When Ozorne and Arram reached Master Lindhall’s lodgings, they discovered he had planned a surprise for them. One of the fourth-year helpers, a stocky young black woman whose expertise lay with reptiles, encountered them in the hall and snagged Ozorne’s arm. “Come and see,” she told him, dragging him into the rooms she shared with two other fourth-year helpers. “You know there’s only three of us in these rooms now, since Baaro went east to study herds.”
Confused, Ozorne nodded. Inside the main lounge, the other two occupants—one male, one female—lazed on broad couches and read. They waved as the woman, Nyoka, opened a door. She indicated the room beyond. “We did our best, but doubtless you’ll want to shift things around.”
Ozorne went inside; Arram followed. Someone had brought Ozorne’s things from his cramped quarters to these far bigger ones. He now had shelves, a good-sized bed, a proper desk and chair, and a standing cupboard in addition to his chest. It lacked only a window. “Much better,” the prince said as he dumped his belongings on the bed.
“There’s no window,” Arram pointed out.
Ozorne shrugged. “Who needs a window when you have a scrying mirror?” he asked. “I’ve gotten very good at finding the lake and the woods at Mother’s home whenever I want.” He led the way into the sitting room the four shared. “This is wonderful!” he told them.
Nyoka took Arram’s arm. “Now come. You’re dripping.” She towed him across the hall to the room that belonged to Lindhall’s personal assistant. He was not there. For that matter, his collection of gaudy drapes and brightly colored bowls was gone as well. Instead the bed was covered with plain red blankets and pillows, the floor with a brown rug. A desk fitted with shelves above it stood beside a tall set of bookshelves already partly stocked. There was a chair and a padded stool big enough to sit on. A table stood by the window. Branches of candles stood on the desk and table.
And on a lesser table, tucked into the space between the bed and the door, was Preet’s cage. The minute she saw Arram she began to twitter and sing.
Arram looked at Nyoka, trembling. He knew what he thought, but he wasn’t on the level that Lindhall would require from his assistant. “I don’t understand,” he said.
The door next to the desk was already open. Now Lindhall entered. “My assistant, like several others among my group of students, is off to…”
“Amar District,” Nyoka told him with a smile. “He forgets details about human beings,” she explained to Arram. “Master Lindhall has asked me to take his tasks, but he can’t have a woman living in the assistant’s quarters with him alone. People will talk. I’ll be across the hall. If he shoves in here in the middle of the night, just come and get me.” She grinned cheekily at Lindhall. “Though we did rig a summoning bell. Except he seems to have misplaced his end.”
Lindhall tried to frown at Nyoka. “I’m sure it’s in my study somewhere.”
Arram looked at them. “Is it on wire?”
“No, cotton cord,” Nyoka said.
“Better still,” Arram told her. “I could probably find wire, but cotton should be easier.”
Lindhall raised his eyebrows. “There are hooks in the hall between our doors. Hang up your cape—silly things. Useful only for shedding water. Hang it up, and you can come try.”
It took Arram only a few moments to apply Master Hulak’s spell for finding a particular plant. The leading end of the cord had gotten trapped under two fat books on songbirds and a cold teapot in the master’s study. With the problem solved and Nyoka chuckling to herself, Arram retreated to his new home.
Lindhall followed him. “I promise not to be in and out,” he assured Arram, “but I did want to draw your eyes to this. I had it made over the holiday.” He picked up a piece of cloth from the desk and offered it to Arram, who took it. It was a blue pouch with a long, thick cord attached. The bottom bulged flatly. When Arram put his hand inside, he found a wooden rod was attached to the sides near the bottom, while at the bottom itself was a wooden disk to hold the sides apart.
Arram smiled at the tall Northerner. “For Preet?”
Lindhall smiled back. “You know what she is like if you leave her at night. I now feel free to inform you that if she is left completely alone during the day, she raises a very similar amount of noise.”
Stricken with guilt, Arram said, “Master, I’m sorry!”
“Which is why I did not tell you before,” Lindhall replied, waving off the apology. “Apparently sunbirds are very sociable. From all I have learned, and you may read that book as a start on what we know of immortals that fly in general”—he pointed to one of Arram’s new bookshelves—“sunbirds do not strike out on their own. They remain in their original flocks, or when a flock is deemed too large, they separate into smaller ones. To Preet, you are her flock. Other humans—Ozorne, Varice, one or two of my students, myself—will do, but in fact she wants to be with you. I have sent notices to your teachers and to the cooks that Preet will be with you throughout the day. Unless, of course, Master Sebo takes you underwater.”
Preet made an ugly croaking sound. Picking her up to tickle her chest, Arram noticed that she had grown since their first meeting. She now filled his palm and reached the middle knuckles of his hand.
Lindhall was chuckling. “She doesn’t mind splashing in her water dish, but apparently walking into it is not to her taste.”
Arram stroked Preet’s head. “Don’t worry, I won’t take you into the river.” He looked up at his teacher. “I can’t thank you…This is so wonderful….”
“You need not thank me. I have sick rabbits and lizards whose cages must be cleaned,” the master replied. “Whenever you are free, you should check the sickrooms to clean out those areas that need it, and refill such dishes as require it. During the day, gather up old teacups and dishes and set them on a tray outside my door for the floor’s servants to take away. And occasionally I will require help around here.”
Arram could hardly breathe. Work with the sick creatures? Help Master Lindhall? He felt as if he had gone to the Divine Realms.
“At least, now that you are here with Preet, you will have a proper bed and you will be able to sleep until dawn,” Lindhall said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Welcome to the menagerie, as my other helpers say. Now, off to supper with you.”
Arram hurried to meet his friends, Preet chuckling from inside her new pouch. It was going to be a splendid term.
—
The three friends spent most of their free time during the remainder of the term in Lindhall’s domain. Varice worked on medicines at the direction of the older students, who told Lindhall of her precision with the measurements. It may have looked like work, and for Arram and Ozorne it sometimes smelled like work, but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.