Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

He heard a voice call, Safar? Are you awake?"

It was a young voice. Safar puzzled, then smiled as he realized who it was. Come in, he said.

On the other side of the rough plank door Nerisa hastily combed fingers through her hair and straightened her clothes. She wore a short loose tunic that showed off her long legs, belted tightly about her small waist to draw attention away from her boyish figure. The gray tunic and pale leggings were castoffs, but the cloth was of such good quality that the patches barely showed.

"That is Nerisa, isn't it? came Safar's voice. She heard him laugh. If it's some rogue instead, you're wasting your energies, O friend of the night. For I've spent all my money on drink and other low pursuits."

Nerisa giggled and pushed the door open. Safar was grinning at her from the other side of the room, lolling on the windowsill, white student robes hiked up over his strong mountaineer's legs. Nerisa thought she'd never seen such a handsome young man. He was tall and slender, with wide shoulders and a narrow waist, accented by his red acolyte's belt. His skin was olive; his nose curved gracefully over full lips. His dark hair was cut close, with a stray curl dangling over eyes so blue they had melted her heart when she first looked into them.

He beckoned her to the window. I've just sighted a comet, he said pointing out at the star-embedded heavens.

She came to him, leaning over his sprawled out legs so she could see.

"Right there, he said, directing her. In Harlethe House of the Jester."

She saw the long, narrow constellation of Harle, with its distinctive peaked hat and beaky-nosed face. Crossing at about chin level was the wide pale streak of a comet's tail.

"I see it, she said, voice trembling from being so close to Safar. Troubled, she drew away, turning her head so he wouldn't see her blush. I hope I wasn't bothering you, she said.

"Nonsense, Safar replied. I'm lonely for my sisters. If you ever meet them don't you dare say I told you that. They'd never let me forget it. He chuckled. But I do miss them. There, I've said it. I grew up surrounded by my sisters and now I pine for them. I hope you don't mind being a substitute."

Nerisa minded very much! She wasn't quite sure exactly what reactions she wanted from Safar but she could say most definitely brotherly feelings were not among them.

She put a hand on her hip, trying to look as adult female as possible. If you miss women so much, Safar Timura, she said, bold as she dared, why don't I ever see you with one? Except me, of course. She unconsciously touched her hair. The other students spend all the time they can chasing women at the brothels."

To Nerisa's enormous delight Safar blushed and attempted a stumbled answer"I… uh… don't go in for… that sort of thing. He recovered, saying, I made a fool of myself once. I hope I know better now."

Nerisa nodded, thinking, I knew it was a woman! A bad experience, obviously. She hated the woman who'd made Safar suffer. But she was also delighted that her rival, although probably beautiful and certainly more mature, had made a bad job of things.

"What happened to her? she asked.

"Who?"

"The woman in the bad experience."

Safar made a wry face. I didn't know I was being that obvious, he said. Then he shrugged, saying, Her name was Astarias. A courtesan I was fool enough to fall in love with. But she made it plain she had no intention of making a life with a potter's son. It seems she had grander plans which didn't include me."

As Nerisa was mulling this over Safar motioned for her to sit on the pile of old pillows and rugs that were the room's sole furnishings. She sank down and he joined her. She made herself look away as he sat, robes carelessly riding up over his long limbs.

"I suppose Katal gave you a bad time, Safar said, sliding away from the previous subject.

"What? said Nerisa, in a bit in a daze.

Safar smiled saying, After the, ah, large gentleman and his… friends left I believe you called the entire thing a, ah… misunderstanding?

"Well it was! Nerisa said. She saw with reliefand some disappointmentthat his robes had been properly tucked over his lap. I was trying to pay for it. But he thought I was a thief. Guess he didn't see the money in my hand."

"You must admit, Nerisa, Safar said, you have been known to engage in, shall we say, long term borrowing?"

Nerisa shrugged. It's how I live, she said. I know old Katal can't understand it. Maybe he thinks I've got a family someplace. And any day they'll come back and I can stop sleeping at the Foolsmire and be with my family again. But that isn't ever going to happen. So I steal. I'll stop when I don't have to anymore."

"I understand that, Safar said. It wasn't how I was raised, but I can see how things can be different in Walaria. I wish I could do something to help you. But I have a hard enough time helping myself."

"Oh, but you have helped me, Nerisa said with unintended passion. She calmed herself, took a breath, then, I mean, you show me your books. And teach me things out of them. It's almost like I'm a student myself. The only girI mean, woman student at the university."

Katal had given her reading and writing lessons, but her interest hadn't really been sparked until Safar had taken her under his intellectual wing. Nerisa was so bright and eager to please that she quickly caught on to everything he introduced her to.

Safar sighed. I've also tried to teach you logic, he said. Let's go back to your basic defense. Which was that as a poor orphan child you're forced to steal in order to live."

"That's true, she replied firmly.

"Very well, he said. I'll accept that. But pray tell me what did you find at that fat old knave's stall that was so important?"

"This, Nerisa said, softly, shyly pushing forward a small paper wrapped package. It's for you. It's a… present."

Safar's eyebrows shot up. A gift? You stole a gift? There was an edge to his tone, indicating that such an act was anathema to someone of honest rearing. But he was unwrapping the package just the same, saying, This isn't right, Nerisa. You shouldn't steal a gift. Hells, you shouldn't steal at all. But to think that I was responsible for…"

His voice trailed off as the wrapping fell back and the object was revealed.

It was a small stone turtle, black with age, stumpy legs arching from its shell. Its head stretched to the end of a long wrinkled neck, beaked jaws open as if the turtle were chasing a fish. All in all a charming toy for a child in some long ago day.

Safar's first jolt came as he realized the little object was no toy, but an ancient idol representing one of the turtle gods. Great care had been exercised in carving itthe detail so intricate the turtle seemed alive, as if it were in motion instead of a piece of stone at permanent rest. His second and decidedly greater jolt came when he saw the painting on the turtle's back. It was of a large green island, a jagged line of blue surrounding it to mark the seas that washed its shores. On that island was a huge red mountain, with a monster's face spewing painted flames from its mouth.

"Hadin, Safar breathed.

"You're always going on about it, Nerisa said, pleased at the awe she saw in his face. And you've shown me pictures in your books. When I spotted it I knew right away it was something you'd want. She shrugged. So I got it."

Safar was smiling and nodding, but from the absent stare in his eyes she doubted he'd heard a word. She fell silent, watching in fascination as his hand seemed to be drawn to the turtle as if it were a powerful lodestone. He twitched when his fingers met the stone, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"It's magical, he whispered.