Two of a Kind - Chapter 9

Terence and Lucy made it successfully back to the Cair and to their own private rooms. The only person they ran into was Tumnus, but aside from lifting an eyebrow, the faun said nothing. Once Terence and Lucy changed into dry clothes and toweled their hair some, everyone else who saw them assumed they'd just got out of a bath.

After breakfast, Terence went for a little stroll around the castle, drinking in the familiar details of the place, and exploring some of the rooms he'd never gone to before. One of those rooms was the main library. It was there he found Tumnus, who was sitting in a maroon armchair with one leg crossed over the other and with a big book cradled in his arms. It wasn't until Terence's shadow passed over Tumnus that the faun realized he was even there. The faun gave a bit of a start, but quickly relaxed when he recognized the young man. "Oh, Terence," he sighed, placing one hand over his chest. "Took me rather by surprise there, mate."

"That's no surprise," Terence replied, with a flash of his charming smile. "Stealth is my middle name, you know."

Tumnus rolled his eyes. That was one of Terence's most annoying traits—and one that Tumnus secretly envied. More than once, the faun wished he could be as sneaky as his friend.

He didn't know how Terence did it, or how unicorns did it; with them, stealth seemed to be as natural as breathing.

"What have you got there?" Terence went on.

"A book. What did you expect?"

"What's it say?" Tumnus showed him the cover, but though the title was in clear print, Terence asked, "Could you sound that out for me?"

"What's the matter? Don't you know what it says?"

Terence's handsome face turned a noteworthy shade of red. "Er…Tumnus," he said slowly, after a minute of awkward silence, "there's something I forgot to mention to you."

"What's that?"

Looking at the floor, as if in shame, the boy confessed, "I can't read."

Tumnus stared at him in disbelief. "You mean, you never learned?"

Terence shook his head, causing his long white bangs to swish to and fro. "Not really. No."

"Why not?"

"I just never learned, that's all. No one taught me."

Tumnus quirked his ears. "You mean to tell me you can take on Peter in a duel with one hand tied behind your back, yet you can't read a single word?"

The redness in Terence's face deepened, were such a thing possible. "Guess it goes to show there are things I'm not so good at."

Tumnus, who was a true scholar and needed books and scrolls the way most people needed food and water, could hardly believe his ears. He knew unicorns didn't have much need for reading, but it surprised him that Terence hadn't learned to read or write during his five years as a human. You would think the boy would have at least started somewhere.

Right then, Lucy appeared at Terence's side. "Hello, boys," she said brightly. Seeing their faces, she asked, "What's going on?"

When Terence told her of his illiteracy, she seemed as startled as Tumnus at first, but only for a moment. Then she smiled and said, "Well, if you want to learn how, Terence, I would be more than glad to teach you."

"You would?"

She nodded vigorously. "Certainly! And Tumnus can help, too."

Tumnus looked even more surprised, but all he said was, "I don't see why not."

Lifting one hand to knead the back of his neck, Terence said uneasily, "I don't think I'd make a very good pupil."

"Sure, you would," Lucy insisted. "All you need is practice. Once you get the hang of it, you'll love it."

Now Tumnus smiled as he added on, "You'd be amazed at how much there is to be found in books, mate." He brushed his fingers over the velvet cover of his book in what Terence would swear was a loving caress.

Terence wasn't so sure, but he said, "I suppose it's worth a try."

Especially, he thought, though he daren't say it aloud, if it gave him an opportunity to spend more time with Lucy.