Student of Kyme by Storm Constantine Read Free Book Online Page A

does he want me to go,
Huriel?’
    ‘ It’s simply a generous gesture,’ Huriel replied. ‘What do you
mean?’
    I sighed.
‘He could have asked me back to his house to teach me. He could
have offered me work. He could even have told me about this event
while I was with him.’ I shook my head. ‘No, he’s been thinking
about me, that’s all. I’m sure he’s telling himself he’s concerned
for me, and can help me, but ultimately it’s just down to the same
old thing.’
    Huriel’s
expression had become flinty. ‘If you’re referring to intimacy,
then surely that’s an intrinsic part of our being? If, indeed, he
does wish to know you better, how can that possibly offend
you?’
    I pressed
my hands briefly against my eyes. ‘I don’t know,’ I said, ‘but it
does. It’s the assumption, maybe…’
    Huriel
expressed a humourless laugh. ‘Gesaril, you’re a lovely har, you
and I both know that. Perhaps Malakess does desire you. Wouldn’t
you be more offended if he didn’t?’
    I glanced
at him; he was regarding me with his head to one side. ‘No, I
wouldn’t. You don’t understand.’
    ‘ The way I see it, if one har desires another, he initiates
some kind of social event in order to find out whether anything
else is viable. Perhaps that is what your invitation’s about, but
perhaps not. In either case, you should just go and enjoy yourself.
You’re under no obligation to do anything you don’t want to
do.’
    ‘ I don’t want anything embarrassing to happen.’
    Huriel
rolled his eyes. ‘Oh, for the Ag’s sake, what kind of har do you
think Malakess is? He can read signals, you know. Just go, Gesaril.
Stop fretting about everything. If you don’t want to be with
Malakess, fine, but there might be other hara there you like. One
day you’re going to have to crawl out of that den you’ve built for
yourself. You can’t remain alone for ever. It’s bad for
you.’
    ‘ I suppose so.’
    ‘ I know so! Also, it will do you good to dress up and revel in
your own loveliness for an evening. You never pay attention to how
you look, and I can tell that’s not really in your
nature.’
    ‘ I haven’t got any suitable clothes, nothing formal,
anyway.’
    ‘ I’ll get you something.’
    ‘ Huriel, no! You’ve done enough for me as it is.’ I don’t know
why I bothered protesting, since it was obvious Huriel had already
made up his mind.
     
    And so,
at my friend and mentor’s injunction, I have asked Ystayne to drop
a note over to Malakess’s house saying that I am grateful for the
invite and yes, I’d be delighted to accompany him to the Academy
party. It has occurred to me that Malakess’s assistant should be
the har to stand at his side at this important function. A wing of
foreboding brushes my heart. How will this har feel when he finds
out about my role in the proceedings? I can’t think about that.
I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t even desire Malakess. If hara want
to make something more of it, then they can. I don’t
care.
     
    Aruhanisday, Ardourmoon 20
     
    I feel as
if I’m about to go through feybraiha again, or take a blood bond,
or something. The household has been thrown into a flurry of the
vapours at the prospect of my night out. Huriel ordered an
assortment of clothes for me from Yorvik, Ystayne took me to the
brother of a friend of his who trimmed my hair, (it was badly in
need of attention, to be honest), while Rayzie insisted on spending
nearly a whole day at the monthly fair with me, to buy bits of
jewellery to go with my new clothes. I only need one set for the
evening; it’s insane. It’s not as if I’ll be able to run off to the
bathroom every half hour to change my costume. But Huriel seems to
think that the function will open up an entire diary of social
events for me, and that I’ll need a wardrobe for it. However,
despite my initial exasperation, my friends’ behaviour is
infectious and I’m starting to feel excited and nervous too. It is
a big