With a shrug, Rorie set the tome down. “I was taught all I needed to know by my parents.”
“How do you know that?”
Rorie’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?”
“You’re assuming they told you everything that happened on the Fae realm since it began?”
“Of course not. I only need to know what matters now.”
“But without full knowledge of the subject, how can you know what the best solution for anything is?”
For perhaps the first time in his life, Rorie was completely befuddled. “They told me I knew everything I needed.”
“You grew irritated at learning that I had Dra’Kaedan’s memories. You thought my opinions were colored by his experiences and yet, you’re perfectly willing to accept whatever your parents told you. What about thinking for yourself?”
It was painful to admit that he was wrong, but Rorie did not back away from his emotions. “I did not consider that.” His inclination was to absorb the words of the book Renny had just learned from, so he let his palm hover over it and pulled in the knowledge. It spoke of rulers long before Volzi and Gonisa were summoned, and the Fae world had been a different place. There’d been harmony despite the bemollos not keeping the fairies involved in leadership, which left him confused.
“Do you want to spend the afternoon in here with me, learning some Fae stuff?”
“I do not know.”
“Can’t hurt, can it? Plus, you know Drekkoril has already done it, giving him the advantage on traditions and knowledge.”
“I did not give him my memories,” Rorie reminded Renny, suddenly ashamed that he’d been so selfish to keep what was inside him from his bemollo. “I left him with no choice but to learn things on his own. Renny, I summoned him to be leader and offered him nothing to help him with that task.”
“That’s okay. You were doing as your parents taught you, but you can help him now. He’s surrounded by sioskallos, but you’re his fairy. You should advise him if he has questions.”
“He would never come to me with questions.”
“He will if you build a friendship. Think about it, Rorie. Who else does he have to look out for him?”
Rorie’s chin quivered. “That was in the tome. It was done that way before my parents. The fairies did everything to assist their bemollo without demanding a place in the siofllar’am. They planned events, gave their bemollo a family to turn to, and were a shoulder to lean upon.”
“You could do that for Drekkoril.”
“It was not how my parents believed it should continue.”
“Then you have a decision to make.…Do you go with the old traditions or carry on the new one of your parents?”
Rorie’s mind racing, he glanced around at the many books in the room. “I need additional knowledge to make such a decision.”
“Let’s get started.”
“First, we must find Dra’Kaedan. You will need him to fill your well.” Rorie would never allow Renny to put himself in danger, and if he were being fair, he needed to learn more of Renny’s warlock. It was becoming clear that Renny expected him to be friends with Dra’Kaedan the same way he wished for Rorie to get to know Drekkoril. To Rorie’s surprise, that did not upset him, and he wondered if such a thing were possible. Not only would it please his v’airsell nioll, but there might be harmony between Rorie and Drekkoril, which might have many benefits for both men.
“I think we need to find the members of Sorcery D’Vaire with magic, so they can learn everything about the Fae. They’re going to love this,” Renny enthused, hopping to his feet. For the first time, he grabbed Rorie’s hand without prompting.
“I should like them to study the Fae.”
“Me too, let’s go find everybody.”
“Protector Roriethiel,” a voice called out. Sioskallo Midrera, who wasn’t one of Rorie’s favorite people, stalked into the library. Although he didn’t know any of the sioskallos well, Midrera did not appear to be fond of Rorie and was critical of his parents. A new voice in his head pondered if it was because he was a traditionalist or had otherwise objected to the pair. With just a single book, Rorie was already seeing the world a touch differently. What else would change inside him if he tackled the entire library with Renny?
“Sioskallo Midrera, what can I help you with?” Rorie asked, doing his best to be polite even if the sioskallo was sneering.
“We must discuss v’airsell niolls.”
Gripping Renny’s hand tighter, he straightened. “Do not think to undermine mine.”
