All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 44

The servant Drakel nodded solemnly and Jano followed him. He was led along a twisting road to a sprawling estate at the edge of a small terrace on the mountain. He noted with pleasure a vast series of interconnected gardens. Some of these were floral gardens, others held a variety of herbs, others too were more utilitarian food gardens. These last stood at the edge of a vast orchard. The grounds were immense. A bubbling pool steamed at the center of the rear area. After leading Jano around the lands, the servant stopped and waited.

"Tal Li Vago," Jano said to the Drakel, whose eyes widened visibly at the proclamation wishing him long heath. He nodded politely and gave the hand gesture that meant the same thing, but he still did not speak.

"Can you not talk?" Jano inquired. "C'fa li daliva?"

The man nodded the affirmative.

"Then speak, please."

"As you will, Lord T'palo. Servants are forbidden to speak unless directly bidden to."

"Where is my chamber?" Jano asked, disturbed by this greatly.

"This is your chamber, my lord," the man answered, relatively confused.

"This entire estate is my chamber?"

"Of course, my lord. You are a T'palo."

"And you... you are my servant."

"One of them, my lord. I am your.." The Drakel searched for the word in the human language. "I am your head servant; in your tongue, I might be called a butler."

"I see. I request that while in my presence and the presence of those on these grounds you speak openly as if you were at your home. Will you have great problem with this?" He asked this last because he had heard of even paid servants who, living in strict households, could not engage in conversation openly. Worse, it might be greatly against some cultural norm.

"No, sir, very many of the councilors make the same request of their household based on their preferences. Rarely do T'palo do so, though, as they consider their honor above such things."

Jano was dumbfounded by the logic. If most T'palo came from the De'me'thar, why should former outcasts suddenly consider themselves above their fellow De'me'thar?

"That shall not be the case in my household. I will not abide solemnity or silence. I wish this a place of joy and revelry."

The Drakel smiled openly. "Would you like children here, then? Servants can have their families with them and aiding them, but only if the house owner wills it."

"By all means, yes... Children are just what this place needs. Though I do not desire the children to fear me or live in some kind of false awe. I want them swimming in my bath and eating at my table. If culture demands they work, then give them work, but clear any assignments for children through me. Am I clear in this?"

"You are, sir..."

"Very well... Bring my bags to my bedroom. Do I bathe in the central bath?"

"Many do, sir, but you have a shower in your room."

"A shower?" Jano asked, confused. "A rain shower. You control them?"

"No, sir. Water heated to heat the household is gravity-fed to a wire mesh which allows it to cool somewhat and rain over you."

"I think I will stick to the bath for now. Maybe I will feel more adventurous tomorrow."

"As you will, sir. I will have warm towels brought to you."

"Thank you. Though before you leave, I should know your name."

"It is customary to call people by their station. It shows respect rather then familiarity."

"Yes, and ever shows what their station is. Would I be disrespecting you to call you by name?"

"No, but it would show you place me on equal level with yourself... or that you consider me a friend."

"Good. Since both of those things are true, I need to know your name."

"Draslin, sir," he responded doubtfully.

"Well then, thank you, Draslin. Will you come back after my bath? I need to know what to expect from the council."

"Yes, Lord T'palo."

Jano considered reinforcing his feeling by insisting the Drakel call him by name as well, but decided that pushing the issue to hard would lead only to discomfort and unpleasant attention.