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Trist saved hi a book, his chair tipped back to lean against the wall by the hearth, when the boy cas landed with a thud on the floor "I’ out for a chew," he announced to no one in particular Caulder looked at hi it aloud just to irritate Spink further Trist had recently discovered that although the s of tobacco in "paper, pipes, water tubes, or containers of any sort" was expressly forbidden by Acadenored Sootten when the rules were drawn up; others said it ell known that the chewing of tobacco could stave off certain diseases that bred in close quarters, and thus it was tolerated, although spittoons were forbidden in our rooms For whatever reason, Trist interpreted that whatever was not specifically forbidden was allowed, and openly indulged in the habit It annoyed Spink, who regarded it as a churlish sidestep of gentlerown up in an area where tobacco was not co As predictably as the sun rising, Spink observed, "A filthy habit"

"Undeniably," Trist agreed affably "Most h for that, and then I perceived his true target as he turned his inclusive grin on Caulder "As befits an indulgence of ‘battle lord upstarts’ Don’t you think, Caulder Stiet? Or have you never been exposed to tobacco chewing?" Before the boy could reply, Trist answered himself, "No, doubtless you are too wellborn to have ever even heard of the simple pleasures a cavalla ently reared lad like yourself" Casually, Trist took a plug of tobacco froht wrapper and then the waxed paper to reveal the dark brown brick of dried leaf Even from where I sat, I could s a sheep far to Trist’s sain I could almost feel the charisnorant, nor as "too genteel" to enjoy the enteel was only one step away fro a sissy I didn’t envy hiuishcadets, I’d probably have taken the bait also

"Seen it before," he said disdainfully

"Have you?" Trist’s reply was lazy, and he let it hang a moment before he asked, "Ever tasted it?"

The boy said nothing, but only stared at him

"A demonstration," Trist offered affably "Like so, lad" He"Now, it doesn’t go into your ue Rather, it tucks into the lower lip Like this" Snugged into place, the plug barely showed as a luely "A man’s pleasure Rory?"

"Don’t mind if I do," Rory replied enthusiastically I had known that he chewed, also that he had been too short of coin to bribe a second-year to buy him snoose in town He stepped forward to receive the offered plug, broke off a share, and tucked it into his lip "Aw, that’s the stuff!" he exclaimed when he had it in place

"Caulder?" Trist asked, extending the bar of pressed tobacco

All eyes were on him Except for Spink’s, of course His pencil had not paused in its scratching His diligence was a rebuke to the rest of us, but even Gord seeolden, so relaxed as he leaned an elbow on the mantel of the fireplace He was one of those rare men on whom a uniform looks unique Every one of us in the rooreen jacket and trousers and white shirt, but Trist looked as if he had chosen the garb rather than donned it by default His shoulders ide, his waist tri legs Our severe haircuts made most of us look like shorn sheep, or, as Rory had aptly put it, "bald as scalded pigs" But Trist’s dense blond curls hugged his skull in a golden cap rather than, as my own hair did, stand up in a forest of coarse bristle If ever a young man exemplified a cavalla cadet, it was Trist How could any lad who longed to distinguish himself turn away from such an offer of camaraderie?

Caulder couldn’t A hushed silence held as the boy advanced, saying with bravado, "I don’tthat I’ll try it"

"There’s a lad!" Trist exclaienerous chunk of the harsh stuff and handed it to the boy Caulder tucked the whole wad into his lower lip and then tried to se of it