“Might as well.” Raz’s formerly strong gestures had devolved to limp fingers lifted toward the large door.
“Beautiful building,” Del said. “But too much effort today. Mistake to have done it.”
“I don’t think so,” Raz said. “Makes a statement. Will impress both our staff—those who are wavering about investing in the town—and the outsiders who come in tomorrow. We could get more funding for the town because of it.”
“Uh-huh,” Del sighed as she fell asleep.
Come in, Glyssa projected to Jace. All those who’ve bought shares in the town can come in. She scooted back across the glossy floor to the wall.
Jace flung open the large door, stepped in and stopped, tucking his thumbs into his belt. “Wow. Looks great.”
The floor was a darker shade than the honey-colored wood inside and out. Four of the eight walls held a window, square and multipaned and hideously expensive, in terms of making them permanent, with the Flair they’d had available. The ceiling angled up to a point with rafters that Zem immediately flew to. When Jace had opened the door, all the spell lamps set in intricate cages flickered on. Those were only funded for the eightday week.
As people filed in, exclaiming with surprise and delight, Raz nudged Del awake and helped her stand. Glyssa braced her feet against the floor and began to shove herself up. Jace hurried over and drew her into his arms, let her lean against him. He chuckled.
“What?” she asked.
“You smell like Glyssa.”
She grimaced, but he nuzzled her. “Must have used a lot of Flair if you sweated.”
Sighing, she said, “Yes.”
“It’s a wonderful place,” he said but didn’t take his eyes off her and she warmed. They were a couple, and accepted as a couple, but that didn’t quite satisfy anymore.
Let’s eat! Lepid got to his paws.
* * *
Once again a huge transport set down in the ever-increasing-in-size landing field. This one was less battered, smoother, sleeker; no doubt it had incredible opulence inside.
Pursuant to recent custom, most of the crew, save the guards, gathered to watch it. The hatch opened and a small platform extruded from the airship. The first passengers appeared in the doorway, several nobles whom Glyssa didn’t recognize but thought belonged to the Grace class. All had dressed more for impressing each other than the dirt of the encampment.
They made room for Camellia D’Hawthorn, carrying a large basket, a grin on her face. A man behind her, dressed in the red of Cherry Shipping and Transport, gestured and a large shelf extruded from the airship in front of the door. Camellia stepped upon it and the ramp descended slowly to the ground.
Glyssa ran to her friend. Camellia set down her basket and opened her arms and they hugged and rocked.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” Glyssa said.
“Is anything wrong?” Camellia asked.
“No. I don’t know. But I wanted you to see the encampment so badly.” Glyssa’s future was here, wasn’t it?
“And we’re glad to be here and view the venture,” Laev T’Hawthorn said as he strolled up to them.
After a last hug of Camellia, Glyssa frowned at Laev. “You didn’t say anything about founding a town in this area a week and a half ago.”
Laev smiled, twitched his fingers at a duffle that was half the size as the one he’d bought for her and it rose, began to follow them as they walked. He slung an arm around Glyssa’s shoulders, linked hands with his HeartMate. “It was something I was kicking around in the back of my mind. Talked a little about it with my journeywoman, Jasmine Ash—she’s very excited about such a project. But I hadn’t firmed up any plans until Vinni T’Vine visited me at the beginning of the week.”
“Vinni T’Vine,” Glyssa said. She hadn’t often met the prophet of Celta.
With a lift of his brows, Laev added, “Yes. He convinced me it would be a good thing to establish a town out here. He was even so helpful as to point out where . . . a spot by the Deep Blue Sea.”
“Oh.”
Laev glanced at the Elecampanes’ pavilion where Del and Raz stood, waiting for them. “I contacted the Elecampanes. They are not too pleased.” Laev’s teeth flashed. “But they agreed to work with me to show advisors and prospective settlers the land.” His smile faded as he looked over to the huge outline of Lugh’s Spear wistfully. “They’ve been adamant in not allowing FirstFamily investors in the excavation of Lugh’s Spear.”
“They want to keep control, nothing wrong with that,” Camellia said. “Just like I won’t let you buy into my teahouses.”
“Advisors?” Glyssa asked.
Nodding toward some of the stragglers disembarking from the airship transport, Laev said, “We have representatives from T’Vine, T’Reed, T’Blackthorn, and D’SilverFir of the FirstFamilies. Antenn Blackthorn-Moss sent a journeywoman from his architectural firm. The Clover Family sent an advisor, as did a consortium of other noble investors. The cross-folk religious group provided a priest, though I think the cross-folk want to establish one of their own towns in the same general area . . . or perhaps in the opposite direction, by Fish Story Lake.” He shrugged, but Glyssa believed he knew to the last silver sliver the amount of gilt each investor had in mind to apply to founding a new community, as well as all their motivations. She looked back and saw a few of the camp watching her and her friends including Andic and Funa and Trago.
“They will be staying tonight in the airship berth comfortchairs, but I brought some tents so we can experience every moment of the camp,” Laev said.
“Absolutely,” said Camellia.
At the back of the airship a door opened and a ramp angled down. A man—the cartographer—dressed in leathers much like Del’s, led a few stridebeasts from the vehicle.
“That should be all of them,” Laev said, his gaze skimming over the people decanted from the airship. He gestured for Glyssa and Camellia to head toward the tent town.
She and her friends reached the Elecampanes, and Laev swept the couple a deep bow, smiling what Glyssa considered to be his least calculating and most charming smile. She wondered if he’d forgotten just how good an observer and actor Raz Cherry was.
“Thank you for allowing us to see the excavation, and to stay here tonight,” Laev said.
“You’re welcome.” Raz was just as gracious. He looked over at the transport and raised his brows. “I’m glad to get my hands on the controls of that airship.”
“If you want to refresh yourself after the trip—” Del Elecampane began.
“No need,” Camellia interrupted. “The airship contains all the luxuries.” She’d put her basket down, opened it and took out only a slightly smaller basket, offering it to Del. “I know that we are imposing, and we thank you for your hospitality. Please take these foodstuffs as a gift.”
“From your tearooms?” Raz asked as Del took the basket.
“No, I cooked them this morning.” Camellia smiled. She dipped her hands into her long-sleeved pockets and drew out a large envelope. From that, she pulled out huge flatsweets that wafted delicious smells as she offered them to Raz and Del, Glyssa and Jace.
“Thank you,” Raz mumbled around a bite. “Wonderful.”
Del bit into hers, closed her eyes. “Wonderful,” she echoed. “So fresh.”
Camellia said, “I’ll be going along with you, Del, on our stridebeast excursion to the Deep Blue Sea. I’ve packed enough food for us all for the trip there.”
Chuckling, Del said, “Good thing we have a limited amount of stridebeasts, otherwise the whole camp would ride with us just for the food.” She looked at Laev. “You have quite an asset in your HeartMate.”
Laev flung his arm around Camellia. “Don’t I know it.”
Raz said, “We’ve cleared an area for your pavilion.” He glanced at Laev. “I anticipated that you would bring a pavilion.”
“Three,” Laev said. He waved toward the airship. “One is quite large and will remain in the airs
hip until we arrive at the Deep Blue Sea. Designed especially for me. For us.” He sent a look to Jace. “There’s a secondary bedroom for Glyssa . . . and you, if you care to come along.”
“Sounds fine,” Jace said. Then he began to eat his flatsweet, which seemed to take both hands.
Laev shot him a considering glance, but went on with his spiel. “We also brought two smaller ones for travel. One for Camellia and one for Glyssa and Jace. I’ll stay in Camellia’s tonight.” He stepped toward a shallow rectangular area on the far side of Glyssa’s pavilion, set between the main pathway and a row of bushes—she’d sent him the dimensions earlier.
From an end pocket on the duffle, he pulled out four sticks. She didn’t see any transparent gauze like what made up her pavilion. With quick steps he set up the stakes, then waved his hand. The onlookers “oohed” as purple-tinted, transparent, Flaired walls sprang up . . . in two stories, one cantilevered out over the bushes. Before the walls of the “tent” turned solid, Glyssa saw a solid-looking wooden staircase up to a sleeping loft, the floor of which included a bedsponge.
More gasps sounded and the crowd grew. Laev took a bow, grinned at Glyssa, and whirled his wife in his arms to applause.
Then someone huffed, “Thank you, GrandLady D’Elecampane, GrandLord T’Elecampane, for welcoming us to your encampment. Since time is so short and we leave for the Deep Blue Sea tomorrow morning, can we be shown the excavation of Lugh’s Spear?” The woman wore the colors of T’Reed’s household and had the thin features of the banking Family.
Del D’Elecampane shoved the last of her flatsweet into her mouth, chomped down and nodded, then wiped her mouth with a softleaf she plucked from her trous pocket. “We are pleased to show you our endeavors.” She raised a hand and the head Holly guard strode from between the Elecampanes’ and Glyssa’s pavilions.
“Cornuta, Laev T’Hawthorn—”
But Laev stepped forward and offered his arm to clasp and the Holly guard did, too. “We know each other,” the guard said. “I worked at The Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon for some years.”
“Ah,” Raz said. “Cornuta will show you around.”
Laev put a sad expression on. “Not you or the lovely D’Elecampane?”
“He’s afraid he’ll spill more about our project plans and the excavation than we want you to know,” Del said.
With a smile, Laev shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
Del made pushing motions with her hands. “Go on the tour. You’ll see the hole we found where Lugh’s Spear broke open when it landed—”
“My poor ancestor, those deaths hurt him so.” Camellia twisted her hands.
D’Elecampane snorted. “The Captain was too sensitive, then. The deaths were those who didn’t follow the proper landing procedures. Weren’t where they were supposed to be. I’ve read enough of Hoku’s journal and Raz’s ancestress’ diary to know that.
“Anyway, we’ve covered the hole and access is forbidden, got that?”
“Yes,” Laev and Camellia said together.
“You can follow the pegged outline of the ship to the excavation where we believe one of the main entrances lies. Both areas are now guarded, and that’s about all there is to see of our main project. You’re welcome to look around the camp, enter our new Community Hall and eat with us in the mess. Personal tents of our staff are off-limits, though we’ll make the sitting room of our pavilion available to you, Laev and Camellia. Any of the others will have to ask for permission.”
“Of course my pavilion is your pavilion,” said Glyssa. She laughed. “Especially since you bought it.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Laev said, glancing over at Jace. “You want to come along, Jace, and tell me about the camp and the land around here . . . and the new town?”
Jace shrugged. “Sure. Zem wants a good flight.”
“Glyssa?” asked Camellia.
“I have to work, and to continue to prepare for the trip tomorrow,” Glyssa said, and Jace knew that, but he preferred not to stay with her. That hurt.
Feeling a little stiff, Glyssa waved to her friends, then headed back into her pavilion and moved some of the furniture around to accommodate Laev and Camellia if they wanted to spend the evening talking with her in her tent.
With a little difficulty, she buried herself in her work, struggled through some of Hoku’s more technical entries about the status of the ship after landing, and while the colonists set up their own camp. She made one-sentence notes about events that she and Jace could spin into the story.
At dinner in the mess tent, Camellia studied the gray-tinged noodles on her fork before she took a bite. “Interesting.”
“Not really,” Glyssa said. “Too bad Myrtus Stopper was a villain, he was a good cook.”
Jace rose from the table with an absent wave at Glyssa. “Zem calls. He wants some help with his nest. Later.”
“I’d like to see that,” Laev said.
I can show you! Lepid put in, and the two men and the fox left the tent.
Camellia frowned after them. “We need to talk.”
Thirty-three
Glyssa and Camellia sat in the best chairs in Glyssa’s pavilion, the basket at their feet.
“You’re staying here,” Camellia said quietly.
“Ye-es.”
“What’s the problem?” Camellia’s tone remained soft.
She could tell her friend anything. But she grimaced and looked down at her hands. “I’m afraid of the wilderness.”
Camellia snorted. “Sounds wise to me.”
Glyssa met her friend’s eyes. “I haven’t gotten the nerve to go out of the shelter of the camp by myself. Not even to a nearby hill.”
“Hmm.” Camellia passed her a flatsweet.
They ate instead of talked.
Then Camellia nodded. “If you’re going to stay, you should overcome that fear.”
Glyssa frowned. “Yes.”
Tilting her head, Camellia said, “And Jace hasn’t discovered this about you, yet? After four and a half weeks?”
“No.”
“I watched you quite a bit today,” Camellia said. “I’m sorry, but I think he takes you for granted. That he doesn’t give you the respect you deserve. Glyssa, you aren’t getting what you need from him. You have to tell him that.”
“I’m hesitant to.”
“I understand.”
“He’s not accustomed to listening to anyone but himself.”
“And because of circumstances, he’s gotten to do that most of his life. But not if he wants to be part of a couple. He has to change, Glyssa, want more for the both of you.”
“Yes.” Glyssa sighed, then took a long, long breath. “Two birds with one stone. I’ll ask him to meet me to watch the twinmoons rise at the top of the hill. I’ll go by myself.”
“In the dark?”
“It’s not that far, and there really aren’t any dangerous animals out there so close to the camp.” She was pretty sure. “We can talk then, and I’ll tell him I have this problem, too.”
“All right,” Camellia said. This time when she reached into her basket, she pulled out a sphere and handed it to Glyssa. “Not much background on Jace, but you might want to take a look. Laev and your father hunted for it, of course. But I think this might ease matters between you.”
Yes, that got her interested. But she could look at it later.
Kissing her friend on the cheek, she said, “They’ll be finished building the bonfire shortly, I’ll take you there. You’ll like it, snuggling with Laev.”
“Yes, I always like that. And that new Community Hall of yours is wonderful, very impressive.”
“Just the reaction the Elecampanes expected. We’re very proud of it.” Glyssa changed into heavier clothing and led her friend to the bonfire where Laev and Jace and Raz T’Elecampane were talking, with a couple of other people listening.
Glyssa slipped her arm in Jace’s. “A moment, please.” She smiled at the rest.
“Sure,” Jace said.
She walked with him to an open area on the other side of the bonfire. Glancing toward the edge of the camp, from here all she could see was big trees. Scary trees that could hide anything.
“Jace,” she said, her love for him making her lilt it.
He bent down and brushed her lips with his own, then said, “You’re serious. Yes?”
She swallowed, gestured in the direction of the hill, kept her eyes on his. The whoosh of the bonfire catching sounded, along with a cheer, and more light let her see the gray of his eyes. “I’d like to meet you atop View Hill to watch the twinmoons rise.” She paused for four heartbeats. “It’s very important to me.”
“Sure.” He looked at the sky. “That will be in about twenty minutes?”
“Yes.” Just short enough that she wouldn’t have to wait and lose courage, long enough that even walking slowly, she’d get there in good time.
Again he kissed her. “See you there.”
She sighed. “Yes.” She made herself turn from him and walk away. Knew from the lack of heat in their bond that he didn’t watch her.
Yes, they were a couple, but she wasn’t quite satisfied with that. Camellia was right. Time for a frank conversation and to ask for what she needed, to know exactly where they stood. What he saw in the future for them so she could make solid plans.
Summoning all her courage, she walked out of camp with only a weathershield around her. Next year she’d bring a blazer—and over the winter she’d learn to use it. Learn wilderness survival skills, too. A small spell glow helped her watch her step, and as she walked, the noise of the camp diminished and the small light pollution from humans vanished.
She was left alone in the wilderness under a galaxy-laden sky bright with stars. Anxiety quieted inside her, allowing room for awe at the beauty.
The night scents were different from those she’d smelled that one morning when she’d gone out with Lepid at dawn. She walked steadily and reached the top of the hill with more acceptance of the wilderness, and more faith in herself.
In the distance, the edge of the auras of the twinmoons showed above the horizon.
Heart Fortune (Celta) Page 29