“No need,” Kalen said. “Zebulon!”
Valek’s brother exited the tannery, then strode over to them. He wore plain brown pants and a cream-colored tunic. Zebulon’s black hair flopped about his head, and his brown-eyed gaze scanned them. With the same distant manner as their mother, he greeted Yelena and Valek, but warmth flashed when he spotted Liana.
“Zeb, can you take care of the horses?” Kalen asked.
“Uh.” Zeb glanced at the horses with a queasy expression.
“Groom and feed them like the twins showed you, and then join us inside,” Kalen said.
“All right.”
Valek skimmed Zeb’s surface thoughts. The twenty-year-old had only watched Zohav and Zethan care for the horses. Zeb had no idea what to do. Valek met Yelena’s gaze, and she nodded.
Hurry up, she thought.
“I’ll be right there,” Valek said to his father. “I’ll help Zeb—it’ll go faster.”
As they headed to the house, Kalen asked Yelena, “Is it always this hot here? I’m roasting.”
“No.”
“Thank fate!”
“It gets hotter.”
He groaned. Yelena would be too polite to tell him he needed to wear Sitian clothing, but Valek would find some way to mention it. In the meantime, he showed Zeb how to remove the horses’ saddles and tack. Then he handed his brother a curry comb and demonstrated how to use it. Zeb groomed Kiki. They worked for a while in companionable silence.
“What do you think of Sitia so far?” Valek asked.
“It’s okay. I guess I need to learn how to ride, right? Isn’t that how everyone gets around in Sitia?”
“Not everyone. You can walk, and there are travel shelters between cities.” Valek sensed that wasn’t what Zeb wanted to hear. “Although it’s faster on horseback. Especially if you’re going farther than Owl’s Hill.”
“There’s not much to do in Owl’s Hill.”
Ah. “Would you like me to teach you how to ride?”
He hesitated. “Did you teach the twins?”
“I showed Zethan the basics when we traveled to Sitia, but they’re learning the finer art of horsemanship at the Magician’s Keep.” Along with a number of other things, like fighting and self-defense techniques. Things the Ixian schools didn’t cover unless it was required for your job. Since Zebulon didn’t have magic, he wouldn’t get this extra education. And since he was already twenty, he was too old to attend the Sitian schools.
“Yeah, they seem to be fitting right in at the Keep,” Zeb said.
“Do you plan to stay here and work for Father?” Valek asked.
If the question surprised the young man, he didn’t show it. “I don’t know. Before, I sort of had to. I didn’t have any other options in Ixia. Now...”
“Too many.”
Zebulon laughed. “Yeah.”
“What do you like to do?”
He shrugged, but then said, “I like working with my hands.”
That was a start. As they groomed, fed and watered the horses, Valek asked a number of questions. By the time they finished, he had a better idea of Zebulon’s interests, which didn’t include the military, law enforcement or spying. Basically, not going into the family business.
“What about working with glass?” he asked Zeb as they brushed off all the horsehair from their clothes and washed the grime from their hands. “I’ve friends who own a glass factory in Fulgor and would be amenable to taking on an apprentice.”
Zeb appeared interested. “It would be someplace to start. Is Fulgor like Owl’s Hill?”
“No. It’s much bigger. It’s about a four-day ride west of here.”
“I’d like that. Thanks.”
They entered the house. It was cooler inside. Despite the fact that the family had moved in only a few weeks ago, all the crates and boxes had been unpacked. The familiar furniture and decorations from his childhood filled unfamiliar rooms, and the effect was disconcerting. Voices emanated from deep within, and Valek followed Zeb to the living area.
“...planned for the beginning of the hot season in the Magician’s Keep,” Yelena said. “You’re all invited, of course.”
“Invited to what?” Zebulon asked. He sat next to their mother on the couch.
Liana remained in Olya’s lap. The baby chewed on her favorite yellow horse-shaped rattle. The number of gifts she’d gotten just for being born had been astounding. Janco had brought her what he called “baby’s first set of lock picks.” And the Commander sent her a pink diamond the size of Liana’s fist.
Despite everyone’s relaxed postures, an awkwardness thickened the air. Yelena sat in an armchair with a cup of tea on the table next to her. Kalen occupied the other chair.