Indignation spiked right up into my head, but then I realized Kofi was showing me respect by speaking so plainly. “I suppose not. He was so awful to me when we first met that it took a long time for me to realize it wasn’t me he disliked. That most of the things he did, he did to protect himself from the way the other mages treated him so contemptuously. I think he assumed I would treat him the same way. All right, then. Luce, don’t neglect any items a man of Vai’s high-strung temperament might need. I must say, you’re a man of hidden depth, Kofi.”
He chuckled. “I know how to get a man talking. Vai was a man who was looking for a friend. I shall walk yee back to Aunty’s on my way, Luce. And don’ be sneaking back here tonight, for Cat and Rory must share a room.”
As they made to go, Rory broke away from the elders to take his leave of Luce. He drew her into the shadows to whisper in her ear so softly that even I had trouble distinguishing words. Then she kissed him in a way that made me suspect the cursed tomcat had kissed her more than once at the batey match, despite my having told him not to do any such thing.
I had no chance to scold him, for we were swept off to eat the evening meal with the entire family in attendance, some thirty people, including elders, adult cousins, all the children, more distant relations who lived and worked in the household, and two lads up from the country to work until they had earned enough to go home and marry.
“Now what do we do, Cat?” Rory asked later when we had retired to a tiny room and its two cots. As I hung a lit lantern from a hook, he dragged a cot over against mine and sprawled out across both. “I don’t want to go on the ocean. It scares me.”
“Move over! You’re hogging all the space.”
“I am not a hog!”
“Of course you’re not a hog, Rory,” I said soothingly, before I pounced for the kill. “But don’t make me call you a lecherous seducer. Didn’t I tell you not to touch Luce? She’s too young and very innocent.”
“Not as innocent as you think she is!” He sat up, crossing his arms as he frowned. “I am not like that unpleasant fire mage, James Drake. I would never pet any person without their full and willing consent—”
My throat tightened. “How do you know about my relationship with James Drake?”
“I lived with General Camjiata and his staff for three days before you came to retrieve me. Remember?”
“Did James Drake say things to you? About me?”