CHAPTER TEXT

“You couldn’t sleep?” said Finne, “Did he wake you up?”

“No,” said Aleci, making his way back to the map, he looked back at Finne, “if you want to join me, feel free.”

He thought Finne would refuse the offer, but Finne followed him, hesitantly sitting on the far side of the cot, rocking Ethain gently in his arms.

“Your soldiers have a bet on you,” said Finne, a half smile on his face, “Did you know?”

“I let them have their fun,” Aleci shrugged, “None of their bets ever bore fruit.”

“Hm,” said Finne, “Do you think I can stay with the Imrukian women?”

“I think so," said Aleci, “I don’t see why they’d refuse you.”

Finne let out a breath, “That’s… good," he said. “You are right. I don’t really think things through. I wouldn’t have known where to go or stay after I… if I arrived at the Capital.”

“I find it hard to think when I’m sleep deprived and I don't have to care for three children.” offered Aleci, deciding not to say that there were undoubtedly many unscrupulous people that would love to offer their help to Finne and his children.

“Thank you for teaching my son,” said Finne suddenly. “I wouldn’t have thought… he’s always trying to tell me things but I can’t really-”

Aleci could handle a baby’s endless wails, but not tearful gratitude.

“I said it’s within my ability,” said Aleci, shifting himself uncomfortably on the cot, “I don’t see why Ediann’s life has to be more difficult than it is.”

“They cautioned me against marrying him,” said Finne suddenly. “You call them priestesses here. They were driven out, but the ones that practiced in secret, they all said it was a bad idea,” he sighed deeply, rocking Ethain. “I was stupidly starry eyed and believed him.”

“Your husband?” said Aleci.

Finne laughed harshly, “Half brother. He said it was destiny or such. Blood was stronger than the old women’s superstitions,” he turned his head away from Aleci. “I’m sorry, if you don’t want to hear, I’ll excuse myself-” he made to stand up.

“No,” said Aleci, “You can talk,” he waved a hand, “it’s not like our history is as esteemed either. The last-” he lowered his voice, “the last Caesar had relations with his sister. He didn’t claim noble blood, he said he was the descendant of Gharsius. The scion of the Gods. He could’ve just announced that he was beyond human law and can do as he wished. I’d believe that more.”

He watched as Finne’s mouth opened in shock.

“You don’t?” said Finne, faintly, adding, “Praefect.”

“You don’t have to call me Praefect,” said Aleci. “You’re my guest. I’m Aleci. And yes, I do have my doubts. If he really was the scion of a God then wouldn’t Gharsius have saved him from being fatally stabbed?”

Stolen story; please report.

From what he overheard, listening in to his parents about the whole sorry affair, the Caesar's death had led to many promotions, one of which was given to Galer. It was Galer that loved the promotion, but it was his father that confessed to his mother that he didn't feel that their family would be safe in the Capital. 'You are so paranoid, dear,' his mother had said, patting his father's hand. After Galer rode off she had then set about commissioning little nooks and crannies inside their Capital villa, big enough to hide three people.

“I don’t understand your customs,” said Finne.

“You needn’t understand,” said Aleci. “You can spend your entire life documenting all the Gods and Goddesses the Empire has and you’ll still be baffled. I’ll give you advice for when you get there, Mytea’s a good choice as any for someone new to the Capital.”

“Your God,” said Finne, amused.

“Yes,” said Aleci, nodding. “Mytea’s also fickle but it’s true that you get rewarded for helping strangers. Human kindness and all that, people feel an obligation to pass on the favor or return the favor.”

“I see,” said Finne, sounding unconvinced. “Can you teach me the signs? What you were-” he took Ethain into one arm to free his right hand, “doing? I noticed you did this-” he gestured, “for a question.”

“Of course,” said Aleci. “I’ll teach you.” Then he smiled at the memory of Ediann, “It was cheeky of him. Is he always so amusing?” Aleci mused, “I’ll see when he speaks in complete sentences.”

“Isn’t that too much?” said Finne, “To sign? You are doing each letter?”

“No,” said Aleci. “He will either drop all the vowels, like me, or hm I don’t know how Domerc does it. I taught Domerc to sign everything but he’s a horrendous speller.`` The thought of trying to understand Ediann after a day with Domerc was now frightening, “Ah well, let’s just say, it’s an accent. You know, like how a faraway village has folks that don’t pronounce their t’s.”

“What?” said Finne, “I don’t follow you.”

“Signing is a way of communicating,” said Aleci. “If you give people time, there'll be differences that spring up. I prefer to sign without using vowels. I think it’s faster. Domerc, the soldier that found you, he can’t spell.” an understatement, “I assume he’s developed some abbreviations. Like-” Aleci held out four fingers and moved them jerkily, “this is how Domerc spells out horses. Don’t ask me why, I don’t see the logic in it. Children are clever, he-” Aleci nodded towards where Ediann was sleeping, “he’ll figure out that he needs to sign properly with me.”

“It’s only you and Domerc that knows this?” said Finne, “There isn’t a… community of people that would know this in the Capital?”

“The men that have been with me the longest knows,” said Aleci. “We were on a-” he paused, searching for the right explanation, “campaign, and the walls were thin. We were told that there are ears everywhere. So signing came about.” said Aleci.

“Ah,” said Finne, looking disappointed, “I’d hoped that maybe he’d be able to… well…”

“Worry about that later,” said Aleci, deciding he didn’t like the frown on Finne’s face as he contemplated Ediann’s uncertain future/ “The important thing is, he knows he can talk to you about more complicated things than just pointing to pictures. And you can understand him better. That’s important, understanding.”

“You sound like you speak from experience,” Finne said, then flinched. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t-”

“Well, it is rather presumptuous of me to give parenting advice when I’ve got no children,” said Aleci, “Don’t apologize.”

“You’re not married?” Finne began, hesitantly.

“The many prayers of my father and mother were met with silence,” said Aleci, solemnly. “I am… away quite often with my duties. I wouldn’t feel right having a wife and leaving him behind so often.”

“Him?” said Finne.

Aleci was very grateful that the light was dim and Finne couldn’t see his blush, “I don’t suppose you’ve heard the very loud gossip that I seem to not take interest in women? I thought about marrying but-” he coughed, “you see, it’s not like in Imruk, there’s not many carriers in the Capital and those that are, well, they’re not marrying common men." That was one way to put it, but he wasn’t about to tell Finne what the status of carriers were in the Capital.

“Oh,” said Finne. “But you do want a wife?”

“I don’t know,” Aleci confessed. “It’s what everyone says would-” make him feel better, “to do." he quickly corrected himself, "If I had interest in women I would’ve married without a care. But I don’t and that gave me many years to think the whole thing over. And even thinking it over I still don’t know.” he rubbed at his temples, “I should have sworn celibacy but why would I do that to myself when there’s so many handsome men in the world?”

“I see,” said Finne, lips twitching. “So many handsome men.”

“Don’t you think it’s true?” said Aleci, before he could stop himself.

That made Finne pause, “I don’t know,” he confessed. “I haven’t been with… many men.”

Of course Finne would say that, thought Aleci, wishing he didn’t blurt out questions like some fool.

“Why don’t I teach you? The signs? We could start with the alphabet or the drawings you made on the tablet.”

Finne was slow to spell out words, but he was surprisingly adept at remembering the signs as Aleci spelled them out one by one.

"I can see Ediann's got your wits," said Aleci, grinning, "I- Is something wrong?"

"No," Finne said, his voice shaky as he looked away from Aleci again. "I... No one had complimented him for being like me."

"Oh," said Aleci, rubbing his neck, uncomfortably. "Who else would have taught him until now?"

He saw Finne take in a long breath and let it out again, "Are you always like this, Pra- Aleci, asking questions and making people think?"

"Do you want me to stop?" said Aleci.

"No," said Finne, shaking his head, "I like your questions."