Page 29 of Phoenix's Fire

"Anything you want," Zasen assured me. "You're already helping with the city defenses. I can officially list you on the rolls for that, which will earn you a stipend."

"No," Rymar said. "I mean, yes. List her. She deserves to get paid for helping, but she doesn't need a job." He looked over at me. "Ayla, if you want to care for the house, you can. If you want to sew clothes, or learn to be a nurse, you can."

"Or a doctor," Zasen added, just a little too casually.

"But!" Rymar said, taking over again, "you don't need to worry about a job if you don't want to."

"Then how's she going to pay for things?" Kanik asked.

The look Rymar gave Kanik was weary. "We're fine, Kanik. Money isn't a problem. I don't care if she, or you, or Zasen earns enough. That's what I've beentryingto tell you. We're fine. The cafe earns more than enough for everyone in this house. We're completely fine, so she doesn't need to work if she doesn't want to."

"But everyone else works," I realized. "Kanik said having a job was doing help in exchange for payment, right?"

"It is," Rymar agreed. "I also think you should be able to have a job you want, not one you need because you're worried about paying bills."

"I don't know what that means," I admitted.

"Good," Rymar said. "And Kanik, the same goes for you. Stop worrying about money. I've got you."

"I just - "

Rymar groaned, cutting him off. "You're a young teacher. You have debts from your education. You love what you do, so you should keep doing it. The cafe is doing well, and the two of you helped me get that off the ground, so let it help you back, okay? Help goes both ways, Kanik. You were there for me, and all I'm trying to do is repay the favor!"

Zasen leaned closer to me. "For most people, earning money is a sign of success. It shouldn't be, because while money lets you buy things, many people sacrifice their happiness in order to get it. The three of us have been lucky because we've always helped each other get into what wewantto do. Now, it's our turn to help you."

"Oh." I nodded, thinking about that.

But Kanik wasn't willing to let Rymar have the last word. "Look, I'm not trying to take advantage of your generosity."

"You're not!" Rymar insisted. "You've only been out of school four years. As a teacher, you're still starting out. Is your contract with the school even permanent?"

"Will be after this year," Kanik muttered.

"And then you'll make better wages," Rymar said. "I'm just trying to help."

I almost kept my mouth shut, but from the looks on the men's faces, I realized they weren't quite hearing each other. Clearly, this was an old debate between them, but neither one had said the important thing yet, so I decided to help.

"Rymar, Kanik doesn't want you to think he expects you to always help. He doesn't want to take advantage of you." Then I turned to Kanik. "Rymar's justtrying to say he doesn't mind. He doesn't think you're taking advantage of him. I'm guessing Rymar has a lot of this money stuff, and you don't?"

"Yeah, basically," Kanik admitted.

"And when you don't have something," I said, "it makes you want it more. When you have a lot of it, you want to share that good with the people you care about. Rymar clearly cares about you. Kanik, you're his friend! He's saying you matter more than the money thing."

Beside me, Zasen folded his arms across his chest and leaned back. Across from me, Rymar looked up, his mouth hanging open in surprise. On my other side, Kanik was nodding his head slowly.

"I'm sorry, Ry," he said. "I just..."

"No, I get it," Rymar assured him. "I mean, I know I complain about people only liking me for my money, but it should beourmoney. That's all I'm saying. You were my friend before we had it."

"I'll share my money too, when I get it," I offered. "I'm sure I owe all of you a lot of it."

"Mm," Zasen mumbled, "but we want to share with you as well, Ayla, because you're our friend."

"Then maybe we should just put it all together?" I asked. "Or is that a stupid thing?"

This time, Zasen was the one with the shock on his face. "Um, it's normally something people don't want to do. You know, in case they stop being friends for some reason."

"But I don't want to stop being your friend," I told them. "All three of you have been so kind, and you've even saved my life!"