Chapter 87. A New Year

here was no snow and the forest outside the castle lacked pine boughs. Brigit’s enormous clan had arrived that morning, bearing with them an abundance of both greenery and barrels of a potent homemade spiced wine. The musicians of both guilds were now filling the great hall with their songs and for this precious week their troubles were set aside. Candles twinkled and a fire blazed in the rarely used hearth. Traditional red Canthan banners hung from the wooden rafters proclaiming abundance and happiness.

Xiang Yi was fond of saying that time was the greatest healer, particularly when he was in one of his more humble moods. Today the monk was beaming broadly as he stood next to Zhou, their eyes following the man who had often been the focus of their care and attention. Pendaran had expressed his desire to remain separate from the celebration and it was a relief to see that he had decided otherwise and was in attendance.

Of course, Zhou was going easy on him now. They all needed time to heal and he trusted his apprentice to tell him when he would be ready to continue his training. Zhou was even content to accept that Pendaran might never be ready. They met once a week outside of meals to discuss Pendaran’s reading. So far Zhou had assigned nothing more demanding than language primers and math texts. Pendaran seemed to find numbers soothing while Zhou hated them. He jokingly implied that he would make Pendaran keep the guild’s accounting and was surprised that his apprentice found that a comforting prospect. He was saddened, however, that there was no similar attraction in defeating demons. Perhaps it was too much to expect after what they had all recently gone through.

“Have you ever given him honey water?” Zhou taunted, recalling Xiang Yi’s guilty confessions of prescribing such a tonic to particularly intractable patients whose greatest need was merely to be heard and cared for.

“Peng Ren? No. You, however, have enjoyed quite a few of my special potions.”

Zhou blushed, annoyed that at times being a mesmer did not shield him from the truth. Xiang Yi chuckled and patted his back.

“Although I think that might change. He wore black to a festival, after all,” Xiang Yi tsked.

Pendaran was the only one clad in black that day, a mark of his mourning and a gentle reminder to others that he was feeling delicate and required gentle handling. Everyone else was in Wintersday finery, including the newly arrived guests from the mountains. Papier Mache antlers, bells, and crowns were the order of the day and a cheery haze of drunkenness meant that loud volume singing of old carols was in full swing.

“I caught Mabane laughing,” Xiang Yi whispered gleefully.

“Feng Guo tells me Pen and Mabane have settled in well,” Zhou said, hoping Xiang Yi would confirm that. For the sake of Sabina, Pendaran had moved in with her adoptive family and taken Mabane with him. Ironically, it had done more to bolster his apprentice’s grasp of Canthan than his hourly morning torment, as Pendaran called it. Of course, he could not have his beloved adept living in servant’s quarters despite Pendaran’s protestations that it was no trouble. The Fengs and the Kais now dwelt on the second floor in a roomy suite together.

“Oh yes, I think it is the best thing that could have happened. Little Sabina and Mao Lui are both walking now. They are quite a handful.”

Zhou smiled despite himself. The two little girls were irresistibly adorable and it cheered him to see that there was still joy in Pendaran’s life after what he had been through.

“And how are things with your granddaughter?” Xiang Yi asked. It was not a completely innocent question for the monk knew it was a struggle for him to relate to young children. After things had settled down, Lemony moved into Pendaran’s room and the two of them had a comfortable neighborly relationship. He busied himself with guild business now and spent obligatory meal times with his friends and family. The little girl was sharp, old beyond her years as he had been at her age, something Lemony was forever seeking to correct, particularly when he inadvertently encouraged it with scholarly texts and discussions.

“Lemony is a good mother.”

“Pendaran told me he often hoped you would give yourself fully to being a father. He believes you are missing an opportunity to heal both yourself and your granddaughter.”

“Are you sure he said that?” Zhou asked suspiciously, knowing how sneaky the monk could be.

Xiang Yi shrugged.

“Ask him. On some level he knows you better than me. I suspect that is a function of the bond you share. I do apologize, but I need to make the rounds in the infirmary. I’ll be back. Drink and be merry. I will be checking in on you. I want you happily drunk by midnight or I’m spiking my special tonic just for you.”

Zhou chuckled and watched the monk depart, amused that Xiang Yi was currently adorned with a wreath of flowers and a listing pair of antlers upon his blue-tattooed pate. Pendaran was talking to Mabane on the far side of the room and he realized he was trying to teach the boy how to dance. The two of them were laughing as the boy staggered through a series of steps and nearly ended up on the floor. Finally Pendaran made Mabane face the dance floor and pointed to one of the girls walking back to the edge of the crowd as a reel ended and her current partner chose another. He was not close enough to hear them but he knew father was urging son to ask that girl for a dance and he would not accept no for an answer.

Mabane, shy about his wooden hand, resisted but finally did as he was asked. Pendaran applauded him, genuinely proud of the boy. For the first time, Mabane shyly asked for the girl’s company and received it, his face now emblazoned with a smile so enormous Zhou had to laugh. Until he looked upon Pendaran alone in black, beautiful and tragic.

“Don’t worry, Zhou. It would be unnatural for him to rush things now. He’ll be alright,” Lemony announced, appearing suddenly at his side.

“He told me he would never marry again,” Zhou said sadly.

“So it’s alright to be sad about that for him, but not for you?”

He chuckled at the little monk and she received that as a sign that she should embrace him. Her head pressed against his shoulder and she kissed his cheek tenderly. Instinctively he turned to kiss her lips, but stopped himself, knowing it was improper and that his arms were around her in a way that was far too immodest. He loosened his grasp and smiled at her, mildly alarmed when she did not do the same.

“Sometimes the best way to teach is by example. Are you ever going to ask me to dance?” Lemony said peevishly.

Burning with embarrassment, he felt Pendaran staring at him, and when their eyes met he blushed to see the mischievous smile upon his face.

“Did he put you up to this?” Zhou asked, annoyed and amused.

“Are you going to dance, or not?” Lemony laughed.

He gave in and took her hand as she cavorted next to him like an overjoyed child, but not before he gazed upon Pendaran once more.

“I allow you to mourn this year, but if you wear black next Wintersday, I will personally ensure that you regret it.”

A faint look of alarm wiped the smirk from Pendaran’s face. Zhou hid his smile and turned his attention to Lemony. It was good to know he could still put his apprentice on notice.