Natural Ordermage by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

him?
    “Your mother and I will talk it over, and
then we’ll see what can be done. We might be able to get one of the magisters
to look into it. There are precedents… but I wouldn’t count on that.”
    “What about tomorrow?” asked Rahl. “I was
supposed to call on Shahyla.”
    “Yes, you were, but this…” Kian frowned.
“Have you told anyone else?”
    “No, ser. Jaired was just here.”
    The scrivener nodded. “We still might
have a chance…” He. looked at Khorlya.
    She said nothing.
    “If you can keep your trousers on and
promise Shahyla nothing,” replied Kian, “then a simple visit can’t make matters
any worse than you have. Or has she encouraged you as well?”
    Rahl flushed. “No. Nothing like that.” He
could feel that his mother didn’t agree with his father about visiting Shahyla,
but she said nothing.
    “You can finish the page you were copying
before supper. Your mother and I have some talking to do. And you aren’t going
out tonight, not anywhere.”
    Rahl had already figured that out, and
right now he didn’t need to do anything else to get them even more upset.

XI
    On eightday morning, Rahl was careful to say
nothing that was not deferential and polite, and he was scrupulous about doing
his. chores and straightening and cleaning the workroom. Only when he was
certain that he had done everything required did he wash up and prepare for the
long walk to Bradeon’s holding to see Shahyla.
    As Rahl was preparing to leave, his
mother appeared with a plain basket, containing two bundles—one of brinn and
one of sage.
    “Herders can always use brinn and sage,
and Bradeon’s a practical man.” Khorlya looked at Rahl. “Your father and I
don’t agree about this, but it may be that you won’t have to consort Jienela. I
don’t see how we can avoid that, but… he thinks he may be able to work
something put. Don’t promise anything to Shahyla today, and don’t say anything
about Jienela. And for darkness’ sake, don’t make matters worse. Keep all your
clothes on.”
    Rahl laughed, ruefully. “That won’t be a
problem. Either her father or her brother is always near.”
    “Smart girl. Smarter than you deserve,”
observed Khorlya. “You might be fortunate, at that, but don’t count on it yet.”
    Rahl bit back what he might have said. “I
could use that fortune.”
    “Yes, you could, son, but you may be one
of those who has to learn things for himself.” After a moment, she added, “Go
on. You might as well enjoy the day, as you can.” ; ‘
    Rahl nodded. “I’ll be back before
sunset.”
    “That would be good.”
    As he stepped out through the front door,
he could sense her concern and sadness.
    All because of Jienela’s brother? And
because Jienela had wanted Rahl? Somehow, it didn’t seem fair. It wasn’t as
though he’d done anything to hurt anyone, or that he’d done anything that she
hadn’t wanted. And then, his mother saying that he had to learn things for
himself, as if he had no brains at all, as if he never listened. He’d listened,
and he knew all about women and their times of the month. He’d done his best,
and because things hadn’t gone as they were supposed to, everyone was blaming
him.
    Still, because he didn’t want to risk
seeing Jaired—or Jienela—he took the path through the edge of the protected
forest that came out farther to the south, well past Alamat’s. That meant he
had to walk several hundred cubits farther, then cut back. All in all, it added
a good half kay to his walk, but the last thing he wanted was to see either
Jienela or one of her brothers.
    Although the day was pleasant, with only
a scattering of puffy white clouds in the green-blue sky and a light breeze at
his back, Rahl only encountered a few wagons and riders on the High Road, and
no one else on foot. That was not surprising, because the road was not that
heavily traveled on end-days.
    It was slightly past midday by the sun
when he started up the lane to