Geros knew that Exquaestio was poor, but he hadn't expected to find the High Priest kneeling in the mud, looking far more like a farmer than a priest.
"Welcome lad," the figure greeted him. "You're a new anradan?"
"Ah. No. Espiri. That is scout Marco initiated me. I don't have any magic. Though I hope to get some, someday, anyway." Realizing he was babbling Geros stopped, bowed, and held out the letter Marco had given him. "Ah. Seeker Geros at your service holy father."
Eyes crinkling in amusement Farmer Hugo (as he still thought of himself in spite of his election to the singular High Priest of Exquaestio) gestured the letter away. "Put that away Geros. I'll take it later. What do you know about gardening?"
"Very little holy father. My family keeps a dry goods shop."
"Well then, get down here and I'll tell you what needs to be done. You can start by calling me Hugo . . ."
Hugo tapped the letter. "Marco says you're intelligent and imaginative. I've seen for myself that you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty. You also keep good records. I know exactly what I'd like you to work on. What do you know about bees?"
"Bees?"
"Y'know. Honeybees. They make honey and wax."
"Ah. Yes. Well. Nothing about bees I guess. I . . ."
"Good!"
"Good?"
"Yes. That way you won't have any preconceptions. You see, last year when I tried to harvest my hives, one was empty and three were infested with wax moth. The last hive didn't survive the winter and honeythiefs found out before I did. Every year I put out five hives. Most years I harvest one, sometimes two. Now, honey and wax are always in demand and if we could improve our harvest Exquaestio's people would be far better off. What you'll do is travel between farms and figure out why some hive succeed and some fail and how we can improve our harvest. You'll also help out a little at each farm."
Hugo was impressed. The callow youth who'd come to him in the spring had grown up over the summer. "Frankly, I never expected you to solve the whole problem, but you have figured out some things?"
"Yes. Hives with winter sun and summer shade fair much better. Thicker walls on the hive help as well. I have a technique that will help people harvest wild honey better. What I really need to do look through my notes and spend some time thinking. I'm positive there's something there if only I could see it."
"What have you got there?"
"The remains of a hive the high priest harvested in the fall. I'm trying to figure out some things, but not having much luck."
"Have you tried praying?"
"What happened."
"I don't know. He way praying, and then suddenly started babbling numbers."
"one three eight six nine one . . ."
"Like that."
"Fetch pioneer Olivia, and hurry."
Geros woke and winced momentarily at the memory of numbers rolling through his mind, but they were gone now.
"Congratulations." The voice was low, warm, and very faintly amused. "Welcome to the ranks of spell-using espiri, scout Geros."
Geros turned to look. He'd had little contact with the pioneer Olivia, and blushed as he recognized her. "It's not at all what I expected."
Peals of laughter broke from her, and Geros blushed more deeply. "No, don't be . . . embarrassed Geros. It's just that . . . every newly chosen espiri . . . has said . . . something like that." Gaining control of herself Olivia spoke more calmly, "My apologies Geros, but you'll see the humor in this sooner than you might think. Now. As soon as you're ready we can discuss what happened. If you feel what you felt before you started babbling numbers, just ignore it. I assure you it will come back."
Cleaned and seated in the cubby behind the farmhouse's fireplace Geros started. "I was praying to Feroze wishing I could figure out some better measurements on the hive I was studying. Then, it was like something . . . beyond the hive, only it wasn't beyond, maybe within . . ."
Don't distress yourself Geros. I know what you mean and our language just doesn't have the words for what you're trying to say. What happened next?"
"I prayed and the . . . the glimmering."
"Glimmering. Good name for it.
"It laid itself out between the marks and then my mind was full of numbers. So many numbers that there wasn't room for anything else."
"Hmmm. Congratulations again, Feroze has given you a facet of his authority no one else has had before. Unfortunately, that means it's up to you to find out how to use it properly. I might suggest . . ."
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