Seems more by more I'm thinkin' that in a year or two I'm like to be able to become a master of the guild and more'n that, to buy the mastership and stable from Master Rosewood. He been hintin' as he might be lookin' for to retire. He never said as that'd mean I'd be the one to get it, on account he can't -- that's somethin' as the guild got to decide. But he keeps happening to mention it about the same time he's talkin' 'bout how well my learnin' is, and my work. Like t'other day, there were this lass named Malhufel had a horse she thunk as were took ill -- were the same lass asked me about it in the Pony one night as were the one Mister Dimheim told me 'bout -- and I put the lass at ease and took care of the horse well, particular by using the fëa trick what I learned in Dwimordene, on account the poor tired mare were stampin' her hoof what had the bandage. Master Rosewood talked to the lass after (she might look to get the job of our stableboy, what's leavin' to become a leatherworker apprentice) and then he told me how I done a real good job of it, and that that's just the kind of care he hopes as whoever buys the stable when he retires would do.
And he were proper glowin' with praise when I told him I finally understood the ledger. I hadn't wanted to tell him I had to ask for help, but I couldn't go to lyin', so I told him how Mister Dimheim explained it to me at his smoothery, how the three over the four means three bags cost four -- no, that four bags costs three pennies, and from that, I could figure how twelve bags costs nine pennies, three and three and three again. I figured it'd be a mark against me that I couldn't figure it my own self, but he said it were good to know when you need help and get it and learn. So now every time there's an update in the ledger he has me write it in my copy while he watches, and I got it full right ever'time so far, and if I keep doin' that he'll let me write it in the real ledger soon. "And that'll be something that the next fellow who keeps the stable will need to know how to do," he said after, like he was suggesting it would be me. Makes me think when the day comes, he's like to speak well for me to the guild, if I keep doin' good, and if he speaks well for me about his own stable and mastership, then seems like as the rest the guild like to go with him. (Except Master Goldenleaf, what don't take to anyone from far lands, but I don't know as he'd be enough to go against the others.)
I were just thinkin' as maybe I should read books more for learnin', and that's prob'ly still so, but I know I learn more and better by doin' things than readin' them. Certainly that's how I'm learnin' how to court Lumina and that's goin' far more better than I could ever thunk it would be. Kestrel likes her, so that means an awful lot, given how he felt 'bout Haritha. And Lumina been comin' by my house in Hookworth of the evenings, and so I been goin' there for nights again -- I might give up the rooms at Windview, even -- and we're even talkin' about how she might bring her things there and give up the house she got over in Newharrow. Odd to think a couple week ago I were so scared as it'd never go right.
Not like I don't still get a little anxious sometime. I'm afraid to say things out loud, like that I can imagine us married and with a family already, so's not to tempt fate to make it not happen, to make me do somethin' to make it all go wrong. But every night that's a little less in my thinkin', and every night I feel like I learned a little more about her, and how to be hers. I asked her for to teach me a few words in the language of her folk so we could speak private things even when we're out in town. And how I want to learn all 'bout her people and their ways. I think she wonders why I'd want to. She left them, so there's sure as some parts of it are things she wants to leave behind, but there's others as she carries with her and holds close to her. She speaks of her ma, and she likes the cookin' comes from there, and the fine clothes, and their dances, and other things. It seems proper normal as I'd want to learn about them if'n I'm to share a life with her, but every time I say so, it seems like it seems odd to her. (And yet she wants to see the Mark! We even talked about journeyin' there next spring together, maybe.)
Two years up north and I don't reckon as I learned one single thing. Master Éogar sure tried to teach me, but breeding for the traits you want in a horse seem like sorcery to me for as much as I can follow what he says. And Master Fincham up Trestlebridge way mostly just had me do the same sort work I done for Miss Brynleigh in Hookworth Stables when I was her apprentice, nothin' really new to learn there. I been back in Bree just more'n a month and I learned more'n I learned since I come back from the South. And the same time, more good's happened to me than it done in… well, maybe ever. I can't help but think as that's not two things, but one. Like two lines on the ledger what tell two parts of one story.
