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[inthetapestry]

Kevin is sure that what Galadan is saying is very important.

. . . no, really. Honest.

But it's an awfully nice day, and the sun is shining, and . . . hey, look at that butterfly, over there, that's kinda pretty, with the wings, and -

Look, it's just not the kind of day when it's easy to focus on your cousin trying to tell you something about battle tactics, even if your cousin is also your overlord and one of the most dangerous beings on Fionavar.

Comments

[wolflord_andain]

" -- suited well to life there. Quite likely your continued ignorance would result in your death. Which is not meant to be a deterrent, of course. That might as easily be arranged right here."

Someone is losing patience.

Or perhaps merely cursing the Twiceborn.

In six languages.

[inthetapestry]

"- sorry?" says Kevin, blinking back up at Galadan.

[wolflord_andain]

"Doubtful."

Very, very doubtful.

"Though I suppose it is a fine thing to know how much you value your own existence."

[inthetapestry]

"I'm actually fairly fond of it," offers Kevin, a little sheepishly.

Especially on days like today! Or at least, he would be if he was free to enjoy it.

[wolflord_andain]

"And your other cousins, such as they are -- do you suspect they value your continued existence?"

This is a test.

[inthetapestry]

"I've yet to meet most of them," Kevin says.

He closes his eyes, reopens one, squints at Galadan through it, and hazards, "I wouldn't think it's a matter of much import to them. So - no, there's no reason for them to value it very highly."

Both eyes close again. "If it was considered more valuable, I should be more worried, shouldn't I? People generally take valuable things."

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan raises both eyebrows.

"And you presume my interest in you has not been noted? We are often in proximity these days."

Kevin is failing this test.

"Do you think that is of little interest to my people, as well?"

Mornir's representative, it seems, has successfully raised a fool.

[inthetapestry]

Kevin grins, at that. "So you're saying you're the one putting me in danger, Wolflord?"

[wolflord_andain]

It's the work of a moment for Galadan to deal Kevin a mental buffet, not so dissimilar to boxing his ears. Metaphorically.

"Your lack of attention will accomplish much the same thing, and a great deal faster once my forbearance runs out."

Galadan's tolerance only goes so far.

"Or should you prefer the loss of self that afflicts andain who have no grasp of what they are?"

[inthetapestry]

Kevin winces, and puts a hand to his head. "No," he says, as knows he is supposed to. "I wouldn't like that better."

Kevin feels reasonably centered in himself, most of the time. But it's true that he hasn't lived very long, as andain go, and sometimes there is a vague uncomfortable feeling inside him that it's possible that that could change.

"I'm sorry. I'm listening. Or - could we," he says, wistfully, "maybe do something a little more active?"

It's far too nice a day to be sitting around being lectured at.

[wolflord_andain]

"Perhaps once you've proven capable of attending to a task set before you."

Which is to say --

Maybe.

"Feel free to begin at any time."

[inthetapestry]

Kevin has, at the very least, gotten used to the flow of Galadan's tasks, so he can adequately translate what this refers back to.

"Well, it might be presumed that you're training me to take power and disrupt the hierarchy that already exists. Even if that's not the case, some of my cousins might find it easier to remove a complication now than wait until I'm more dangerous, later on. Of course -"

He grins again, irrepressibly. "- that could also be taken as a challenge against you, cousin. They'd have to be brave, to risk it."

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan raises his eyebrows.

"I am not in the habit of offering my people protection, Kevin. Least of all from each other."

He might do well to remember that.

[inthetapestry]

From what Kevin's heard, Galadan's not in the habit of taking them off and offering them helpful training sessions, either.

Kevin restrains the impulse to point this out, and says instead, breezily, "I know. But no one's ever quite sure what you're going to do."

[wolflord_andain]

"That is hardly coincidental."

The chances of Kevin being free to frolic in the underbrush any time soon are rapidly disappearing over the horizon.

[inthetapestry]

"I know that, too. Predictability," recites the young andain, "isn't good strategy."

[wolflord_andain]

"And as a demonstration of that -- follow me."

Galadan gives no more warning than this before he fades from view and disappears.

Kevin will have to be swift to catch up -- swift and clever, both, for there are many other worlds than this, first and fairest of all.

And they all have their lessons to teach.

Too bad Kevin is a terrible student.

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