“There are no locks here because there are no women here,” Shi said. I guess I must have looked for the lock for too long.
I opened the door and let Fin go in. “What if one got posted here?”
“We would provide a lock.”
I stepped inside. A nice shared area, a comfortable-looking sofa, a table with four chairs. A big fireplace for warmth and cooking. Our pack had been left on the table, and the coat Fin had worn was hanging from one of the hooks beside the door.
“I want this room,” Fin said as he appeared at one of the two doors.
“That will be your father’s room, Mister Segast,” Shi intoned, having stepped inside himself. He stood tall, spine extended, arms clasped behind his back. “That will be your room.” He indicated with a turn of his head. Fin moved over that way, opened up the door and I followed him.
“Oh,” Fin said. “Not so big.”
“No,” Shi answered. “But you are not so big as your father.”
That response made me smile, but I looked down at Fin. “It’s bigger than your room in Pasaocea.” I turned to find that Shi was watching me, his face failing to emote.
“There is a private bathroom between the two rooms, entered only via your rooms. An evening meal will be provided at nine this evening. Your duty roster officially starts as of six tomorrow morning. As tomorrow is also your son’s first day, and classes start at seven, you are permitted to start as soon after seven as you are able tomorrow. This late start will be tolerated tomorrow only.”
“I can get to the schoolroom on my own, Dad,” Fin said. He reeled off the directions from where we were.
“The boy is correct,” Shi said. “A fast learner.”
His gaze lingered on me. Scrutinising me. He nodded, just once, it was sharp, precise.
Then he turned on his heel and left.
* * *
“It’s different here,” Fin observed later as I moved to his bedroom door to turn out the light.
I swivelled to face him, my hand hovering over the light switch. “Yes, it is.”
“How long will we stay?” he asked.
I took a breath. “I don’t know, son. As long as the Riders want us here.” Which I firmly hoped wouldn’t be long. “Good night, Fin. Love you.”
“Love you, Dad.”
I switched the light off but left the door open to let in some of the light from the main room. The fortress had an inner courtyard where most of the windows were, the outer walls being all but solid for defensive reasons, but that meant they did not offer a great deal of light. Thank the Nine Gods that we had electricity from wave turbines for lighting. The shame was that it’s use only extended to lighting really.
I do not like it here.The second I started to relax, Salvadora was in my head complaining.That stable master looks at me like I’m an abomination. I do not think he likes dragons.
“That would be most unusual in any rider, especially one who chose to become a stable master.”
Maybe he didn’t choose it,Dora said.Maybe he just didn’t bond, so got stuck with it. The others here say that he is jealous of the riders because he can’t ride himself. That no self-respecting dragon would have him on their seat bone.
“Dora,”I spoke gently in my mind.“Complaining will not help us here.”
Nothing will help us here. Perhaps we can request a transfer.
“Dora.”
Or maybe just leave.
“And where would we go that the Church wouldn’t find us and punish us?”The Church knew everything. The Churchraneverything. Even the Riders service.
Well, maybe.
