The next day, Laž’ar woke up after another restless morning of sleep. He had had no luck, and he could only get up early. His mother was still asleep, her coughing light. He touched her forehead, and she was till a little warm. The unease from the day before had resurfaced, and he pressed his lips together.
It didn’t matter what his mother thought of him, or what his divined name might be. His mother needed medicine; he needed money.
He got out of bed, the clothes he had hung up still at the same place. He hurriedly washed up, putting on his clothes and carefully putting his hair up.
There was a bundle he had shoved into a corner, and he took it as soon as he was ready, taking his money pouch with him. He stepped out of the room.
“Watch my mother and attend to her.”
“Did you and the lady…?”
“Just a small disagreement. I have some errands I need to run. I will be back before guests arrive.”
Laž’ar left in a hurry and soon found his way to the more decent district. He looked around before he went into a shop.
“Ah, little lord.”
Laž’ar smiled. “Is there anything you need today?”
“Could you get me another one of those mountain landscapes?”
“Naturally.”
He opened the bundle which was all painting supplies and asked for a sheet of paper. His movements were quick and the painting very simple, but it didn’t need to be too extravagant.
Once done he dried off his brush and put his things away again. The shopkeeper paid him a bit, and he put the money into his pouch before he left.
He went around every bookshop he knew, offering to paint or write something, getting paid a little in return.
Once it was getting too hot to remain outside, he found himself a decent tavern to have something to eat and drink while taking refuge from the sun.
What he didn’t expect was to find a familiar face.
Or two of them, actually.
He let out a curse and was just about to turn around.
“Hey, you!”
Laž’ar turned with a bright smile.
“Big brother Retnüir!” he called out in surprise. “I didn’t see you there! What a coincidence!”
He hurried over and dropped down next to Retnüir as if there was no difference in social standing between them. The one sitting across the table was the very young master who hadn’t appeared the night before.
Perhaps that was fortunate.
“I didn’t expect to see you around here either. What are you doing here at this time? Don’t you have lessons?”
Laž’ar laughed. “Big brother thinks too much. Of course I’m skipping them all. What trouble am I making if I didn’t run away, hmm?”
Retnüir tsked and tapped him lightly on the head with the fan he held. “Don’t act like that.”
“Second young master, this is…”
Retnüir turned to the young man. “Ah, sorry about that, Khanuk. This is just some little rascal I’ve met. He enjoys causing trouble, so when I saw him, I couldn’t help but call out to him.” He motioned toward the official’s son. “This is the third son of my father’s closest subordinate, Khanuk. He’s not much unlike you, and causes trouble by going to questionable establishments every night.”
“Big brother, do not bully me. I am an upstanding individual. And not old enough for causing trouble in that way.”
“How are you upstanding, Laž’ar? You aren’t fooling anyone. Though you better don’t become like him when you’re a little older.”
“Why am I made an example of poor behaviour?” Despite his complaint, the young man smiled. “You got a pretty face, little brother. Though it feels very familiar. Do you happen to have a sister?”
“Mister, you flatter me. Mother only has one child, and that’s me.”
Khanuk studied him closely, looking at his clothes.
“Noble?”
Retnüir let out a laugh. “What are you saying? Laž’ar isn’t noble.”
“Hmm… Then where have I seen you?”
“Ah! Mister, are you trying to seduce me?” Laž’ar shuffled closer to Retnüir. “Big brother, this man…”
Retnüir tsked. “Don’t make this child so annoying, Khanuk. He can get really clingy.”
Khanuk laughed heartily. Then abruptly fell silent, staring intensely at Laž’ar.
“Now I know! This little brother kind of reminds me of a girl over at the Rose Pavillion.”
Retnüir wrinkled his nose. “Why are you comparing Laž’ar to someone from that loathsome place?”
“Rose Pavillion isn’t at all as bad as you think. Good food, good wine, and they know how to dance and sing. It’s not much different from any other place to eat, only with better entertainment.”
“It’s still in that district.”
“And merchants live in the noble district. Sometimes a proper establishment is found among more questionable ones. Second young master, you ought to learn how to have some fun.” He laughed. “You wouldn’t know, but while the number one performer isn’t much to look at, I’ve heard from others she’ll even share opinions on politics if asked about it. Next time, mayhap I’ll bring you over for a meal and—”
“Speaking of food,” Laž’ar pointed at the food on the table and looked at Retnüir. “I want some too.”
“Go get your own food and find your own table.”
“I will agree regarding the food, but not the table.”
“Fine.”
“Huh. You gave in very quick. You would usually refuse.”
Retnüir put his fan on the table to pour himself some wine. “That he agreed to order his own dishes is good enough. It’s a waste of energy to try when he’s willing to do half of what he’s asked.” He shook his head. “I’m afraid I might have to foot the bill if I try to convince this little — Hey! That’s my fan!”
“Hmm?” Laž’ar smiled while leisurely fanning himself. “It’s cool in here and I just came from outside. Big brother, indulge me.”
“It’s getting warmer. You should have brought your own fan.”
“Forgot. It has been winter for too long.”
Khanuk laughed. “You say that, as if winter is cold. You know, in the north, the first day of winter will be a landscape covered in snow.”
Retnüir nodded. “That’s true. Last time father brought me we left after a few days of snow, because it gets so cold. I hear what we think of winter isn’t much colder than summer to them.”
Laž’ar stared at them. “That cold? How can anyone bear to live there?”
“Who knows?” Retnüir snatched his fan back. “But it’s unusually hot for this time of year.”
“We haven’t seen rain in weeks either. This year might be a difficult one.”
“As long as the fish lives and we can trade, it should be fine. But that’s just Žančur. Father worries about the rest of the prefecture. We might have to turn to the Imperial City.”
“Does it look that bad for the rest of the province?”
“What province? Since when did the province of Khatian exist other than in name only? The ten cities of Khatian are all governed separately.”
Khanuk propped his cheek in hand, swirling his wine. “Khatian used to be a kingdom. Where did the royal family go?”
Retnüir let out a snort. “How long ago was that? I don’t think there’s any royalty left, and if they exist, where else than among the noble families?”
“They may have been swallowed up by the Imperial Clan too,” Laž’ar said. The two half-adults turned to him. “I mean, if they wanted to avoid war with the rest of Zulačar, wouldn’t it make sense to marry into the Imperial Family? Marry as many into the Imperial Clan as possible, to have a bit of say, but over time, the royal family would likely cease to exist altogether.”
Khanuk motioned toward Laž’ar as he looked at Retnüir. “That rascal of yours isn’t half-bad, but a little too innocent.”
“Better than you who spend your nights with women, making your father complain to mine. Aren’t I’m here eating a meal to better your ways again?”
“Let me lead you astray instead, second young master. It’ll be easier than correcting my terrible habits.”
“Your father would kill you. I’m still the governor’s son, even if I idle my days away.”
“You can studying politics idling? Retnüir, what sort of life do you even live?”
“A decent one, unlike you,” Retnüir spat out. He turned to Laž’ar . “Order now, or else I’m kicking you away. And don’t sit so close. Do you have no sense of propriety?”
Laž’ar tilted his head for a moment. “Big brother means I showed some sense of that when we first met?”
“…”
Khanuk laughed while slapping his knee. “This little brother is a good one. He’ll grow up to be an interesting man. Is Laž’ar your divined name? It’s a horrible fit!”
Laž’ar smiled. “Mister, I couldn’t agree more.”
Laž’ar spent the hottest hours of the day with Retnüir and Khanuk. None of them felt like leaving before it had cooled a little. Before he parted with them, Retnüir gave him a long lecture about propriety and the importance of a good educational foundation.
He also made plans with Retnüir to meet where they had their first encounter a few days later. Retnüir said there were some things he wanted to discuss.
Before he returned to the Pavillion, he bought the ingredients necessary for the medicine for his mother and also stopped by a shop to buy more jewellery. He didn’t need any to work at the Pavillion, as the proprietress would without doubt provide him with whatever he may need to perform, but he lacked some of the jewellery suited for the higher status he tried to give the feeling of for his search.
A beggar child may receive pity, but only money would get him somewhere, even if it was just that it seemed like he had them.
Wouldn the governor’s younger son who wrinkled his nose at the words “Rose Pavillion” help someone who didn’t look the part of being of a decent background? Unlikely.
He returned to the Pavillion around the time it was time to begin preparing for opening for the evening. He had forgotten his anxiety, having had an outlet to act less restrained, but when he stepped into the Pavillion and saw the bustle he froze on the spot.
The words “where’s the physician?” and “the lady collapsed” seemed to echo through the Pavillion as he watched the servants hurry from one place to another, up and down the stairs.
He had spent his afternoon in a good mood.
…while his mother suffered.