Chapter 20:

  Aria had just arrived at the keep by the time lunch was being served. The midday meal generally wasn’t a family affair for the Rodrigos the same way that breakfast and dinner in the keep were. Instead, the midday repast was often used as a time for his mother to conduct meetings or entertain, and for his father to either join her or to make his rounds within the keep, and occasionally in the town. In his last life, Eli had spent this time sneaking in more magic theory, or independent study while getting a light meal. Occasionally he would be invited to join his mother in controlled exposures to adult politics when it was appropriate. Sometimes his father would even let him do the rounds.

  More recently he had been using this time to meditate and expand his mana pool, as well as work on a theory he had about moving-meditation and mana cycling. He had seen one of the Family archmages use something like it during a battle, and it had drastically increased their effectiveness. He didn’t want to just assume that non-stationary meditation was yet another advantage the invaders had just handed to the Families. It was not like the people of Vereth were incapable of innovation, it was just that the aliens were so far beyond them he had to assume that either progress on Vereth had been artificially stagnated or that wherever the aliens had come from, they had been working with mana for much, much longer than even the strongest of the Families.

  It was also the time Aria usually left if she had come over, and he had never been able to get her to visit after her deliveries before. However, today was different. Today he had managed to convince her to not only come over after she did her deliveries to have lunch with him, but he was pretty sure if he played it right, he might just get her to agree to stay for the rest of the afternoon.

  Of course, he had to give credit where it was due. It was one of the rare days Sela wasn’t working during the repast, and she’d sacrificed her free time convince her only child’s only friend to spend time with him. Declining a lunch invitation by Eli was seen as courteous, like Aria was aware of her station and was not seeking to step beyond it. Declining an invitation to have a meal with her ladyship however was entirely different.

  Was Eli embarrassed or ashamed he had needed his mother’s help? Not at all. He genuinely couldn’t understand people who insisted on ignoring the privileges they had, especially when they came with so few downsides. In his opinion there were only issues when the privileged refused to acknowledge that they were, in fact, privileged. So long as he understood the costs, and the consequences of using his position and relationships, he saw no problem with doing just that. Should a sparrow insist on walking because emu couldn’t fly?

  “Come sit with me,” Eli said to Aria. His mother watched him from over the rim of her teacup where they both sat in the dining area of his chambers. She was obviously amused at the situation as Aria dithered around the edges of the table.

  Mother and son watched as Aria hesitated, almost retreated, but then she shook her head. She seemed to settle something within herself before her expression firmed and she strode forward. The meal progressed pleasantly enough from their, though as time passed Eli could notice something off about his friend.

  The air around her was heavy with exhaustion as she sat and ate. Her movements were slow and methodical, much more calculated than they usually were, even in the presence of both Lord and Lady Rodrigo. Eli might have simply assumed that it was the unfamiliar situation that was affecting her, except he knew Aria, and it wasn’t just that she was tired. There was a quiet sadness clinging to her posture that Eli found concerning. He wanted to say something but knew neither of them would be completely candid while his mother was there, so he said nothing until the meal was well underway.

  Between bites he leaned close smiling as she instinctively leaned in as well.

  “You do not have to go home after this, you know?” he murmured. He wouldn’t pry, but he wasn’t above coaxing, and his mother needed to leave before he even had a chance of getting his friend to open up. Predictably, she pushed back.

  Her eyes widened. “You have lessons. Don’t you?”

  “Yes, but if you leave right away it would be such a short visit.” He affected an exaggerated pout. “Do you only spend time with me because of the delicious food? You promised me you would never like Chef more than me.”

  “What?” Aria’s face scrunched up. “You’re being silly,” she said eyes crinkling with supressed mirth.

  “Mother, she only likes me for our cook.”

  “It’s not the worst reason to like someone,” Sela said, her face overly grave.

  “Mama,” he exclaimed, his hand slowly rising to press against his heart. His expression one of absolute betrayal. Finaly, Aria was unable to hold in a giggle. The sound soothed something for Eli, and even Sela’s face brightened a bit as the echoes of laughter drifted around the room. Finally, the little girl turned to her friend.

  “What would I do all by myself?” She asked. Eli looked at her, Sela looked at her. Even Angela, Eli’s chambermaid who had up until that moment been making it a point to stay unobtrusive and out of the way looked at her. All three of their faces held different versions of the same confused expression.

  “All alone, dear. In the keep?” Sela asked.

  “While Eli does his lessons,” Aria continued, as though it was both an obvious and foregone conclusion.

  “Of course not,” Eli said. The words were gentle and measured. “You know you’re allowed to join me even if it’s not magic, right?” He turned toward his mother. “Right?”

  Sela looked across the table, calm and steady. “We would simply let Madame Okoro know she’ll have an extra pupil today. Cailean attends as well, dear,” she said, focusing now on the little girl in front of her. “I see no reason you could not.”

  Aria blinked at her, uncertain. “Truly?”

  Sela’s expression softened. “Truly,” she agreed.

  “Truly,” Eli seconded. “Is that why you are always saying no to my invitations?” He smiled and shook his head. “I promise, Aria, we would still be spending time together if you ever decided to stay. Unless you wanted me to be leaving you alone?” The question was only partially asked in jest.

  “No. No, I don’t want that.”

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  Aria looked directly at Eli, searching his face. Her gaze darted briefly toward where Sela sat before they darted back to Eli. He smiled at her, steady and certain.

  “It really is okay, Aria,” he said.

  Her lips parted, and her small tongue darted out to wet them before she smiled. “I’d like that, then. I’d like to stay.”

  ~

  After the midday meal Eli walked the familiar path to the study. This time he had his best friend right there beside him for the first time in either lifetime. Sure, he would be doing a lesson, but he would be doing it with Aria.

  Her presence settled him, and he felt grateful for it as they headed for the lesson together. With the way he had been pushing himself, Eli was finding that his mundane lessons were increasingly becoming a refuge from the constant combat training. Despite his love of magic theory, his new focus on healing and on the four common elements had made lessons with his mother much more of a chore than the enjoyable exploration they usually were. When he added that to the exertion of his morning training, the frustration he was feeling about his lack of progress with the new meditation method, and the conversation he had with his parents that morning about his upcoming bout with Kara. Eli was almost relieved to walk into the mundane study room.

  The room Eli usually had his mundane studies in was a nearly identical copy of the magic study in every way except décor. The bookshelves in here were light, made with the more common wood easily logged from the mountains, instead of the much darker rift-farmed wood that made up the shelves in the magic room. The light colour coupled with the huge windows gave the room a clean, bright, and open feel. It helped that there were no magical reagents polluting the metaphysical energy of the room with an almost imperceptible heaviness. The result was a orderly and refreshing ambiance that despite the walls being similarly lined with tall shelves, and the identical slate board in the front conjured by his governess instead of his mother, managed to give the room a completely different atmosphere.

  Eli preferred the magical study, but that had much more to do with his interest in the subject matter, and his fondness for his instructors than with the rooms themselves. It was interesting though to note Aria’s reaction to the room as they walked in. Eli had to remind himself that unawakened people reacted to magical density in the air much differently than awakened people, especially when they had potential.

  He watched as she began subconsciously bracing for something. Her shoulders had twitched ever so slightly towards her ears, her hands had clasped together in front of her, and she had shuffled to stand just slightly behind Eli. That wouldn’t do, not when etiquette was part of the lesson. Being called out before the instruction even began probably wouldn’t encourage Aria to continue attending lessons with him, and he needed her to do so if she was going to have any chance to catch up before they left for the academy.

  Eli coaxed her to stand beside him as he pressed a comforting hand against her back and guided her into the room. He could physically feel as she relaxed bit by bit once they had crossed the threshold and nothing happened.

  Madame Okoro was already at the desk, a stack of texts at hand. They took their seats and the moment the clock struck the hour, instruction commenced. Her voice filled the room as she began speaking. Her cadence was measured but quick. She expected retention and comprehension.

  The pace was nothing unusual for Eli. He sat upright, took diligent notes, answered questions with practiced ease, and occasionally asked questions of his own. Most of this was review for him, though he had managed to pivot his lessons to new or more relevant information for him in the few days he’d been back, so the lessons weren’t useless, even if the fundaments were things he already knew. Aria however was not having nearly as easy of a time.

  She was seated just beside him with an untouched paper and ink in front of her. She was seated directly beside Eli, and he was watching in real time as her eyes glazed over in incomprehension, and she began to retreat into herself. She was visibly struggling. The words came too fast. The things she understood were being moved on from before she could grasp the context, and all the rest of the terms and concepts were too unfamiliar for her to even begin piecing together the lessons.

  Today’s subject was the Adler territory. This was the land granted to the Rodrigos by the Imperial Family. The territory stretched from the city of Adler, which bordered two neighbouring provinces, and stretched all the way to the border wilds. This was the edge of imperial (or any colonized) territory, and it was made up of smaller villages, and more developed and industrious ‘pillar’ towns like Lera.

  “Can you tell me about the primary exports for the Adler territory?” Madame Okoro asked the question like it was both a demand and a foregone conclusion.

  “Mana crystals,” Eli replied without pause.

  “Where from?”

  “The mines near Lera. Technically owned by the Empire, but processing and fees flow through the city the Rodrigos administrate, so we get a cut of the trade and tax profits.”

  “Correct. Secondary exports?”

  Eli listed them each clearly. It was a good mental exercise, and a great way of reacquainting himself with what he was working with, as well as where there was room for improvement and for profit.

  “Adler has significant exports of enhanced natural materials, alchemy herbs and alchemical products, treated hides, and harvested beast products such as meats, enhanced furs and other derivatives. Each village along the border has their own specializations, and while some overlap, there is enough demand we don’t often see big dips in market value. The Rodrigo family handles most trade logistics within Adler, and ferrying goods into and out of the territory.

  “Our third major export is trade itself.” Eli said before the governess could ask. “The Rodrigo family has a robust trade network, and we are one of the only groups with both the power and the wealth to handle trade so far out from the central provinces.”

  “Very good, Eli. Just be careful about anticipating what someone is looking for from you. What if I was never going to ask about the third export?

  “It is risky to make assumptions, especially when it could lead to you giving away information. It’s not just about what you know, or what you think you know. It is also about what they think you know. There is no reason to give away an information advantage, no matter who you are talking to.”

  “I understand Mme Okoro. ‘To listen is to learn, to stay unknown is to stay ahead.’”

  Madame Okoro gave Eli one of her very rare, gentle smiles.

  “You’ve been listening to your mother then. Good. Very good,” she said. Eli just smiled.

  Aria sat still, listening, the words washing over her like they were in another language. Though she perked up at the end. She was very good at listening, even if she didn’t always understand.

  “Transportation,” Madame Okoro continued the lesson. “Explain the advantages Adler holds.”

  “Our greatest advantage is that mother is a spatial mage,” Eli said. “Our territory can move goods faster than others at the same step. Combined with Father’s martial lineage, and my parent’s combined reputation, it expands our influence beyond what most fourth-step houses achieve.

  “We have the means, the location, and enough of a monopoly on both goods and methods that Adler has become one of the foremost commercial hubs,” Eli finished. While the prosperity was nice, the consequences of being a popular destination where a lot of goods and money traded hands meant that the capital of the province, Adler city, was not somewhere the Lord and Lady Rodrigo had wanted to raise a family. Hence why they lived in Lira.

  “Very good, Elias,” said the Madame Okoro, her expression unchanged, and her intonation giving nothing away before she launched back into the lessons.

  The instruction continued from there. It was rapid-fire, mentally taxing, and all incredibly relevant to some of the projects he wanted to move forward with in the immediate future. Imports, exports, management structures. The Rodrigos were a border house, known not just for excellent trade, or terrifying battle capable Lord and Lady, but for their ability and experience with governing difficult frontiers.

  Eli answered each question crisply. Aria stared, astonished. She had never quantified what it meant that he was noble, not until now, not until just a portion of the scope of his family’s responsibilities was laid bare. Eli felt genuinely terrible about just how overwhelmed Aria was getting. He promised himself he would fill her in the moment he got a chance.

  By the time Madame Okoro dismissed them, she was lost in the tide of names, places, and ideas she’d never even heard of before.