Chapter 15 #2
“Yes?” Papa’s voice was still even, notes floating in perfect measure, like when he was playing the harpsichord. Though also a little amused. “What have you put together?”
“Uncle Alexander was using Naming magic. When he was getting to know us. Wasn’t he? To pace things well.” Edmund glanced over at his father now, and he saw that slow smile, the one that Mama liked best.
“Naming, and a fair bit of asking me how I trained hawks,” Papa said, and now he was chuckling.
“Also begging your mother for help after you all had gone to bed. Alexander is a master at hiding the effort he’s making, among his other talents.
You watch for that when you get a chance.
He had some experience with Ursula and Leo, but they were younger, of course, and you were exceedingly perceptive a few times. ”
It certainly gave Edmund a great deal to think about. Now he wanted to go over whatever he remembered from a dozen conversations this year, especially when Uncle Alexander had collected him from his digs. It did also give him something else to say now.
“You needn’t worry that I’ll have a scandalous romance or anything like that.
There’s no one I’ve found that sort of interest in.
If there is anyone, I’d let you and Mama know at a reasonable point.
I know that.” He shrugged. “Whatever happens there, it’s not just about me.
It’s about here, the forest and the people and the magic. ”
Papa considered. “I’d like to say that you’re allowed not to be entirely so serious about it.
I certainly wasn’t for a long time. But I wasn’t Heir in my more decadent youth.
Even when I was, I was certain Temple and Delphina would get around to having children.
Though that was why I preferred my time with men.
Less need to worry about if a woman only wanted me for the money and the houses.
” He spread out one hand, then patted Nox on the nose when he was done gesturing.
“And you know the story of how your mother and I met, which wasn’t that at all. ”
“I do.” Edmund had heard it told a number of times.
And by everyone involved, including Master Benton, Uncle Giles, and Anthony’s grandparents, who’d all had a good view of the events in various ways.
He took another breath. “I feel like I’m not doing enough, sir.
That I haven’t done enough. That I’m not— that I am Telemachus, stuck at Ithaca, unable to become a man, to be seen as a man.
That even in those places where it seems possible, I am never fully myself. ”
“Ah. That is the challenge of living a life with two faces. Both of them are true and honest, so far as they go, but one of them shows far less to the world.” Papa turned now to face Edmund.
“I understand that challenge. So does Lap, for that matter. It is not easy, and it is especially difficult when you are somewhere like Oxford, with all its customs and expectations. People want you to take up rowing or cricket every time you turn around.”
Edmund snorted. “That. And I can barely find the time for everything I want to do. It’s easier this year, mostly, with my own space.
Not needing to hide.” He added. “And copious hot water.” He knew that he was talking to his father, who had spent several years living in tents or patchwork spaces behind the lines.
But that had in fact made his father appreciate magical plumbing even more.
“But you are still fitting about three days of living into every twenty-four hours.” Papa agreed. “I gather it eases up some now that you’re done with Mods.”
“Yes, sir. I have a lot of reading to do, but now it’s more about the history and art and architecture.
There’s a decent chance I should be able to do more with philology proper.
And of course the apprenticeships.” Both of them, the one they talked about in Ritual, and the one that was private to the family and a few close friends, in Naming.
“With Mercury’s luck, you’ll have years yet to learn what Alexander can teach you.” Papa glanced instinctively over his shoulder and back toward Ytene. “It’s doing him a great deal of good to share with you, though. He comes home from your tutorials glowing with it.”
Edmund had known that Uncle Alexander was pleased, but he also had known for ages that the learning had some painful spots. The last time Uncle Alexander had taught anyone Naming, it had been Perry.
Edmund had in fact spent some time this visit staring at the memorial stone in the family cemetery.
Papa and Uncle Alexander had it put up when Edmund was ten.
The Judsons, Perry’s people, blamed Uncle Alexander for Perry’s death.
He’d had no place for a proper memorial or the rituals his people did for the dead.
Some of the things on there, Uncle Alexander translated readily.
But some things he’d never said out loud, except maybe to Mama or Papa or Professor Fortier, who’d been Perry Judson’s best friend.
Edmund’s skills with hieroglyphics were just about good enough to understand the surface text thoroughly, but not enough for the nuances he was sure were there.
It made Edmund wonder what people would think of him when he died, or say or do about it.
Now, Edmund just nodded. “There’s a tremendous amount to learn. Even leaving out the languages in and of themselves.”
“Well. You’ll have a chance to use some of them this summer. Benton has some thoughts about your travels to and from Greece and Italy, of course. Have you given any thought to adding another charm or two to your book in the next few months? Oh, and shall we mount up and see about the pub?”
“As you wish.” Edmund waited until Papa had mounted.
“As for the book— I was wondering if any of your connections in Italy might have me visit. I keep thinking about the charm that you and Mama put together, about connections, but whether that might be something that could pull in a thread of Naming. But I’m not sure I can manage the artistic technique I want, to imply something that was woven. ”
Papa made an inquisitive noise, and Edmund went on. “I was wondering if perhaps the charm might be set so that a tapestry depicted key information. Symbolic, of course, or something that illuminated various parts more, depending on the information. I haven’t worked out the nuances, though.”
“That is a delightful sort of puzzle. I’m not at all certain how to go about it either.
We shall sit down later and lay out what might be needed to make it work.
When we get Alexander back, tomorrow or— well, more likely Thursday evening— we can put it to him.
He’s always curious about the family books and how we develop them. ”
They set off at a walk again since the pub was not terribly far.
As they got closer, Papa settled into chatting about the state of things in the Forest, as they were coming into the spring.
The actual pub involved half a dozen conversations with key people.
Edmund devoted himself to paying attention to the ebb and flow of conversation, and to which people were more truthful than others.
He could tell more easily with some than others, and that would be something to discuss with Uncle Alexander on Thursday as well.