by Sharon Green
"I just remembered something," I said, feeling the new frown I wore. "While we were on the way to Gracely we were all approached by people who felt 'attracted' to us, but when we tried to find those people they'd disappeared. I have the definite feeling that those people were yours rather than a group working for the Gracelians, and I'd like to know why you sent them. We had a really bad time because of those 'advances.'"
"No, Rion and Naran had the really bad time, not all of you," Allovin said, nothing whatsoever of amusement showing. "That particular issue had to be forced, to keep it from turning around and biting all of you at some later time. Rion had to learn that associating only with his sisters was his choice, not something forced on him by circumstance. Naran had to learn that loving someone isn't the only thing life has to offer, and Lorand had to start gaining a more complete understanding of his own situation. The time may not have been pleasant, but it was certainly necessary."
Rion, Naran, and Lorand exchanged glances, but none of them seemed prepared to argue what had been said. Their expressions were rueful, but since they weren't complaining bitterly on their own behalf, I couldn't quite continue to be insulted for them.
"I think I'd like to clarify something," Jovvi said in an obviously deliberate change of topic, her gaze directly on Allovin where he sat. "You and your people started us on our way, so to speak, but you're all done with 'arranging' things from the shadows now. From this point on we're free to do as we think best, without anyone manipulating events to force us in the direction they want us to go. Is that right?"
"Your conclusion is right, even though you didn't quite state the situation properly," Allovin told her, still showing full seriousness. "We didn't do a lot of the manipulating, we just helped along much of what would have happened anyway, only in a less optimum way. If you six hadn't met, where would the people of Gracely, Gandistra, and Astinda be today?"
That question put an end to my urge to laugh in the man's face over his claim that he and his people hadn't manipulated us. If my Blendingmates and I hadn't met and gotten together, the usurpers might still have been on the Throne when the avenging force from Astinda reached Gan Garee. At that point almost everyone in the city would have died, not even counting those who would have been killed when the Astindan forces left Gandistra again.
We also wouldn't have been there to help the Gracelian assembly members face the invaders, so Gracely would have fallen. After that the people of Gandistra would have been conquered, and then the Astindans would have had their turn. No one would have been left their freedom on the entire continent, and all that had been avoided because -
"All right, maybe manipulation isn't a horrible perversion under all circumstances," I granted in a grumble. "But what I don't understand is why your people didn't just step in and avoid all the trouble before it started. You could have stopped the invaders before they took over wherever they come from, visited the Gracelians and told them what they were doing wrong, made the nobility stop being stupid here in Gandistra - "
"Ahh, I think you've just seen the light, Tamrissa," Allovin said with a return of his widest grin. "Of course we could have done everything you suggested, and we could even have made everyone involved listen to us. But you could also have forced the Gracelian assembly members to do things your way, only you didn't. Full Blending can only be achieved by fair-minded people, and it isn't very fair to take over the lives and minds of those around you. You have to give them the chance to do the right thing on their own, or to stay with what's demonstrably wrong and live with the consequences. Besides, how closely would you have listened to strangers who moved in and took over running your country?"
"Not very closely," Vallant granted the man when I just shrugged to show I couldn't argue with what he'd said. "And instead of listenin' and learnin', we would have spent our time figurin' out ways to get you out of our lives. This was the better way of doin' things."
"Although I feel a good deal of personal reluctance, I also must agree," Rion said, voicing a sigh. "A difficult childhood is of relative unimportance when compared with the various benefits eventually obtained by myself and others. But we've left our companions a far distance from here in another land. Much as I would enjoy remaining here and not have to face the long overland trip back, in all fairness we can't simply abandon the people who have supported us so well."
"Well, actually, you won't have to abandon them," Allovin told us with badly hidden amusement when the rest of us groaned our agreement with what Rion had said. "You six aren't strong enough to transport more than yourselves yet, but my people and I have been using the trick for a good deal longer. Once you straighten out the confusion here, I'll go back to Gracely with you. By then all the former slaves ought to have been freed, so we'll be able to get you and all your people back here for good."
"I think I may eventually learn to love you," I told Allovin after shaking my head. "We'll have to wait to find out, but I just thought of another couple of questions. Why did you transport me here in my sleep? And why did you and your people freeze all the Highs in the city in one place for so long?"
"Actually, we had nothing to do with transporting you here to your old house," Allovin said with another grin. "You and your Blendingmates have been yearning toward the time when life was less complicated for you, the others all sharing your dream of being home again. Once you learned how to consciously transport yourself a short distance, your inner mind seized on the technique, used your link groups for the needed strength, and took you where you so badly wanted to go. But don't worry, you'll be taught how to keep something like that from happening again."
"Now I'm delighted," I answered, referring back to his original comments. "But you haven't said why you did what you did to the Highs in this city."
"There were two reasons," Allovin replied, this time voicing his own sigh. "The first was because of those damaged people who were just recently captured. The chances were too good that they would succeed in taking over a High Blending, and that would have made for unnecessary bloodshed and death. You six would have been able to defeat them eventually, but not without the loss of too many lives. The second reason was to teach something it took us far too long to learn: it isn't only those with High talent who have something special to offer to the world. As you said, Tamrissa, the strong possibility exists that there won't be any competitions held a year from now. By then a large number of you will have learned that strength isn't everything."
"That should also mean that we'll be off the hook," I said, looking at my Blendingmates with true delight. "No one can insist that we stay in charge if being in charge isn't restricted to the strongest."
"Now, that I like," Lorand said with a laugh that the others shared in. "Once we get things started up the right path, we'll be free to become private citizens again. And we can find out if more of us than just Rion has a talent for cooking."
"Don't look in my direction for that talent," Jovvi said with her own laugh. "I'm much happier just eating what those with true talent provide. And speaking of eating, will you take the noon meal with us, Drees Allovin? We're certain to think of other questions by then that need answering."
"It will be my pleasure," Allovin replied, standing to give Jovvi a smile and a bow. "My reward for having to watch you flounder again and again without helping is to give you what help I can now. If you don't mind, I'll get myself some tea while the six of you go off to take care of calming things down among your other people. It shouldn't take long, and I'll be right here when you get back. And during the meal, I'll teach you how to get in touch with my people and me if and when you need to."
The man seemed to be telling the truth, but it didn't make much difference even if he were lying and intended to leave as soon as we were gone. I had no idea how we would keep him from leaving if he chose to, and an exchanged glance with my Blendingmates showed that they felt the same. Either Allovin would be there for lunch or he would be gone, so we left the sitting room to see to thing
s we did have some control over.
Outside in the public part of the palace, we found mild chaos. The High talents who had been frozen in place had found out just how long they'd been out of things, and more confused Highs were staggering in to demand answers as soon as they were able to move. Driff and his Blendingmates were arranging to get the Highs fed as quickly as they appeared, but getting them calmed down was something else entirely.
It even took us a while to establish some kind of order, and we had to repeat the explanation of what had been going on three times before enough people heard it that they could do the repeating themselves. We were also brought something to eat, but by the time noon approached we were ready for a meal that wouldn't have to be taken standing up.
"Sneakin' out of here ought to be possible now," Vallant murmured to the rest of us while people argued about what they believed and what they didn't. "Driff and his Blendin'mates just got back, and they look like they've been fortified with food. Let's go get some fortifyin' of our own."
If anyone had argued with that idea I probably would have flattened them, but of course none of us was dim enough to argue. We left the room without anyone noticing that we were going, but once out into the hall we ran smack into Lavrit Mohr, High Master of the Guild. There was another man trailing after Mohr who looked faintly familiar, and the High Master beamed at us.
"Excellences," he said, bowing to all of us. "I only just heard that you were back, so I hurried over at once. I have someone you're certain to want to meet."
"To tell the truth, High Master, we're a bit pressed for time right now," Lorand said smoothly at once. "Surely the introduction will wait until we're free again?"
"Well, of course it will," Mohr said, looking downright crestfallen. "After all the time the man has waited, I suppose another hour or two won't matter that much. They are extremely busy men and women, Dom Gallaine. You can understand that, I hope?"
"Sure, I can understand it," the man with Mohr said, his disappointment so sharp that it nearly made me gasp. "Just tell me: which one of them is he? If I know that much, I can wait as long as I have to."
"A reasonable request," Mohr granted, decision suddenly firm in his mind. "This man here is the one known as Rion Mardimil, originally called Clarion Mardimil."
Mohr pointed to Rion, but Rion was already staring at the stranger behind Mohr. Rion's frown was perplexed, but suddenly I understood exactly what was happening.
"I think lunch can wait awhile," I said, feeling happy tears come to my eyes. "Rion… Unless I'm completely mistaken, that man is your father."
"Why, yes, I am, and my name is Aldrin Gallaine," the man said, his gaze unmoving from a stunned Rion. "I had no choice about letting my child be stolen from me, but I still feel as if I abandoned him. If he doesn't want to know me now I'll understand, but I still had to see with my own eyes the fine man's he's become. His mother would have been so proud if she'd lived, as proud as I am…"
By then Rion had moved closer to the man, and then they were hugging with tears in both their eyes. Jovvi and Naran cried openly with silly smiles on their faces, the kind of silly smile I probably wore as well. Vallant and Lorand showed broad grins, but I thought I detected a bit of moisture in their eyes as well.
"Ah, so much happiness brought about by a fortunate accident," Lavrit Mohr said as he dabbed at his face with a handkerchief. "One of my people, a man or woman whose name I don't even know, learned that Dom Gallaine was supposed to be the true father of the Excellence Rion. The information was passed on to me along with Dom Gallaine's location, and I arranged to have him returned here to Gan Garee. I really must find which of my people gathered the necessary information, and reward him or her properly."
"So you found Rion's father purely by accident," I said, looking around to see that my Blendingmates had gotten the same idea I had. "You may have trouble locating the one who sent you the information, Dom Mohr, but if so don't worry about it. I think we can pass on all our thanks to the proper parties."
"Yes, probably over lunch," Jovvi said with an amused smile. "Of all the gifts we could have been given, this one has to be best - and the best gauge to measure some new acquaintances. You can usually tell what people are like by what they do in an effort to please you."
"Then let's go tell a new acquaintance how pleased we are by the effort," I said, my arm around Vallant's waist as his was around my shoulders. "Rion and Naran and their guest will certainly want to have lunch in their own wing, Dom Mohr, and you've definitely earned the right to join them. The rest of us will go on to that meeting we mentioned, and we'll get back together later."
Mohr didn't quite understand everything I'd said, but Vallant, Jovvi, and Lorand had. We left Rion to his happy reunion and the chance to introduce Naran to his newfound father, and headed back to the sitting room in my wing. We had some thanks to give, and the future had never looked brighter.