Heart Change

by Robin D. Owens

  Turning her hand over, she opened her fingers and let the egg dazzle.

  Vinni gasped. T’Ash made approving grumbles, then rubbed his hands, a gesture of excitement Signet had never seen. “I always knew your Flair was greater than you tested.” He grinned. “And it’s a new, better-calibrated stone.” He narrowed his eyes, shot Vinni a look. “Catalyst psi power, you said.”

  “Yes,” Vinni said.

  Doubt crossed T’Ash’s face. “I checked the Flair records. There is no listing for ‘catalyst’ or any people who have been ‘catalysts.’ ”

  Giving a casual shrug, Vinni said, “Might have been some we didn’t know about. Records of everything but the FirstFamilies’ talents are scarce.” He made an encouraging gesture to Signet.

  After exhaling a little sigh, she said, “It seems whenever I make a good friend, their life changes and they . . . leave. Move on. Usually literally. They move away from Druida.”

  T’Ash was making notes. “Big change in their lives.” He looked at her from under lowered black brows. “So you make at least one large change, but what of someone who lives with you on a constant basis?”

  Her face stiffened. “I don’t know.”

  “Your parents are dead?”

  “Yes.”

  T’Ash winced. “Sorry, insensitive.”

  Vinni lifted his chin. “She causes lives to change. She’s a catalyst, and I want her Flair for my HeartMate, my Avellana.” His expression turned mulish. “Signet is Avellana’s best chance to survive First Passage.” He looked away. “If there is no change in Avellana . . . as it is . . . what I’ve seen . . .” His small shoulders slumped.

  Signet’s mouth dried.

  “What of your own Passages?” T’Ash asked her bluntly. “Have you had them all? Did the third come early or at twenty-seven? How rough were they?”

  “I’ve had them all. Third Passage came when I was twenty-one.” She didn’t want to remember that time. “It was diffic ult.” She could barely force out the next words in a harsh whisper. “My parents died during my Third Passage.”

  Both males stared at her.

  She bit her lip. “They weren’t here in Druida. My Passage came untimely, none of us knew it was coming until they’d left for a sailing holiday with several other couples. Their boat capsized. . . . I always wondered if I . . . if my Passage somehow affected . . .” She couldn’t go on.

  T’Ash sucked in an audible breath, his face was stark. “Perhaps their Flair was stifling you, or keeping your Passage at bay, or some such, and when they left, it surged.”

  Signet had never thought of that.

  Vinni’s eyes unfocused, turned a grayish blue. In a calm, bland voice he said, “Nothing you did, nothing you were, affected their deaths. It was their time.”

  A relief and a slight comfort.

  T’Ash grunted and made more scratchings with his writestick. Then he put the instrument down and stood, opened another carved box, larger than it had been the year before, holding more Testing Stones. He set the top aside, glanced at the stone eggs and at Signet, waved for her to stand, so she did. This was a different step in their little process. Usually he brought a table to set in front of her and let her hold each stone. Some were odd and unpleasant, some slick, some dulling . . . but none had truly reacted to explain her Flair.

  The chairs she and Vinni sat in were drawn close to the desk. T’Ash waved at the stones. “Just run your finger over them. I don’t think anything there is what we want,” he muttered. Then he paced toward a corner of two walls of the eight-sided room that were covered with books. “Catalyst,” he grumbled. “Catalyst. What sort of stone might . . . a type that’s not in the box.” He left.

  Signet shared a glance with Vinni. She straightened her shoulders and took a big breath, then touched a fingertip to the first stone, a creamy quartz crystal with streaks of darker silk. Warm. Not right. She continued quickly, bumping her finger down the row of stones, then the next and the next, through all six rows, getting little bursts of feeling from them and ending at obsidian, then a dull black. When she was finished, she felt a little nauseous. She’d had too much strange input from them.

  So she sat back and rested her arms on the chair’s curved ones. Vinni patted her hand. “I know I’m right.”

  He was a GreatLord with great Flair, so she believed him. The more she thought about her life, the more the particular theory that she was a catalyst fit. After her First Passage as a child her grovestudy group, which had been stable for years, disintegrated and reformed. After her Second Passage, the young gallants who’d been vying for her had all found their true HeartMates, or good and loving wives. She’d begun to lose friends then.

  T’Ash strode through the door, letting it slam behind him. He cradled something wrapped in light green velvet. “This is a lambenthyst that I recently acquired. They are living stones, but not sentient—or can be alive sometimes.” He frowned. “I’ve been trying to buy all the lambenthyst mines I find—”

  “T’Ash, can we get on with it? The Hazels are waiting for us,” Vinni said, as if he’d heard talk of lambenthysts before.

  Grimacing, T’Ash said, “Fine. We’ll see how you interact. If you’re a catalyst for more than people.”

  A catalyst for rocks! Signet just stared. She couldn’t believe it.

  “Living creatures,” Vinni said, looking interested.

  Carefully, T’Ash set the cloth on Signet’s lap. There was no weight to the stone, but her thighs warmed, began to tingle. He stepped back and watched as she unfolded the velvet, ready to pounce if she dropped the thing, she was sure.

  When she saw the crystal, she gasped, and Vinni made a surprised noise. The stone was cut and faceted like a huge violet white diamond. She cupped it in her hands, it seemed all sharp cutting angles, and she cried out as it sliced, felt the slipperiness of her blood, then a throbbing warmth. A vision enveloped her, like she walked into a bright dream, showing pieces of her life from her Third Passage on. Once again the leavetakings of her life fla shed before her in exquisite and painful detail. This time she saw that when she met people, there was a flash between herself and them. If they stayed near her for a while, the “flash” sank into them, changing the pattern and balance of their inner selves. Then “sparkles” appeared inside them, lovely designs. They were more cheerful, healthy.

  Then the people left.

  Wondrous and strange that her Flair had caused this, enough to dry the tears behind her eyes.

  “Did you see that?” T’Ash asked Vinni in a hushed tone Signet never thought would come from the tough lord. She became aware that his large hand rested on her shoulder. Vinni’s fingers were linked with hers. They’d shared her vision.

  “Looks like you were right. A catalyst for sure, maybe a type of Healer. As she balances their inner Flair, their lives change. Amazing.” T’Ash shook his head. “She also gathers something, some sort of Flair into their lives. The power of change? Then they, um . . .”

  “They leave,” Signet said flatly.

  T’Ash looked uncomfortable.

  “And the time it takes for her innate Flair to work is decreasing,” Vinni said softly, releasing her hand. “A month at first, then becoming shorter, perhaps as short as two eightdays with—Whinna Furze?” He glanced at her.

  Compressing her lips, Signet nodded. He was right. Her friendships had shortened over the years.

  “Look at the rock,” T’Ash said.

  Signet became aware that it was heavy in her lap and stared. It was no longer the pretty piece of crystal, but a dull surface of glowing purple surrounded by other rock. All the same, it felt better and shot off little waves of sparkles.

  Vinni sucked in a breath. “How did that happen?” Vinni asked. “What happened?”

  T’Ash stared. “I’d guess that it has gathered back to itself the part that was cut away to make the ‘jewel’.” He frowned. “Happened fast. Rock is different than people, patterns less complex, more structured. There w
as blood. Bodily fluids can emphasize Flair.” He waved a hand between them. “You’ve got three strongly Flaired people here.”

  The rock began to hum, deep and low, then there was another bright flash of purple, and it disappeared, leaving her cut hand Healed.

  Both men appeared a little pale.

  Signet’s mouth dropped open, she snapped it shut. “Gone. The story of my life.”

  Vinni took her hand in his smaller one and lifted the back of it to his lips, kissed it reverently. “You may be left behind, and I’m sorry for that, but the lives you change are enriched. You help people, and I thank you for that, on behalf of them all.”

  “And you need me to help Avellana Hazel.”

  Vinni’s green brown gaze met Signet’s squarely. “Yes.”

  T’Ash had returned to his desk and the box of his stones, looking at them with frustration. “I don’t have the right stones to indicate your power.” Like her, he ran a fin ger over the stones, polishing them, giving some of his own Flair. “I’ll look for some.” Now he met her eyes. “I will find some.”

  “No matter that we don’t know exactly what her Flair is or how it works,” Vinni murmured.

  “New types of Flair are evolving all the time,” T’Ash said. “I like to keep up with them.” He drew out a piece of thick, expensive papyrus, set his hand casually on the sheet, and a Certification of Flair appeared. It stated Signet’s name, her rank, that she had GrandHouse power and a talent for “Catalyzation, with Other Effects to Be Determined.”

  Before she could say anything, T’Ash had ordered the sheet to the NobleCouncil Clerk. T’Ash stared at her and rubbed his chin again. “I’ve seen you at rituals at GreatCircle Temple.” Her duty as well as a futile attempt to be a part of Druidan life. She inclined her head.

  “Hmm,” T’Ash said. “I’ll research those. I’d bet the ones where you’re present have better results than if you aren’t.” He gave her a slashing smile. “You might be in great demand soon.”

  “She must help Avellana, first,” Vinni said.

  “Speaking of that . . .” T’Ash’s face softened, and he went to the door, opened it to his hugely pregnant wife, Danith. They were HeartMates, so he would have known she was outside the door. Another, different, pang went through Signet. What would it be like to have a HeartMate?

  The GreatLady animal Healer beamed up at him. She was dressed in a dark tunic that showed a lot of cat hair and a few stains Signet didn’t want to think about. D’Ash’s boots were cracked and scuffed.

  T’Ash leaned down and kissed her, put an arm around her waist.

  D’Ash’s gaze went to Signet, who was rising, and to Vinni, who’d hopped to his feet. Vinni bowed, and Signet curtsied.

  “Greetyou, D’Marigold, Greetyou, Vinni. The Hazels are waiting in my Fam adoption room. Some Fams arrived last night and this morning. Would you like to come back?”

  Time to meet GreatLady D’Hazel, who held Signet’s future in her hands—and Avellana Hazel, whose future Signet had to save.

  Three

  Signet flushed. They were keeping GreatLady D’Ash from matching Fams with people on her list—her very long waiting list, with Signet near the bottom. Danith’s eyes were kind, and she smiled at Signet and leaned into her husband. “Now that we have more information about your Flair, I’ll be able to place a Fam.”

  T’Ash said, “After a few minutes in her presence the lambenthyst coalesced into its original shape and returned home.”

  Danith blinked, stared at Signet, let out an audible breath. “Great and unusual Flair indeed.” Her brow lined. “A catalyst? I have a thin tom who could use some change mixed with stability in his life.” She moved slowly down the hallway, and they all followed her. “He’s a very beautiful cat, a light beige and white with yellow eyes.” Her laugh rippled. “He is elegant.”

  “Then he’d be at home in D’Marigold Residence,” Signet said.

  They went through Danith’s office and back to a long room that was unlike anything Signet had ever seen. The floor and the walls were carpeted. There were perches and posts and cubes and walks and rails, like a crazy playroom for rambunctious children.

  Several animals looked at her from various places. The impact of the stares made her self-conscious. These were telepathic animals hoping to bond with a human. Were they as lonely as she? How much would she change the life of the Fam she chose, or who chose her?

  One stare became more penetrating, and she looked over to see a young girl of about seven scrutinizing her. Avellana Hazel. Signet could almost feel the intensity of the great Flair the child radiated. And what did Signet know about handling . . . living with . . . teaching . . . children? Nothing.

  “Just be her companion,” Vinni murmured.

  But the girl had a look to her blue eyes—bluer than Signet’s own, lake blue—that bespoke an old soul in a young body. The person behind those eyes might know more than Signet had ever learned.

  “She’s not as wise as she seems,” Vinni said, proving he had excellent Flair for guessing what Signet was thinking. His body went tense. “You are her best hope, always remember that.”

  Signet made a noncommittal noise and walked forward, offering her hand to the girl. “Greetyou, GreatMistrys Avellana Hazel. I’m Signet D’Marigold.” She sensed the child preferred formality. Perhaps it was because the girl was dressed in miniature adult clothes of long tunic and bloused trous.

  Avellana frowned. “I thought your name was Calendula.”

  “I like Signet better,” Signet said.

  “A cygnet is a young swan, and a signet is a seal like on a ring. Is the swan your Family animal?” The girl petted a housefluff on a cube waist high to her with one hand as she offered her other hair-bedewed hand to Signet.

  “Yes, and my name is spelled with an S.” Signet took the girl’s hand and shook it firmly. Avellana’s hand was warm, as if life and Flair flowed too hot in her veins. Avellana wiggled her fingers. “You have a strange Flair.”

  Signet winced.

  Avellana’s mother, D’Hazel, sighed. “We have discussed making personal comments, Avellana.”

  “It’s a fact,” Avellana said.

  “Your comment was rude.”

  Avellana swung her wide blue gaze from her mother to Signet. “I apologize for the rude but true comment.”

  Inclining her head, Signet said, “Apology accepted.”

  “Muin says that it’s best if I stay with you during my First Passage,” Avellana said, and Signet was confused until she remembered Muin was Vinni’s real first name. For a moment she wondered if he’d chosen “Vinni” or if others had called him that. If they actually had something in common.

  “That’s right,” Vinni and D’Hazel said at the same time, a little too heartily.

  The girl picked up the housefluff. “But I get to return home if I feel I need to, and we will visit Mother and Father at least once an eightday.”

  “That sounds good,” Signet said gravely, then groped for memories of her girlhood. “We’ll make out a schedule.”

  Avellana relaxed. “Schedules are excellent tools.” She smiled a winsome smile up at Signet. “You should choose this wonderful, soft and pretty and gentle housefluff as a Fam.” She offered the hybrid between an Earth rabbit and a Celtan mocyn to Signet.

  Signet took it, but didn’t like its earthy smell or its big ears that tickled. Since it squirmed in her arms, she didn’t think it liked her fragrance either. So she set it back down on the cube. It hopped to the floor, across the room and into a tunnel.

  “A sympathetic connection is more important than outward beauty,” Signet said, and received an approving glance from D’Hazel.

  “Very true,” Danith D’Ash said. “And I have a fellow who I think would fit well with you, D’Marigold.”

  “Please call me by my middle name, Signet,” she said, sweeping the area with her glance, “All of you.” She didn’t know if the other nobles would do so, but she’d made the gesture.
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  “New tom cat, can you come, please?” Danith called.

  A cat Signet hadn’t noticed jumped from a high perch to land in front of her. He was beautiful, if too thin, and had a graceful, elegant aspect. As he stared up at her with gleaming yellow eyes, Signet heard, Greetyou.

  “Greetyou, Sir,” she replied.

  “I think you two would be good for each other,” D’Ash said.

  The cat stretched. I think so, too.

  “He will tell you of his past when he is ready, as all Fams do, but he is as healthy as I can make him,” D’Ash said.

  Just that easily Signet had a Fam. Dizziness swept through her, and she straightened her spine. No thinking about how fast things had changed—changed for her—right now in the midst of such important events. She had to keep her head, keep her serene manner. People—many, noble people—were counting on her, judging her.

  “Thank you, Master Fam, I am pleased to welcome you to my household.”

  You have a name for me? the cat asked her, his ears tilting expectantly.

  She hadn’t given a name a thought. “Don’t you have one?”

  The cat sniffed. No.

  She didn’t think that was the whole story, but would find out when they learned of each other. If the cat didn’t leave her.

  I heard that, FamWoman, the cat said. I will not leave.

  “Thank you. I would like to call you Du. It’s part of my own given first name, Calendula.”

  “Duuuuu,” the cat rolled his name out. Signet was surprised that it could actually speak the word.

  “That’s taken care of,” D’Ash said with satisfaction.

  D’Hazel gave a little cough. “If you don’t mind, GrandLady—ah, Signet, could I impose upon you to show us your home where Avellana will be staying?”

  Signet froze. “I do have guest rooms, of course, many.” And they should be clean and aired, but she didn’t know that for sure. “Avellana can have her choice—” She stopped babbling at D’Hazel’s frown.

  “I think Avellana should be close to you.”