Roxie went to retrieve the linens from Tam, who had already collected them. The young woman turned to make the bed, but Tam refused saying he could do it himself. Tam was simply trying to save the girl from further embarrassment, but Rezkin only saw it as encouraging disobedience. Tam was not doing the young woman any favors. Then again, maybe Tam no longer trusted the hapless woman to perform her job. Rezkin nodded. This made sense. If she could not be trusted to follow the Rules, what other anarchy might she instigate?

As soon as the duo left the room, Tam burst out laughing again, “On the Maker, Rez, you’re funny! I couldn’t think of anything good to say fast enough, but you’re quick. That was hilarious.”

Rez?

Rezkin was utterly confused. He did not know what humor had to do with anything, but he let it go since Tam was obviously in a much better mood than he was earlier. Rezkin retrieved the supplies he had been tinkering with before all of the commotion and began setting the alarm around his bed.

Tam watched Rezkin quizzically. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Setting an alarm,” Rezkin replied.

“Why?” Tam inquired.

“To wake me in case someone attempts to attack,” he stated.

“Why would you need that? Who is going to attack you in here? Wait … am I the someone?” Tam asked with round eyes.

Rezkin glanced at him with a look of contrition. “There are two ways to enter this room—the door and the window. There are any number of people outside who could intend harm, and perhaps a few inside. It is prudent to keep an alarm set where one is sleeping.”

“You worry about that kind of stuff? This has happened to you before?” Tam asked. He was no longer sure he wanted to share a room with someone who attracted that kind of attention.

Rezkin shook his head. “Where I grew up, the men were always sneaking in to test me. They did all kinds of things to teach me the Skills, particularly when I was most vulnerable.”

Tam visibly relaxed and nodded as he said, “Yeah, I understand that. My brothers and I were always pulling pranks on each other. One time, my oldest brother, Caineth, convinced Perrin to help him sew Connin’s bed linens closed around him like a sack while he was sleeping. Then, they put a mouse and a snake inside with him. I’m pretty sure you could hear the screams from the other end of town. Ma and Pa were really angry. Plus, ma made Cainith and Perrin pay for the ruined bed linens.”

Rezkin considered this attack, prank, as Tam had called it. He could not see any practical use for such a technique except perhaps to teach the victim to be vigilant even in his sleep. Still, if it was effective, then who was he to judge?