we see similarities.”
“You’re right.” Mari sat back, trying to think. “Do you remember one of the first things we talked about after we met? How your elders and my Senior Mechanics seemed to have a lot in common? I wonder if every group of managers who becomes used to being in charge, who is dedicated to nothing more than keeping things the same and themselves in power, ends up acting in the same ways even if they use different justifications? They don’t want anyone questioning their decisions or their authority.” Something else occurred to her then. “Questions. Asha, you must have asked a lot of questions to find out all of this. You took some serious risks.”
“I have attracted the attention and disapproval of the elders,” Asha said, the lack of feeling in her voice providing no clue as to how she felt about that. “However, I have attracted such attention and disapproval before.”
“You have?”
Alain gestured toward Asha. “I have told you, Mari, that Mage Asha could never appear other than attractive.”
Mari stared at Asha. “You actually got in trouble because you were beautiful? Seriously?”
“My appearance,” Asha said, “must surely be my fault, must surely reveal a lack of wisdom.”
“What were you supposed to do about it?”
Asha’s shoulders twitched very slightly in what might have been a Mage shrug. “I could have shorn my hair, scarred and damaged my skin, broken things to make them heal in misshapen ways — ”
“No!” Mari burst out, horrified. “That would be so wrong. Hurting yourself that way? Maiming yourself? Please don’t ever do that.”
Asha gazed at Mari for a long moment before replying. “I have been hurt before, Mari. It is nothing. But to harm my features would have served no purpose. To strike at my appearance would have been proof that I took note of it, and would have condemned me in the eyes of the elders just as much as how I look now.”
“No matter what you did, you’d be wrong?” Mari asked. “You know, back when Alain and I first met, I was really surprised that a Mage and I could have something in common. Now I’m learning that a female Mage and I have something in common, too. I’m glad you never hurt yourself. I’m sorry I freaked out earlier. I know I’m a little weird at times and I’m sorry. I just…” Mari hesitated, her voice sinking to a whisper. “I love you so much, Alain. I don’t want you to be hurt. Especially not because of me. And sometimes thinking about that makes it hard to handle everything else. I’ve got a world to save, but it wouldn’t mean anything if I lost you.”
“It must be difficult to see others as real instead of as shadows,” Asha said.
“It is difficult,” Alain agreed. “There is much pain to be found in such seeing. But there is also much joy.”
“Joy?”
“You will know it when you feel it,” he assured her. “I begin to suspect that none are shadows, but all are real for good or ill.”
Asha nodded, her eyes intent. “I will think on this, and look upon the shadows who cross my path. Do your powers diminish yet, Mage Alain?”
“My powers grow, Mage Asha, even as my love for Mari grows.”
Mari felt her face getting warmer again, but this time her blush came along with a smile.
“Your powers do not just remain as they were? They still grow?” Asha’s astonishment was clear to Mari.
“There is no doubt. I was able to test them in Marandur, and was forced to use them there to a greater extent than ever before. I am more powerful now.”
“Then you do learn a different wisdom, and perhaps a better one as well, Mage Alain. Perhaps the elders were right to fear you.” Asha looked around. “It is not safe that I stay here. The Guild Hall will expect me back to help watch the gates for your departure, Alain. If I can, I will tell you when it is safe to leave this city.”
Mari leaned forward, touching Asha again on the hand, pleased and surprised when Asha did
“You’re right.” Mari sat back, trying to think. “Do you remember one of the first things we talked about after we met? How your elders and my Senior Mechanics seemed to have a lot in common? I wonder if every group of managers who becomes used to being in charge, who is dedicated to nothing more than keeping things the same and themselves in power, ends up acting in the same ways even if they use different justifications? They don’t want anyone questioning their decisions or their authority.” Something else occurred to her then. “Questions. Asha, you must have asked a lot of questions to find out all of this. You took some serious risks.”
“I have attracted the attention and disapproval of the elders,” Asha said, the lack of feeling in her voice providing no clue as to how she felt about that. “However, I have attracted such attention and disapproval before.”
“You have?”
Alain gestured toward Asha. “I have told you, Mari, that Mage Asha could never appear other than attractive.”
Mari stared at Asha. “You actually got in trouble because you were beautiful? Seriously?”
“My appearance,” Asha said, “must surely be my fault, must surely reveal a lack of wisdom.”
“What were you supposed to do about it?”
Asha’s shoulders twitched very slightly in what might have been a Mage shrug. “I could have shorn my hair, scarred and damaged my skin, broken things to make them heal in misshapen ways — ”
“No!” Mari burst out, horrified. “That would be so wrong. Hurting yourself that way? Maiming yourself? Please don’t ever do that.”
Asha gazed at Mari for a long moment before replying. “I have been hurt before, Mari. It is nothing. But to harm my features would have served no purpose. To strike at my appearance would have been proof that I took note of it, and would have condemned me in the eyes of the elders just as much as how I look now.”
“No matter what you did, you’d be wrong?” Mari asked. “You know, back when Alain and I first met, I was really surprised that a Mage and I could have something in common. Now I’m learning that a female Mage and I have something in common, too. I’m glad you never hurt yourself. I’m sorry I freaked out earlier. I know I’m a little weird at times and I’m sorry. I just…” Mari hesitated, her voice sinking to a whisper. “I love you so much, Alain. I don’t want you to be hurt. Especially not because of me. And sometimes thinking about that makes it hard to handle everything else. I’ve got a world to save, but it wouldn’t mean anything if I lost you.”
“It must be difficult to see others as real instead of as shadows,” Asha said.
“It is difficult,” Alain agreed. “There is much pain to be found in such seeing. But there is also much joy.”
“Joy?”
“You will know it when you feel it,” he assured her. “I begin to suspect that none are shadows, but all are real for good or ill.”
Asha nodded, her eyes intent. “I will think on this, and look upon the shadows who cross my path. Do your powers diminish yet, Mage Alain?”
“My powers grow, Mage Asha, even as my love for Mari grows.”
Mari felt her face getting warmer again, but this time her blush came along with a smile.
“Your powers do not just remain as they were? They still grow?” Asha’s astonishment was clear to Mari.
“There is no doubt. I was able to test them in Marandur, and was forced to use them there to a greater extent than ever before. I am more powerful now.”
“Then you do learn a different wisdom, and perhaps a better one as well, Mage Alain. Perhaps the elders were right to fear you.” Asha looked around. “It is not safe that I stay here. The Guild Hall will expect me back to help watch the gates for your departure, Alain. If I can, I will tell you when it is safe to leave this city.”
Mari leaned forward, touching Asha again on the hand, pleased and surprised when Asha did
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