomen were already helping themselves.
It was lasagne, with salad and garlic bread on the side. I was hungry, and forgave myself for loading my plate. I’d had a vigorous ride up, after all.
Len poured red wine all around and raised her glass. “To Ebonwatch’s success.”
I drank the toast, reflecting on all the things it could mean.
“So,” she said, “how was today?”
“Good,” Amanda said. “I figured out how to set up the business so the seed money isn’t taxable.”
She rattled on a while. I listened with half an ear while I dug into my dinner. Len talked about her own classes—she liked them—and Lomen mentioned changing his schedule.
I wasn’t hot to talk about my day. Not all of it had been fun, and the most fun part wasn’t appropriate for dinner conversation.
“I changed my schedule, too,” I said. “Dropped physics and the student-assisting job. Added molecular biology.”
“Be sure and let me know about any fees,” Amanda said. “And your texts. We’ll pick up the cost.”
Texts! I’d forgotten to check about texts for the biology and genetics classes. I’d do it after dinner.
“I talked to Madóran today,” Caeran said. “We’ve decided that the Evennight celebration will be at his place.”
Len looked unhappy. “Aw, I had it all planned!”
“I’m sorry. It is better this way—with alben in Albuquerque, we dare not risk...”
“No, you’re right, of course.” Len put on a smile. “We’ll host Midwinter.”
“If the situation here is resolved by then.”
Lomen picked up his glass. “Here’s to that.”
We all drank. This time I noticed the wine: fruity but not sweet, dry on the finish. I reached for the bottle to read the label. Montepulciano, Italy.
“You a connoisseur?” Amanda asked.
“Hardly. Just trying to educate myself.”
“Caeran picked it,” Len said. “He knows a lot about wine. He’s educating all of us.”
I glanced at Caeran, who tossed it off with a shrug. “Madóran knows more. He actually makes wine.”
“And carves furniture, and makes pottery. And
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