Heart Legacy

by Robin D. Owens

  And she’d bought something in a shop! She’d purchased a warm hat, knit on the outside, with a layer of batting, and felt on the inside. The Flaired thing only needed a tiny priming Word to work even in the worst weather! Such an efficient and minimal use of Flair awed Lori, used to funding everything in the Residence and on the estate.

  Smells from local restaurants serving dinner teased her nose, but she didn’t have the gilt to buy a meal, and worried at actually sitting down and having people look at her instead of being on the move. Unsure how eating in a public place actually worked, she ignored her growling stomach.

  Daringly, she went into a shop, all by herself—the Fam accessories store that she’d eyed when with Anthema, but which that person had passed as if it didn’t matter. Baccat had said that Fam animal companions remained scarce, and no one else in the Yew Family had such a friend, but the Family, in general, didn’t like animals. They were essential to Lori.

  Once inside, she perused the Fam carry bags, and distress welled through her. She shouldn’t have bought the hat; now she didn’t have enough gilt for even the most minimal bag, let alone for a bag to attach to a stridebeast or horse. Baccat would have to stick with his battered basket. Still, she walked around the shop, wanting a gift for her Fam.

  Finally she settled on a small bag of catnip. She grew a patch of the herb in her small greenhouse plot, but perhaps Baccat would like a different taste. So she bought the nip and considered teleporting home for a snack, but the city lured her, and her plans to escape, as always.

  Once outside, she walked to the nearest point of the route she’d studied and continued through the city toward the southeast gate at a pace her animals would walk—slightly faster than her own. She concentrated on the brightness of the streetlamps, experimented with spellglobes, and tried to gauge how much Flair she’d use to keep everyone calm and safe.

  A whole lot more energy and Flair than if she had Draeg Hedgenettle with her, and her heart ached as she strode through the emptying streets.

  * * *

  Just as Draeg had suspected, the assault and suspected attempted murder of Marin Holly created an uproar with threats of feuds—fighting Hollys and their allies versus the conservative Yews and whatever alliances remained in place with them.

  Tinne insisted the only reason his wife or children would be targeted more than any other Family was due to the enmity the Yews had for his wife, the former T’Yew’s child bride, nearly two decades ago. He reminded them all that the former D’Yew, Lori’s mother, had made death threats against his wife and children. He brought up the fact that a Yew button had been found near the scene where the balcony gave way, nearly killing his wife and teenaged daughter.

  Chaos reigned until Winterberry, Captain of the Guards, arrived and culled the Nobles down to D’Grove, the FirstFamily GrandLady and current Captain of the FirstFamily Council, Tinne Holly, and T’Ash.

  Winterberry reported that the flatsweet tested positive for poison.

  Then they viewed the memory spheres of Marin Holly and Nuin Ash.

  Nuin Ash verified that he’d been called to observe a young woman Draeg had claimed was Loridana Itha D’Yew, and he had been observing her shopping when the FamCat Baccat had called for Draeg and Primross. Nuin’s memory showed an extremely clear image of Lori. As young men did, he’d paid attention to the young woman. She hadn’t been wearing work clothes, but a tunic and trous of a deep blue that were only a couple of years out of date and of a classic style. The tunic had long, rectangular sleeves that could be used as pockets.

  Marin Holly’s memory-image appeared rather like Nuin’s, but both the woman’s and the man’s features were indefinite and blurred. The woman wore bright green with big bloused sleeves and trous ending in cuffs. The man’s clothes also were of a current fashion, with epaulettes. And buttons.

  Baccat had been treated and brought to the chamber. He remained closemouthed about several issues, such as why he’d been so fearless in his attack. The Fam staunchly insisted that despite his lack of memory he wouldn’t have attacked his FamWoman, nor would she have struck him.

  He’d never met Marin Holly before that evening, and Loridana Itha Valerian D’Yew had never seen the boy, would not know the boy, and knew no one outside the Yew estate.

  It was Baccat’s considered opinion that the pair who assaulted Marin were Vi Yew and Zus Yew, both of whom he knew, one of whom had already hurt him once in the morning but was too stupid to realize he’d been the same cat that evening.

  While they had the Fam for questioning, they requested a mental image of the gliders that ran Lori down, and Primross confirmed that he’d traced one of the models to a minor Noble associated with the Traditionalist Stance. They were looking into his whereabouts the night of the glider accident, but there had been a couple of Traditionalist Stance meetings that night. Primross had not been successful in infiltrating the movement.

  Before Baccat left, he requested a fee and a bonus, which caused a few chuckles. He was authorized funds paid by T’Ash with a small pouch of jewels. Then he gave a long stare at Draeg and teleported away.

  Worried about the glider attack on Lori and his suspicions of her cuzes, Draeg found himself telling D’Grove, T’Ash, and Winterberry everything about his undercover mission to the Yews. Tinne and Primross had had his reports all along, and, of course, Draeg had occasionally spoken to Winterberry.

  Shock and distress shook the group when he revealed Lori planned on leaving Residence and Family for a Valerian estate in the south.

  Tinne had snorted and said that it was obvious the Residence and Family were evil enough to cause another young woman to run away from home. The Yew Residence should be stormed and the entire Family living there should be clapped in DepressFlair bracelets until the FirstFamilies Winterberry and Primross determined the killers.

  Tinne was done with subtlety, and there’d be no stallion delivered to the Yew Residence to keep Loridana there.

  D’Grove said she understood the position of the Hollys and ordered Tinne home to care for his Family.

  When Draeg checked on his bond, he found Lori had returned to the Yew estate and had settled the animals—without him. He suppressed his need to pace the council room.

  After thrashing various matters around for far too long—septhours—the group was adamant that they wished to meet Lori and judge her character for themselves. Draeg considered whether he and Lori could manage to leave that night, and looked up to see Primross and Winterberry watching him. So he knew that option—and Lori’s own plans—could not be carried out.

  Trying to run would only make everything worse, since it would alert the Yews to her intentions. Draeg thought she might never forgive him if that happened. He walked on boggy ground as it was.

  And was torn between his mission to catch child killers, his friends, and love of his HeartMate.

  He dared not tell her the whole thing. She’d throw him out of her life, and then she’d have only her Fam to defend her to the Nobles—and none of them could attempt to enter the Yew estate, whereas he remained an employee.

  Finally, they agreed on a plan. Tomorrow night, Draeg would bring Lori into the city, and Primross and some of his feral cat informants would pace him and Lori.

  At a street stall, they’d meet with T’Ash, posing as a peddler specializing in Flair testing. Draeg didn’t know her primary Flair, wasn’t quite sure she’d developed and practiced it yet, and T’Ash wouldn’t be able to bring his full box of complex Flair Testing stones. But at least the GreatLord could measure the strength of her Flair and get a good look at her.

  Marin Holly, too, would be there to observe her.

  After that, Draeg would show Lori the GuildHall, take her to the FirstFamilies Council Hall, and the others could watch her reaction.

  They’d decided on only three people: the Captain of the Council, D’Grove; the leader of the Holly clan, T’Holly; and Draeg’s adoptive father, Straif T’Blackthorn. The words of all three would b
e accepted by the rest of the FirstFamilies. Those three would also be compassionate enough toward Draeg’s lady.

  A screen would be added to the decorations of the chamber, and they would wait behind it.

  He didn’t much like the idea but couldn’t see any way around it without giving himself away.

  * * *

  Draeg wasn’t anywhere on the estate when Lori returned. Sick at heart and irritated at his defection, she went immediately to the stables and ensured the animals had been tended. They all welcomed her with love and pressed around her. Tension she hadn’t known she’d carried, as if eyes had watched her all the time she’d been in Druida City, dissipated. She stroked and murmured reassuring endearments to each one of her stridebeasts and horses.

  FamWoman? Baccat mewled from a stall in the abandoned north stables.

  The odd note in his voice had her hurrying to where he lay on his pillow that had been translocated from his shed, now that Zus believed him dead and he hid from the twins.

  “What’s wrong?”

  My personal armor terminated at the wrong time. He panted a little.

  “What? Were you injured?”

  He lifted and dropped a forepaw. Gravely, but My employer arranged for a Healer.

  Lori gasped. “I . . . I felt no harm from you.” Reckless with her Flair, she ignited a bright spellglobe. His fur appeared a little dull, and his stomach looked less substantial. “Your employer!”

  I acceded to a request to guard a youngster and was injured in the course of My duties.

  She picked him up, to hold him, to make sure he was all right, and rocked him as he purred. Clearing her throat, she said, “Is the child all right?”

  Yes.

  “That’s good.”

  We should have renewed My personal armor this morning.

  “Yes.” Running a hand along him, she spent more Flair ensuring the personal armor spellshield covered him entirely. For a moment she stood there, holding him, glad at the weight in his arms. “Where were you hurt?”

  My skull was fractured and my left eye nearly destroyed.

  A horrible hurt broke in her chest, from the idea that she might have lost her Fam, her closest friend, and that she seemed to have already lost her first lover. She let the emotion out in one harsh sob as tears burned in her eyes, then blessed anger came.

  “Who did this to you?” For the first time rage fired her so that she wanted to physically hit someone.

  My head injury prevented Me from remembering. I think We are wise in leaving this estate soon, and not becoming involved in any cliques or political—

  “What?” Lori blinked, confused.

  I am not impressed with the Nobles of this city. They lack intelligence and seem short-sighted.

  With a snort, Lori said, “The only Nobles I know are me and my Family, and I’m not impressed, either.”

  We will do better on Our own. Following Our own rules.

  Lori nodded. “Yes.”

  At that moment her calendar sphere popped into existence, and she sighed. “It’s time for me to cleanse for the Last Quarter Twinmoons Ritual.” She hesitated. “We will be in the main Yew grove under a weathershield. I am unsure how many of the Family will attend, but I would like you to be there, in the shadows.” She smiled. “No, under my long robe, it’s full enough, and I can cover your presence in the ritual circle and we aren’t in the Residence so it won’t be monitoring me.”

  You would like Me there.

  “Yes” She rocked him again. “This will be the last circle I participate in with the Family. I don’t anticipate many people will be there; most will gather next week for Ostara celebrations, but we won’t be here. Tonight, perhaps there will only be Cuspid, Folia, me, and the twins, maybe a farmer or fisher or two.”

  I doubt that the twins will be there.

  “Of course they will. They are on the estate, so they must attend. It’s the rule.”

  Then they will have minimal Flair to contribute to the circle. I think they used up much of their Flair earlier tonight.

  A terrible notion occurred to Lori. Don’t tell me they were the ones to hurt you!

  I . . . do . . . not . . . remember.

  Her breath clutched. “Zus must know you still live.”

  Baccat huffed with ironic amusement. You think he can tell one Cat from another?

  “Probably not.” Her chin set. “We will leave the night after next. Two days’ preparation is optimal. I can gather all the items on my list, prepare the animals mentally, and nothing will be forgotten because we act in haste.”

  And the weather will be slightly warmer and with no rain for an eightday, said My informant at the Mercenaries Guild.

  “Good.” Her ignored calendar sphere began to chime obnoxiously, and she set him back down on the pillow.

  Good.

  Two nights, counting this one, and two days, and she’d be gone with her animals. Good. But in the waterfall she let the tears come because Draeg would not be persuaded to accompany her in so short a time.

  Thirty-four

  The next day went nearly as Lori planned—with regard to both her general duties and the final checklist she had for the last-day-but-one for escaping. Her tasks left her little time to slip out to the stables to see Draeg, and that was good. She knew he’d fed Baccat from the stables no-time that she’d restocked that morning.

  During her regular session with the animals, he’d been . . . professional. Until the end when they groomed the horses. “Did you plan on going into the city tonight?”

  She had, a last walk-through from the estate gate all the way to the southeast city gate. “Yes.”

  He stood at the end of the stall, and unless she teleported, she’d have to brush by him. Her whole body ached to feel those strong muscles again.

  “By yourself,” he stated. “Because I know Baccat is staying here at the stables. Resting. Let’s talk about this in my rooms, after dinner and after your few minutes in the boathouse.”

  How she would love to spend a night in his rooms with him!

  She closed her eyes, then shook her head. “I c-can’t.” Her voice broke.

  “Just talk, Lori.” His lips had curved in a small smile, but his blue eyes were serious. She couldn’t resist him; even as her mind studied her schedule, thought wisped away.

  “You’re going to try to talk me out of walking away from here and the Residence and my Family.”

  He shrugged. “Not exactly.”

  “Try to control me with sex?” She’d meant for that to emerge lightly, but it came out more like a croak.

  One side of his mouth kicked up farther. “If only I could. You are a strong-minded and determined woman, Lori. Come to my apartments before you go into the city.”

  “All right.”

  He dipped his head. “I’ll go up and cleanse. You promise you’ll meet me in my apartment after dinner.”

  Her imagination got stuck on Draeg in the waterfall, naked, but her head nodded.

  “Say the words,” he prompted.

  “I promise.”

  His mouth curled more. “Later.”

  She nodded, finished her chores with the animals, stood in the stableyard and sent and received love to and from all. The next to the last time she’d do that here.

  Then she went back to the grind of dinner with her Family in the Residence and thought of escape, and Draeg . . . and love.

  * * *

  Lori stood in Draeg’s mainspace, arms crossed.

  “Let me show you the city,” he offered with a smile.

  “You aren’t going to convince me to stay, Draeg.”

  “Just be with me in the city. Something we haven’t done before—be together in public. Unless you’re ashamed of me.”

  “Of course not.” She glanced down at her work clothes, then shrugged. “I have some clothes I can wear out.” With a gesture, she translocated the tunic and trous she’d dressed in last night. No one would see her to care that she wore the same out
fit.

  Draeg stepped aside with a grin. “I’ll be in the bedroom, otherwise we won’t make it past the bed.”

  “I wouldn’t mind,” she said.

  “Not this evening. I have something else in mind. Baccat and Corax will watch your animals.” His brows went up and down as he teased her, then he left the room.

  She dressed quickly. “Ready,” she called, and he came back in, nearly a match for her in dark blue. Taking her hand, he led her to the teleportation area and centered them in the rectangle. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “I want to show you something special.”

  She wiggled her butt against his burgeoning arousal. “I agree it’s special, but I’ve seen it before.”

  “Counting down to teleportation. One, Draeg and Lori. Two, Lori and Draeg. Three.”

  And they landed on a teleportation pad in the corner of a small square—holding a festive market.

  Pure pleasure washed through Lori at a new experience. She turned and hugged Draeg tightly, then drew in the scents of the place, let the feel of it soothe her with its not-Yew and excite her with its otherness.

  He bought her cocoa candy with nuts with a fabulous taste that seemed to explode in her mouth and sift into her whole body.

  “Look!” Draeg pointed across the small market square to a stall. “A Flair tester. Let’s go see.”

  Lori frowned. “Haven’t you had your Flair tested?”

  “Yeah, but have you?”

  “Of course, by my mother when she was alive and I was a child, then by Cuspid and Folia after my First Passage.”

  “Using your Family stones.”

  “Of course.”

  “With the Residence watching.”

  Lori shrugged.

  Draeg whirled her into a close embrace and kissed her. “Come on, give it a try with other stones.”

  A wonderful kiss; she’d rather return to Draeg’s apartment. But he stepped away and turned them back toward the stall, threaded her arm through his, and began crossing the square.