Ozorne patted him on the shoulder unoccupied by a bird. “Too bad, but cheer up. There are other girls. Let’s go to class.”
Master Urukut, in tribal magic, only glanced at Preet. “That would be the bird you are minding for Lindhall?” the Apalite mage inquired. “I will not allow it to distract the class.”
He waved off Arram’s explanation that Preet would do no such thing and pointed for them to take their seats. Since Preet was napping, the master took no more interest in her, nor did anyone else. Arram sighed quietly with relief.
The last class of the morning was held in Master Ramasu’s large workroom, where Arram was the only student. When the big, broad-shouldered man looked him over, Arram felt compelled to produce Preet. Seeing her, the university’s chief healer raised an eyebrow.
“Sir, this is Preet?” Arram said, though it came out more as a question. “I think Master Lindhall mentioned I was caring for her?” He knew he sounded like a very junior student, but he couldn’t help it. Ramasu the Cloud-Handed was the greatest healer south of the Inland Sea. Arram knew how privileged he was to be learning from the man, and how amazing it was for him to be the only student in the room at the moment.
Ramasu inspected first the bird and then Arram with eyes that were a strange mix of gray and brown. At last he said, “That little bird will get you into more trouble than you can handle, boy.”
Arram scuffed his foot on the floor. “Everyone knows I’m just minding her for lessons, sir. And a friend. Master Lindhall thought that since she’s in my care, I should do a study of her.” He was talking too much, so he clamped his teeth together, hard.
“Indeed.” The master did not sound convinced. “Do you know how long she is to be in your care?”
Arram tucked Preet back into her pouch. “The friend wasn’t precise.”
Ramasu turned to the big slate hung on one of the narrow sides of the room and picked up the chalk. “Do you know why he was not precise?”
“He said there might be difficulties,” Arram replied, looking over the mage’s shoulder. Ramasu wrote in large, sharp letters, “Sunbird?”
Arram gulped. “Yes, sir, I know.” He shrugged. “What can I do, when someone vastly important asks for so small a favor?” Reaching into the pouch, he petted the bird’s soft head with a finger. “She’s no trouble, though I might catch some one day, if I’m cornered by somebody who won’t wait for an explanation. Somebody truly great. Outside the university, so to speak.”
“Demand a hearing before Minoss,” Ramasu told him. “Such a request must be honored by all gods. Once you are before the Great Judge, tell the truth. Bad things happen to those who lie to him. You will be fine once Minoss hears you.”
Arram eyed the master. “You say that as if you didn’t exactly learn it from a book.”
Ramasu looked down with a smile. “I have not always been the sober fellow who teaches herbs and simples. Now, when was your—blackbird—last fed?”
Preet was nibbling on Arram’s finger. Hurriedly he dug into an outer pouch of his workbag and brought out a wheat roll. Preet clambered up the arm still in her pouch. As soon as she had a grip on Arram’s wrist, she strained toward the shelf that lay along one long wall beneath windows of real glass. Among the healer’s tools placed there was a plate of figs and olives.
“She seems to have indicated a preference,” Ramasu said. “Since she is not a true bird, whatever her camouflage signifies, we must trust that she knows what is good for her. Set the food and the bird on the floor in that corner, if you will.”
Arram obeyed.
“Now,” the master said, indicating one of two walls of shelves full of jars and bottles, “my assistants have worked with you, but I have not. What I have heard is…interesting, so I have arranged this examination. You see I have turned these containers to conceal the labels. Use your Gift to identify common herbs and healers’ potions, and describe their uses. That short ladder by the door will let you reach the top shelf. Begin where you please.”
Arram looked at the shelves and at his shaking hands. After all he had heard of this man, he did not want to make a fool of himself. He took off his robe, folded it, and set it where he wouldn’t trip over it, along with his workbag. Ramasu took a seat on a tall stool near Preet.
Arram placed the ladder at one end of the shelves and stepped to the top. Drawing a deep breath, he let it go, summoned a cord of his Gift into his fingers, and touched the first jar there. The moment his power began to flow through his hand, his brain cooled and his body settled.
“Aloe in balm form,” he said. “For burns and scrapes. It can also be used raw for insect bites and burns.” He touched the next container. “Anemone. Sedation, dysentery, and fevers. Users must be wary of getting it on the skin. It can blister.” Another jar. “Angelica. For women if they have trouble with monthly bleeding, to strengthen a body recovering from disease, to steady an irregular heart.” On he went, skipping those he did not know. He finished more than a hundred jars before the bell rang for lunch.
“Very good,” Ramasu said as Arram shoved his hair back from his face. He’d gotten very excited about naming the jars’ contents and what they did. “I am impressed,” the healer admitted. “You know more than most second-year healing students. Now, tomorrow I must go to one of the city infirmaries. You shall go with me. I am in and out, so my students will continue to teach some of your lessons. You and I shall muddle along, however. Anatomy next. Have you studied musculature? Veins?”
Arram shook his head to both. “Only skeletons, sir.”
Ramasu picked up a book from a nearby shelf. “Read two chapters for Tuesday, when you and I will be back here. We will begin with veins. As for your friend…” Somehow during the last two hours Preet had migrated to his lap. Ramasu handed her to Arram. “You may have her back. Off with you both. A promising start, Arram.”
He didn’t think he’d breathe again after a welcome like that, but somehow he made it to the dining hall. Ozorne waited for him at the door. “I see from your face it went well and the great man didn’t crush you,” he said, clapping Arram on the shoulder. “Very good. We thought we’d eat outside, since it’s not so bad and not so cold. Varice is holding a table, and I’m getting her lunch as well as mine. How is your friend?”
“On my other shoulder,” Arram said as they went in and grabbed trays and utensils. “She charmed Master Ramasu.” He turned so Ozorne could see Preet.
“She’s a charming girl,” Ozorne said cheerfully.
Once they had their meals, they went outside to join Varice. Swiftly she cleared her bag and Ozorne’s from the table. “Where were you?” she demanded. “I had to fight off three parties of idiots, as if this was the only spot.”
“We came as fast as we could,” Arram said. He lifted Preet from his shoulder and offered her to Varice. “Let Preet soothe you.”