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He frowned. “Brightness Shallan, the ardents are worried about you. The souls of the Almighty’s children are our responsibility. Jasnah has a history of corrupting those with whom she comes in contact.”
“Really?” Shallan asked, genuinely interested. “Other wards?”
“It is not my place to say.”
“We can move to another place.”
“I’m firm on this point, Brightness. I will not speak of it.”
“Write it, then.”
“Brightness…” he said, voice taking on a suffering tone.
“Oh, all right,” she said, sighing. “Well, I can assure you, my soul is quite well and thoroughly uninfected.”
He sat back, then cut another piece of bread. She found herself studying him again, but grew annoyed at her own girlish foolishness. She would soon be returning to her family, and he was only visiting her for reasons relating to his Calling. But she truly was fond of his company. He was the only one here in Kharbranth that she felt she could really talk to. And he was handsome; the simple clothing and shaved head only highlighted his strong features. Like many young ardents, he kept his beard short and neatly trimmed. He spoke with a refined voice, and he was so well-read.
“Well, if you’re certain about your soul,” he said, turning back to her. “Then perhaps I could interest you in our devotary.”
“I have a devotary. The Devotary of Purity.”
“But the Devotary of Purity isn’t the place for a scholar. The Glory it advocates has nothing to do with your studies or your art.”
“A person doesn’t need a devotary that focuses directly on their Calling.”
“It is nice when the two coincide, though.”
Shallan stifled a grimace. The Devotary of Purity focused on—as one might imagine—teaching one to emulate the Almighty’s honesty and wholesomeness. The ardents at the devotary hall hadn’t known what to make of her fascination with art. They’d always wanted her to do sketches of things they found “pure.” Statues of the Heralds, depictions of the Double Eye.
Her father had chosen the devotary for her, of course.
“I just wonder if you made an informed choice,” Kabsal said. “Switching devotaries is allowed, after all.”
“Yes, but isn’t recruitment frowned upon? Ardents competing for members?”
“It is indeed frowned upon. A deplorable habit.”
“But you do it anyway?”
“I curse occasionally too.”
“I hadn’t noticed. You’re a very curious ardent, Kabsal.”
“You’d be surprised. We’re not nearly as stuffy a bunch as we seem. Well, except Brother Habsant; he spends so much time staring at the rest of us.” He hesitated. “Actually, now I think about it, he might actually be stuffed. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him move….”
“We’re getting distracted. Weren’t you trying to recruit me to your devotary?”
“Yes. And it’s not so uncommon as you think. All of the devotaries engage in it. We do a lot of frowning at one another for our profound lack of ethics.” He leaned forward again, growing more serious. “My devotary has relatively few members, as we don’t have as much exposure as others. So whenever someone seeking knowledge comes to the Palanaeum, we take it upon ourselves to inform them.”
“Recruit them.”
“Let them see what it is they are missing.” He took a bite of his bread and jam. “In the Devotary of Purity, did they teach you about the nature of the Almighty? The divine prism, with the ten facets representing the Heralds?”
“They touched on it,” she said. “Mostly we talked about achieving my goals of…well, purity. Somewhat boring, I’ll admit, since there wasn’t much chance for impurity on my part.”
Kabsal shook his head. “The Almighty gives everyone talents—and when we pick a Calling that capitalizes on them, we are worshipping him in the most fundamental way. A devotary—and its ardents—should help nurture that, encouraging you to set and achieve goals of excellence.” He waved to the books stacked on the desk. “This is what your devotary should be helping you with, Shallan. History, logic, science, art. Being honest and good is important, but we should be working harder to encourage the natural talents of people, rather than forcing them to adapt to the Glories and Callings we feel are most important.”
“That is a reasonable argument, I guess.”
Kabsal nodded, looking thoughtful “Is it any wonder a woman like Jasnah Kholin turned away from that? Many devotaries encourage women to leave difficult studies of theology to the ardents. If only Jasnah had been able to see the true beauty of our doctrine.” He smiled, digging a thick book out of his bread basket. “I really had hoped, originally, to be able to show her what I mean.”
“I doubt she’d react well to that.”
“Perhaps,” he said idly, hefting the tome. “But to be the one who finally convinced her!”
“Brother Kabsal, that sounds almost like you’re seeking distinction.”
He blushed, and she realized she’d said something that genuinely embarrassed him. She winced, cursing her tongue.
“Yes,” he said. “I do seek distinction. I shouldn’t wish so badly to be the one who converts her. But I do. If she would just listen to my proof.”
“Proof?”
“I have real evidence that the Almighty exists.”
“I’d like to see it.” Then she raised a finger, cutting him off. “Not because I doubt his existence, Kabsal. I’m just curious.”
He smiled. “It will be my pleasure to explain. But first, would you like another slice of bread?”
“I should say no,” she said, “and avoid excess, as my tutors trained me. But instead I’ll say yes.”
“Because of the jam?”
“Of course,” she said, taking the bread. “How did your book of oracular preserves describe me? Impulsive and spontaneous? I can do that. If it means jam.”
He slathered a piece for her, then wiped his fingers on his cloth and opened his book, flipping through the pages until he reached one that had a drawing on it. Shallan slid closer for a better look. The picture wasn’t of a person; it depicted a pattern of some kind. A triangular shape, with three outlying wings and a peaked center.
“Do you recognize this?” Kabsal asked.
It seemed familiar. “I feel that I should.”
“It’s Kholinar,” he said. “The Alethi capital, drawn as it would appear from above. See the peaks here, the ridges there? It was built around the rock formation that was already there.” He flipped the page. “Here’s Vedenar, capital of Jah Keved.” This one was a hexagonal pattern. “Akinah.” A circular pattern. “Thaylen City.” A four-pointed star pattern.
“What does it mean?”
“It is proof that the Almighty is in all things. You can see him here, in these cities. Do you see how symmetrical they are?”
“The cities were built by men, Kabsal. They wanted symmetry because it is holy.”
“Yes, but in each case they built around existing rock formations.”
