Mouse and Dragon

by Sharon Lee

  She laughed and shook her head.

  "Truly, Daav, it was all I could think to do!"

  "Your instincts," he said solemnly, "are good."

  He tipped his head, and she felt a returning flutter of fear, paired uneasily with doubt.

  "Tell me true, Aelliana, for I would not see you trapped: Do you think that you may bear it?"

  "Bear it?" she repeated. "Since the first time we flew together, I had wanted nothing but to sit board with you, always. If Korval is the ship we have to fly, then—better together than apart."

  She felt his pride in her, and a certain feeling of awe, which, she thought hotly, would never do.

  She reached up to take hold of the long tail of his hair, pulling his face down to hers.

  "Kiss me," she commanded.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Balance must be maintained in all things. Debts must be paid promptly and in full.

  —

  From the Liaden Code of Proper Conduct

  "Good morning, Mr. dea'Gauss. I hope I find you well?"

  There were in Daav's office, downstairs, he in the chair and she standing behind, both within range of the screen.

  Mr. dea'Gauss inclined his sleek head. "Good morning, your lordship; my lady. I am perfectly well, I thank you."

  "Excellent," Daav murmured. "Please forgive me for accosting you in this uncivilized manner. My only excuse is that we are summoned in an hour to Lady yo'Lanna's side, and I have something rather urgent for you to undertake on Korval's behalf."

  "Of course, your lordship. I stand ready to assist, as ever."

  "I will be brief. Pilot Caylon has found a simple solution to our dilemma of yesterday, sir. She suggests that she and I sign as lifemates before the world, and thus place Mizel beyond distress."

  Mr. dea'Gauss blinked, and raised his eyes to Aelliana's.

  "Yes," she told him, with a smile. "It must be so, Mr. dea'Gauss. If you please."

  "Few things which I have undertaken in the service of Korval have pleased me so much, my lady. I will, of course, make this my first priority." He gave a seated bow. When he had straightened again, he looked to Daav.

  "Korval will offer the life-price of a first class pilot, and a scholar expert?"

  Aelliana stirred, meaning to say that it was too much; she had been a scholar expert during her whole adult life. Had matters fallen otherwise, she supposed she would have remained a scholar expert until Mizel's Ring passed and the new delm had made her a whore.

  Daav inclined his head. "Korval seeks to place value appropriately. We have no reason to stint Mizel and every reason to be generous."

  "Very good," Mr. dea'Gauss murmured. "This business ought to take no more than a few hours. It is perfectly possible that I will have the concluded contract in hand this afternoon."

  "We will come to you," Daav said, "when Lady yo'Lanna releases us. Pilot Caylon had been wanting to visit the shops in any case."

  Oh, had I? Aelliana frowned down at the top of his head, which was as helpful as one might expect. When she looked back to the screen it seemed to her that Mr. dea'Gauss was smiling.

  "Very good, your lordship," he said. "I will set to work immediately. Good morning, my lady."

  "Good morning, Mr. dea'Gauss," she said.

  The screen went dark.

  "Why do I want to visit the shops in Solcintra?" Aelliana asked.

  Daav spun 'round in his chair and smiled up at her.

  "Why, to purchase a dress worthy of Lady Kareen's formal gather, of course! I advise that you place yourself entirely into Eyla dea'Lorn's hands."

  Aelliana sighed lightly.

  "Who is Eyla dea'Lorn and how shall I find her?"

  "She is an artist, and I will guide you to her, directly we have concluded our business with Mr. dea'Gauss." He tipped his head, his smile broadening into a grin.

  "Where will you wish to go for our honey-trip, Aelliana? The mountains or the sea?"

  "Do you know?" she said reflectively. "I think I had considered the trip to Avontai our honey-trip. Though I should," she admitted, "like to see an ocean."

  Daav's grin twisted a bit. "Have you never been to the sea?"

  "No, never," she said, and touched his cheek, reading ebullience, relief, delight . . . "I was waiting for you to take me there, you see."

  "Then I shall," he answered more seriously than perhaps the moment warranted, and came to his feet.

  "Come, let us collect your guest-gift and be on our way! It will never do to be late!"

  She eyed him.

  "Are we in danger of being late?" she asked.

  "Not if I drive like a pilot," he answered, looking down at her quizzically.

  "Drive like a Scout," Aelliana whispered, and stretched up on her toes to kiss him.

  * * *

  "Aelliana Caylon Clan Mizel." She straightened and looked boldly into Lady yo'Lanna's face, offering the bouquet of gloan-roses and gladoli they had gathered from Jelaza Kazone's gardens.

  "Please accept a small token, ma'am, to commemorate our first meeting."

  "I thank you." Lady yo'Lanna received the bouquet into her hands, and gazed at it for a long moment.

  "Gladoli were my friend Chi's favorite flower," she murmured. "I have always been partial to gloan-roses. It is well-chosen."

  "I had good advice," Aelliana said, and Lady yo'Lanna smiled.

  "Of course you did," she said, and glanced aside with a smile that could only be said to be sardonic.

  "Daav, it is good to see you among my guests once more. I think you know everyone who has come. Please do me the favor of reacquainting yourself, while I make Scholar Caylon known to all."

  He bowed, of course; there was nothing else he might decently do.

  "Certainly, ma'am. Is there anyone in particular you would like to have drowned?"

  She appeared to give the question serious consideration, head tipped to one side, and eyes dwelling on the flowers she held. "No, I thank you. I believe that today I am in charity with all the world."

  He bowed again. Lady yo'Lanna slipped her hand through Aelliana's arm. She cast him a single look over her shoulder from wide green eyes as she was led away, and he smiled as if he were perfectly comfortable with the arrangements.

  He was not, to say true, completely comfortable with the arrangements, but that had more to do with his desire to be private with his lady, rather than sharing her among a dozen.

  "How long," asked a voice at his shoulder, "is that going to continue, young Korval?"

  Daav turned to confront Delm Guayar, Clonak's father, coincidentally Lady yo'Lanna's brother.

  "Good morning, sir. As long as your lady sister desires, I should think, but surely not upwards of a day or two."

  "Pfft!" Guayar frowned sternly. "The last time we met, I did you a good turn, sir. Do you intend to repay me by coming lack-witted and tedious?"

  "Of course not! I hope to repay you properly in kind. Is there a bit of news I might drop delicately into one certain ear alone for you?"

  Guayar considered him.

  "I know what ails you," he said at last. "You haven't any wine." He slipped his arm companionably through Daav's and turned him toward the center of the garden. "Come, let us rectify that immediately. While we are on our way to the wine table, you may tell me how long you intend to allow the enchanting pilot to style herself 'Mizel.' "

  "As it happens," Daav said slowly, "Mr. dea'Gauss is currently in negotiation. We hope for a speedy, and joyous, resolution."

  Guayar inclined his head.

  "It relieves me to see you moving to consolidate your strengths," he murmured. "I counsel, if it does not offend, that Korval can afford to be generous. When one wishes to acquire a jewel beyond price . . ."

  "I concur," Daav said.

  Perhaps he spoke a bit too sharply, for Guayar inclined his head and said no more.

  They began to meet other guests. Daav made his bow to Lord Andresi, another of his mother's staunch allies, and to N
asil ter'Gasta Clan Idvantis. Seeing him on Guayar's arm, neither detained him long, and soon they were comfortable again, just the two of them.

  "How does Clonak go on?" Daav asked.

  Guayar moved his shoulders. "I assume he thrives, as the Scouts have not notified me of his attaining a less satisfactory condition. One never does hear from Scouts when they are at duty, you know. Your mother and I had used to speak of it, often."

  "Indeed," Daav said, properly chagrined. "One might suppose I would be accustomed to that circumstance by now."

  "When the heart is anxious, the mind grows forgetful," Guayar murmured, and slid him a sidewise look. "In my experience."

  Daav inclined his head.

  "Ah, at last! The wine table! Let us turn you up sweet, young Korval. Have some of Ilthiria's canary; it is excellent."

  He took the older gentleman's advice, finding it good, as it so often was, and mingled with the guests who lingered in the area, pausing to speak with Thodelm Wespail regarding the latest vagaries of the market in aleut and the sudden popularity of vya among the Terran ports.

  When he next glanced about him, Guayar was gone.

  * * *

  Aelliana and Lady yo'Lanna met quite a number of people in the course of their unhurried stroll. Aelliana had done her best to commit faces to memory, as she would memorize the faces that filled each new class. Most pleasantly, they had spoken with Len Sar Anaba Clan Gabrian, who was a trader, and knew Er Thom well; and exchanged bows with Lady Sera tel'Kai Clan Vakmont. Vakmont, Aelliana told herself, with a certain feeling of pleasure for knowing it, was High House.

  "Do you mean to keep Korval on your string very long?" Lady yo'Lanna asked.

  Aelliana felt her temper spark, and took a careful breath.

  "Ma'am, I fear you are misinformed," she said quietly. "Daav had said you were his mother's best and oldest friend, so I have no hesitation in telling you that he and I are natural lifemates. We stand each at the side of the other because we must. That lifemating, ma'am, cannot be undone."

  "I had wondered if that were the case, given the clan's history," the lady said smoothly. "But there are other matters, Pilot, which may only be captured correctly by paper and ink. I cannot imagine why Chi's son has not yet cemented his advantage."

  "He has been convenable and patient," Aelliana murmured. "There were those things which I needed to find of myself, for myself, before I would allow even discussion of contracts."

  "Ah. And now?"

  Aelliana smiled. "Mr. dea'Gauss is speaking with Mizel now."

  Lady yo'Lanna did not go so far as to smile, though she did press her lips together for a brief moment.

  "That is excellent news," she said. "May I be the very first to wish you happy."

  "The contract is not set yet," Aelliana protested.

  The Lady laughed softly. "My dear Pilot Caylon, with the dea'Gauss in negotiation, success cannot be far behind." She used her chin to point at a man in a very fine tunic, coming toward them up the path.

  "Now, here we come upon my good friend Etgora. You will doubtless find him pleasant enough, but pray be aware that he will look first at your rings and calculate from there."

  Aelliana glanced down at her hands. She wore her Jump pilot's cluster and the silver puzzle ring she had from her grandmother.

  "I have no shame in my rings, ma'am," she said composedly.

  "No," Lady yo'Lanna said, sweeping forward, "nor should you."

  * * *

  ". . . it was Plemia lost an elder pilot in the Out," yo'Taler was saying. "The most curious affair imaginable. She had delivered her cargo, and taken on the return, went onto the port for a bite and a glass—and never returned to her ship. It was like the port swallowed her up."

  "The ship?" Daav asked.

  "Ah, there's Korval! No, sir, you'll rejoice to hear that the ship was unharmed. It paid the docking fees until its account ran dry, which is when Port Admin noticed something amiss, and by then the pilot's trail was cold. No one came forward with her ID or a ship key, or any likely tale for taking what they knew was aboard. Nor could anyone recall seeing the pilot after she left with another, before port middle night."

  "She might as easily have fallen into the lake," Wespail murmured. "Pilots do get drunk."

  "Did anyone find her companion?" someone asked.

  "Yes. And he was as astonished as any other to learn that she had vanished. He was employed by the yard where her ship was docked and had come to tell her that there might be need of a rebalancing. Left her at the gate, is what he told the proctors, and none to disbelieve him."

  "The pirates are getting bold," Len Sar Anaba said. "Even here in Solcintra, there are cargoes going missing as a regular thing—from beneath the noses of trained guards! Down in the Low Port, it's said that the Juntavas rules all. Pilots are in particular peril, and many never return to their ships."

  Daav looked up, warned by a sense he had not known he had.

  Aelliana and Lady yo'Lanna were walking toward their little group, escorted by Delm Etgora. He murmured an excuse and moved out of the intent knot of discussants.

  "Daav, the gardens are quite beautiful!" Aelliana greeted him, abandoning Lady yo'Lanna's arm for his.

  "Yes, they are very fine. Glavda Empri wins awards every year, for its artful and pleasing displays."

  Aelliana moved her hand, showing him Etgora.

  "This is Hin Ber del'Fordan, who has the honor to be Etgora."

  "We have met," Daav said, giving his fellow delm the courtesy of the bow between equals. "It has been some time, sir."

  "It has. You are looking well, young Korval. Pilot Caylon, please, call upon me at any time."

  "Thank you, sir," Aelliana said.

  "Yes, all very well," Lady yo'Lanna said. "Etgora, I am thirsty. Pray find me a glass of the canary."

  "Certainly, Ilthiria." He inclined his head and led her to the wine table.

  Aelliana sighed, and wilted a little on Daav's arm.

  "How do you go on?" Daav asked her. "Do you wish to leave?"

  "Not just yet," she said. "We must give Mr. dea'Gauss time to work! But I would like a glass of wine. It is a vast garden, Daav! And I think I must have walked every step of it."

  "In that case, you must, by all means, have wine, and perhaps even a small plateful of food. Let us see what delights are laid for us."

  As he turned with her toward the buffet, he saw several pairs of eyes following, not him, but her.

  Aelliana conquers all, he thought, and only just managed to keep his smile to himself.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Nothing is as easy as it looks.

  —

  Terran Proverb

  Mr. dea'Gauss was not happy; Aelliana knew it immediately they entered his office. How she knew it—well, likely the knowledge was Daav's, whose fingers were interlaced with hers.

  "Your lordship. My lady. May I bring you refreshment?"

  "Thank you, no," Daav said gently, as if the apprehension she felt from him did not exist. "I think you had better just tell us, sir. Has Mizel refused our offer?"

  There was a pause—and a sigh.

  "Not . . . precisely, no."

  Mr. dea'Gauss moved his hand, showing them chairs, and did not take his own until they were seated. "Mizel has produced a . . . counteroffer, your lordship. Quite an extraordinary counteroffer."

  Daav had taken his hand from hers as they were seated, but Aelliana felt a flutter of hope on her own behalf. A counteroffer. Surely, that was only expected? Contracts were after all about negotiation and compromise.

  "If they are still talking, then there is hope," Daav murmured, in echo of her thought. "With what have they countered?"

  Mr. dea'Gauss drew his notepad to him and touched the screen.

  "They ask . . ." He cleared his throat. "They ask high for the life-price, though had that been the only obstacle I might have counseled your lordship to accept, in order to have all done soonest. They ask, also, for the l
ife-price of a nadelm, and they—" Mr. dea'Gauss looked up, but it was her eyes he sought, not Daav's.

  "They demand, my lady, that you return to your clanhouse until the negotiations with Korval are complete."

  "No!" She raised her hand, fingers spread. "That I refuse."

  Mr. dea'Gauss looked even more unhappy.

  "There is custom behind it, my lady. Mizel's qe'andra informs me that you had been called home by your delm ere this negotiation had begun. You are thus constrained, as a daughter of Mizel . . ."

  "I will not return to that house!"

  Panic clawed at her throat. That house, with Ran Eld behind every door, and her mother, with his ghost in her eyes! It would happen again—her life would be torn from her, the House would wear her down, they would demand—demand duty done, demand that she give Daav over, demand—

  "No! I will not go back there to be ground down and destroyed! I will not be a prisoner to Mizel's incompetence! I have appointments—engagements! I—"

  "Aelliana."

  Calm and beloved, his voice. She shook her hair away from her eyes, startled to find herself standing and halfway to the office door. Her legs were shaking and her stomach was . . . quite unsettled. It came to her that she was weeping.

  "Aelliana."

  Daav held his hands out, palms up, offering himself to her.

  "We will find the route, Pilot. I swear it."

  Shakily, she stepped forward, put her hands in his, fully expecting to feel the force of his anger, but instead there was only and truly—

  Calm.

  She closed her eyes.

  "Yes," he murmured. "Take what you need."

  The panic wilted before this encompassing calmness. She felt peaceful, and alert . . .

  "Mr. dea'Gauss," she heard Daav say.

  "Your lordship."

  "Korval perfectly comprehends Mizel's natural wish to guard the well-being of one of its precious children. Further, it is Korval's wish, as of course it is Mizel's, that there be no coercion or threat brought to any of the principals of these talks. Pilot Caylon will therefore remove from Jelaza Kazone—"

  "No," she whispered, her fingers tightening on his, but he went on as if he had not heard her.