Talia nodded with a smile. “It makes everything so much more orderly. The cities are exceptions since people are needed for special services, but most people stay within the city limits.”
“What if you want to tour the country?”
“You get a tour warrant. They are a little dear but not impossible to get.”
Quint realized he had led a sheltered life, partly because of Racellia’s one-day rule.
Talia gave Quint a guided tour, which was well-rehearsed. He wondered how many recruits she had guided through the city. It certainly wasn’t a punishment, but Quint felt the tour was odd.
They reached the marketplace. Quint expected to be impressed, but once they started through the market lanes, the goods had more variety, but Quint thought the market would have been something special, and it was a bit of a letdown.
Talia suggested he buy a civilian outfit. She was confident he had enough money in his purse for one. After a quarter of an hour looking at the marketgoers, Quint had a feel for the local style and bought a conservative set of clothes and regular shoes rather than boots.
He paid for a large valise to put his purchases, and Talia directed him to a pub.
“The food is good, but not too expensive. You’ll have something left in your purse.”
Quint was all for that, and they went inside. Quint had eaten in pubs with his father in the four villages and the town in their little district, and this one was only a bit bigger, but it smelled the same.
A menu was posted around the place on chalkboards.
“Roast chicken,” Quint said. “My father always avoided stews since they often contain different kinds of meat, not all of it good.”
“A wise man, your father,” Talia said. “I’ll have the chicken, too.”
They ordered, and Talia ordered a mug of ale for both. Quint raised his finger.
“If I’m going to drink alcohol, I’d rather it be wine. My father always drank white wine with his chicken.”
Talia frowned. “Are you sure about that?”
Quint nodded. “I’m not much of a drinker. My father let me nurse a small goblet from time to time.”
“White wine for him and ale for me,” Talia said.
Quint watched her looking at the patrons rather than the surroundings. She had been here before, it seemed. Quint wondered if this was a unique situation or one that had been played repeatedly for recruits coming through headquarters to be rated and assigned.
As he gazed about the pub, while waiting for their food, Quint realized he had no preference about his rating or assignment. He had insufficient experience to evaluate anything except for the current situation, whatever that might be at the time.
Regardless, Quint had to be careful, so he wasn’t automatically disadvantaged. He didn’t know how to survive in the constantly changing environment of the Wizard Corps, but he wanted to give himself the chance to survive.
“Does your father ever complain about his lot in life?” Talia asked after the pause that Quint used to think.
“He cares about his business making wheels. The demand for his work comes and goes. It is currently going, and he is worried about maintaining his business. I’m hoping his savings will grow with me out of the way. One of my brothers might come into the business, but he isn’t trained yet. None of that is my business, now, is it?”
“I suppose not,” Talia said. “Does he get enough to eat?”
Quint shrugged. “I never went hungry,” he said. “My father is a good, earnest man who knows who he is and what to do about it. He makes the best wheels for miles around.”
Talia leaned closer. “How do you know that?”
“Because I’ve been his apprentice since I was ten. He has trained me to evaluate wheels, and his wheels hold up better than any others. It’s almost a curse. When he’s replaced most of the wheels in our area, he knows his business will suffer because his wheels last longer.”
Talia laughed. “A successful business can be a curse. I’ll have to remember that,” she said. “Does the government keep him from succeeding?”
“If he ever gets around to asking for a warrant to sell in other areas, he is always denied, but Father is happy about his lot in life.”
“Are you happy with yours?” Talia asked.
“I don’t know what my lot in life is at this point,” Quint said.
He wasn’t happy about being probed. Either Talia was exceptionally nosy, or she was performing an interrogation. He thought the interrogation was most likely.
“Are you happy with your lot in life?” Quint said, trying to get on the offensive with the girl.
Talia raised her eyebrows. “My father is high up the ladder in the wizard corps. I have a job that I like, so I suppose I am happy.”
“But what about your next step up? If your father is highly ranked, don’t you have a plan to reach as high as him?”
Talia smiled at the question. “Women can only go so far in the Racellian armed forces, including the wizard corps. For example, the leap from lieutenant to captain is one few women successfully make. I’m not sure I’m made of the right disposition.”
“And does the same situation apply to hubites?” Quint asked. “Who is the highest ranked hubite you know of?”
“I don’t know of any hubite captains. I don’t know all the officers,” Talia said.
“Levels are measures of magical capability, but the real acceptance in the wizard corps is military rank and directing officers below you. Am I right?”
Talia nodded.
