Shadow of the Unicorn

Chapter 5

The Students remained in the dining hall long after curfew, listening to and celebrating the wondrous tale, only a grim few murmuring that a truly benevolent god would not have inflicted blindness upon the poor girl in the first place, but even their muttering could not dampen her joy. Eventually the entire crew had to be routed forcibly to bed by various of the Brethren and several of the servants. Jace returned happily to his room, in guise again as Adan, as they both needed to make an appearance that night. He jumped in surprise to find both Jared and Baye in his room, with a soundly sleeping Adan upon the bed.

Jared studied his disguise with approval, turning to Baye to comment, "the lad certainly has a knack for it my friend."

Baye laughed quietly, "nay sir, it must be the teacher."

Jace smiled happily down at his returned friend and then skewered his mentor with a concerned frown, "my sister is expecting us both at the Oathtaking tomorrow."

Baye grinned, "you have never actually been to one, have you?"

Jace shook his head, "no, but Adan will be in no shape to go, will he?"

Jared replied, "nay lad, you two will have to go in disguise or find a good excuse for one of you to miss it." He smiled warmly, "congratulations on your sister's recovery!"

Jace sighed happily, "our Master is gracious indeed!"

Baye smiled like the rascal he was, "why does it take death and infirmity before your stubborn kinfolk even consider the most important things in life?"

Jace smiled wryly, "sheer and utter stubbornness my friend, learn well from our mistakes." He sighed heavily, "by the way, my sister and Adan are rather fond of one another, if you go tomorrow, you might be in the unenviable position of breaking her heart."

Baye scowled, "I'd rather go back to the stables. I think you can honestly tell people Adan is ill and unable to leave his bed."

Jace smiled sadly, "it would certainly be the truth, even if it disappoints my sister dreadfully."

Jared shook his head, "it will be a far worse heartbreak to hear the words from someone who is not the beloved and only pretending to be."

They all agreed what must be done in the coming days, and gratefully did the elder pair withdraw from the cramped room, while Jace settled into the vacant chair with a smile, wondering if this was how Adan felt in his own vigil only a few days prior, yet it seemed an age had passed in the interim.

He must have dozed off, for the sun was shining brightly through the window when next he looked about the tiny room. He stood, stretched, and smiled to see Adan still sleeping like one dead. Then the sound came again, a knock upon the door, which had awakened the slumbering apprentice from his indifferent sleep. He opened the door to find a servant bearing a breakfast tray for the both of them and a message of assurance that it was quite alright if Adan spent the day abed, sick as he was, and also that someone would be sent to sit with the invalid during the Oathtaking if Jace wished to attend, to which Jace readily agreed, seeing as it was an event he had never yet witnessed, apprentice though he was. He thanked the man, took the tray, and sent him on his way.

Whether it was the smell of food or the brief commotion, Jace did not know, but Adan roused long enough to eat something before falling comatose once more. Jace shook his head ruefully, wondering if he had been that bad after his own experience, remembering little of those days and more grateful to his sleeping friend than words could express, especially when he had no idea what ailed his friend at the time. He settled down to his own breakfast and some long neglected reading while Adan slept on.