by Sharon Green
"I'm trying to decide whether to be jealous or relieved," Lorand said as he looked around at the others. "I was also the Blending entity, but I heard nothing in the way of conversation, inner or otherwise. How about you, Naran?"
"I'm in the minority right along with you, Lorand," Naran answered with an odd but reassuring smile. "Have we decided yet what this development means? And did anyone else catch the entity's passing thoughts about how we seem to be missing something? I'm not even certain what it is that we're missing."
"It was something about alternate arrangements and strength," Rion supplied, remembering having had the thought. "I would love to say that I know exactly what that means, but I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea."
"I do remember, though, what Jovvi said," Tamrissa put in, looking extremely thoughtful. "She said that we knew the invaders would be stronger, 'possibly only for a time.' Is that supposed to mean that there's a way for us to be stronger if we're bright enough to figure out how to do it?"
"I think that's exactly what it means," Naran responded slowly before Jovvi could speak, Rion's beloved's distraction showing that she gazed upon things kept hidden from the rest of them. "I didn't really see the point until we were Blended, but now I can remember seeing it. There's a clear possibility that we'll win the ultimate confrontation - but only if we figure out how. The rest of the possibilities show us losing, in some instances even dying."
"And the ones showin' us dyin' aren't the worst," Vallant said grimly, indicating that he, too, remembered the Sight. "If we let those people get their hands on us, they'll use us instead of killin' us. Personally, I'd rather be dead."
Rion waited for someone to protest that outlook, but no one did and that included himself. Rion knew from personal experience that death wasn't the worst that could happen to a person. Being enslaved without the hope of breaking free was worse, and he would never willingly allow that to happen to him again - or stand by while it was being done to his beloved family.
The six of them sat in silence for a short while, and then there were people all about asking if they'd gotten a look at the enemy. Vallant stood and began to tell the others what little they'd seen, and Jovvi rose and headed back toward the cooking fire. She seemed intent on getting another cup of tea, and Lorand had risen and gone with her. Rion was about to follow their example when Naran put a hand on his arm.
"Rion, I need to tell you something that also needs to be passed on to most of the others," Naran murmured, her face showing a smile that suggested she spoke of personal if not intimate things. "When I agreed with Lorand a few minutes ago, I lied. I was aware of the inner conversation when we were Blended, but just like Vallant I kept silent because I didn't have what to say."
"Which means that Lorand is the only one of us who hasn't reached this new point," Rion murmured back, fighting to keep from frowning. "Are you able to see anything of significance surrounding the lack?"
"Only one thing," Naran answered, a hint of fear now showing in her lovely eyes. "If we don't figure out what's wrong and fix it, that possibility covering our winning disappears completely."
Marvelous, Rion thought with an inner groan. They didn't even know what was wrong, but unless they fixed it they would lose the coming battle. That day might have started out being fairly nice, but it was rapidly going very much downhill…
Chapter Seven
Deslen Voyt walked into the tavern he was beginning to know rather well. He and Brange had taken to meeting in the tavern every night, just as friends often did. Deslen and Brange were friends, but the matter wasn't as simple for them as it seemed to be for everyone else. Or at least it still wasn't that simple for Deslen. Brange sat at their usual table looking completely unbothered, and when Deslen walked up to him Brange smiled.
"How's it going, Voyt?" Brange asked as Deslen sat down and signaled the serving girl for an ale. "You still enjoying the classes as much as I am?"
"Actually, I can't remember enjoying anything more in my life," Deslen answered, the question distracting him from the usual unease. "I'm still a Low in Water magic, but I'm beginning to have real control of my talent. And no one has even looked as if they consider me a waste of good living space."
"And I'm doing better in Earth magic," Brange agreed, giving the serving girl a smile as she set a flagon of ale in front of Deslen and then hurried off. "If you want the truth, I've been looking for people who might consider me a waste of good living space. I expected to find some, just the way I always have since I became a man, but these people are different somehow. They really want to help me become the best I can be, and they aren't surprised that we have jobs with the city guard waiting when we finish our classes. Walking away from that fool noble was the smartest thing we ever did."
Deslen glanced around when Brange mentioned the noble, but no one seemed to have overheard the low-spoken comment. He and Brange - and a large number of others - had been brought into the city by the noble to help the noble take over control from the new government. When Deslen and Brange had found an opportunity to walk away from the noble and make something decent of their lives they'd jumped at the opportunity, but they hadn't left alone. They'd managed to get almost half of the rest of the men to go with them, and the noble had been too busy with reorganizing the men he had left to find it possible to hunt those who had escaped.
"I've been talking to some of the others, and they're also glad we all walked away," Brange said, still speaking softly after sipping at his own ale. "Three of the ones who left with us are gone from the city, but the rest are either already in a training class or have signed up for one. And only a handful or so plan to join the city guard with us. The rest have plans of their own that they've never before had the chance to try. Can you see some of those fools as shopkeepers?"
"If that's what they really want, sure I can," Deslen said with a faint smile. "The only thing I keep worrying about is what's going to happen if someone finds out that we came here in the first place to make trouble. They'll never believe that we changed our minds, and if they do find out it will mean the end of all our dreams."
Brange frowned and was about to answer Deslen, but the words were never spoken as a third man joined them at the table. The man was Chelten Admis, one of those who had left the noble at the same time Deslen and Brange had. Admis was easily as big as Deslen, but the blond Low Air magic user always wore a cheerful expression that made him look a good deal less dangerous than he really was.
"Voyt, Brange," Admis said with a pleasant nod for each of the men as he settled into his chair. "How are you two coming with your classes?"
"We agreed not to get together in large groups, Admis," Deslen said, ignoring the question Admis had asked. "If we start to hang around together, people will wonder how all we strangers know each other."
"Three men at a table in a tavern can't be considered a large group," Admis pointed out, obviously more amused than insulted or disturbed. "Besides, I have something to tell you. We've been asked if we'd like to help out, but we don't have to if we don't want to. If we decide to volunteer we'll get paid, but nobody says we have to volunteer."
"What are you talking about?" Brange demanded just before Deslen was able to say the same thing. "Who asked us to volunteer, and for what?"
"I keep getting the feeling I'm dreaming," Admis said with the strangest smile Deslen had ever seen the man wear, answering something other than Brange's question. "Do you know how worried most of us were that someone would find out what we came to this city to do? That our one chance to lead normal lives would be gone if the truth ever came out? I would have done anything to keep the secret, but now I don't have to. What we were never was a secret, and they really do want us to have our chance."
"Admis, tell us what you're talking about," Deslen said, hearing the way his voice had become a growl. His insides had also knotted up, a perfect match to the growl. "Who knows about us, and how did you find out?"
"Someone came to talk to me," Admis said, hi
s smile fading a bit when he saw how agitated Deslen and Brange had gotten. "The man said he worked for the 'unofficial officials' of the city, and they've been watching Noll ever since the man and his family got here. When we all left Noll to become ordinary citizens of the city, we changed our status from enemy to friend. They want us to make good, if for no other reason than to prove it can be done. When we do make it, we'll be their 'shining examples.'"
"What makes you think they were telling the truth?" Brange said while Deslen sat silent and numb with shock. "You're just Air magic, Admis, so how would you know?"
"The man came and spoke to me while I was with Folden," Admis said, his smile warming again. "Folden has Earth magic the way you do, Brange, but when he joined a class he had to admit that he's a Middle instead of a Low. I might not be able to tell if someone was lying to me, but Folden can and he said the man told us nothing but the truth."
"I don't believe this," Deslen found himself saying, confusion turning his mind into a whirling mess. "Why would a bunch of strangers care what happened to us? Why wouldn't they just throw us out of their city to make sure we don't do damage? It's happened often enough before, so why isn't it happening again?"
"Maybe it's because those 'unofficial officials' aren't solid citizens any more than we are," Admis said, and again the man looked amused. "Or at least they never were solid citizens, not until this new government took over. The new people running things are willing to give a chance to anyone who wants one, but they're not pushovers. Anyone who tries to play smart instead of straight gets booted out fast, and they're never allowed to come back again. They even did it to a couple of High talents, just to prove that they're not kidding."
"So we've been worrying for nothing?" Brange asked, looking as confused as Deslen felt. "They know all about us, and are still willing to give us our chance? Why did they suddenly tell you about it?"
"The man said they were going to tell all of us once we finished our classes, but something came up sooner than they expected," Admis explained. "They'd like our help with the something, but we really don't have to give it. You two will probably want to, considering the fact that you'll be working for the city guard once you've finished your classes."
"What has the city guard got to do with anything?" Deslen said, while Brange put in, "Aren't you going to be working for the guard along with us? I thought you were."
"I thought there would be nothing for me but the guard," Admis said, answering Brange first. "Then I got to talking to someone in a dining parlor about cooking, which I always considered fun to do but not very important. With more and more people having silver to spend on a good meal, the city is very short of people who can produce that good meal. I ended up cooking my two favorite dishes in that dining parlor, and now I don't have to wait until I finish my class to get a job. I already have one."
Deslen joined Brange in staring at Admis in silence, finding it impossible to think of what to say. Admis was one of the most dangerous men Deslen had ever worked with, and he had taken a job cooking? The world really was turning itself upside down.
"And what all this has to do with the city guard is this," Admis continued, looking even more amused. "Those people who know about us and Noll tell me that Noll is starting to put his plans into motion. They could take Noll right now and send him and his wife to Astinda after the rest of their friends, but they've decided to let Noll make his play instead. This way, if any of Noll's friends happens to be watching, they'll know what to expect if they try anything."
"A horrible example instead of a shining one," Brange said with a thoughtful nod. "That's probably a good idea, but I don't understand what they want us to do. Are we supposed to pretend to go back to working for Noll?"
"No, almost the opposite," Admis said, now showing a grin. "It sounded like so much fun that I decided I wanted a part of it, so any cooking I do for a short while will be out on the street. Let me tell you what they need us for, and then you can decide if you also want a piece of it."
Deslen leaned forward in order to listen more closely, and only distantly noticed that Brange had done the same. The two of them listened to what Admis had to say, and by the time he was through his listeners were grinning just as broadly as he was.
"I can't see any of us refusing to go along with that," Brange said at last, a chuckle behind the words. "The only problem is, I also want to see Noll's face when he finds out about it. That show ought to be almost as good as the one we'll be a part of."
"They promised to watch Noll for us, and tell us what he says and does," Admis said with a laugh. "Are you both in?"
"You'd better believe it," Deslen confirmed with a smile he thought might crack his face. "Just tell us when and where."
"I'll get word to you just as soon as they tell me," Admis said and then got to his feet. "I've got to talk to more of us, so I'll see you both later."
Deslen joined Brange in nodding his understanding, and once Admis was gone Deslen looked over at his friend.
"You know, I thought the day we left Noll was the best day of my life, but now I know that today is," he said. "The cloud that was hanging over my head is gone, and I can sit back and enjoy life. They know all about us, but they still want us to be with them."
"I think I agree with Admis that we have to be dreaming," Brange answered with a shake of his head that did nothing to chase away the man's smile. "But if we are dreaming, I never want to wake up."
"Our one chance is for real, and there's nothing that can keep us from taking advantage of it but ourselves," Deslen said, feeling his amusement being replaced with grim determination. "I will not lose this or mess it up, not even if my life depends on it. I'd rather be dead than go back to watching other people's happiness from the outside."
Brange remained silent, but the expression on his face told Deslen that his friend felt exactly the same way. They would both rather be dead than mess things up for themselves; now all they had to do was make sure it stayed like that…
Idresia Harmis sat drinking a cup of tea, enjoying the fact that Issini and Asri had taken over the cooking chores for the day. It was nice to have others around who could produce a meal that wasn't guaranteed to poison them, which Driff's efforts - and Edmin's - would certainly have done. The two men were willing, and Asri said that Kail was just as willing, but willingness doesn't automatically produce a good cook. Besides, Idresia had other things to think about besides cooking, and being able to do her thinking without distraction was another treat.
"You look more satisfied than just sitting around would account for, Har," Issini said to Idresia from where she stood by the stove. "Would you care to share what's making you smile?"
"I wanted to wait for the men to get back, but they're taking too long," Idresia answered as she looked over at the two women. "Since Kail already knows the city, I thought that giving him a look at our arrangements would be a quick trip. But since they're not here… I've made new arrangements centering around our renegade."
"What new arrangements?" Issini asked while Asri showed a faintly surprised expression. "Have you changed your mind about my idea to counter what will probably be their next move?"
"No, I haven't changed my mind about liking your idea," Idresia quickly assured her friend with a smile. "As a matter of fact I love your idea, and I've already had some of my people get started with making sure that no one will be hurt because they went along with the idea. But the thought came to me that the renegade wants and needs a proper basis to build on before he goes to the next stage of his plans. That realization made me believe that he'll try to put on his show in taverns and eating parlors again."
"If he does, then your people can just stop the show the way they did the first time," Issini said with a shrug. "That second failure should push the renegade into the next step of his plans from anger if for no other reason."
"But what if he decides instead to do something we haven't thought of?" Idresia countered, verbalizing the way her thinking had gone.
"We can't let him do something we're not prepared for, not at this stage of the game. What we can do, though, is make him think that everything is working out, so he'll definitely commit himself and his men to the course of action we're ready to counter."
"How can we make him believe that everything is working out without letting trouble develop?" Issini asked, her frown looking odd next to Asri's faint smile. "His people won't report success unless they actually have success."
"That's not quite true," Asri said, sharing a brief moment of amusement with Idresia before turning her full attention to Issini. "I think that what Idresia did was arrange some way to make the renegade's men believe in their success, whether or not they actually have any."
"But how could she do that?" Issini started to ask, and then her expression changed. "I'm an idiot! Of course she could do it, and rather easily."
"Well, I know she did something, because I Saw it," Asri said, now looking less amused. "What I don't understand is how she did it, but you obviously do. Can you tell me what was done, or is the process a secret you'd rather not share?"
"There's nothing secret about the process itself," Idresia said when Issini hesitated over answering. "I had Driff find me a Middle Blending, and they're with my people who are watching the renegade's house. If another group of troublemakers is sent out, the Blending will convince the troublemakers that whatever they've been told to do will work out just the way it's supposed to. What will actually happen is their act will be done so woodenly that no one listening to them will be fooled in the least. That way there's no danger of their actually making trouble, but I'm not happy about what had to be done to get us the help we needed."
"What do you mean?" Issini asked, her frown back as Asri digested what she'd been told. Asri knew almost nothing about Blendings, so her question hadn't been a true surprise. "What did you have to do to get the help you needed?"