by Zen DiPietro
“I feel so important, getting such a high-priority send-off,” Izzy teased. Too bad she and Kassimeigh hadn’t gotten more time with Will and Arc. She’d enjoyed having the four of them back together again.
“You are important,” agreed Will with a rakish grin. “Who else can be so utterly annoying that we can’t wait to see her go, yet can’t wait to see her back again? Only our dear Izzy Gin.”
She threw her head back and laughed. Will’s playful teasing had evolved along with the rest of him. Belying his words, he enveloped her in a warm hug. Mmm. Will gave good hugs.
He let her go and stepped back. “Thanks for coming down. You were a big help. Be careful or I might try to recruit you into the Guard.”
She angled her head back and looked up at him. “You’re the one who’d better be careful. I might decide to take you up on that offer.”
Surprise flickered in Will’s eyes. “If I’d known it was a real option, I would have already started campaigning. Be prepared for a full-on assault next time I see you.”
Something about his words inspired a flare of excitement somewhere within Izzy’s rib cage. “Somehow I think I can resist. But I’d like to see you try.” She stepped away from him and gave Arc a warm hug. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep her out of trouble,” she told him.
Arc ruffled Izzy’s hair. “You’re promising the impossible. But at least you’ll have fun trying.” He murmured something in Kassimeigh’s ear. She seemed to answer, then Arc dropped a light kiss on her neck and gave her a tight hug before stepping back.
“Good luck on the kite,” Arc offered, obviously holding in a laugh. Will, for his part, failed entirely and let out a loud snicker. Izzy denied her urge to smack the general upside the head. Their delight was entirely at her expense. They were definitely laughing at her, not with her.
Izzy frowned, glancing from the men to Kassimeigh. “What do they know that I don’t?”
Kassimeigh waved a hand dismissively. “Ignore them. They are just plagued with weak stomachs.”
That remark sparked quite the opposite of comfort in Izzy. Actually, her own stomach twisted in anticipation. Still, she wasn’t going to let Will see her concern. She tossed her head in a show of nonchalance. “Not surprising. Men. Pfff.” She relished the consternation she perceived from Will and blew him a kiss as she settled herself onto the kite with feigned composure.
Kassimeigh offered a last wave to the men and seated herself. “Relax,” she whispered to Izzy. “Work with me here.”
Pressure clamped down over Izzy. It wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, it felt like she’d been secured. When she shifted her weight, she found she was firmly anchored to the kite. She had just started to ask Kassimeigh about it when the kite shot straight up into the air thirty feet in the time it took to blink. Izzy hardly felt a thing except for a slight dip in her stomach. Kassimeigh caught her friend’s eye and, of all things, winked.
They began a tight spiral that climbed even higher, leveled out into a few barrel rolls and froze motionless directly above Arc and Will, who stared up at them with expressions somewhere between horror and admiration.
“Enjoy the monorail!” Kassimeigh shouted down to them, and the kite shot to the northwest with startling velocity. Izzy fought the urge to clutch the armrests of her seat while laughing riotously.
Back on the ground, Will and Arc stared after the kite until it was out of sight. Izzy’s laughter still rang in their ears. Will’s stomach did an ugly little jig just thinking about the acrobatics they’d witnessed. Izzy thought that was fun? What was wrong with those two?
“Holy shiv order,” he muttered.
Arc’s eyes were just as wide as his. “Yeah. No kidding.”
“Are those two . . . ?”
“What?” Arc finally looked at Will.
Will shook his head, unable to find the words. “I don’t know.” He threw his hands into the air.
“Yeah.” Arc nodded. “I know what you mean.” He grinned suddenly.
“What?” Will asked suspiciously.
“You’re going to owe Izzy some respect next time you see her. You were sure she’d hate the kite.”
Will heaved a sigh, but his lips twisted into a smile. “She’ll be impossible to live with afterward.”
“Yup.”
Both men looked entirely too pleased with the idea.
Within minutes, Kassimeigh had put many miles behind them. She smiled at Izzy’s pleasure at their little ruse. The reader still giggled intermittently. “So when you take them up on the kite . . .” she began.
“I don’t buffer them against the g-forces like I’m doing for you,” Kassimeigh confirmed. “I keep them secure, and I take the edge off, but they definitely feel the ride.”
Izzy snorted with laughter. “But why? That’s not like you.”
“I know,” Kassimeigh agreed. “That’s exactly why I did it. When I first started with the kite, I hadn’t developed the countermeasures to make the ride more comfortable. But when I did figure it out, I had the impulse to not tell them about it. I went with the impulse.”
“I actually can’t fault that logic, all things considered.” Izzy laughed. “I love it. I’m impressed.”
Izzy’s words pleased her more than she would admit out loud. Izzy had tried for years to convince her to try new things and become more of an individual. Only now, without the structure of the order to rely on, had she finally tried.
She sent Izzy a broad grin and initiated a series of barrel rolls.
6
After they picked up a few supplies for Élan and resumed course, Izzy began to adjust to Kassimeigh’s new mode of transportation.
“This is much faster than the monorail. I can see why you find it convenient,” she observed.
“Yes,” Kassimeigh agreed. “Though it means I’ve been on the move a lot lately, jetting from one place to another.”
“Do you mind that?”
“Few things are perfect. Being on the run is worth the convenience of being able to get from place to place so quickly. I’ve been able to accomplish a great deal.”
“Hmm.” Izzy chewed her lip thoughtfully. “That was not a direct answer to my question, but I’ll let you get by with it. What is this Élan like?”
“Pretty and petite. I’m like a giant next to her. She’s a beautiful singer but you probably knew that already. She’s independent and very confident, though wary of people she doesn’t know. So file all this under your patient confidentiality watchamado.”
“I don’t think that’s a real word.”
“But it got the message across.”
Izzy eyed her friend curiously. She wasn’t sure what to make of this new side to Kassimeigh. “Fair enough. So you say Élan created a method of compensating for her learning disability with mana? That’s deeply intriguing.”
“I should have known that would be the part to really interest you. Luc was quite interested in it too but I don’t know if he’ll ever get her to cooperate for a study. Not only is she too independent for it, but she has little use for manahi.”
“Including you? Does she give you trouble? Mouth off, give you the finger, that sort of thing?”
Kassimeigh smiled. “She doesn’t hide her opinion, but she and I seem to have developed a rapport. I actually find her forthrightness refreshing, and she has the natural charisma to make it work. Plus, my unusual background with mana and my past as a justice gave her a reason to trust me. Eventually. But she definitely did not want to meet up with Luc to discuss the mana bugs in person.”
“A learning-disabled protégé with phobic issues,” murmured Izzy.
“You say that like a kid in a candy store discovering a new treat.”
“I won’t deny I’d be interested in evaluating her,” Izzy admitted.
“Don’t plan on that.”
“Right. She’s ‘independent.’” Izzy drummed her fingers on her knee.
“Maybe we should have brought Carston. If she’s into the big
, burly type, he might have been able to talk her into it.”
“Exploit my boyfriend for personal gain?” Izzy laughed. “Okay. But fortunately for him, Will needed him in Janis. Anyway, I don’t think he’d fit on your kite with both of us. Maybe you need a four-seater?”
“I’ll have to make a bigger model.” Kassimeigh made a mental note. “I was already thinking I should. I’ll have to find some time to get it done. Was he disappointed to see you leave so soon?”
“Carston? We enjoy the time we have but don’t stress out about parting. We’ll see each other again in due time.”
“Makes sense. Have you ever had a relationship where you just couldn’t wait to get back to someone?”
“You mean a major love affair? Probably not. Maybe a few minor love affairs, but never anything that would stick. Just some relationships that were briefly intense.”
“Would you want the big-deal, turn-your-world-over love affair?”
Izzy didn’t even need to think about it. “No. At least, not at this point in my life. Because it hasn’t found me and I think I’m better off without it. That kind of devotion means sacrifice. But if true love found me my answer would likely change, because I would change as a result of the experience.”
“Very philosophical and pragmatic,” Kassimeigh observed approvingly.
“I have my moments here and there.”
“Ah. See that edge there?” Kassimeigh pointed ahead, indicating a contrasting line of deep green set against a much lighter green.
“Yes.”
“That’s the perimeter of the forest. We’ll reach Élan’s location in just a few minutes.”
“Great. Looking forward to meeting her.”
Izzy didn’t have to look forward to it for long, because soon they were setting down. Élan stood watching as Kassimeigh gently touched the kite down and released the mana hold that kept them safely secured. They stood and stepped off.
“Élan, this is Izzy Gin. She’s a reader and a very close friend. You can trust her. I do.”
Élan smiled and offered her hands in greeting. Izzy returned both gestures with impeccable politeness.
“It’s nice to meet you, Élan.” She cast her eyes around the area. “You’re obviously doing a great job here. It looks pristine.”
Élan surveyed her surroundings, as if trying to see them from Izzy’s perspective. “It’s not hard to keep up with it on a day-to-day basis. And with all this surrounding inspiration and nothing else to distract me, I’ve managed to get a lot done.”
“Yes, Kassimeigh told me that you’re a very talented musician.”
“I do my best. Here, though, I’ve spent time honing my mana skill, which has been interesting.”
“I’ve heard that you have a unique method of using mana,” Izzy remarked casually.
An immediate spike of defensiveness came from the bard. “I had to work out something that was unique to my particular framework.”
Izzy smiled disarmingly. “Seems you’ve done a good job of it. Don’t worry. I’m not here to probe you about that. I’m not here in any official capacity. I’m mostly just keeping Kassimeigh company and enjoying some personal time.”
Élan’s shoulders eased slightly. “Personal time is good.”
“Agreed. I’m afraid I don’t take enough of it. I get wrapped up in my work.” Izzy studied the strong trees that branched overhead in a maze of limbs.
“It’s easy to lose yourself in your work, if your vocation is also your first love.”
Izzy’s eyes returned to Élan as she reflected on that prosaic statement. “I think all three of us have been members of that club.”
Kassimeigh handed a bag to Élan. “Here are some more provisions. Fresh water, soap, that sort of thing. Some of those cookies you like. I’ll also recharge your power cells before we go.”
“Thank you. You don’t have to rush off though. I don’t mind the company. In fact, I wanted to show you something I’ve been working on.”
“You’ve got my attention.”
Élan stepped back a few paces and removed a small ocarina from a cargo pocket on her pants. With a quick breath she blew a trilling, sweet melody. Izzy admired the complexity of music she managed to draw from such a simple instrument. The song enveloped Izzy like a fog, yet the notes themselves were crisp and clear. They almost became a voice, so fraught were they with a forlorn longing.
Something flitted by Izzy’s head and she stepped back. Figures, she thought. Take me out of the city and the bugs will find me and bite me to bits every time. Another zipped by and she shied back again. Terath wasn’t particularly plagued by bugs, but the biters always seemed to enjoy Izzy particularly well. Several more flitted by and she realized they were all headed the same direction. Actually, bugs from all around were emerging from nowhere and flying toward Élan.
Izzy watched a swarm of bugs gradually amass, then swirl in a sphere around Élan. None of them actually landed on her, as there seemed to be some invisible buffer around her. The little bugs were actually kind of pretty, swarmed together and flowing through the air as they were. Massed together, they had a greenish hue that was almost shiny. The tempo of Élan’s song changed slightly and the beetle bugs dispersed from the sphere, instead forming into a block in the air about Élan’s head.
After a couple minutes of this ribbon arrangement, Élan drew her song to a close. The bugs fluttered in the air, then thinned out and vanished.
“Interesting,” Kassimeigh remarked. “So you can effectively call them and hold them by creating a mana reservoir.”
Élan tucked the ocarina back into her pocket. “Yup. Seems that way. They’ll stay as long as I hold the mana.”
“I wonder why they’re so attracted to it. Have you noticed any change in the amount of atmospheric mana here?”
“I don’t think so. It’s always abundant. The bugs seem to crave mana. Or they can’t resist it. I can’t tell which. But if I create a bubble of particularly intense mana, they swarm to it.”
“That’s fascinating and a remarkable discovery. Nice control of your mana, by the way. I didn’t realize you could create a mana reservoir. That’s an advanced skill.”
“When you linked with me, I got some ideas to experiment with. Plus, I’ve had time to tinker with things I wouldn’t normally bother with.” Élan shrugged.
“Linking is an invaluable teaching tool. I learned a tremendous amount very quickly. I’d be happy to work with you, if you ever had any interest.”
“I prefer working on my own, but thank you for the offer.”
“Of course.”
Izzy sensed Élan’s ambivalence toward mana and was not surprised that the bard declined Kassimeigh’s offer. Izzy also knew that Kassimeigh was not bothered by Élan’s gentle refusal.
“Do you two have time for lunch before you go on to wherever you’re headed next?”
Izzy exchanged a glance with Kassimeigh. “Sure,” Izzy agreed. “I’d love the chance to chat with you a bit.”
They cobbled together a makeshift picnic. The impromptu nature of the meal made it no less enjoyable. Izzy quite enjoyed the peacefulness of the hinterlands, as well as their verdant loveliness. She welcomed the break from the daily noise of many people’s feelings.
“How did the Guard fare in Janis?” Élan asked before taking a bite of her sandwich. “What I’ve seen on the comm looks very positive.”
Kassimeigh reached for a canteen. “You’ve been checking the comm?”
Élan shrugged. “No, just keeping up with my friends. The bard information network is infamous. It’s hard to keep any sort of noteworthy news from us. We tend to be a bit gossipy.” She popped a bite of carrot into her mouth.
“Everything I’ve seen indicates that people were impressed with the Guard’s light approach to the situation. You may have a lot of applications for new recruits in the coming days.” Élan tipped up a stout little bottle for a long drink of water. “People are curious about you, though.” She no
dded at Kassimeigh. “The story is that you did some sort of shiv flips and disarmed a guy just by staring at him so hard he cried.”
Kassimeigh blinked. “What?”
Élan grinned. “Well, I made up the second part, but it sounds like you did some cool stuff. Be careful. You might become a celebrity.”
Kassimeigh frowned and Izzy felt her friend’s displeasure at that idea. She decided to change the subject slightly.
“Why do you suppose the bards are so ‘gossipy’ as you put it?” Izzy asked.
Élan waved a carrot stick dismissively. “Bards live for drama. Performance, emotion, release, excitement. It’s in the blood.”
“As a rule? So that describes you, as well?”
Élan hooked her thumb around her long hair and tossed it back over her shoulder. “The emotion and excitement part, yes. The gossiping, no. I listen, but I don’t add anything other than objective fact. I’ve seen too many people hurt by rumors.”
“Intriguing.” Izzy scrutinized the bard, thinking about the dynamics of a tight-knit, gossipy group.
“They probably wouldn’t appreciate any social experiments,” Kassimeigh pointed out.
“Probably not,” Izzy agreed. “But they might be willing to participate in some empirical research. Subcultures can be quite fascinating.”
“Don’t you have enough to do already?” Kassimeigh asked.
“Sure I do. At the moment. But I always collect ideas for future endeavors.”
“Something we have in common,” Élan remarked. “You wouldn’t have any trouble getting into the guild and poking around. I’ve no doubt my colleagues would love to have you as a guest.”
“Why’s that?”
“They love people in general, and they tend to thrive on attention. You should check out Blind Bob’s tavern in Sanctuary. Everything there is to know about bards, you’ll learn there.”
Izzy liked that idea. Élan’s wariness had ebbed and she seemed quite congenial. Izzy didn’t know if the bard knew about her ability to sense others’ feelings, but she was sure that if she spent much time with Élan, the woman would figure it out for herself. She was clearly both clever and outspoken. That made her even more interesting.