"You are merely going to dine with your kin. For the most part they are a tiresome group, as you are well aware. After a moment or two they will ignore you, and become busy with their gossip and little intrigues. At the end Fratano will declare you a provisional, and announce your SI, which I should guess to be a fairly safe 24, or at worst a 25, which is still not too bad, considering the creaking joints and gray hairs around the table."
"And that is all?"
"More or less. If someone troubles to talk to you, answer politely, but otherwise you can dine in silence and no one will be the wiser."
Giawen sat on a bench where he could look across the lagoon and watch the play of sunlight and shadow on the water. He told himself:
"Perhaps it will not go so badly, after all. Still, I'd be relieved ;c my SI turned out to be a point or two lower than what I fear it will be."
The scrape of footsteps broke into his thoughts. A bulky shape appeared at the end of the dock. Giawen sighed. Here vas the person he least wanted to see: Aries, two years older than himself, taller by a head and heavier by fifty pounds. His face was large and flat, with a snub nose and a ripe heavy mouth. A smart cap with a stylish slantwise visor today confined his black curls.
At the age of eighteen and anSI of 16, by reason of his direct lineage, through Spanchetta and Valart, her father, to Past Master Damian, who was father to the current Master, Fratano,1 only serious malfeasance or failure at the lyceum could cause Aries difficulties.
Coming into the cool dimness from the sunlight, Aries stood blinking. Giawen quickly picked up an abrasive block and, jumping aboard the sloop, busied himself at the tai frail He crouched low; perhaps Aries would not see him.
Aries strolled slowly along the dock, hands in pockets, peering right and left. At last he took note of Giawen. He stopped and stared, puzzled by Glawen's activity. He sauntered close.
"What are you up to?"
' Genealogical details and SIs need not be remembered. They will be cited as sparingly as possible.
Glawen said evenly: "I am sanding the boat, to prepare it for varnish."
"That's what I thought you were doing," said Aries coldly.
"After all, my eyes are in very good condition."
"Don't just stand there; get busy. You'll find another sanding block in the locker."
Aries gave a snort of derisive laughter.
"Are you serious?
That's work for the Yips!"
"Why haven't they done it, then?"
Aries shrugged.
"Complain to Namour; he'll put them right.
But don't involve me; I have better things to do."
Glawen continued to work, with a sober concentration that at last caused Aries exasperation.
"Sometimes, Glawen, I find you absolutely unpredictable.
Haven't you forgotten something?"
Glawen paused and gazed dreamily out over the water.
"I
can't think of anything. Of course, if I'd forgotten it, that's what one would expect."
"Bah! More of your larky talk! Today is your birthday! You should be up in your chambers, making preparations--that is, if you want to cut any kind of a figure. Do you have white shoes? If not, you should get some in double-quick time! I tell you this out of kindness; no more."
Glawen darted a side glance at Aries, then continued his work.
"If I came to supper barefoot, no one would notice."
"Hah! That's where you're wrong! Never underestimate fine shoes! It's the first thing the girls look for!"
"Hm ... That's something I didn't know."
"You'll find that I'm right. Girls are clever little creatures; they can size up a fellow in no time at all! If your nose is dripping or your fly is open or if your shoes aren't truly sporting, they'll tell each other:
"Don't give that turnip-head the time of day!"" "Those are valuable tips," said Glawen.
"I'll keep them in mind!"
Aries frowned. One could never be sure how to take Glawen's remarks; often they verged upon the caustic. At the moment Glawen seemed sober and respectful, which was as it should be. Reassured, Aries continued, even more grandly than before.
"Perhaps I shouldn't mention this, but I have taken the trouble to work out a manual of foolproof methods for getting along with the girls, if you know what I mean."
Aries gave Glawen a lewd wink.
"It's based on female psychology and it operates like magic, every time!"
