Inkblots: A Tale of Magic, Adventure, and Romance

X. A Favor

"Wouldn't lay money on it," Kitrell suddenly rasped. His voice was rougher than she remembered, and still he didn't look at anyone.

"Well, I don't need any favors, but thank you." She curtsied stiffly in their direction and felt foolish for doing it as soon as her knees bent. Now, of course, Kitrell Silvertongue decided to actually look at her, and he raised his eyebrows skeptically at her movement.

"If you're sure," Caddock said kindly, ducking his head in her direction and turning to leave.

She was sure. What sort of favor would one even ask from a Hero? It wasn't like there were any Wyrms lurking around in the Librum basement.

Oh, but there is... "Wait!" she called. Her voice bounced loudly off the stone walls and Kitrell Silvertongue clapped his hands over his ears and spun around with a nasty glare.

"Parchment and ink, girl--you don't have to yell," he said, going from harsh to weak sounding in the space of a few words.

"Sorry!" she said, startled at his aggressive reaction. "It's just, I thought of something."

Everyone stared at her, waiting. Alia looked uncomfortably at Darine, trying to figure out how much she could say in front of her friend. The plump blonde showed absolutely no sign of leaving. In fact, she was staring raptly like she'd never seen a scene so interesting.

"Just a conversation," said Alia, looking at the two men who stood before her. "I just want to talk to you about a few things--Book things," she added hurriedly when Kitrell gave her an odd look. "I'd only need you for one, maybe two bells. If class is still cancelled, could you just meet me near the Book chamber? At the midday bell? If you're not busy, I mean."

She was embarrassed to realize she had taken on an authoritative tone, as though she--a serving girl--was going to order around two Heroes. Thankfully, they just nodded and made their farewells before Darine followed them off, smiling adoringly.

Alia sat down heavily in the nearest chair as soon as they were gone. Absentmindedly, her shaking hands grasped one another to still the adrenalized movement. "Gods," she whispered. "What have you gotten into?"

-------------

When Alia woke the next morning in the cold, dim grey light of her small bedroom, for a moment she was entirely certain that everything was going to go back to normal. Some unshakeable feeling reassured her that she'd join Master Calimbar and the other students for another boring episode of Legend of the First Scribe--he'd told them after the last class that it would be cancelled through the fiveday, but whatever had gone wrong must be fixed by now. Surely she'd walk through the familiar stone halls of the Librum, and the Heroes would be distant and shining and admirable, and the Scribes would be bustling around glaring suspiciously at the students, and her mother would be her friendly, open, honest self in the kitchens.

Still, Alia put on her nice dress, just in case she was still meeting with Caddock Strongarm and Kitrell Silvertongue--and when she stepped out, the halls were still unnaturally quiet, and the office doors had no light shining from beneath them. Most of the pupils had gone home to their families, taking advantage of the unexpected holiday, so they weren't even any boys strolling about, elbowing one another and whispering dirty jokes. Well, maybe that last part wasn't so bad--but it was still unsettling.

She slipped into the kitchens, hoping to grab whatever was available and leave quickly, but her mother's warm voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Li Li! There you are, darling. My daughter's been so busy she can't even see her old mother, I guess."

She stiffened, turning awkwardly and not knowing how to look at her mother--but it was her Mami, and she had the same comforting smile as always and the same flour-dusted apron, and the same cozy smell of yeast and vanilla and baked treats. Without making a conscious decision, she sank into her mother's comforting hug.