A week passed with no word from the Trade Minister's office. I put the delay down to the usual bureaucratic nonsense and continued my explorations of the city. Eventually, by chance or subconscious choice, I found my way back to the Library.
"Good morning, My Lord," I said to the Librarian who was seated at his desk.
"Mistress Lora. Please, there is no need to use a formal title."
"How are you, Sir?"
"I am well."
"I am pleased to hear it."
"Are you well?"
"Tolerably. The city disagrees with me somewhat. I look forward to leaving it."
"Did you not enjoy the festival?"
"My opinion of the city festival is, frankly, unrepeatable. Suffice it to say, I spent the two days in my room at the Inn."
"Yes. Even as a very young man the Festival never appealed to me. As far as I have been able to tell a person either adores it or avoids it."
"I am most definitely going to avoid it in the future. I had a headache the entire time, the racket some of these people call music!"
"You must be a musician to have such a vehement opinion."
"I am indeed. It is my profession, you might say."
"A woman of many talents."
"Don't sound so surprised," I muttered in response, rasing my voice I added, "On the other hand staying in the city has reminded me of the reason I started travelling around with centaurs."
That got his attention I must admit.
"You travelled with centaurs?"
"Yes, and?"
"I was under the impression they avoided human company."
"Only the ones who want to slaughter their children."
"Why would anyone want to do that?"
"I imagine it would be the same people who want to register them and forbid them entry to Human Cities."
"Is that some new law that is being passed?"
"It is already in effect. All centaurs must be registered by or of the King, or so I hear it."
"It makes sense."
"Really?"
"Of course I can't expect an emotional person, as you appear to be to understand the logic."
I ground my teeth together at the implied criticism.
"I would be delighted if you would take the time to explain it to me."
The request was made in a calm polite tone of voice, which would have had Galeorhin leaving very quickly until I regained my good temper.
"Very well. I am glad you are being reasonable about this. You see, my dear, centaurs are a naturally unpredictable race. While they do not seem to be hostile to humans at present you can never tell when they might turn. So naturally the governing body of Sandar would want to keep an eye on them, to get a general idea of how many are in the land at once and make sure they can't cause too much trouble."
He paused for breath and looked at me, I nodded for him to continue. I was far too annoyed to speak anyway.
"Centaurs, they are not like humans..."
"That I completely agree with!"
"...therefore they cannot, as a race, be completely trusted."
"Would you say the same of Elves, or Dwarves?"
"Of course not, the Dwarven race has no interest in the land outside their underground home and the Elves are a kind and peaceful race."
Peaceful, yes, but kind? Don't they recognise a disdainful superiority complex when they see one?
"My opinion of the human race is dropping lower by the day. I had hoped to have a conversation with an open-minded man but I see that you are not one, Sir. Pray excuse me I have better things to do with my time than spend it with one who belittles those he has never met!"
I gave him no opportunity to reply, which was, I admit, ill mannered of me but I did not care at the time. I left the Library and ended up outside the dressmaker's shop.
Why I am here? I wondered. I certainly don't want to talk to another stupid male.