2. Chapter Two #4
And then Viau would probably think something about how red-faced Rafi was, or sweaty, or lament how someone his age should have more control by now, and then also remember his name. Tizzan? Oh that’s the lonely nex who needed help. I can see why.
“Come on,” Laure said practically into Rafi’s ear.
Viau’s dark gaze went from Rafi to Laure. He spoke again, too softly for Rafi to make out the words. Viau was so beautiful and Rafi was a disgrace.
Rafi shivered, grateful he’d never responded to the note though he was growing more damp by the moment and not with sweat.
“Rafi.” Laure pushed a little, pushed with aer, sending a shiver through Rafi all over again but jolting him enough to make him look away.
“Forgive me,” Rafi told Laure immediately. “I don’t know what happened.”
“You really don’t. That might be the problem,” Laure answered, with some, but not much, sympathy, then looped their arms together to tug Rafi away.
Some of the younger students watched them.
Anyone could have watched them. Rafi wasn’t going to look.
Laure was bigger and stronger than him, and for the moment, Rafi allowed himself to be bullied and led away by a miné who smelled comfortable and familiar.
“Let’s go run the obstacle course instead.
Wear you out before you visit the healer. ”
“I don’t need that.” Rafi was exhausted as it was. “I’m tired, Laure. I want… rest. That’s all I need.”
“If you’re going to get this stubborn and difficult before every aedis, he’s going to have his work cut out for him.” With that remark, Laure offered no sympathy.
“I’m not difficult” Rafi argued, then noisily caught his breath to realize he’d argued at all. “Forgive me. I don’t… I don’t know why I’m like this today.”
Laure paused to frown down at him. “Your aedis is near, or have you forgotten? People can get strange before their times, Raf. The reason I’m worried now is because of what happened in there. I’m not angry with you.”
“I should have done better,” Rafi insisted immediately. “I should have control by now.”
“So should I,” Laure said on a sigh, then began to walk again, no longer pulling Rafi but keeping their arms linked.
“Viau is not going to aid me through this,” Rafi informed him, finally catching up to what Laure had said. “I’m going to an isolation room. It’s less trouble.”
“Uh huh.” Laura nodded, then pulled a ribbon from his pocket for Rafi’s hair. He did that for Katoh, not for Rafi.
Rafi abruptly remembered Katoh saying miné tripped all over themselves for those going through aedis. But Rafi was looking for things that weren’t there. It was only a ribbon.
Rafi took it anyway, with a pleasant curl of surprise in his chest and a strange urge to coo at the gift—the loan. “Thank you. I promise to return it.”
That at least brought a smile out of Laure. “Keep it. And don’t say you can’t. My family has shelves and shelves of ribbon, and you need it.”
“Oh.” Rafi nearly stumbled over his feet, thinking apples and spice was not such a bad scent, then frowning and worrying that his aedis was making him lust after Katoh’s sweetheart. “I am sorry about earlier.”
Laure snorted a small laugh. “Never seen this side of you.” Oh, he was going to tell Katoh everything.
“You looked ready to growl like a rutting miné and now you’re making that sound that nex and miná make.
” Rafi put a hand to his throat, certain he hadn’t done any such thing.
Laure laughed again but it wasn’t malicious.
“I never really noticed that you don’t do that—until you did.
You’re more controlled than you think. It might take someone like Viau, honestly.
Maybe it’s for the best that you asked him.
Have you always been wild underneath the calm?
That explains why Katoh adores you. She’s wild at heart, too. ”
“I’m not wild!” Rafi said with real alarm. “And as I said, Viau is not going to be my partner for this.”
“Uh huh.” Laure looked down at Rafi as they walked. “What did he smell like?”
“A field of grasses and wildflowers full of bees and butterflies at the height of a spring afternoon.”
Laure stopped.
Rafi stopped too. Then he heard himself, what he’d said. “I’m very tired.”
Laure continued to stare at him. “I don’t think the obstacle course is going to do anything for you,” he answered at last. “Do you want me to take you to an isolation room now?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Rafi had to wipe away the sweat on his brow and was evidently cooing like a properly courted miná but he was fine. “From what the healers said, it’s likely not for a few days yet. I’d rather be doing something.”
“Mm hmm,” Laure agreed, but with even more staring. “To the obstacle course, then. But if you need to rest, or you need anything else, tell me. Maybe we should stop for water or some food on the way?”
Rafi could admit he was not at his best, but having an exhausting, mindless task sounded wonderful. “I’m not going to be a bother.”
“And that might also be the problem,” Laure said with a squint. “You’re kind of supposed to be. You know that, right?”
Rafi blinked.
Laure nodded slowly, then started back on their previous path. “The course it is… for now, anyway.”