The Embalmer's Apprentice by Lyra

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Chapter 18

Azruhâr enlarges his household, has some awkward conversations, meets the executioner and the in-laws.

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„Yes, by all means,“ said the King.

It was not the answer I had hoped for. In fact, I had rather wished that he would declare that no, I was certainly not entitled to take any man into my service, debt or no, what an absurd thought. That way, I could have told Balakhil that I had tried, but was – alas – not allowed to satisfy his wish. But instead, his Majesty said, „By all means,“ and added, „There is a touch of poetic justice to it. We quite like the idea.“
The Crown Prince, unsurprisingly, found it less poetic. „So Azruhâr the Important needs a bodyguard now?“ he said, looking at me down his nose.
I hoped that I didn't visibly flinch. „I don't know, your Highness,“ I said, trying to return his gaze in the most guileless manner possible. „Do I?“
This seemed to amuse him, because the corners of his mouth twitched, although his eyes remained hard. „Not at this time, no,“ he said.
I was so relieved at the lack of anger for my somewhat provocative question that I only later registered the threat underneath his words.
„So I may employ a guard in spite of being a mere apprentice?“ I asked the King again, to be on the safe side.
For a moment, Tar-Ancalimon looked thoughtful, but then his lips spread into a broad smile. „You own a house, do you not? You are a house-owner, rather than a common apprentice. Then you may hire whatever servant your household requires.“
My household hardly required a guard, I thought to myself, but apparently, nobody cared about that.
„Thank you, your Majesty,“ I said resignedly. „May I have that in writing, please?“
„Of course, of course! But enough of that. Tell us about your work, now...“

After an hour's questioning, during which I (hopefully) said nothing that would raise expectations yet higher, I was sent to see Quentangolë for written confirmation. He listened to my story – not without sympathy, to my relief – and eventually said, „I'll confirm your permission, certainly, if you insist. You are aware that I'll have to put you on a higher tax if you're officially a house-owner?“
That was something else that I hadn't considered, but it made sense. The taxes for day-talers were mostly symbolic (although the tax collectors always seemed to show up at the worst possible time), and an apprentice likewise paid only a pittance (probably to get used to the thought of having to pay taxes at all), but a house-owner who could employ servants would clearly be expected to pay higher dues. Maybe that was why the Crown Prince hadn't opposed my request more strongly. I couldn't imagine that my increased load would make a noticeable difference to him, but it was probably the thought that counted. He had been quite keen on the sureties for my neighbours, after all.
I sighed. „It's going to cost me all around, I suppose. But I can't send a friendless man away.“
Quentangolë raised his eyebrows. „I suppose you really can't. But have a care. You can't save the entire island without breaking your back.“ His quill scratched over a strip of paper. „At any rate, he may not be as friendless as you think. I saw him around here just a week ago.“
I blinked, confused. „Really? Doing what?“
He shrugged and reached for a stick of sealing wax. „I have no idea. But someone allowed him to come inside, at the very least.“

When I asked Balakhil what he had been doing at the palace, I found his reaction hard to read. It could have been annoyance, or shock, or embarrassment. It could have been any combination thereof. „Who told you I was there?“ he asked in a rather petulant tone.
„Quentangolë, the King's scribe,“ I said. „I have no reason to doubt his words.“
To his credit, Balakhil didn't suggest that I should. Instead, he nodded. „Yes,“ he acknowledged. „Since you had said that you did not want me, I tried to get his Highness to help me find a new position. I didn't want to keep pestering you! But he said he saw no need to further help me.“ Bitterness was creeping into his voice. „He said he would have sent me drugs to render me insensate, had I been convicted for treason. Such mercy. One should think that after I got discharged doing his dirty work, he'd owe me more!“
I was tempted to agree, but caught myself in time. „Do not speak ill of the royal family,“ I said as sternly as I could. „I will not have it. It is not our place to question their judgement.“ Granted, I had my own doubts about the Crown Prince's judgement, but it seemed unsafe to allow disrespect towards him from somebody who was supposedly my servant. Everything he said could fall back on me, there was no question of that, and the Crown Prince would be only too happy to accuse me of brooking or even breeding rebellion.
Balakhil looked as if he wanted to protest – he even opened his mouth – before he thought better of it. He bowed his head. „Understood, sir.“
„Good,“ I said, more forcefully than was my wont.

I asked Amraphel to set up a contract. I was told that it wasn't strictly necessary, but I wanted to do this properly.
„I'll expect you to make yourself useful around the house, too,“ I told Balakhil, „rather than just standing watch. I can't afford to employ you only for that. Besides, it wouldn't be right to leave all the menial work to my wife when we have servants. Is that acceptable?“
I could see in Balakhil's face that he wasn't too keen on the idea. „What about the other one?“ he duly asked.
The other one was Enrakôr the Taller. I still wasn't wholly sure that I trusted Balakhil, certainly not when I was away from home, so I had decided to employ a second guard to protect my family from the first. It was an absurd arrangement altogether, and I did not like it at all, but neither did I see a graceful way out of it. Enrakôr, at any rate, had been positively excited about the prospect. I had been ashamed to ask a neighbour to become a full-time servant – it was quite different from the neighbourly assistance I had paid for in the past, I felt – but Enrakôr was day-taler enough to see steady employment as an advancement, no matter whether it was in my modest household or a more prestigious position.
„Enrakôr will also be expected to do whatever needs to be done,“ I said, unwilling to argue the point. Enrakôr shrugged with a cheerfully grin. Of course, he was used to doing odd jobs, and wouldn't see a request to sweep the floor or carry groceries as an attack on his dignity.
„You will share the same duties,“ I went on. „I know that you want to be a guard first and foremost, and I'll try to respect that, but it won't always be possible. You are welcome to go looking elsewhere for a better arrangement, but if you want to work for me, I insist that you do your share of household duties as well as standing guard.“
Balakhil gave me a hurt look that (I felt) would have been reason enough to send him away, but then, he bowed his head once more. „Yours to command and mine to obey.“
I wrapped my arms around my chest. Authority was not something that I was used to having, so I looked to Amraphel for help. She gave a thin smile. „Obviously,“ she said, „but we do not want to hear any complaints of ill-use later, so it is vital that you agree to our terms or take the appropriate steps.“
Whatever hopes I'd had that these conditions would put Balakhil off after all were dashed; by now, he clearly remembered how much luck he'd had with his uppity expectations so far. „Yes, madam,“ he said in a good imitation of meekness.

So Balakhil and Enrakôr moved into our house, sharing the room that had been Azruphel's. I suppose I could have let them both sleep in the hall, but I didn't feel comfortable with my little daughter being alone at night, even if I hoped that Enrakôr would wake up should Balakhil get up to anything. So we bought a second bed, and blankets, and fabric for the tunics, linen and woolen, that I had to provide for my servants. At least we still had some copper-coloured wool left from last winter, which we could use for their cloaks. Then, there were their wages. It all added up. Balakhil pointed out that he needed no wages because of his debt of honour and moreover already owed me two Crowns and a half, and that might be correct, but I didn't want his situation to feel like thraldom.
Then I would have to pay for the additional food. And looming on the horizon was the tax. At least there was an upshot to that development: As we found out when Amraphel registered our new servants with the merchants so we could to pick up their food, house-owners who employed domestic staff were eligible for somewhat more generous rations. The amount of foodstuffs per person didn't go up all that much, but we now had the right to choose between different options if any were to be had, such as better cuts of meat (or more of it if you chose the inferior parts) and different choices of vegetables rather than whatever the greengrocer wanted to get rid of. We gained access to the first harvested grains – mostly millet – so suddenly, it was possible to have gruel again, and once barley became available, we could even make bread, although it never rose properly and remained wet and rather dense. Still, this at the least was very welcome.

Other than that, I kept having second thoughts about hiring Balakhil. He certainly looked impressive when he stood guard or walked behind my shoulder. Enrakôr always looked a bit awkward when he attempted to emulate the guard's stance and bearing, but Balakhil stood to attention as if he meant it. He insisted that he didn't mind waiting for hours outside the catacombs while I was working, but I found the mere idea mind-numbing, so I suggested that he go home and make himself useful there, returning in time for my way back. It was all very silly, anyway, because the fact remained that I wasn't important enough to warrant someone watching my back all the time, and I hated to suggest that I was. People certainly turned their heads and made space for us when we walked through the streets.
And of course, people resented it. My neighbours were merely upset that I hadn't hired one of them instead of a stranger, which I could understand well enough. We continued to enlist their help for things like the laundry or for gardening projects that required many hands, but such occasions were few and far between. So it made sense that they would have preferred something permanent. But I couldn't offer it. However, I promised that I would employ as many of them as was reasonable, should other opportunities arise. That was unlikely to be soon, but the promise mollified most of them for the time being.

Then, there was the mockery. I imagined that a lot of it was being uttered in the streets when I couldn't hear it, although I naturally could not be certain about that. Other snide remarks, however, were made within my hearing. Mind you, not all were levelled at me, but rather at my bodyguard. When Balakhil first accompanied me to the citadel, the palace guards poked merciless fun at him.
„How the mighty have fallen,“ said one, and the other remarked, „My, haven't you found yourself a noble lord, Balakhil.“
„Yea, he must be mighty pleased to have escaped the tedium of the palace.“
„Do you reckon he did it on purpose?“
Balakhil ignored them stoically, but I felt compelled to defend him, or possibly myself. „I hope you two never have to choose between obeying orders and doing what's right, or end up offending your King whatever you do – but if you do, I assure you that falling into a commoner's service is not the worst thing that could happen to you.“
It came out all wrong and not at all as sharp and witty as I had hoped, and they probably weren't very impressed, although they shut up for the moment. Once we were out of earshot, Balakhil said, „You needn't defend me, sir, I can bear it.“
„Perhaps you can, but I can't bear the injustice behind it,“ I said.
But then, scornful guards soon turned out to be harmless, because my colleagues also had their opinions on this delightful new development.

„A bodyguard, Azruhâr? Really? When I said I'd clobber you, I didn't expect you to take counter-measures so fast,“ was Karathôn's comment. Like most of the things that Karathôn said, it was probably meant in good humour, but I was thin-skinned enough to feel attacked by it.
Worse, of course, was Master Târik's judgement. „You shouldn't let your new status as the King's favourite pet go to your head, you know,“ he said. „It never lasts.“ The painful thing was that he was saying it in an entirely reasonable manner, and probably believing every word, too.
I scratched my neck in embarrassment. „That's not it,“ I said. „I'm not doing this for myself.“
„Really? Then for whom are you doing it? It must be flattering your pride, to let yourself be protected by a former palace guard...“
I should probably have followed Balakhil's example of bearing such comments in silence, but I have ever been sensitive to the accusation of pride.
„My pride has nothing to do with it! You're welcome to take him into your service if you want him! But if not, I hope you'll alow me to help him in my way.“
„Help him! You do like to feel generous, don't you. Just explain to me why you would want to help a man who wronged you?“
I tried to bite my tongue, but then it burst out anyway. „Because that's another thing I keep doing, giving people a second chance. Maybe you should try it some time!“
Needless to say that this outbreak was followed by another week in which Master Târik conveyed his wishes to me by way of Mîkul, who carefully kept out of our argument.

Despite their criticisms, my colleagues raised no objection when I told Balakhil to accompany us to fetch new body parts for our experiments. That was a part of our work that we all hated, so getting it over quickly was desirable. Balakhil must have questioned his decision to work for me severely that day, but he did not protest. I suppose he also got a very compelling reminder of why he was working for me in the first place, because greeting us on the scaffold, dangling from the gallows, were the mangled bodies of two traitors. They were now beyond suffering but had quite obviously gone out in agony. I could not bear the sight for long, nor did I want to imagine how the skin had been torn from their backs, how their limbs had been so broken, and how they must have screamed as the glowing irons had seared their flesh. I looked away quickly, but not quickly enough; my squeamish mind was already picturing the answers. Below the gallows, still alive and clearly only punished for some lesser crime, knelt a man in the stocks. He did not raise his head, either unconscious or ignoring his surroundings on purpose. Maybe he was just too worn-out to struggle against the yoke on his shoulders. At any rate, he was breathing, which was more than could be said for the punished traitors.
„Elf-friends,“ said Mâlakh the Executioner, pointing up at the dead men, „demanding that the King lay down his sceptre and his life, as they always seem to do. I don't suppose there's anything left on them that you can use, though.“
„No,“ Master Târik said faintly, and if we had been on better terms, I would have stepped closer to offer him reassurance. He must have been feeling the threat of such a fate more heavily this time, but as I was part of the cause, there was probably nothing I could do to make it better. Balakhil was likewise staring up at the broken and bloodied bodies, as oblivious to the goings-on as the man in the stocks was. As we began to look at the remains of other criminals that were stored in the cold cellar underneath the scaffold, he still remained frozen in place. I sympathised to some extent – it was hardly the first time that he saw what happened to traitors, but it was the first time after he had barely escaped that end himself – but I had brought him here to work, not to gawp, so I went out to tear him out of his broodings.

Although I did not really know how to go about that. „You see,“ I tried, „rendering you insensate for the ordeal would in fact have been quite merciful.“
He lowered his gaze, and now his stare was levelled at me, or rather through me: his eyes were looking quite vacant, as if he was halfway dead himself. Slowly – very slowly – they focused again, although I could not read their expression.
Balakhil stared at me for a good while. „I suppose,“ he finally said. „But sparing me was rather more merciful.“
„Well, obviously,“ I said, scratching my neck awkwardly. „Come on, there's work to do.“ I pointed him towards the vault, and he nodded and went without another word. I walked after him, but I forgot my duties immediately as the man in the stocks looked up after all.
Now it was my turn to stop and stare. „Master Amrazôr!“ I exclaimed in shock.
He blinked several times – and no wonder; we had not seen each other in years, and I was certainly not the scrawny fellow I had once been. Besides, who knew for how long he had been staring down at the rough boards of the scaffold with only shame and anger to occupy his mind. His hair was beginning to look unkempt, and his face was looking drawn and showing the shadow of stubble, so it must have been a day at the least – probably two.
„It's Azruhâr,“ I said to help his memory. „Your daughter's husband.“
The confused look gave way to surprise, and then something that might have been dread. „Azruhâr?“
I rubbed my nose. „The day-taler,“ I said, embarrassed.
Master Amrazôr groaned. „Have mercy on an old man!“
„What has brought you here?“ I couldn't help asking.
„Dishonest dealings,“ I heard the booming voice of Mâlakh as he emerged from below the scaffold, probably to see what was taking me so long. „An old friend of yours?“

He was scratching his head awkwardly. Being an executioner was as distasteful to the general public as being an embalmer, and that outcast status helped us to get along – professionally, at least – but it was difficult to forget what his work was, and harder when it somehow became personal.
„Not a friend, no,“ I replied.
„Old enemy?“ Mâlakh brightened a bit. „You can have a go at him, if you want.“
Slumping forward, Master Amrazôr repeated, „Have mercy on an old man.“
„You had no mercy on a young man,“ I heard myself point out.
And he certainly hadn't. I remembered that morning quite vividly, the sand in his yard underneath my knees, my arms stretched between the posts that were meant for tethering horses, the shame and fear as Niluthôr stepped up behind me, the resolve to remain silent, the terrible whistling of the lash before it bit into my skin and wore my resolve down very quickly. Oh yes, I remembered. I had no recollection of the events that had followed, did not even know how it had ended – I had later been told that I had fainted, that Lôbar had dragged me home, that Lômenil had taken care of me until Amraphel had appeared against all reason, that a healer had come and gone, but I remembered nothing until I had woken up to see Amraphel before me and panicked – but I certainly remembered how it had begun.

Master Amrazôr's shoulders were already shaking, although nothing had happened yet, and I realised in some astonishment that he would take it just as badly as I had done. It was a strange thought because I always assumed that everybody else was stronger than I was, but I could already see that Master Amrazôr would be no hero either. Perhaps he would break down even faster, since he wasn't used to rough treatment at all.
It is said that revenge is sweet, but the thought did not taste sweet to me at all. It was sour, like the rotten taste that fills your mouth after you have thrown up. I felt sick and I felt angry and I felt worn beyond reason, and for a moment I did consider taking it out on Master Amrazôr, who was so invitingly at my mercy and who certainly deserved it. That was the trouble of being put in the stocks, of course: In itself, the sentence wasn't too bad, the public humiliation being the main punishment. But if you had made enemies, it could very easily become worse, because everybody could hand a coin to the executioner and be allowed to take their revenge on you. Now Mâlakh was holding the handle of his whip out to me, and I could have taken it and painted Master Amrazôr's back with the same stripes that his groom had carved into my shoulders, and briefly, I was tempted.
But beating Master Amrazôr within an inch of his life would not make my own any happier. If there was indeed sweetness in revenge, I suspected it would be similar to drowning one's sorrows in wine: it might help for a night, but the morning after would bring them all back, along with self-loathing and a brutal headache.

So I shook my head. „There's no need. That's not why I'm here.“ I was speaking to myself as much as to Mâlakh. „I have work to do. I'm sorry; I have kept you waiting.“ And I went to join my colleagues.
They had already put the useful parts into wooden crates, and were ready to put them on our hearse when I arrived in the vault. Balakhil was looking pale and decidedly sick, although he was holding up bravely. Mîkul raised an exasperated eyebrow at me, and Master Târik said coldly, „What kept you so long?“
„I was distracted,“ I said. „The man in the stocks is my father-in-law.“
„Oh,“ said Mîkul. The others were silent. They all knew the story, except for Balakhil, and I could see the glances they were exchanging.
„I didn't hurt him,“ I said, annoyed by myself and by their meaningful silence and by the entire world.
„No, I expect we would have heard that,“ Karathôn retorted with an upwards glance.
Nothing else was said, but Master Târik's eyes remained on my face. For a moment, there was something in them that made me think that reconciliation was possible. I did not want that moment to pass, and so I held his gaze, and said, hopefully, „Master Târik?“
His face hardened at once, and my hopes were dashed. „What now?“ he asked testily, as if I had been making unreasonable requests all day.
I looked away quickly. „Nothing, sir. I apologise for wasting your time.“

Another frustrating week passed, and with it came the wheat harvest. A celebratory mood grasped the city, because although the precious grains were heavily rationed, there was finally proper bread to be had. Some of it even made it into my neighbourhood, and everybody rejoiced, except for me. I did not have the energy.
The council convened, and that meant that Lord Eärendur came back from Andúnië. We met for dinner. I was still distraught; he was happy. The harvest had been good. Lady Vánimë had given birth to a strong little boy, and was in good health. In spite of the folly of some elf-friends who continued to sow unrest, the King continued to look upon Andúnië with a friendly eye. Lord Eärendur had all reason to be content, and waved away my apologies for the failed attempt at talking to Master Târik.
„Let us not speak of it,“ he suggested kindly. „We all misplace our trust on occasion. Now, I hope you will be attending our feast for Vánimon? We're deliberately having it in the holiday week to allow all our friends from the capital to be there, not just the nobles.“
„I'll be honoured.“
„You'll also be enjoying yourself, I hope,“ Lord Eärendur said dryly. „There are some bad news, however; with all my brethren swarming in to celebrate my little heir, the house will be quite full.“
I bit my lips. „If it is trouble, I will stay at home, of course,“ I said as bravely as I could. In all honesty, I was looking forward to that week in Andúnië quite desperately. It felt as though my sanity depended on that carefree holiday, as if the gentle Western sea could wash away the frustration and exhaustion of the past weeks. But I did not want to become cumbersome to my host, and so I forced an understanding smile onto my lips.

Lord Eärendur shook his head quite violently. „No, that is not at all what I meant. I will arrange alternative lodgings for you and your family; it is no trouble at all. I can only stress that I do not mean to spurn you when I do not give you the rooms you had last time.“
„Good grief, my lord, we have no claim on them,“ Amraphel interjected.
„I know, but I would much rather give them to you than to, say, Atanacalmo,“ Lord Eärendur said with a wry smile. „However, that would raise you to a level of scrutiny that would probably be unwelcome.“
„Indeed,“ I said. „Can't go making enemies of Lord Atanacalmo, although he probably hates me anyway.“ I paused, a little embarrassed; these words had come out more forcefully than intended. „Really, your Grace, you need not worry,“ I continued more softly. „I am happy to be invited. You can put us in your servants' quarters for all I care.“
„No, that would not be appropriate,“ he protested seriously. „It would send the entirely wrong signal; we cannot have them think that you are to be considered servants.“
I said nothing. I could not gracefully point out that a pawn or a tool was only marginally more than a servant when he went to such lengths to ensure that I didn't feel spurned.
„Would you prefer to stay in an inn, or would you like to lodge with a family?“ Lady Nolwen asked now.

Amraphel and I looked at each other. I could not say that I preferred either option. I thought of the unfriendly inn where we had stayed during our journey in early summer. And then I thought of my lodgers last winter, how we had resented each other most of the time. „I suppose an inn would be more appropriate,“ I said, not wholly convinced.
„I don't know,“ Amraphel said, „it might be nice to share the life of a local family – if they are willing.“
„I would not force guests onto an unwilling family – not without dire need, at least,“ Lord Eärendur said, tapping his fingers on the table as if the very suggestion upset him.
„Well, it has happened to us and many of our neighbours, so I hope you will forgive my caution,“ Amraphel said.
The noble couple exchanged glances that I found impossible to read. „No, we generally ask for volunteers,“ Lady Nolwen said. „There are always volunteers.“
„I suppose it's alright then,“ I conceded grudgingly. „Will they be repaid for the food we eat and the linens we use and all that?“
I was given a rather bemused stare. „Naturally.“
„Don't say 'naturally' like it's natural, because it isn't,“ I said more hotly than was appropriate, which made Amraphel nudge me under the table and Lord Eärendur raise an eyebrow pointedly. I looked down, and mumbled, „My apologies, your lordship.“
After a moment's silence, Lord Eärendur said, „Thank you for bringing this to my attention; it clearly needs to be addressed before the council. But I hope you know by now that I try to give my people no cause for unhappiness.“
I kept my head bowed, unable to meet his eyes. „Yes, lord. I know.“

Later that night, when the children were asleep and we could speak in private, Amraphel and I discussed the matter some more. I had come to realise that a fully-fledged feast in the House of Andúnië, among the noble brethren of our hosts, would be a rather terrifying thing to attend, but at the same time, I had been looking at that week as a reward for enduring the past months, and my mind could not let go of that thought. The feast would only be a small part of it, and even if the nobles occupied the house for the entire week, I was still free to walk the streets or sit on the beach or even just sleep. Right now, that sounded like the most enticing thing. I wanted to lie down in a room that overlooked the sea, with a window open so I could hear the rhythm of the waves until I fell asleep. I would probably sleep for days, if only people let me.
No such rest was to be had right now. „We will have to take Balakhil along,“ I observed.
Amraphel did not reply, and I wondered whether maybe she had been lulled into sleep by my ramblings. „I don't want to leave him alone with the house and the hoards, whatever is left of them,“ I went on.
„Enough,“ said Amraphel's drowsy voice.
„So he must come with us,“ I repeated.
„Yes,“ I heard Amraphel sigh. „Then he will need a horse.“
I lay in the dark and stared up at the rafters. Maybe that was why rich folk had their ceilings painted, I thought, so they would have something to look at when they couldn't sleep at night.

So on Valanya, we went to buy a horse. Amraphel remembered the name of a horse-dealer whom her parents had considered 'too honest for his own good'. „I assume that means Tûmuzin doesn't trick his customers quite so badly.“
I nodded without replying. I had not told Amraphel that I had met her father in the stocks, but it seemed that she would not have been surprised at his dishonest dealings.
Master Tûmuzin, at any rate, made a very friendly impression. We first were greeted by one of his grooms, but when Amraphel insisted that we wanted Master Tûmuzin himself, he was quickly fetched without any coins changing hands. He greeted us politely. I wasn't certain that he didn't recognise Amraphel – he seemed to pause longer than necessary, his eyes flitting from me to her and back again – but I assumed that it would not be a bad thing. After all, if he knew who she was, he must also know that she was familiar with all the little tricks horse-dealers had, and that haggling for the right price had its limits.
But if Tûmuzin recognised her, he did not say so. „I'm sure we will find a fitting horse for your servant,“ he said, and to Balakhil, „You're a lucky man.“
„I know, sir,“ Balakhil said, keeping his eyes straight ahead as always.

Master Tûmuzin led us to his stables, and the groomsman who had welcomed us at the gate brought a pot of honeyed peppermint tea and a bowl of ripe grapes so we could refresh ourselves. I was glad to have something to do with my fingers while Amraphel took care of the actual business. She was looking at the different animals Master Tûmuzin presented, checking their hooves and their teeth, peering into their ears, answering the merchant's questions: For a servant, it probably did not need to be a fast horse? Well, it would have to keep up with ours. A young horse? Not too young, we had no time to break it in, it already needed to be trained. Would it need to carry loads also? Did we want a strong workhorse?
„I suppose it would be useful if it could pull a cart,“ I said, thinking of the hearse at work.
„Regularly? Heavy loads? Long distances?“ asked Master Tûmuzin.
I shook my head. „Here to the Noirinán, and only when the occasion arises.“
„Ah. Yes.“ He was silent for a while, perhaps pondering whether he wanted one of his precious horses to drag coffins around. He seemed to decide in the positive. „I think a docile allrounder would be the right choice, then.“
I wondered whether Balakhil would have preferred a fiery war-horse to fit his past as a guard, but he didn't show any displeasure as he was invited to mount a peaceful-looking brown mare. He rode a few times around the yard, and eventually came to a halt next to us.
He shrugged. „She's a bit slow in changing gaits,“ he told Amraphel. „Other than that, I suppose she's steady and willing.“
„Ah yes, she takes her time sometimes,“ Master Tûmuzin acknowledged. „Not the cleverest, maybe. If that's a problem, I can show you another beast...“
„Do that,“ Amraphel said, „but if you make us a decent price, I suppose we could be satisfied with this.“ And with that, the negotiations began. They were briefer than I had feared, and the result was not as bad as I had expected either (although horses were always expensive, of course). Perhaps Master Tûmuzin really was a rare honest specimen, or maybe my expectations had been absurd anyway.
„If you are in need of a saddler, I can recommend my son-in-law,“ Master Tûmuzin said as my money changed hands, and so we left his grounds with our new acquisition to see the saddler Dôrul.

We didn't get far beyond the gate before a familiar voice spoke out behind us, sounding rather sullen: „I hope you didn't pay too much for that horse.“
I froze in my tracks, and I felt Amraphel tense up next to me. We turned around in unison, and sure enough, there stood Master Amrazôr. He was looking his old self again, if somewhat more gaunt in the face, but clean-shaven and combed and properly dressed. Nonetheless, Balakhil recognised him and seemed to guess that he might be a threat; he immediately positioned himself between my father-in-law and us, shielding Amraphel and me with his broad shoulders and, once he had pulled her into place, the body of the confused horse. It was nice to see that he was taking his duty so seriously, although I did not actually expect Master Amrazôr to physically attack me. At the most, he was going to insult me or make some kind of scene, I thought.
My lower lip was beginning to sting, and I realised that I was biting down hard on it. I forced my teeth to relinquish their grip on the tender skin. Some kind of answer was probably unavoidable, so I went for, „I trust that Amraphel knows her business.“ My throat had gone very dry, and the words came out hoarsely.

But Master Amrazôr had, apparently, come in peace. He looked past Balakhil, first at me, then at his daughter, then back into my eyes. „You should have come to my place,“ he said. „I would have given you one of my finest.“
Amraphel gave a disbelieving snort. I swallowed hard, and said, „Really.“ I could not even bring my voice to intonate the word as a question, so absurd was the suggestion.
„Of course!“ Master Amrazôr replied, all hurt innocence, and added reproachfully, „I owe you a favour, don't I?“
Now Amraphel found her words. „What you owe my husband, sir, can hardly be paid with a horse – although I suppose it is a grand concession that you owe him anything at all. May I ask what has brought about this amazing offer, all of a sudden?“
The hurt in Master Amrazôr's face looked real, but it was quickly replaced by puzzlement. „You didn't tell her?“
„Tell me what?“ said Amraphel sharply.
„It would have been unkind,“ I said, feeling stupid. There was a moment's silence. Master Amrazôr probably regretted the fact that he had approached us at all. Balakhil still stood between us, ready to strike, although he must have realised by now that a fight was unlikely.
„We met in the stocks, your husband and I,“ Master Amrazôr finally said to Amraphel, „that is, I was in the stocks, and he was at liberty.“
„I would have noticed, otherwise,“ Amraphel retorted, looking at me sideways.
„I did not do anything to him!“ I said.
Amraphel's stern face broke, briefly, into a smile. „I know,“ she said, and then she returned her attention to her father, who was now shading his eyes with his hand as if exhausted.
„I suppose this is not the right place,“ he said wearily. „But we should speak. I would like to invite you for dinner. Tomorrow evening?“
I did not want to speak with him, I thought. Even if Master Amrazôr genuinely felt that he owed me something, even if his intentions were friendly this time, I did not want to set foot in his house again. But Amraphel was looking at me, leaving the decision to me, and I did not have the heart to say no. „I suppose,“ I said, and saw relief flood Master Amrazôr's face.
„Thank you,“ he said, and then he turned and limped away. I heaved a sigh of relief.
Balakhil also relaxed, and turned back towards us.
„Am I allowed to know,“ he asked, „just what is going on here?“

I dressed with great care, the next day after work, not because I wanted to honour Amraphel's parents but because I wanted to show that I was not dependent on their good graces anymore. I did not wear my new festival robes – there would not be enough time to get them cleaned and pressed in time for the journey to Andúnië – but I put on my least faded tunic, and I asked Amraphel to braid my hair and put in the silver clasps that she had bought to accompany the silver fitting of my amber pendant. I made sure that Balakhil was wearing a clean shirt and tunic also, and I was glad to see that Amraphel also saw fit to dress smart. Lasbêth came to help Enrakôr look after the children, and Amraphel, Balakhil and I rode up to Master Amrazôr's house. At least it was an opportunity for Balakhil to familiarise himself further with the brown mare.
„I do not wholly trust Master Amrazôr's intentions", I told Balakhil, „so I ask you to be especially vigilant.“
Balakhil's eyes lit up. Perhaps he was hoping that he'd be able to show his mettle, or maybe he felt that my request suggested that I trusted him (more than my father-in-law, at least). He touched his fist to his chest in a formal salute, and firmly said, „Yes, sir!“
I tried to reassure myself that he would probably not have to prove himself.
It should have felt different, to enter Master Amrazôr's property as a man of modest wealth and good connections, but I ducked my head between my shoulders as I walked through the gate just as I had done as a poor day-taler. Master Sérindo had told me to keep my back straight, because it was no wonder that my shoulders were always sore if I arched them all the time, but decades of habit were hard to shake off. My stomach had knotted with anxiety. The sculpture of a magnificent stallion, rearing up on its hind legs, looked very menacing to my nervous mind. When we tethered the horses to the posts in the yard, I half expected to discover traces of my blood still on them.

But it was different, oh, it was. It was Niluthôr of all people who stood by the door. He spoke no word of welcome, but he held the door open for us and pointed us into the hallway, and as we sat down to wait for our hosts, Niluthôr knelt to wash our feet. I had to clench my fists to keep my hands from shaking. Niluthôr seemed to tremble as well, probably from suppressed anger; but he did his duty, although he did not meet my eyes even once.
Then Mistress Râphumil arrived, a nervous smile on her lips.“Welcome,“ she said, and then she seemed to struggle for the proper term of address.
We rose and bowed politely. „Madam,“ I said, and because I did not want to be uncivil, I added, „Thank you for the invitation.“
„It has been a long time,“ Amraphel said without returning her mother's smile.
„Yes,“ Mistress Râphumil said. For a moment, she looked lost. Then she took refuge in routine. „Well, please follow me,“ she said, holding out her hand in practiced invitation. „Dinner should be about to be served.“

The large table had been set for exactly four people, but Balakhil did not seem to mind; he stood to attention in his usual impressive manner. Master Amrazôr, when he arrived, looked him over with a worried expression on his face, but did not comment on Balakhil's presence. Instead, he offered a formal bow. Amraphel was clutching my fingers so tightly that it hurt, which I found a little unsettling. She was always the reassuring presence while it was my part to be nervous and frightened; if Amraphel was anxious today, then I might have to be confident and in control. I wasn't certain I was up to that. But I could hardly blame her. Our courtship had been anything but usual, but I suppose that one might consider this the first formal meeting between the prospective husband and the bride's parents, which was certainly a cause for nerves. I tried to compose myself. I gave the sort of straight-backed bow that Lord Eärendur delivered so elegantly, and reminded myself to stand upright even though I found it uncomfortable (but Master Sérindo would have been pleased, I am sure).
„Thank you for following my invitation,“ Master Amrazôr said. Perhaps he noticed that I might have doubts about his change of heart, because he added, „truly.“
I did not know how to respond, so I tried to change the topic. „I hope your business is going well, sir.“
A shadow seemed to pass over his face. I guessed that it was because his business was not going well – on our way to the dining hall, I had seen several corners in need of repair, and outside, I had noticed that the gable of the annex was showing fissures. Besides, I assumed that Master Amrazôr had dealt dishonestly because honest business had failed to gain him enough.That was how such things tended to happen, I thought.

But right now, that did not seem to be his main concern. „Please,“ he said, „why don't you call me...“ he trailed off. In the normal way of things, we should consider each other as father and son, but he must have realised that I would not be willing to say Father, not now, probably not ever, and so he eventually opted for, „Amrazôr.“
I nodded, feeling strangely numb inside.
There was an awkward pause. When he understood that I did not want to repeat my question, Master Amrazôr went on, „Business is going well. Or was. It will take some time to regain my customers' trust, I fear...“
I wondered whether that was the reason for our invitation, to somehow help him regain the trust of his customers. I did not see how I could help him with that, even if I had wanted to, and so I said nothing. But Amraphel had something to say.
„Well, you must have earned their distrust, if you cheated badly enough to earn time in the stocks,“ she suggested.
Her father looked very pale, and I felt almost sorry for him. Mistress Râphumil tried to distract us, asking us to please be seated. I reminded myself to sit upright, and hid my nervous hands underneath the table where I kept on toying with the lower hem of my tunic. And then I noticed something strange: Master Amrazôr kept rearranging his cutlery, although it had been laid out perfectly before he had started to push it around. So he, too, needed something to occupy his hands. That was strangely reassuring, although the awkward silence wasn't.

A young servant brought the salad and stepped back to wait by the stairs. As we began to eat, Master Amrazôr suddenly found his voice again.
„I was tricked,“ he said, looking at his plate but addressing Amraphel. „By a man who wanted to buy three horses. He behaved like a gullible half-wit, begging to be fooled, but it turned out that he was some official person. I didn't know! But then he had me dragged off by guards and judged for dishonesty. Three days in the stocks! I still can't walk properly.“ He dabbed his forehead with his napkin, and then looked at me. „I suppose I shouldn't be complaining to you. That was extremely decent of you, not taking advantage of my situation.“
I felt that I needed to say something, so I said, „I am trying to be a decent man.“ And that was certainly true, although I knew I was not always doing a good job of it.
To my surprise, Master Amrazôr did not scoff, but nodded instead, his gaze dropping to his plate again. He had not eaten much so far. „Yes,“ he said, very simply. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Amraphel's lips twitch into a smile before silence settled upon us once more.

The salad was replaced by a chicken dish, and the servant refilled our glasses. I wondered whether he was a young day-taler, brought here in hope of a few coins and the leftovers, or whether he was a permanent part of the household. I ate listlessly. Nothing was wrong with the food; I just couldn't enjoy it in these surroundings, in this company.
Mistress Râphumil felt compelled to break the silence. „And your business, Azruhâr? I hope it is also going well.“
„As well as can be hoped, thank you.“
Master Amrazôr looked up from dissecting his chicken leg. „You are a death-dealer, are you not?“ he asked, spitting the words out as if they were burning his tongue.
I stiffened, expecting that he would now begin to throw abuse at me – it was long overdue – but instead, he said, „That must be gruelling and frightful work, preserving the dead.“
My lips twisted in annoyance. I was tempted to say that I had ended up in this gruelling and frightful position not least of all due to his unkindness. „It is very sobering, and took some getting used to, but it is of great importance to the King,“ I said instead, but then the words slipped out as an afterthought, „and the dead have never hurt me.“
Mistress Râphumil narrowed her eyes, but her husband nodded in a resigned manner. „I regret what I did,“ he said, „very much.“
I clenched my teeth, resisting the urge to point out how very little that meant.
„I hope that we may yet be friends,“ Master Amrazôr said.

„Now?“ The word pushed its way past my teeth. „Why?“
„There should be peace in the family,“ Master Amrazôr said wearily.
Amraphel spoke up. „After all these years?“
Her father heaved a heavy sigh. „It has been on our mind for some time,“ he insisted, looking at Mistress Râphumil, „but we did not think it likely to happen. However, since Azruhâr did not enact his revenge when he had the chance, we began to hope that he might be willing to reconcile after all.“ His wife nodded in confirmation.
I turned to mine for guidance. Some part of me, I admit, would have liked to throw their offer right back in their faces (along with a plate and the chicken bones, perhaps). But they were Amraphel's parents. And I did want to be a decent person.
Amraphel in her turn was studying me, as if wondering how to arbitrate between me and the people who had conceived and raised her. Out loud, she said, „Then why did you, in winter, offer succour only to me and my children, but not him?“
Master Amrazôr opened his mouth, and did not seem to know what to say. I decided that I did not want to hear it, anyway.
„This would have meant the world to me,“ I heard myself say, „seven years ago.“

Mistress Râphumil looked me straight in the eye. „You will understand that at the time, you were not the kind of husband we had envisioned for our daughter.“
To my own surprise, I found it very easy to hold her gaze. „I understand that perfectly, madam. I would never have envisioned a woman like her as my wife, either. And if you had shown me the slightest kindness then – not even kindness! If you had allowed me to explain myself, perhaps, or if you had let me off with ten lashes and a reprimand, I would have sung your praises, and I would never have presumed to get in the way of your plans. But after the pain you put me through, I felt I owed you no more loyalty.“
Master Amrazôr put his cutlery aside and laid his hands flat on the table. „I was too harsh, that is true, but I punished you only after you had seduced Amraphel.“
My head wanted to hide between my shoulders again, and I had to force myself to square my shoulders and hold it high instead. „As I could have told you back then, if you had allowed me to speak, all I did was answer her.“
„Niluthôr saw you kiss her,“ Mistress Râphumil protested sharply.
„Niluthôr was mistaken,“ I said.
Amraphel was less polite. „Niluthôr lied,“ she said. „Niluthôr lied because he was jealous, and because I expect he wanted to rise in your trust and favour. We spoke a few words, and I touched Azruhâr's hand for a moment. That is all.“ She took a deep breath. „And I started it.“
Her parents looked at each other, confused and perhaps a little shocked at this late confession.

But Amraphel had no intention of stopping. I realised that her earlier silence had been a struggle for self-control, an attempt to maintain polite calmness, not a desire to stay on her parents' side. Now she had reached the end of her patience.
„You have no idea,“ she said in a low and hollow-sounding voice, „how difficult it was to become a day-taler's wife, especially a day-taler who was shunned by many of those who could have given him work. Azruhâr warned me – he warned me against marrying him, he advised me to return to you even after everything that happened! – but I wanted him, I wanted to be with him, and so I learned. You think you had me educated, but there were so many things I had to learn, and I don't just mean sweeping a floor and cooking my own meals. You call these people do-nothings, but they work all the time, all the odd jobs that you don't even know exist, and after they have worked for other people, they go home and continue working, because they have nobody else to do it. You call them unskilled, but they have a great deal of skill. They can make everything from nothing, because they have to. I saw how Azruhâr laboured, and how our neighbours laboured, and if diligence equalled riches, they should have been swimming in gold. But we only ever managed to make ends meet. And you could have made such a difference, but you just talked about your ungrateful daughter and the dishonourable swain who had practically torn her from your arms.“ Her voice had grown louder, and it was full of bitterness. „We had a daughter, and you did not even want to hear about her. You did not care until you noticed that Azruhâr was summoned by the King, and then suddenly he became a person of interest.“ Amraphel was glaring daggers now, and if I had been her parents, I think I would have cowered under the table. They certainly looked as if they had seen lightning strike into their very hall, sitting wide-eyed and very still.
„Everything that Azruhâr said then,“ Amraphel finished, „is still true today. So do not tell me about peace in the family, and don't you dare tell him that he should take your hand while you are generous enough to offer it.“
I swallowed hard, because she was right, but also because I could feel her parents' distress, and in spite of everything, it pained me.
„I have no desire to be your enemy, Master Amrazôr,“ I said. „But you will understand that I find it hard to think of friendship.“

This time, he did not accuse me of arrogance or tell me that I would regret declining his request. That more than anything showed me how much everything had changed.
„I understand,“ he said with a sigh. He gestured to his servants to remove our plates. None of us had eaten well. I felt somewhat guilty about the waste of food, but then I figured that the servants would be happy about it. Surely they would enjoy the remains of the poor chicken more than we had.
When the main dish had been replaced by dessert, honeyed curds with plums and roasted oats, Master Amrazôr looked up again.
„I should like to make amends, if you see a way,“ he said. „Is there anything you need of me?“
I turned to give Amraphel an astonished stare. That was certainly new.
The strange thing was, there was honestly nothing that I wanted of Master Amrazôr, and the things that I needed he could not provide. I had come to terms with the fact that my father-in-law despised me for so long that I no longer wanted his love. Our daughters had never questioned their lack of grandparents. I had steady work, and I had money enough to feed my family. I did not even need a new horse, since we had just bought one.
„For my part, you have nothing that I want,“ I said. I tried to say it in a gentle manner.
Mistress Râphumil abandoned her hunt for a slippery plum that continued to escape her spoon.
„I will tell you what he does not have,“ she said. „He does not have an heir.“

I did not at first grasp what she meant, because I did not see why I should care. It was not uncommon for men to have no heirs. In such cases, they would generally bequeath their business to their most talented apprentice or their most trusted assistant.
But then I realised the significance of her words and felt my eyes widen. Because the third option, for men who had married daughters, was to pass their business on to a son-in-law.
And that would be me.
For a moment, I dreamed. I dreamed of being Master Amrazôr's heir, and it was a good dream. Horse-dealers, in spite of their reputation for driving hard bargains, were respected members of society, people who had it made and who, as long as they stayed within the limits of the law, lived as peaceful and carefree a life as one could ask for. Such security would have been a wonderful thing to have, and it would have been delightful also to leave behind the scorn that better folk reserved for both day-talers and embalmers. I could have escaped the cold of the catacombs and the terror of the dead and the tense and angry mood. I had to admit that I would have liked all that very much. For its sake, I would have declared my forgiveness and my filial love to Master Amrazôr on the spot – if it had been at all feasible.
But alas, it was not. As Master Târik had pointed out, we were alive only as long as we were useful as embalmers. I could not escape my duties without facing the old charges of theft and burglary and base murder. And as I thought about it, I realised that I did not truly want to. It was unpleasant work and the threat of death had in the past months grown stronger than ever, but it was my work. I knew it, I was good at it, and I constantly thought about how I could improve it. It had given me the means to make my sister a succesful fishmonger and to support my neighbours in winter. It had brought me to Andúnië. And my colleagues, even though we were currently at odds, were my best friends.

I shook my head, though not without regret. „If you had apprenticed me those seven years ago,“ I told Master Amrazôr, „then I would be ready to become your assistant in three years.* But now I have come into a different profession. I have my duties towards the King.“ I smiled a little, half wistful and half amused. „Besides, I would be a very poor businessman. Amraphel has to do all the calculations for me. Although I would have done my best to learn, if you had taught me... back then.“
And that, really, was it. I could have learned – back then. I would have done my utmost to please Master Amrazôr, had he made that generous offer at that time when I was poor but free. I would never have ended up following Lôbar into a rich Venturer's house, I would not have been arrested, I would not have become an embalmer's apprentice. I would have moved into Master Amrazôr's house without looking back, and I would not have meddled in politics and earned the hatred of the Crown Prince and some lords of the council. My life would have been so much more simple. It was sad to consider, and also infuriating.
For a while, nobody said anything. Then Master Amrazôr sighed once more. „I see,“ he said. Amraphel looked a little smug. Mistress Râphumil looked displeased. We finished eating, all lost in thought, without sharing our thought with each other.

Our hosts brought us to their gate, and again we stood in awkward silence. I saw Master Amrazôr pat the flank of my horse where it was branded with the sign of the King's stables. I figured I should thank him for the meal, and I did.
He nodded in a resigned manner. „It was the least I could do,“ he said. „And if there is anything else...“ he trailed off.
I still could not get used to this new version of him, although I had to admit that it was a pleasant change. „There is something.“ I suddenly heard myself say. „When you next hire day-talers, be kind to them, and pay them well. And when you have a customer who just begs to be tricked, even if it really is a gullible fool and not a disguised official, don't trick him. And don't punish Niluthôr on my account. At this point, it no longer matters.“
Master Amrazôr stared at me as if I had lost my mind. I stared back, unblinking, and at last he nodded.
„We should like to meet our granddaughter, some time,“ he said.
Amraphel snorted audibly. „Granddaughters,“ she said sharply. „We have two daughters.“
Her father paled again, mortified. and I wondered how he could not have known that. We had not bothered to inform Amraphel's parents of Nimmirel's birth after their reaction to our first child, but their grooms had visited us in winter. Then I remembered that our house had been full of people. It had probably been impossible for Ulbar and Niluthôr to know who belonged to our family, who had been lodgers, and who had been neighbours.
„You know,“ Amraphel went on, „we originally meant to name our firstborn Râphumil. But when you turned Lômenil away with the news, we called the child Azruphel instead. Our second daughter is named Nimnîmirel - at the suggestion of the King.“
It sounded a lot more spectacular than it had really been, I felt, but I knew why Amraphel presented it in this manner. Her parents were certainly impressed. Working directly for the King was in itself an achievement, but having him take an active interest in the naming of your child was on a different level yet. Master Amrazôr was looking at me with something akin to awe, now. I should have been pleased, but instead my heart ached because their sadness was almost tangible and because everything was so complicated.
„We will think about your request,“ I said, glancing at Amraphel, and she did not contradict me.
And then we left my parents-in-law.

I was glad to abandon the unnaturally straight posture as we slowly rode down the streets. My shoulders ached, and my heart and mind were hurting, and I could look no farther than the ears of my horse.
Amraphel seemed to be stewing in her own thoughts. I said, „If you want to make up with your parents, that's alright with me. Please don't feel obliged to be angry just because of my past. Good things have happened since then.“
She half-turned towards me with a half-hearted chuckle. „Thank you, love, but I assure you that I have anger enough on my own account.“
I bit my lips, remembering what she had said about the difficulties of becoming a poor day-taler's wife. I had warned her, but that had partly been out of selfishness because I was afraid of being disappointed when she tired of me and my life of toil. I had desperately hoped that she would stay with me all the same, and miraculously, she had. She always said she did not regret any of it, and she was still with me after all these years, so perhaps it was true.
„I love you so much,“ I told her. „You kept me alive, then and ever since.“
Amraphel's clenched muscles relaxed, as if a mask fell off her face, and she smiled at me. „And you have made my life worth living,“ she retorted. „I love you too.“
If we had been on foot, I thought, we would have embraced now and kissed each other breathless, and possibly more. But we were on horseback, and besides, Balakhil was riding behind us. Remembering his presence, I pulled myself upright again.
„Are you hungry, Balakhil? It must have been dreadful, watching us mistreat that poor chicken while you had nothing for yourself.“
„That is not uncommon in my line of work,“ Balakhil said politely. „Don't worry about me.“ But he did not protest when we made a detour to the night market, where I bought some bean fritters for him. They came wrapped in a cabbage leaf – normally, vendors used flat bread, but that was still too precious to waste on a market snack. It was not the easiest food to eat while riding, but Balakhil managed well enough. He was chewing, and Amraphel was brooding, and I was still feeling inexplicably sad.

„Aren't you worried,“ Balakhil asked when he had finished his meal and licked his fingers clean, „that one day you will waste your kindness on somebody who will use it against you?“
I was a little amused by that question, because it came from him of all people and also because he made it sound so grand.. „All the time,“ I said truthfully. „But I can't help it. And I suppose it's better to err on the side of kindness.“
„It is much better indeed,“ Amraphel said. „In fact, it might have saved you just now.“
I frowned, confused. „What do you mean?“
„I can't help wondering whether it was done on purpose,“ Amraphel said, „that Father was put in the stocks just in time for you to meet him.“
I still did not understand, and she continued, „It's a strange coincidence, isn't it? His business must have been suspicious for quite some time – and no wonder, really – but it's awfully convenient that someone investigated precisely before you embalmers were due to come to the scaffold, isn't it? You only go there three or four times a year, after all. So I wonder whether somebody meant you to see Father there, and act accordingly.“
My brow contracted further as I finally caught on. „You mean, somebody wanted me to have my revenge?“
Amraphel gave me a pointed look. „Maybe. And maybe somebody wanted you to take your revenge a step too far.“
I blinked. That was a sickening thought. It was not hard to imagine that if I had taken Mâlakh's offer, perhaps I would not have known when to stop. But what sort of person would speculate on something like that happening? And to what point?
To make me guilty of murder, I answered my own question. To make me squander the mercy that had been granted to me, and to have me punished accordingly. Even the King would be hard put to save me a second time.
„No,“ I said because I did not want to believe it. „That would be monstrous!“
„It would be,“ Amraphel conceded, „and I very much hope that I am wrong.“
But I couldn't help but suspect that she might be right.

---

Chapter End Notes

* Traditionally, the length of an apprenticeship was often seven years; but given the long lifespan of the Númenoreans, I felt I should make it a bit longer. But not too much, since the amount of learning probably wouldn't really change. So ten years it is.