really expect an answer, and I didn’t get one. The ghemph drained its mug, stood up and bowed deeply, a respectful gesture they made to humans often enough. Then it said, ‘Earlobe tattoos are a symbol. Some people do not require symbols.’
My eyebrows must have disappeared off my forehead in surprise at that; it was undoubtedly the longest and most articulate statement I’d ever heard from a ghemph. It was also somewhat obscure, but I didn’t have time to ask the creature to elucidate. It was already heading for the door with its clumsy, loping walk.
I was still looking wryly after it when Tor Ryder came up, his companion having evidently also abandoned him. ‘May I join you?’ he asked politely.
‘Be my guest.’ I sat up a little straighter. For all his seriousness, Ryder was a very good-looking man and my body was very much aware of him. ‘We seem fated to bump into one another tonight.’
‘I thought you were following me.’
I blinked, completely unable to judge whether he was joking or whether he was genuinely paranoid. It wasn’t often that someone could throw me off-stride the way he did. I finally managed a noncommittal smile that could have meant anything.
‘Tor Ryder,’ he added as he sat. ‘Of the Stragglers.’
‘Blaze Halfbreed. Of nowhere in particular.’
‘And so you remain, I think. I could have told you you’d never get anywhere with a ghemph.’ So he had guessed why I had approached the creature. I suppose the reason was obvious enough.
‘How do you know I didn’t?’ I asked a little belligerently.
‘I was watching the expression on your face.’
‘It was worth a try,’ I said again with a shrug. ‘However, it seems the ghemph was not a renegade after all. Have you any idea why it is here?’
‘None at all. Blaze, did you see that man I was talking to when you came in?’
‘The Keeper?’ I nodded.
‘I’d like you to meet him. He lives in a room upstairs and he’s there now. Would you consider coming up to see him with me?’
A whole string of questions rushed through my head, not the least of which was: is this a trap of some kind? I was none too sure what to make of Ryder; the only reason I might have had some small trust of him was that he was one of the Awarefolk and Awarefolk tended to be slightly more trustworthy than common folk, especially when dealing with their own kind.
In the end I shrugged and said, ‘Why not?’ But as I rose to follow Ryder, I felt uneasy, as if I was going to regret having said yes. And I had no idea why.
Letter from Researcher (Special Class) S. iso Fabold, National Department of Exploration, to Masterman M. iso Kipswon, President of the National Society for the Scientific, Anthropological and Ethnographical Study of non-Kellish peoples.
Dated this day 6/1 st Single/1793.
Dear Uncle,
Thank you for your inquiry as to my condition. It is a relief to be able to tell you that the fever contracted in the Isles of Glory has vanished, and I am now in excellent health. I hope you will apprise Aunt Rosris of this and tell her to stop worrying! Doubtless she will be convinced of the efficacy of the posset ingredients she sent so regularly. I shall come and see you both soon.
Who is this Anyara isi Teron that Aunt is so determined I should meet? Her last letter was full of it! I suspect she is trying to match-make for me again. I keep telling her that no young lady in her right mind would want to look at a man who is forever sailing away for years at a time, but I suppose an aunt’s hope for her only nephew dies hard, even when it concerns incorrigible bachelors such as myself.
To return to less personal matters: I do not perceive any problem with my lecture to our august National Society next month and I look forward to presenting the findings of my research. Of course, I am a little nervous as well, as my methodology may be considered unorthodox—based as it is on interviews, rather than observation of
My eyebrows must have disappeared off my forehead in surprise at that; it was undoubtedly the longest and most articulate statement I’d ever heard from a ghemph. It was also somewhat obscure, but I didn’t have time to ask the creature to elucidate. It was already heading for the door with its clumsy, loping walk.
I was still looking wryly after it when Tor Ryder came up, his companion having evidently also abandoned him. ‘May I join you?’ he asked politely.
‘Be my guest.’ I sat up a little straighter. For all his seriousness, Ryder was a very good-looking man and my body was very much aware of him. ‘We seem fated to bump into one another tonight.’
‘I thought you were following me.’
I blinked, completely unable to judge whether he was joking or whether he was genuinely paranoid. It wasn’t often that someone could throw me off-stride the way he did. I finally managed a noncommittal smile that could have meant anything.
‘Tor Ryder,’ he added as he sat. ‘Of the Stragglers.’
‘Blaze Halfbreed. Of nowhere in particular.’
‘And so you remain, I think. I could have told you you’d never get anywhere with a ghemph.’ So he had guessed why I had approached the creature. I suppose the reason was obvious enough.
‘How do you know I didn’t?’ I asked a little belligerently.
‘I was watching the expression on your face.’
‘It was worth a try,’ I said again with a shrug. ‘However, it seems the ghemph was not a renegade after all. Have you any idea why it is here?’
‘None at all. Blaze, did you see that man I was talking to when you came in?’
‘The Keeper?’ I nodded.
‘I’d like you to meet him. He lives in a room upstairs and he’s there now. Would you consider coming up to see him with me?’
A whole string of questions rushed through my head, not the least of which was: is this a trap of some kind? I was none too sure what to make of Ryder; the only reason I might have had some small trust of him was that he was one of the Awarefolk and Awarefolk tended to be slightly more trustworthy than common folk, especially when dealing with their own kind.
In the end I shrugged and said, ‘Why not?’ But as I rose to follow Ryder, I felt uneasy, as if I was going to regret having said yes. And I had no idea why.
Letter from Researcher (Special Class) S. iso Fabold, National Department of Exploration, to Masterman M. iso Kipswon, President of the National Society for the Scientific, Anthropological and Ethnographical Study of non-Kellish peoples.
Dated this day 6/1 st Single/1793.
Dear Uncle,
Thank you for your inquiry as to my condition. It is a relief to be able to tell you that the fever contracted in the Isles of Glory has vanished, and I am now in excellent health. I hope you will apprise Aunt Rosris of this and tell her to stop worrying! Doubtless she will be convinced of the efficacy of the posset ingredients she sent so regularly. I shall come and see you both soon.
Who is this Anyara isi Teron that Aunt is so determined I should meet? Her last letter was full of it! I suspect she is trying to match-make for me again. I keep telling her that no young lady in her right mind would want to look at a man who is forever sailing away for years at a time, but I suppose an aunt’s hope for her only nephew dies hard, even when it concerns incorrigible bachelors such as myself.
To return to less personal matters: I do not perceive any problem with my lecture to our august National Society next month and I look forward to presenting the findings of my research. Of course, I am a little nervous as well, as my methodology may be considered unorthodox—based as it is on interviews, rather than observation of
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