The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars 5)

“My lady,” said Marcus with the politesse of a man raised at his ease among the nobility.

“Presbyter Marcus.” She inclined her head as between equals.

Whose child was this, so grand, powerful, and proud? So Wendish, yet with a heathen’s looks?

He dared not ask.

“Will Brother Lupus stay with us, Grandmother?”

“For a time, but his task will lead him down a different road than the one you and I must travel. Now go below and see that all is made comfortable.”

As the sailors lifted several trunks on board, Elene allowed the ship-master to escort her to the tiny cabin in the stern that she would share with her grandmother.

“I did not think you could force a man like that to give up one of his daughters,” said Marcus. At the railing, sailors gathered to haggle with the local boatmen, trading from their personal stores.

“He is my son. He must do as I tell him.”

“And sacrifice one? Is this the one he loved least?”

“No. She is the one he loved most.” A flash of anger straightened Meriam’s frail shoulders. “You make light of a father’s love, Marcus, since you knew nothing of it yourself. My father wept sorely when I was taken to the temple of Astareos to become an acolyte there. That was before I was sent north by the khsháyathiya as a part of the gift to the barbarian king. My son loves both his daughters as a man should. ‘A father’s blood is made weak by sons but strengthened by daughters.’ They are both precious to him, since he will have no more by his beloved Eadgifu, may she rest at peace in God’s light. But he knows his duty to his mother. He gave me what I asked for.”

“His duty to his mother, or to the church? What about his duty to humankind in their war against the forces that threaten us?”

“When a man gives you the horse which will let you complete your journey, do not ask why he does so, in case the answer displeases you. Just be happy you got where you are going.”

“Is that what your Jinna kinfolk say? The intention of your heart matters more than the action of your hands.”

“Does the woman who gives grudgingly of a hundred loaves to the poor deserve less thanks than the man who gives only ten, but with a sincere heart? We may wish she gave out of a loving heart, but the bread feeds the hungry nonetheless.”

“Argued like a Hessi sage. Will you rest, Sister?”

“In truth, I would be glad to.”

The spectacle of Marcus showing affection and consideration astonished Zacharias. He watched amazed as the presbyter assisted the old woman to her cabin.

All the while, Wolfhere remained at the railing, silent, staring north over the sea.

Because the weather remained fine, Zacharias took his lessons on deck.

“How many hours are there in a week?”

“One hundred and sixty-eight.”

“How many points?”

“Six hundred and seventy-two.”

“How many minutes?”

“One thousand six hundred and eighty.”

“How many parts?”

These drills often took up half a lesson, Marcus testing him on what he had memorized previously before teaching him something new. If at intervals Zacharias chafed at the repetition, he reminded himself that, as a man ascends a mountain, they were making progress toward the summit.

“What is the period of ascent?”

“On leap years, from winter solstice to summer solstice the period of ascent is equal to the one hundred eighty-three days of descent from summer to winter. But otherwise the period of descent is shorter than the period of ascent because the Sun moves through the four equal parts of the universe in unequal times. From the winter solstice to the vernal equinox, ninety and one eighth days. From the vernal equinox to the summer solstice, ninety-four and one half days. From the summer solstice to the autumn equinox, ninety-two and one half days. From the autumn equinox to the winter solstice, eighty-eight and one eighth days.”