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e
Kirustan leaned, casually. He grinned at me, as if amused. I wondered
what his role' was in Desa's existence, and if I was staking a claim to
something he felt he already possessed. Nevertheless, he seemed earnestly
pleased to hear of my acceptance.
"Yes, sir."
"I have several apprentices, Darryn. You are to... Kirustan, leave
us."
"Immediately, sir," the young Megass said, taking his leave by the
same staircase Desa had arisen from.
"I am sorry; I do not know of your comfort or concern being a lover of
men and things male, Darryn, and I did not want to embarass you in front of
my other young apprentice. I should have dismissed him before you told
your tale."
"It is the past, sir, that tale. I am not ashamed of what I am."
"Good," he said. "Because it is, in part, what you are that makes you
so valuable to me. I have an apprentice that I took while he was still in
Manform, thirty years ago. He learned quickly, as I promise you, you will.
His name is Ryuchitoran. I fear he has not long to live.
"Ryu, as I call him, was born with two problems. I have trouble
deciding some days which makes his life more unbearable. The first
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