Page 88 of The Priory of the Orange Tree

“Doctor Moyaka,” Niclays called, delighted. “Oh, Eizaru, how marvelous to see you!”

Finally, some good fortune. Eizaru was a gifted surgeon Niclays had taught for a year in Orisima. He and his daughter, Purumé, had been among the first to sign up for anatomy lessons, and never in his life had Niclays seen two people so willing to learn. They had taught him a great deal about Seiikinese medicine in exchange for his knowledge. Meeting them had been a bright spot in his exile.

Eizaru broke free of the throng, and they bowed to one another before embracing. Seeing that the outsider was with someone, people returned to their business.

“My friend,” Eizaru said warmly, still in Mentish. “I was just thinking of writing to you. What are you doing in Ginura?”

“Due to various disagreeable circumstances, I have some respite from Orisima,” Niclays said in Seiikinese. “The honored Governor of Cape Hisan decided to send me here to be placed under house arrest.”

“Whoever brought you here should not have abandoned you in the street. Did you come by palanquin?”

“Sadly.”

“Ah. Those who carry them are often mischief-makers.” Eizaru grimaced. “Please, come to my house, before someone wonders why you are here. I will let the honored Governor of Ginura know what happened.”

“You are too kind.”

Niclays followed Eizaru over a bridge, into a much wider street that led straight to the main gate of Ginura Castle. Musicians played in pools of shade while vendors touted fresh clams and sea grapes.

He had never thought to lay eyes upon the famous season trees of Ginura. Their branches formed a natural pavilion over the street. At present, they wore dazzling yellow for the summer.

Eizaru lived in a modest house near the silk market, which backed onto one of the many canals that latticed Ginura. He had been widowed for a decade, but his daughter had stayed with him so that they could pursue their passion for medicine together. Rainflowers frothed over the exterior wall, and the garden was redolent of mugwort and purple-leaved mint and other herbs.

It was Purumé who opened the door to them. A bobtail cat snaked around her ankles.

“Niclays!” Purumé smiled before bowing. She favored the same eyeglasses as her father, but the sun had tanned her skin to a deeper brown than his, and her hair, held back with a strip of cloth, was still black at the roots. “Please, come in. What an unexpected pleasure.”

Niclays bowed in return. “Please forgive me for disturbing you, Purumé. This is unexpected for me, too.”

“We were your honored guests in Orisima. You are always welcome.” She took one look at his travel-soiled clothes and chuckled. “But you will need something else to wear.”

“I quite agree.”

When they were inside, Eizaru sent his two servants to the well. “Rest for a while,” he told Niclays. “You may have the sun quake after that journey. I will go at once to White River Castle and ask to speak to the honored Governor. Then we can eat.”

Niclays sighed with relief. “That would be wonderful.”

When the servants had returned from the well and filled a tub, Niclays divested himself of his garments and laved away the mud and sweat. The cold water was bliss.

Damned if he was ever traveling in a palanquin again. They could drag him back to Orisima.

Reinvigorated, he donned the summer robe the servants had left in the guest room. A cup of tea steamed on the balcony. He sat drinking it in the shade, watching boats glide past on the canal. After years of imprisonment, Orisima had never seemed farther away.

“Learnèd Doctor Roos.”

He stirred from a contented doze. One of the servants had appeared on the balcony.

“The learnèd Doctor Moyaka is back,” she said. “He requests your presence.”

“Thank you.”

Downstairs, Eizaru awaited him.

“Niclays.” There was a hint of mischief in his smile. “I spoke to the honored Governor. She has agreed to my request that you remain with Purumé and myself while you are in the city.”

“Oh, Eizaru.” Perhaps it was the heat or his exhaustion, but the good news almost brought Niclays to tears. “Are you quite sure it’s no trouble?”

“Of course not.” Eizaru ushered him into the next room. “Come, now. You must be famished.”

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