Falling From the Tree (Darshian Tales #2) by Ann Somerville

Author:Ann Somerville
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, mm, darshian tales
Publisher: Ann Somerville

Seeking Home: 6

“So it’s agreed?” Lord Peika asked his companions. “The nomination is accepted.”

The other Rulers nodded, but Arman wanted them to be sure. “The vote is not unanimous,” he pointed out.

“It doesn’t need to be,” Lord Meki said. “It’s only three villages, and I think, considering the circumstances, that’s better than we could have hoped for.”

“Yes, but—”

“Arman,” Lord Peika interrupted. “One would think you didn’t want this nomination after all.”

“I do...I just would have liked a stronger mandate.”

Lord Meki snorted. “You have all of us, the Gifted, all the city leaders, four out of the seven clans, and an endorsement from the Rulers of Urshek. Don’t be greedy.”

Lady Nera gave her colleague a serene smile. “You’ll have to start speaking to him a little more respectfully than that, Meki. Arman, in time even those villages will see you are worthy of this. Don’t worry about them.”

“As you wish, Lady Nera.”

“Now, now, you have to drop the ‘Lady’ if you’re one of us.”

“Well, with respect, I’m not one of you, not yet.”

“Soon have that fixed,” Lord Peika said cheerfully. “We can have the ceremony in a week, and then you and Jiv can pack your bags and head to Andon.”

“You don’t need to sound so pleased about it.” Two months away from Kei.... And the worst thing was that there was no realistic way to bring him along. Neither of them wanted Kei to be treated just as a companion, and although he had many talents, planning seaward defences wasn’t one of them. Kei would be far more useful at the academy and they both knew it. At least the Andonese weren’t hostile hosts.

“Come, Arman, you’ll enjoy it. Put that military mind to its proper use for a change,” Lord Jiv said.

“Thank you, my lord, but I rather thought I’d been doing that all along.”

“Don’t argue, you two,” Lord Meki said peaceably. The man had been looking very smug since the last results had come in from the rural clans. “Arman, you don’t have to leave for a month or so, but you and Jiv should start work immediately in preparation. The ceremony will be as soon as we can decently arrange it, and then you will have the proper status to deal with the Andonese officials.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Right,” Lord Peika said, clapping his hands together. “I’m off to my family. Meki, are you still coming to dinner?”

“Of course. Arman, I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

Arman nodded, and waited until the Rulers left before following them out. He still felt uneasy. Ai-Rutej’s rejection of his nomination wasn’t a surprise—there was personal history there, and the clan elders had always been hostile to him. But Ai-Kislik and Ai-Beyto’s rejection had been unexpected, though the decision had been a narrow one, or so the clan heads had reported when they’d cast their vote on behalf of their people. They had, he thought, no more or less reason to dislike him than any of the other villages, and indeed, two that had very good reason to hate him had come through in the most unequivocal manner in support of him.

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