Rraiec grimaced. “He is currently listening to Kavnap discuss the virtues of bureaucratic service.” Wesley groaned along with Rraiec. The elder wasn’t their favorite; he had an inordinate love of all things procedural. “So Baura told me to come here and ask you why he’s supposed to disassemble the low wall north of the shearing barn in the southeast field.”

Wesley sighed. “He is doing that because no one else is working there and we won’t be disturbed.”

“Ah, so he talks too much when he’s around you as well?” Rraiec inquired. “At least, he talks to others a lot.”

“He is young,” Wesley reminded the older dalhari. “I hope his time here does not quiet him.”

“Why not?” Rraiec inquired, curious. He’d have thought that Wesley would’ve preferred the quiet.

“He has a joyful soul,” Wesley murmured. “And it is not a joy expressed in silence, but in singing.”

Rraiec smiled. Wesley often had excellent insights. “However, I would still prefer he refrain from talking occasionally.”

“You just want to sleep whilst meditating,” Wesley accused. I remember you nodding off when I was learning those practices.

“That too,” Rraiec admitted. “If I may ask, what are you reading?”

“A collection of folk stories,” Wesley replied. “Children’s stories, really.”

“I remember them,” Rraiec said quietly. “They are rather calming.”

The two dalhari continued to discuss children’s tales, not realizing they were being watched. Baura stayed perched on top of a high bookshelf, hidden in the shadows with the dust and abandoned papers. He’d snuck out from of excruciatingly boring lecture by Kavnap so that he could witness firsthand the results of his little, harmless manipulations. His plan had worked; Rraiec and Keisri were chatting comfortably at a table near the fire. He’d not seen them simply visiting like that during the months he’d been in Ke’reo Der. A casual observer would place them as acquaintances, nothing more.

Baura knew different. Those two dalhari were perfect for each other. Keisri was a sharp-edged, cold fire. He wasn’t cruel or harsh, but there was an intensity to him that startled many. Rraiec, unlike others, did not tread carefully around Keisri out of fear, but out of respect and understanding. While others studied Keisri’s fierce devotion with curiosity, Rraiec basked in it, letting it wash over and through him. The two men were their most comfortable when they were near each other, although they didn’t see it.

Baura certainly did, and he was determined to do something about their mutual blindness. Besides, it was a nice break from studying all the time. He knew he was dangerously close to treading on the two men’s privacy by interfering, but growing up in his family had taught him that sometimes action was the best thing, if not the only thing.

His mother did not act when her firstborn became involved with a person she did not find appropriate; instead of acting she passively disapproved. Del had ended up very hurt. From what he’d gathered talking to Laio, Gaha and others, action and inaction had caused no end of trouble for Del and Laio, although no one would ever say that the situation hadn’t ended for the best, all around. His sister and her mate were almost nauseatingly happy; they had a nearly perfect union and a child that rivaled Baura in troublemaking capacity.

“I must be falling behind in my studies.”

Baura turned quickly, almost unseating himself. Rinhe, the elder, sat perched behind him, a slight smile visible in the dim light. “Ah…”

“Because I do not recall any exercises that require placement in this area. Unless of course you wish to investigate the usefulness of dust in meditative practices,” Rinhe continued.

“No, I…”

Rinhe’s smile widened. “You aren’t doing things you perhaps shouldn’t, are you?” She asked carefully.

Baura studied the elder. She was enough like his mother that he knew he wouldn’t be able to lie to her. “They’re being silly.”

The elder glanced at the pair. “Yes, they are.”

“Why?”

Rinhe sighed. “Keisri’s history is difficult and tied closely to Rraiec’s. Rraiec was his first and primary instructor”

Baura nodded. That explained a great many things. Overcoming the separation that lay between teacher and student would be difficult. In fact, it was that type of situation that forced his sister Del to practically abandon Laio for five years—he needed to learn so much, and he never would’ve been able to with her there. He would’ve ended up either dependent on her or hating her and his place as well. They were too close for a working relationship of that kind. “Why did he teach Keisri?”

“He was assigned to a newcomer, as many young dalhari are,” Rinhe answered. “None of us were aware of the attraction, or how both men suppressed it, for a great while. By the time we knew, Keisri was attached to Rraiec as an instructor and Rraiec had resigned himself to that role.”

“And now?”

“They may be trying to redefine themselves; I do not know,” Rinhe said. “But take great care in what you do, Baura. I of all of us would very much like to see both of them happy. However, that happiness may be found elsewhere; forcing them together when it is not meant to be will only hurt them worse.”

“They should at least give themselves a chance,” Baura insisted. “You’ve been around them when they’re together; it is like being near a fire.”

“I know,” she replied quietly. “Indeed.”

•••

“Baura, are you meditating?”

The youth sat up abruptly, water flying everywhere. “Yes.”

Wesley cocked one green eyebrow. “Because you look like you’re swimming.”

“That too,” He said with a grin.

“And, pray tell, how is swimming meditating?”

Baura swam over to where Wesley was perched on a partially submerged rock. “I’m focusing on the movement of water as I move within it. It’s different from when I move and the water is still, or when I am still and the water moves, or when both my self and the water are still.”

“And what have you found?”

“Do you ever study mathematics or physics?” Baura inquired. “It is very much like studying motion. I am moving, the water is moving, all in different directions. I am also moving the water and it is moving me. Two dynamic bodies, instead of one or more static ones. And when I am swimming, there is no focal point, no point in the center to ground or around which to orbit.”

“A completely relative existence,” Wesley murmured.

“Exactly! With nothing absolute,” Baura confirmed. “Like flying.”

“And besides that, you enjoy swimming,” Wesley added.

Baura grinned. “That too. Don’t you?”

“Yes,” Wesley replied, nodding, “But I prefer swimming when it isn’t so cold.”

“Ah. I enjoy the cold,” Baura said. “It is rather refreshing.”

Wesley waved him off. “Go, swim. We shall resume your lessons later.”

•••

“We meet again,” Wesley murmured as Rraiec slid into place at the table. The dining hall wasn’t very crowded at this early hour.

“Baura asked me to meet him for breakfast. Have you seen him?” Rraiec inquired.

“No, but we usually meet here for our first lessons,” Wesley told Rraiec. “I wonder why he wanted to meet you at this hour.”

“He doesn’t want to study orth philosophy,” Rraiec replied. “I believe he was going to posit some sort of excuse.”

“Baura certainly likes to argue,” Wesley commented. “More than most here.”

“You did want him to retain that nature,” Rraiec reminded him.

Wesley sighed. “True, but to the point of absurdity? No. He takes far too much pride in arguing.”

“If my memories are accurate, you enjoyed such things as well,” Rraiec said, smiling gently. “A rousing argument, you said, was good for the heart.”

“Was I so frustrating, then?” Wesley murmured. He hadn’t been thinking of Rraiec when he’d initiated those arguments. Had he offended the dalhari with them?

Rraiec frowned. “Never. It was a pleasure, discussing such things with you.”

“Ah. A pleasure,” Wesley said to himself. “To argue with me about nonsensical topics.” He really had been a fool, for so very long. Perhaps Baura was learning some of this pridefulness from him. Something would have to be done.

“They were not nonsensical,” Rraiec denied. “Or did those discussions help you so little?”

Wesley’s head snapped up. “They were vital to my learning.”

“Then they were good,” Rraiec stated.

“I suppose,” Wesley murmured, unconvinced. “Where is Baura?”

Rraiec let the younger dalhari change the subject. “I’m not sure. Perhaps he overslept.” The youth did tend to overextend himself.

“Shall we get him?” Wesley asked.

Rraiec shook his head. “If he is asleep, he needs it. I’m sure there is something we can do instead.”

“There is this wall…” Wesley began, already grinning.

“And several volumes to copy,” Rraiec added.

“I would rather harvest yimkia,” Wesley swore. He hated illuminating texts.

“There is always the library,” Rraiec offered.

“No, I have enough books in my quarters,” Wesley replied.

“Ah.” Rraiec stood. “I was planning to read Tvrdl’s treatise on moral reasoning. Perhaps I should begin.”

“Good luck,” Wesley said under his breath.

“It is difficult?” Rraiec asked.

“Only for you, who won’t be able to find a copy,” Wesley said. “I have the only one in the hold.”

“Ah,” Rraiec said. “May I borrow it?”

Wesley grinned. “Perhaps,” He said. “But it depends.”

Rraiec straightened. “On what?”

“Make Baura suffer for making both of us wait here all morning.”

“As you wish,” Rraiec said even as he walked out the door.

•••

“How can the northern orth rationalize these two ideologies?” Baura asked. Wesley and Rraiec looked up from their texts. The three dalhari were lounging in Wesley’s quarters, studying variations in the expression of orth religion.

“What two ideologies?” Rraiec asked.

Baura frowned. “They adopt a formless, detached, nebulous deity. However, at the same time they have hundreds if not thousands of incarnations of deity, all of which absolutely demand worship in a specific way. And they contradict each other!”

“Is the orth religion you are studying considered logical?” Wesley asked. “And from which of your previous lessons did you glean the idea that religion was supposed to fit into a structure, rigid logical framework?”

Baura blanched. “But the duality must be maddening,” He argued. “To believe that deity has no interest in their day-to-day lives, that their supreme being does not even acknowledge their existence or know that they live…but at the same time spend considerable energy worshipping incarnations of this uncaring deity, who has never cared in fact? They have altars, shrines, temples… they leave offerings and recite prayers, live by strictures and rules… all for a deity that isn’t even conscious!”

“Did you read Yath?” Rraiec inquired, hefting a weighty tome.

“Not yet,” Baura admitted.

“While I am well aware of both your and Keisri’s intense affection for argument, perhaps you would be better served to read your assigned texts before delving into fractious topics,” Rraiec murmured. “Although Keisri would be more than willing to explain the duality of orth religion to you at length, possibly in the form of a perpetual discussion that would preclude any further lessons on your part, I believe you will find many answers in this text. That is why it was assigned.”

Baura took the book gingerly. “Oh. That’s why you wanted me to read it?”

Wesley let his head roll back. “Baura, I believe you are exactly the second person I have encountered in this world who actively seeks ways to decrease the amount of knowledge they consume in their search for wisdom. And, you are the first I have met who did so while actively striving to become an expert in a specific field.”

The young dalhari cocked his head to one side. “I don’t want to learn less, I just tend to learn out of order.”

“Ah. That is a rather unusual strategy,” Wesley commented. Dalhari generally loved order.

“My tutors were ecstatic that I decided to come here to study religion,” Baura continued. “I believe they were rather frightened that I might attend the university; having Rali there was enough to drive several of them mad.”

“So this propensity towards disorganized thought is common in your family?” Wesley joked. “I can see that, yes.” Spike certainly wasn’t the most logical person he’d ever met.

Baura shrugged. “We’re not disorganized; we just think however we want. Just like most dalhari, except that most dalhari think more ordered. Actually, Rali is incredibly ordered. She’s just…well loved.”

“And you have digressed into topics unrelated to orth religion,” Rraiec warned. “And are dangerously close to arguing again. Perhaps you would prefer we read you Yath?”

“No, I can read it very well on my own,” Baura mumbled. “Even if it is in its original language.”

“You cannot practice your languages enough,” Rraiec commented. “Ask Keisri. He is still studying pakra.”

“Losing battle, that,” Baura said under his breath.

Wesley grinned. “I find it rather interesting, to be honest. And a challenge.”

“Walls not enough?”

The grin disappeared instantly. “They are different, although equally stimulating, exercises. Yath? I believe you will be most interested in the fourth chapter, although for the purposes of this exercise I believe you should read the entire text.” When Baura made to protest, Wesley waved him off. “All of it, Baura. Rraiec will want to discuss it at length tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Baura squeaked.

“Remember, we are to have a formal discussion about orth dualism tomorrow evening,” Rraiec commented. “You do need to be ready.

Baura nodded. “Perhaps I should read, then.” He stood up and stretched. “In my own quarters, where there is less temptation to wander off into conversation.”

Wesley nodded. “Studying is often best done alone, I agree.”

Rraiec stood also, to usher Baura out the door. “Do not bother reading the last half of the text before our discussion,” He whispered to Baura. “We won’t be talking about it anyway.” Baura nodded, smiling, and bade his farewell.

“You’re letting him not read the entire thing, aren’t you?” Wesley accused. “He needs to do so.”

Rraiec gathered his belongings. “Perhaps, but tonight? I really do want to have that discussion, not scrape our student off the floor when he collapses.”

Wesley grimaced. “He is more than capable of doing the work.”

“I realize that, but I do not wish to help build resentment in Baura for his instructors. Yes, he will be frustrated at times. However, resentment is a very destructive emotion,” Rraiec warned. “There are better ways to shape a student’s learning habits.

Wesley nodded, appropriately chided for the evening. “I see you too are leaving. I bid you good night.” He stood and opened the door for Rraiec.

“We shall meet after Baura’s discussion tomorrow,” Rraiec stated quietly.

“Of course,” Wesley murmured. Rraiec nodded and left. Wesley tidied up his quarters and rekindled the dying fire. He felt like sleeping in front of it, in the main room, rather than moving to his bed for the night. His evening was troubled by the growing tension between him and Rraiec. It was as if they couldn’t possibly talk to each other without tripping over some unseen wound or obstacle. He hoped it wasn’t negatively affecting Baura’s instruction. If so, the youth would have to be moved to others for his learning.