Reluctant Host by Robin Roseau

Author:Robin Roseau [Roseau, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

Discussion

I lay in the bed, Alyidil and Mayolin cuddled against either side. Filfoyss was offering me food. I’d lost track of Burquiri. Lal Keshia was seated at the foot of the bed, massaging my feet. It felt quite nice.

“Ask carefully,” I said.

Lal Keshia nodded. “How do I return home?”

“How were you sent here?”

“Lal Selgen used a full coven,” she replied. “Of them, three were people I thought I could trust.”

“Are you going to spend a question on why they betrayed you?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “It will depend on earlier answers.”

“You hope I can bring you directly, or that I can make arrangements for you.”

“Hope, yes.”

“I can’t,” she said. “I cannot bring you with me. A double-coven might be able to bring you back, but it would need to include the entirety of the first coven. You can imagine the likelihood your sister would assist.”

She bent her head, focusing on my feet. I waited a minute then said, “You would need a coven here and a focus besides. They would need to be trained and powerful.”

“Magic here is very rare,” Lal Keshia replied. “I have seen nothing with more power than a few simple charms.”

“I thought so,” I replied. “You can either build a coven yourself, or you can make a home here.”

Lal Keshia grew silent, but she continued to see to my feet. It felt very nice, and I enjoyed what she was doing. I enjoyed feeling Alyidil and Mayolin cuddling with me, too. Finally, Lal Keshia said, “Building a sufficiently powerful coven would take a long time, and I would need your help.” I said nothing. She lifted her eyes. “It took years to find someone I thought you might accept as a host. There are only two moons here, and my next opportunity is five years away. I suppose that gives me the chance to try to find another host, but I have little faith. Red hair is uncommon here, and violet eyes even more so. The combination is exceedingly rare.”

“Do you want to ask your next question now, or think on it a day or three? I can give you time, Lal Keshia.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’d hoped for a different answer.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“I think… I should think.”

“That may be best,” I agreed. “Does the village have an inn that serves dinner?”

“Yes. It is simple food, but wholesome.”

“We will have dinner there. I wish to go riding. Alyidil, will you join me?”

“I’d love to.”

* * * *

We rode south, past the village, following the coast. “Alyidil,” I said, perhaps twenty minutes into the ride. “You understand that Jeraya is listening, but you should think of me as Shi`nual.”

“I understand.”

“Alyidil, Lal Keshia is going to make the wrong choice.”

“I don’t understand.”

“She is going to spend her chance asking the wrong questions. I think she can figure out the right questions, but I believe she is impatient.”

“So, tell her what to ask.”

“It doesn’t work that way. I can’t even tell you what to tell her to ask.”

“But we can have this conversation.

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