The Writers' Circle

I'll admit that I'm not as crazy about this as the rest of the story yet but it's late and I'm tired so I'll look over it when I've got less on my plate. Hopefully it won't put off those of you who have enjoyed it so far as you may completely disagree with me.

JD

* * * * *

	Ignoring Rowlen's advice, Tam had rushed through his cleaning of the hut, eager both to impress his new mentor and to move on to more magic-based tasks. His fervour had proved fruitless, however, when Rowlen had returned to inspect his work, finding dust and dirt in the nooks and crevices that had passed Tam by. Following a ten minute lecture the young tulai had been made to repeat his initial task before following it up with more equally mundane ones.
	Now he was tending to the herb gardens, sectioning off the work as his mind dealt with the extensive task he still had to complete. The sun that beat down overhead had already caused him to remove his hat and roll up his sleeves and yet still beads of sweat were forming on his brow.
	He was so engrossed in his task that he failed to notice Rowlen coming up behind him.
	"Lose something?" the older tulai asked.
	He held out Tam's hat as the apprentice turned to look up at him from his knelt position.
	"I took it off because of the heat," he explained.
	"I bet you did," Rowlen said. "But it's your symbol of office and must be worn at all times."
	"Isn't the fact that I'm a tulai enough? There don't seem to be that many more of around here."
	Rowlen raised his eyebrows and thrust the hat towards the apprentice who took it and placed it upon his head.
	"I was expecting there to be more of us," Tam admitted. "Don't you get lonely?"
	Rowlen looked thoughtful.
	"What makes you say that?"
	"Because besides us I don't think that there's another tulai here."
	"And you don't think the arlan are my friends?"
	"Well...it's not that..."
	"Or the dwarfs?"
	"Well..."
	"Is this what Jelosano has taught you - that you can only be friends with your own kind?"
	Tam didn't respond but looked shamefacedly at the ground.
	"It seems like you still have a lot to learn," said Rowlen, coming to a decision. "I think you've done enough chores for now. Come with me and see what we tulai really do."

* * * * *

	"What's wrong with her?" Tam asked, staring down at the prone woman that Rowlen was tending to.
	"Shhh."
	Tam hurriedly did as he was bidden as he peered over Rowlen's shoulder. The older tulai was concentrating intently on the task in hand, performing acts that seemed very unmagical to Tamson's eyes.
	The woman's husband had left them alone, in the small room they currently occupied, at Rowlen's insistence with the old tulai claiming that he worked better when left alone. Tam now wished that 'alone' had excluded him from his tutor's presence also. The heat in the cluttered room, one of only three in the cramped house, only added to the stifling heat and he found himself holding his breath as the tension built to the operation's climax.
	"There," said Rowlen, laying down his needle. "All done."
	Tam sighed with relief.
	"And that's what we do, is it?" he asked.
	"It's part of it," said Rowlen, leaning forward to check on his patient's breathing. "She should be fine. Go and get the husband, will you?"
	Tam was still staring at the unconscious arlan in the bed.
	"Tamson?"
	The tutor's stern voice cut across Tam's reverie.
	"Huh?"
	"The husband?"
	"Oh," said Tam. "Right."
	He rose and opened the door to almost be crushed by the stumbling arlan who had been listening intently on the other side.
	"S-sorry," the arlan stammered, embarrassed at being caught out.
	"It's ok," said Rowlen, speaking on behalf of his apprentice.
	"Is she ok?"
	"She'll be fine," Rowlen assured him. "Just make sure she has plenty to drink when she comes round and plenty of rest to aid healing."
	"Thank you, Rowlen."
	The arlan smiled a tight smile that still carried traces of the worry he felt and Rowlen nodded his acknowledgement.
	"Come on, Tamson," said the older tulai and the apprentice needed no encouragement, following his mentor from the building and into the clear, cool air of the outdoors.
	"It's not what you thought it would be, is it?" said Rowlen matter-of-factly when they were walking once more.
	Tam shook his head.
	"What were you expecting, then?"
	Tam thought for a moment.
	"Magical stuff?" he suggested.
	"That's what you were taught back in Jelosano?"
	Again Tam nodded.
	"That's all you were taught?"
	"Yeah."
	Rowlen sighed.
	"It's changed such a lot since I was there," he said.
	Tam fidgeted uncomfortably.
	"It's not all we were taught," he admitted reluctantly. "There were other things too but...well..."
	"You cared more about the impressive stuff?" Rowlen finished bluntly.
	Tam didn't feel the need to answer.
	"Don't worry about it," said the tulai and Tam stopped and looked up in surprise at his suddenly kind tone. "I wasn't brought up the way you are. I learned everything I know on my own on the job and I'll teach you the same way if you're willing to put the work in."
	Tam looked into his mentor's eyes. It seemed like such an easy-going offer - far from the traits he had so far seen in the old tulai - yet he suspected that the work required would be far from it. He let his gaze wander across the beautiful, homely surroundings and noted the few townspeople on this stretch of pathway going about their business, casting surreptitious and reverential glances in the direction of the two tulai. It was a respect that Tam felt he could get used to but even he was mature enough to realise that it wasn't only one way.
	A new thought struck him.
	"I don't have a choice, do I?"
	Rowlen almost laughed out loud.
	"Of course you do," he said. "Everyone does. You could choose to struggle with what little practical knowledge you have and go about things the way you were taught. That's one choice. Then again you could choose to do exactly what I say and trust in the practicality of what I teach you."
	Tam barely took a moment to make his decision. He felt that he'd learned a lot about the world in the past day or two.
	"I'll make the most of the time I'm here," he said. "I'm sure it'll pass in no time."
	"You almost sound like you hope it'll go fast," Rowlen noted. "Don't wish your life away - it's not worth it. And I'll warn you now - such is a tulai's role in a community that he forms bonds with the place he works in. I came here longer ago than I care to remember and I never wish to leave. I came here when I was young and no doubt I'll die here with no regrets."
	Tam was smiling softly at the old tulai's sentiment.
	"I'm sorry for embarrassing you when I arrived," the young tulai said. "I'll try and do things your way from now on."
	The older being laid a paternal hand on the young one's shoulder.
	"All is forgotten," he said. "Now, we've got a lot of what you would call 'unmagical tasks' to occupy the rest of the day but tonight, providing you're not too tired and still have a hunger for more, then I'll see what I can do about arranging some more interesting fare, ok?"
	Tam nodded enthusiastically and they continued on to their next destination with the young tulai carried forwards on the wave of positivity and sense of belonging that Rowlen had instilled.