by Ginn Hale
"A very good morning to you as well, Master Kir-Zaki and Master Kir-Zaki." Javier inclined his head towards Kiram's father and then Majdi.
"We did away with formalities last night." Majdi flicked his hand as if waving an insect aside. "It's still just Majdi and my father is called Shukri. Mum's given name is Hikmat, but maybe you should stick to Mother Kir-Zaki with her."
"Of course," Javier replied. "Please feel free to call me Javier."
"Javier," Kiram's father said the name experimentally and with a strong accent. "Please join us to eating this meal." A smudge of machine oil darkened his father's forehead. Before Kiram could mention it, Dauhd entered the room and gave an exasperated sigh.
"Dad, you're supposed to wash up before a meal." Dauhd sat down next to him and wiped his forehead clean with a cloth napkin from the table.
"I did, my dear." Kiram's father held up his clean, callused hands. Dauhd shook her head. Majdi poured tea into several cups and passed them around the table.
"Sit here," Kiram gestured for Javier to take a seat on the pillow next to his own. Javier joined him, folding his legs as Kiram did, though it was clearly not natural to him.
The dishes on the table were simple and fragrant. Steaming rounds of adhil bread lay heaped on a tray. Lamb, yoghurt, almonds and several thick sauces filled silver bowls. Kiram watched Javier as he studied the silver dish brimming with fahl, a green-black fermented wheat paste. Kiram disliked fahl, but Majdi relished its bodily smell and creamy texture.
"You have to try it," Majdi told Javier.
"But you don't have to like it," Kiram put in.
"Definitely an acquired taste," Dauhd said. She snatched a round of adhil bread and splashed yoghurt and then rounds of cucumber on to it. Kiram's father topped his bread with a saffron sauce and lamb while Majdi smeared grotesque amounts of fahl over his. Kiram took two adhil rounds and handed one to Javier. Kiram flavored his with saffron sauce like his father and then piled on the strips of lamb meat. Javier followed his example.
"Aren't Mother and Siamak joining us?" Kiram asked the question in Cadeleonian so that Javier wouldn't be left out of the conversation.
"They ate hours ago," Majdi replied. "They both got up early to fight about those meringues again."
"Cadeleonian meringues?" Javier asked.
"Just the ones," Majdi replied around a mouthful of food.
"Siamak wants to sell them. Mum doesn't," Dauhd explained. "It's the same argument every wedding season." Dauhd smiled at Javier, and Kiram could see that her infatuation with him had not faded. "I suppose there are fights like that in your family as well?"
"No, not really," Javier replied.
Kiram could see both his sister readying another innocent question about Javier's family and Javier steeling himself against the inevitable necessity of telling her that they were all dead, a revelation that would no doubt make for awkward and pitying conversation during the rest of the meal.
"They're not candymakers," Kiram commented and Javier offered him a quick relieved smile. "So, what about the gymnasium? Mum wrote that it was being repaired?"
"Yes!" Kiram's father brightened as he recognized the Cadeleonian word. "All new plumbing and a boiler! Mother Kir-Nusrat wants a new clock, as well, something modern and dynamic, and I mentioned the steam work you've been doing and she seemed very interested. The hillock near the archery range struck me as the best position because of the new watei-"
"Father, in Cadeleonian!" Dauhd cut him off. "So that Lord Tornesal can understand."
"No, it's all right," Javier assured her in very carefully phrased Haldiim. "I think I understood most of it-at least as much as I ever understand when it comes to Kiram's mechanisms."
"You and the rest of us," Majdi said. "How are you liking the food?"
"It's good," Javier replied.
"Ready for a challenge, then?" Majdi nudged the dish of fahl towards Javier.
"Always," Javier replied.
Kiram shook his head and handed Javier another round of adhil bread. Majdi and Javier both slathered their bread with fahl. Majdi rolled his bread and took a large bite. Javier bit into his bread more tentatively. He chewed with a look of intense concentration and then swallowed.
"So?" Majdi asked.
"I may have discovered one of the defenses you Haldiim used to drive the Cadeleonians from your famous wall," Javier replied.
Majdi laughed and clapped Javier on the back. Kiram handed him a cup of tea and Javier downed it in a fast gulp.
"Not bad for a first-timer," Majdi told Javier. "My navigator spilled his lunch first time I fed fahl to him."
"That's not something to be proud of," Dauhd said.
"Their mother likes it as well," Kiram's father told Javier. He wrinkled his nose.
Kiram refilled Javier's tea and then his own. As breakfast continued the conversation shifted back and forth between Haldiim and Cadeleonian. The subject ranged from water pumps to Mirogoth ships, the forests of Rauma and at last settled upon a list of the many Haldiim sites Kiram ought to show to Javier.
Between servings of lamb and almonds, Javier returned to his roll of adhil bread and fahl, taking careful bites. By the end of the meal, he'd finished it and had even added a small dollop of fahl to some of his lamb.
"I can't believe that you're eating more of it," Kiram murmured.
"The taste was a little strange at first but it's growing on me." Javier downed the last of his lamb. "Reminds me a little of a very blue cheese."
"Reminds me of dirty foreskin," Majdi whispered. Kiram almost choked on his tea and Javier went scarlet.
"What did he say?" Dauhd demanded.
"You don't want to know." Kiram's father tossed a sprig of mint at Majdi. "You chew on that to clean your mouth out. You're not at sea now, you know."
"Sorry. I meant no offense," Majdi told Javier in clear Cade- leonian, then he jammed the mint into his mouth and chewed it obediently.
"No offense taken," Javier assured him. Kiram found it amazing how quickly he regained his composure. Then Javier leaned closer to Majdi and whispered, "There's definitely a hint of foreskin, but I thought it had more of the smell of balls."
Majdi's brows shot up then. Grinning, he handed a sprig of mint to Javier. Javier took it and chewed it with a look of pride. It was just like him to want to be allied with the offensive rather than the offended, Kiram thought.
Kiram knew that Javier had impressed Majdi at least a little, when after breakfast Majdi brought down a red leather coat that he'd won off a Mirogoth captain and offered it to Javier to wear while his clothes were being laundered and dried.
The coat fit Javier and lent him a striking, exotic air especially in combination with the fine Haldiim vest and trousers and the Cadeleonian boots and sword he wore.
People gawked as Kiram and Javier walked across the Ammej Bridge. The fiery colors of Javier's clothes matched the scarlet beams of the bridge well. As he gazed out at passing merchants and reed riverboats, excitement seemed to illuminate his features. Kiram wished suddenly that he possessed a little of Nestor's skill so that he could capture this moment and somehow hold Javier in this beautiful, exhilarated instant.
But the iridescent flash of a knife dancer's wares caught Javier's eye and he was off. The entire Haldiim district seemed to excite and fascinate him. He grinned at the red doves, ran his hands over the glassy tiles of mosaic walls and raced along the riverbank, chasing a painted, paper hawk kite as it swirled on the wind. Kiram dashed alongside him; from time to time he answered a question or provided a little history but mostly he let Javier's enthusiasm envelop him and show him how strange and wonderful his own home could be.
They passed the Circle of Red Oaks and for a moment Javier went still and silent, studying the dense vines and ancient trees.
"It's different than I imagined," Javier said. "Much bigger. Darker too, like the Mirogoth forests."
Kiram nodded. "My sisters always claimed it was full of monsters and wild beast
s."
"And is it?" Javier asked with an arched brow.
"Maybe some foxes or weasels." Kiram shrugged. "But I couldn't say for sure. Only Bahiim go there most of the year."
"Your uncle's partner, Alizadeh, would know, wouldn't he?" Javier asked.
"He probably knows everything about that place," Kiram replied.
"Do you think we could see him?" Javier asked.
Kiram couldn't imagine that the Circle of Red Oaks could be all that interesting to talk about, but then he was sure that wasn't really what Javier wanted to discuss with Alizadeh.
"We'll visit them for lunch," Kiram assured Javier.
They moved to the open market where musicians played for coins and vendors sold spring mint, salt, tea and dozens of different grains. Kiram pointed out the grinder he and his father had designed. Javier commented that he probably ought to hire Kiram to design a few for him back in Rauma. Before either of them could think further about it, the glittering rows of charm vendors attracted Javier's attention.
"I've read about the charms they sell here," Javier commented. "All damned, according to Holy Father Habalan, of course."
Kiram replied, "All the best things are."
Javier grinned at that.
They bought a few trinkets in the charm market: two clay luck whistles and a badly stamped copper talisman depicting what looked like a three legged piglet, which Javier found hilarious for reasons he could not explain.
At Mother Kir-Mahoud's stables, Javier looked in on Lunaluz and Kiram found himself missing Firaj. Cadeleonian merchants came and went with their mounts but few Haldiim used the stables since to most Haldiim horsemanship still smacked of a lurid Irabiim lifestyle.
While Javier exercised Lunaluz in the small arena, Kiram strolled ahead to the Civic Gymnasium. The green lawn of the archery range still dominated the grounds, but the decrepit shelters that Kiram remembered crouching under during rainstorms were now arching pavilions. A dozen young men in the black uniforms of the Civic Guards fired arrows into straw targets at one end of the range while several wealthy husbands lounged with their bows and quivers, waiting their turns.
The stone dancing circles remained open to the elements, but they had been expanded and new glazed tiles surrounded them. A group of twenty boys and girls stretched along with their instructor in one of the largest circles. Even from across the grounds Kiram could hear the children laugh at each other as the tried to lift their supple little legs up over their heads.
The oddly square mass of a Cadeleonian-style bathhouse rose up beside the ancient, domed training hall. Inside Kiram caught a glimpse of the huge new boiler. He supposed that public baths were better than no baths at all. When Kiram had trained here many of the poorer Haldiim who came to train for their civic duty had no facilities available to them other than the river.
He strolled across the green lawn to the narrow lanes of the runners' track.
He guessed that it would be a while before Javier joined him, so he laid his coat and vest aside and went for a run along the new racecourse. The lane cut through a small stand of willows, where Kiram passed two young women, then looped back to the training hall. As Kiram circled to take a third lap he heard someone running behind him, fast. For an instant Kiram thought it might be Javier chasing him, but when he glanced back he recognized Musni, dressed only in linen trousers and bearing down on him.
As they reached the willows Musni closed the distance between them. Glancing back, Kiram caught the assurance in Musni's expression. No doubt he expected to overtake Kiram easily. Kiram threw himself ahead, his heart pounding as he pushed himself into an all-out sprint. The cool spring air burned in his lungs.
He could hear Musni pounding the track behind him and breathing just as hard. He felt Musni's hand brush his back, tracing his spine.
A wild, competitive energy surged through Kiram and he pulled ahead. His legs burned and the first pang of a cramp bit into his side, but he pushed himself harder. The red clay track and surrounding green grounds blurred. Kiram tore past the training hall and crossed the iron posts of the starting line.
As he turned back to gloat, Musni hurtled into him and both of them fell onto the grass lawn.
"You ass." Kiram tried to rise but Musni remained sprawled on top of him, laughing.
"Keep squirming." Musni grinned at Kiram. "It feels good."
Kiram stilled, too tired to fight. The pungent tang of sweat and cut grass rolled over him.
Musni shifted but didn't rise. He pressed the damp heat of his bare chest against Kiram. Almost casually he pressed his hips against Kiram. Kiram's entire body responded to the familiar weight. They had wrestled like this so many times before.
"Get off me," Kiram insisted.
Musni's expression was no longer teasing but aroused. The fragrance of honey wine drifted on his breath. He held Kiram fast.
"Seriously, Musni," Kiram said. "Get off of me."
"Why would I want to do that?" Musni asked.
"Because you want to keep breathing," Javier's voice was a low growl.
Startled, Musni recoiled from Kiram. Javier stood less than a foot from Kiram's head with one hand clenched around the hilt of his sword.
"Who the holy fuck are you?" Musni demanded.
"He's a friend of mine." Kiram scrambled to his feet, placing himself between the two men. "Javier, this is Musni." Kiram suspected that he could have been shouting gibberish for all the impact his words seemed to have. The look of cold murder on Javier's face was matched by the angry contempt in Musni's expression.
"What the fuck are you glaring at, Cadeleonian?" Musni snapped at Javier. "You're in the Haldiim district! We have our own laws here and if you don't want to see lovers embrace then you shouldn't be here!"
"I wasn't seeing lovers embrace," Javier replied. "He told you to get off him."
"What's between Kiram and me is none of your concern." Musni's hand dropped to his hip and Kiram suddenly realized that he had reached for his knife.
Out of the corner of his eye Kiram glimpsed the black-clad forms of several Civic Guards walking from the archery range towards them. Kiram caught Musni's hand and pulled it off his knife. He looked to Javier.
"How's Lunaluz?" Kiram asked in Cadeleonian. Javier blinked, then he too caught sight of the approaching group of guards. He released his sword hilt and let his coat fall closed.
"He's still tired after our ride from the academy," Javier said. "He just wanted me to feed him and brush him. Make much of him."
Kiram nodded. Javier at least could be counted upon to control himself.
"So." Kiram released Musni's hand. "Let me make the introductions again. Javier, this is my childhood friend, Musni. Musni, this is my friend, and schoolmate, Javier."
The two of them exchanged a cold smile but made no move to shake hands.
"How's the racing?" one of the four Civic Guards called out.
"Better than minding your own fucking business, obviously!" Musni sneered back at the guard.
"What is wrong with you?" Kiram demanded of Musni. "Are you looking for a fight?"
Musni just gave Kiram a crooked grin as if he couldn't be held accountable for himself. "A fight or a fuck. Whichever you want, lover."
"Neither," Kiram replied flatly. He guessed that Majdi had been right about Musni. It was disconcerting to see how much he'd changed in a year.
The Civic Guards-there were four-surrounded them in an almost casual manner. One of them seemed very familiar with Musni and after a couple of minutes of conversation the man convinced Musni to join him in the new bathhouse. The other guards watched their comrade escort Musni away, then one of them turned back to Kiram.
"You're Mother Kir-Zaki's youngest?" the guard asked. He was older and appeared to be a career guard with his deeply tanned skin and tightly braided white hair.
"Yes, sir," Kiram replied.
"My son had a wonderful time at your party last night," the guard said.
"I'm glad. Ple
ase thank him for coming." Kiram had no idea who the man's son was but he smiled and Javier followed suit.
"Welcome back home. You and your friend be safe." The guard turned and followed his fellows back across the grounds to the archery range.
"Well," Javier said quietly. "That was awkward."
"You think?" Kiram found his vest and coat and dressed despite the sweat clinging to his back and chest. He certainly wasn't going to use the public bath now. "Did you have to go for your sword?"
"He had you down on the ground. How was I supposed to know that it was some kind of love play for the two of you?" Javier's face colored just saying the words.
"It wasn't anything even close." Kiram scowled at Javier.
"No?"
"No," Kiram replied.
Javier raised a brow as though he found this all suddenly funny. "It would have been if I'd been the one lying on top of you."
Kiram smiled in spite of himself but then shook his head. "Last night you couldn't bring yourself to dance with me at a party but today you're going to make love to me on a public race track?"
"Now that I have this piglet talisman," Javier held up the little copper disk, "who knows what I might find the poor judgment to do?"
"Why don't we visit my uncle for lunch and you can show your piglet to Alizadeh?"
"I'd like that."
They left the broad streets of the civic buildings, open markets and teahouses behind. Kiram led Javier past simple private homes and down the narrow lanes that Cadeleonians rarely traveled. Almond trees hung their fragrant clusters of blossoms low and from time to time couples leaned close beneath the trees and flirted.
A block from Rafie's house Javier caught sight of two men kissing and he stopped in his tracks, staring at them. From Javier's expression Kiram would have thought he was witnessing a miracle. They were handsome enough, though neither of them struck Kiram as worthy of the gaping Javier seemed to be giving them.
The young lovers broke apart and one caressed the other's arm and then, hand in hand, they retreated into a house.
"Did you see them?" Javier asked in a whisper. His gaze lingered on the almond tree where the two men had stood. "I've never seen that."
