Free Bloodkin (Jaseth of Jaelshead) by Cathy Ashford Page A

your business you pull the chain and it gets flushed into the sewerage system.”
    Well, that was a relief, but a sewerage system? That seemed hard to fathom.
    Rightly sensing my confusion, Charlie led me out of the bathroom to one of the armchairs.
    “Yep, the whole city has a Nea’thi-designed sewer system. There are pipes that run from every house and they all go underground, through a tunnel in the hill and out to fertilise the fields on the other side.” I vaguely remembered the lush crops in the fields as we had rode into Lille, was it only this afternoon? It felt like weeks ago.
    My confusion abated. The idea of a whole city’s worth of pipes seemed a bit weird, but flushing toilets I could
definitely
get used to. I sat by the fire and surveyed our quarters. They certainly were cosy, and Charlie would be sleeping in the room right beside me for the next two years. I had accepted the idea of being so close out of necessity while we were on the road, butI had had some thought that once we arrived we would have a bit more space.
    “So JJ, what do you think?” asked Charlie from the doorway to his room.
    “It’s nice,” I offered, “But it’s a bit… intimate, isn’t it?”
    Charlie squeaked in surprise then leapt over, grabbing my head in a fierce headlock and ruffling my hair furiously with his free hand.
    “Intimate?!” he choked with laughter. “Golly gosh Lordboy, you really
are
a snob! This is more than most families have!”
    “Oh, sod off.” Embarrassed, I tried to push him off. I didn’t
think
I was being a snob. Charlie finally gave up and stood. He must have noticed my burning cheeks and mercifully didn’t tease me.
    “It’ll be fine, kiddo! And besides, Bloodkin are always getting into trouble. This way I can keep a close eye on you.” He waggled his finger at me and grinned wolfishly. “Anyways, I’m starved; let’s go see what Myn Eve has cooked up for us!”
     
    “So how do we lock this thing?” Out in the hall I realised Eve hadn’t given us keys or anything, but Charlie glanced at me with a puzzled look.
    “Really? We’re among friends here, no one’s going to steal anything!”
    I thought of the grizzled old watchman in charge of the Manor at Jaelshead and grunted.
    “Remember the three esses!” Charlie raised his eyebrows. “Security, security, security!”
    “I don’t get it.”
    “Uh, there’s nothing much to get.”
    Charlie laughed and shrugged. “I’d forgotten how weird you Humans are, you care so much about
stuff
!”
    I shrugged too and we turned to go out and up the stairs to the common room when a big robed figure raced around the corner and almost bowled into us.
    “Oof, terribly sorry, I’m—” he broke off. “Ϛaioћ! You made it! Awesome!”
    “Jyѫaж! What are you doing here?” Sounding delighted, Charlie embraced the other Nea’thi.
    “Same thing as you buddy, Mentoring! My first Bloodkin has already Graduated and he’s gone to the Temple to be a Solast. A Solast! Can you believe it? I’m so proud of him!” The other Nea’thi spoke quickly, excited, beaming at Charlie. “And you’ll never guess who I’m Mentoring now. A lesbian! It’s brilliant!”
    I was taken aback by what seemed to be a rather vulgar display of objectification, but the joy on his face and the pride sparkling in his eyes was genuine, and I realised he really did think it was brilliant.
    “She’s terribly sad though, poor dear thing. Had such a rough time at home, teenage sexuality and all that. Honestly, Humans can be so
cruel…
” He stopped and looked at me closely. “My apologies. I am Jyѫaжa Hấӣaћ of the Ұiờ enclave, although I understand that Nea’thi is a difficult language for Humans to pronounce, so you may call me Jimmy.” I shook his extended hand.
    “I’m Jaseth. Of, er, Jaelshead.” I offered, and he grinned.
    “Jaelshead! Ϛaioћ, do you remember Toѫeneж? His Bloodkin’s from Jaelshead too! His name’s Telgeth, do you know