Ralph and the Pixie

It’s odd, but I’ve come to be able to read these two so well; their moods, their subtleties, their body language; even their silences and lack of expression, the false Adjunct reflected as he listened to Haloch’s reply.

‘Oh, I was reflecting on a number of things, as I am wont to do when my attention should be on my work,’ Haloch said with a knowing smile. ‘Sometimes I have to wonder at the latent Power I’ve been entrusted with, Power so potent that the Book has remained unused for generations.’

‘Yes, but I thought that was supposed to change, once you’ve finished the thing,’ Mraan said.

Haloch huffed. ‘I am no Loremaster, nor am I much of a Scholar, but I do not see that re-writing and updating this work will avail those who believe that progress will be attained thereafter. But they wanted it done. The King, no less (at least from what I understand), wanted this task accomplished. And so, long have I and my family been provided for, and long have I been preoccupied with a work that I enjoy very much.’

Mraan’s scrutiny of his father narrowed at that. He found as he grew older that he was growing bold enough to challenge his father on certain topics, but never before on something family related. Fighting the uncomfortable feeling that he was crossing some sort of invisible line, he said ‘I remember how often you used to say that you used to tell mother how much you hated scribing.’