The White Order

LXVII

ESAAK’S FAT HAND flew across the slate, leaving behind a line of numbers. “You see? If you take the area of the cross-section. . Bah!” Esaak stared at Cerryl. “Do you not see?”

Cerryl was having great trouble, not with understanding why it was necessary, but with Esaak’s explanations.

“You do not see why the study of mathematicks is necessary. . despite all I have said. . despite the evidence of Fairhaven.” The heavyset mage gave a deep sigh, and his wattled jowls wobbled.

“Ser. .”

“You are cleaning the sewers, are you not?”

“Yes, ser.”

“Does the water, when the sewer is clean, not flow below the drainage way?”

“Yes, ser.”

“How did the engineer who built that secondary tunnel know how big to build it? Did he just guess?”

Cerryl felt blank. He knew that the engineer couldn’t have guessed. Esaak wouldn’t have asked the question, but why was the older mage asking such an obvious question? “He used mathematicks.”

“Brilliant. Now. . how and why?”

How? That Cerryl didn’t know. “He used mathematicks to make sure it didn’t fall apart or wasn’t too small. I understand that, ser. It’s the formulas and the way to manipulate numbers I have trouble with.”

“Cerryl. . you are so bright, and so stupid.” Esaak wiped his sweating forehead. “No. . no one ever taught you anything, did they?”

“No, ser.”

“How did you learn to read? Jeslek and Sterol say you read well-at least history and maps.”

“I persuaded a tutor of my master’s daughter to teach me the letters, and I worked at her books-those she would lend me. Tellis the scrivener helped me some later.”

“It is too bad they taught you nothing of numbers. What a waste. We will do our best, though it is late in your life for such.” Esaak paused. “This formula-it shows. .” Esaak paused. “You know a watering trough? Well, the bottom of the sewer tunnel is like a trough. .”

Cerryl forced himself to concentrate, hoping that he would still understand after he left Esaak’s chambers and headed out to the sewer again.