Spending Time With Friends, Part I
“I used to have a big family,” Oshal said. “We had a tribe of our own. We traveled all over the kingdom. It was nice. There were always other children to play with. My sister did sometimes, but she’s always kept to herself. It would’ve been nice to have seen her more, but she was happy back then. Mostly. I think there were times when something bothered her that she didn’t want to talk about. Actually, that was most times with my sister.”
Oshal reveled in the chance to talk about the old days. Neither his sister nor his father would talk about it, and it had all built up inside him. He couldn’t remember what Nourd’s question had been, but he wasn’t complaining about Oshal’s tangent, so Oshal wasn’t going to question it.
“I miss my family sometimes,” Nourd said. “Do you miss yours?”
“All the time. I had so many friends back then, before… everything changed.”
Emotion drained out of him, leaving him empty. The worst part about not being able to see anymore was having those moments be his last memories. The last thing he ever saw was fire and death, and it’d always be like that.
Oshal forced himself to smile. If Roshil had done that, he would’ve called her out on it, but he wanted to assure his friend he was okay.
“But I’m making new friends now. Like you.”
He knew Nourd could see through him (or smell through him, rather), but Nourd was learning not to bother him about it. He liked how much Nourd had grown over the past few years. His friend was changing into someone Oshal liked being around more than anyone. Someone with whom he could be honest. Usually.
“Why do you not talk about it?” Nourd asked.
“I… It’s too painful to talk about. I lost everyone except my father and sister that day.” Oshal shook his head. “I don’t like thinking about it.”
“I understand. I would not like it if the forest were burned down either.”
Oshal smiled and nudged his friend. “You’re getting good at that.”
Nourd laughed his loud, barking laugh, which always made Oshal start laughing with him.
“I am glad. It has not been easy to learn, but I am happy that you are happy.”
Grand Master Gorkle cleared hir throat.
“I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but Apprentice Nourd and I have things to do.”
Oshal stood up and sensed for Master Durwey. Sure enough, she wasn’t far. It’d taken time, but she’d gotten into the habit of allowing just enough of her thread to be felt for him to find her.
“I enjoyed spending time with you.”
“Me too.”
Oshal bowed to Grand Master Gorkle, then he and Lady Durwey left the gardens. He was thrilled to have spent time with Nourd, and felt better about having spoken about his life before the court. He liked Nourd a lot, and wondered to himself when they’d get to spend time together again.
“Where are we going?”
“Only back to the castle. We have nothing else we need to do today. You’ve been progressing well, Apprentice Oshal. I think you’ve earned a day to yourself. I’ll bring you wherever you’d like to go.”
Oshal ran down the list of his friends. He decided he’d try the Temple of the Rising Sun first. Kurgm hung out there sometimes, and it’d be nice to see him before he left for his fifth-year assignment in a few days. If he wasn’t there, maybe Sirshi could spend some time with him.
“I’d like to go to the Temple of the Rising Sun. I think I can get there on my own.”
“I can take you, it’s not a problem.”
Oshal made sure she could tell it was a problem for him.
“Apprentice Oshal, I understand you don’t like people helping you get around, but wouldn’t it be faster if I helped you?”
Oshal scowled. It was hard to express himself when he couldn’t see how his face looked and when he didn’t have eyes anymore.
“I guess.”
“And then you’d have more time to spend with your friends, right?”
It was like trying to argue with Aonva. She could lay out a flawless argument as to why she was right, leaving Oshal unable to find anything to say. It was worse when Roshil was there, because Roshil immediately accepted everything Aonva said as fact, and therefore argued in her favor.
“You’re right.”
“Thank you for not arguing with me.”
With Master Durwey’s help, Oshal made his way to the Temple of the Rising Sun.
“I know you don’t need my help,” Master Durwey said on the way. “I’m only offering it because you can get there better with my help. Do you understand?”
Oshal nodded. He’d gotten so used to people seeing him as helpless that it was hard to remember that not everyone did. Roshil didn’t; she’d always been protective of him. Aonva always asked in a panic, as she did with everyone and everything else, Sirshi treated him like everyone else, Nourd assumed he could get around just fine, and Kurgm always forgot to ask if he needed help. He liked his friends.
They arrived at the Temple of the Rising Sun, but Kurgm wasn’t there. Oshal only reached out to find the threads around him, not to follow his friends’ threads. The temptation was still there, dangling just within reach, but he forced himself to let them be.
“Hello, Oshal,” Sirshi said on her way past. “I really don’t have time to—” She froze. “Hello, My Lady.”
“Hello, Apprentice Sirshi.”
“How may the Temple of the Rising Sun assist you?”
“Do you know where Apprentice Kurgm is?”
“Why would I know?”
“That’s okay. I’ll let you get back to work.”
“Thanks. I have every chore here, but I’m almost finished. So close. Only a few days left on my sentence.”
“Apprentice Sirshi, you sound as if Master Moudren has imprisoned you here.”
“No. Not really. I get to leave for food and class. And sleep. I get to sleep still. Sometimes.”
“We’ll leave you to it. Have a good day, Apprentice Sirshi.”
“You too, My Lady. See you at dinner, Oshal.”
“Bye!”
The two of them left. Oshal realized he’d forgotten to ask where his sister was. Although, there were only three places she would be. He decided to try the library next.
“Are you sure? I don’t think there’s much there for you.”
“My sister will probably be there, and I’d like to see her.”
“Okay. Although, isn’t there something you’d like to do on your own?”
Oshal shook his head. He’d never thought much about doing anything alone. He wanted to be around people. Being on his own felt empty, like the world had all gone away.
They walked through the corridors, making their way to the library.
“Apprentice Oshal, I’ve known you for a few years now, and I don’t know what you like to do outside of being with other people.”
Oshal gave that some thought. What did he like to do? He liked spending time with his friends. Wasn’t that enough?
“I just like spending time with friends.”
“Okay.”
Despite not being able to sense her emotions, Oshal got the sense that she wanted to say more about it. Even if she didn’t, the question was digging into his mind. What did he like to do?