by Sharon Green
“You may remember the trouble I had with that tiresome girl Eldra,” the woman continued, moving most of her attention back to Jovvi. “After you left I informed her that it was time she joined the staff of the residence more fully and began to repay some of the gold I’ve spent on her, and the silly chit disappeared. At first I though she would be hiding in or around the residence, but finally came to the conclusion that she’d decided to make her way to you. If you’ll tell me where she is, I’ll put her under my protection again.”
“I have no idea where she is, because I haven’t seen her,” Jovvi replied with a frown, now looking concerned. “But how would Eldra have gotten here? She hasn’t any silver or gold, so she’d have to travel on foot. A trip like that would take forever, with no means to get food or shelter along the way. Are you certain she’s trying to reach Gan Garee?”
“I’m certain she’s trying to reach you,” the woman answered, her smile as sleek as her manner and words. “I have no idea how she’ll accomplish it, but I have every faith that she will. With that in view, I think it would be best if you gathered your things now and prepared to return with me. These people here in Gan Garee are easily bribable, which means I don’t expect to have any trouble in getting them to release you. And until I find the proper people to approach, I’ll just stay here in this house.”
“Guess again,” I said, the words popping out when I felt the surge of panic in Jovvi. It wasn’t unusual for me to be afraid, but there was something … criminal in doing the same to her.
“I beg your pardon?” the woman said to me, her pleasantness having turned the least bit hardened and calculating. “You weren’t addressing me, I’m sure … But we really must get to know one another, dear. You and my darling Jovvi seem to have grown close, so it shouldn’t be difficult to convince you to come with us and visit Rincammon. I’m certain you’ll love it, so much so that you’ll most likely decide to remain permanently. You’ll—”
“That’s enough,” I interrupted, now closer to outrage than I’d been in quite a while. “You and my parents must have been born under the same rock, and you make me just as sick as they do. To begin with, this is an official residence of the testing authority, so deciding to move in won’t do you the least good. In the second place, your search for someone to bribe will be a long one, since both Jovvi and I have just qualified for the competitions for High practitioners. In the third place, I have no intentions at all of getting to know you, nor do I intend to let you take me over and own me. With all that in view, you can leave now.”
“Throwing temper tantrums isn’t at all becoming in a beautiful young lady,” the woman said, the look in her eyes hard above a brittle and uncompromising smile. “You’ll certainly learn better once you’ve been with me for a while, just as Jovvi and the others have. I’ve no idea what this – qualifying—is, but it undoubtedly means nothing at all. And with that in view, you may now find rooms for me and my … associates. We’ve had a long and exhausting trip, and their tempers are unfortunately a lot shorter than they should be.”
Her words and the spitefulness added to her smile seemed to be a signal for the two big men. They began to step toward us, an inhumanly uncaring expression in the eyes of each. My heart had been pounding a little and my hands trembling from the speech I’d made, but seeing those two men start for us sent a flash of terror through me. Rion’s presence meant nothing to them, and it was clear that they would hurt him badly if he tried to interfere with whatever they meant to do. Which could well be the hurting of Jovvi and me…
And that was when something … clicked inside my head. It was a very small happening, not even really a sound, more like a change of direction of sorts. I’d sworn not to let myself be hurt again, but even more I couldn’t bear the thought of letting my friends be hurt along with me. I’d never had friends before, I’d never been allowed to have them. Now that I’d gotten past the restriction, I’d never go back to the old way again.
So instead of retreating from the men who had just begun to advance on us, I borrowed part of the qualifying process I’d just gone through and called five wide strands of fire into being between us. The heat of it made the men stop short and then flinch back, and the woman seated like nobility went pale.
“Even common footpads know better than to try their tricks with a stranger,” I said, feeling oddly remote as I made certain that my fire burned nothing in the room. That was actually harder than weaving with the flames, a distant fact that flickered through my awareness and then was gone. “I can see you’re not as bright as common footpads, so let this be a lesson to you. And in case you were wondering, this is what that qualifying nonsense is all about. Now get out.”
“You … you can’t—use—that … that … obscenity against us,” the woman tried in a trembling voice once I’d let the flames die, her eyes certainly wider than she would have liked. “It happens to be against the law, which I’m sure you know. If I report this incident you’ll be sent to the Deep Caverns, so—”
“Really, Allestine, I considered you much more worldly than that,” Jovvi interrupted as ice began to form in my blood. The Deep Caverns…! “I was told that the laws don’t apply to those of us who have qualified to compete as High practitioners, something that should be perfectly clear to a practical woman like you. We’re of more potential value than people who have barged in where they don’t belong, so if anyone is charged it won’t be us. And now I think you’d better take Tamrissa’s advice and go.”
The woman was furious as well as frightened, but she did seem to understand that she had no choice. She gathered herself together and then stood, glared at us for a moment, then began to lead her ruffians out of the room. I was delighted that the trouble seemed to be over—until the two ruffians reached me. One grabbed my arms while the other folded a fist with the clear intention of hitting me, and terror froze me where I stood. They were going to knock me unconscious to keep me from using my talent against them, and they were about to succeed-—when they both choked at once, then began to claw at their throats. As soon as I was free I rushed over to where Jovvi and Rion stood, for the first time noticing the terrible expression Rion wore.
“Men who attack women aren’t men at all,” he said, looking at Allestine, who had gone white again. Her ruffians continued to claw at their throats and began to turn very red, no more than grunts coming from them. “And women who tell men like that to attack are even worse, lower than the lowliest peasant. If anything like this ever happens again, you’ll join them in searching fruitlessly for enough air to fill your lungs. Do you understand me?”
The woman nodded jerkily, her eyes wide again as she tried not to watch her ruffians suffocating, and then Rion stopped whatever he was doing and let them have air to breathe again. They were both down on hands and knees by then, and as soon as air was available they began to drag it in in great gasps. But they only took an instant to do that before beginning to struggle to their feet. Their expressions said they would leave the house now even if they had to crawl, and their employer apparently felt the same way. As soon as they were erect she headed for the front door, which Warla already held open for them, and a moment later they were gone.
“Oh, you two were wonderful!” Jovvi exclaimed, looking back and forth between Rion and me. “Allestine is the most poisonous woman I’ve ever met, especially when she uses those two conscienceless curs to get her way. This is probably the first time in years that she hasn’t gotten exactly what she wanted.”
“I apologize for simply standing here and watching until it was almost too late,” Rion said, finally allowing that terrible expression to disappear. “It never occurred to me that those two animals would dare to try to harm a lady. When it became obvious they meant to do no other thing, my outrage seemed to grow a life of its own—along with a purpose. I’ve never heard of anyone doing something like that before, but I’d judge it to have been rather effective.”
“It certainly was,” Jovvi said with a la
ugh, giving him a hug before turning to me. “And so was what Tamrissa said and did. What you told Allestine infuriated her, Tamma, something I could see even if you couldn’t. I noticed her deciding she wanted you in the residence as soon as she saw you, and no girl she’s ever decided on has managed to refuse her successfully. You were marvelous to come to our rescue like that, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.”
“Even though I was terrified almost the entire time?” I asked as she hugged me, not quite up to pretending otherwise. “I’m actually very much of a coward, Jovvi, and there’s nothing in that for anyone to be proud of.”
“Why have you suddenly forgotten the truth?” Jovvi asked, stepping back to study me while Rion made a sound of polite ridicule. “Isn’t it true that in order for bravery to exist, there has to be fear when you act? Without fear there’s nothing to be brave about, nothing to make the act different from any other. Cowardice is when you let the fear get the better of you to the point of keeping you from acting, so how can you be guilty of it? You did what was necessary, and proved your bravery in no uncertain terms.”
“Something which many ladies would have found beyond them,” Rion said, sober and obviously sincere. “There are any number in Mother’s circle who would have allowed themselves to be imposed upon even without two animals threatening them, simply because they see themselves as helpless. I’ve begun to learn that one is helpless only if one believes it so, and you and Jovvi, my dear, happily see it otherwise. The two of you are so marvelous, in fact, that should either of you wish someone to lie with tonight and give you pleasure, the honor would most definitely be mine.”
I could feel my cheeks warming behind my smile as I shook my head, a curious sense of regret behind the refusal. Most men wanted me simply because of what I looked like, but here was one who claimed to admire my bravery instead. Despite what they’d said I knew it was more stubbornness than bravery, but it still felt strangely good to be wanted for the facet of my character that my parents most deplored.
“Oh, Rion, you’ve become quite dangerous to ladies in a very short time,” Jovvi exclaimed with a laugh, obviously teasing. “I actually find myself tempted to accept your offer, which would not have been the case only a few days ago. You should be congratulated on learning far more quickly than most other men.”
“Breeding always tells, of course,” Rion responded with that very handsome grin, then he offered his arm. “If I may escort you into lunch, we can continue our discussion on the way. For instance, just how attractive do you find me, and what may I do to increase the allure to a point where you’ll no longer be able to resist?”
Jovvi shook her head at him with mock impatience, but still took his arm with an amused smile. They left the sitting room still exchanging comments which made them both laugh, and I watched for a moment with my own smile before beginning to follow. Jovvi’s ease in handling herself with men was something I really admired, and maybe one day I’d also be able to—
“Hello,” Vallant Ro said as he just about materialized in front of me. “I’m glad to see you’re back early. I hope that means you’re through with qualifyin’.”
“Yes, all three of us are,” I agreed, gesturing toward Rion and Jovvi, who were continuing on toward the dining room. “We got back a little while ago, and—But you’re back as well. Does that mean you’ve also qualified?”
“Yep,” he answered with a grin, actually looking proud. “Holter and I were first back, and both of us qualified at just about the same time. I don’t know about him, but I owe my success to you. If you hadn’t given me a good talkin’ to, I probably never would have seen what I was doin’ wrong.”
“Were you doing something wrong?” I asked, feeling my cheeks heat again as I looked away from his very handsome smile. He smelled so good, as if he’d only just come back from the bath house, and the nearness of his big, hard body brought waves of warmth very much like my flames.
“What I was doin’ wrong was believin’ I could ever go back to my life the way it was,” he replied, the words sad but not depressed and miserable. “It was the stubborn dream of a boy desperately lonely for the haven of his home and family, not the realization of a man that the time had come to make his own way in the world. But I understand that now, and wanted to thank you for helpin’ me see it right. Most women just wouldn’t have bothered.”
He took my hand then and raised it to his lips, but his light, compelling gaze never left my face. I both saw and felt the slow, deliberate kiss reach my hand, and a shiver raced through me. But not a shiver of fear, at least not entirely.
“I … really did nothing at all,” I managed to get out, both wanting and not wanting to pull my hand back. “You were the one who—accomplished it all, and – and—so all congratulations should be yours.”
“I would much prefer to share them with you,” he murmured after finally ending that kiss. “But only if you don’t mind. You’re much too marvelous to be made to do anythin’ you don’t care to, especially now that your protector is goin’ to be around for good. What kind of protector would I be, if I was the one you needed protectin’ from?”
His grin made me laugh, bringing back my previous good mood with a rush. He was going to be here, just like the rest of us, and now wanted to be here as well. I hadn’t thought it would happen, hadn’t even hoped because hope never works, but now…
“May I have the honor of escortin’ you in to lunch?” he asked, offering his arm the way Rion had with Jovvi. “I’m starvin’ and you’re probably the same, but maybe later we can walk in the garden. It would be a real nice place to share thanks and congratulations.”
“Yes, I’d like that,” I said, hesitating only a heartbeat before taking his arm and joining him in walking toward the dining room. The beauty of the garden was usually ruined for me by awful memories, so perhaps it was time to reclaim !t with some pleasant ones. That word, pleasant, so close to its other form, pleasure. Everyone said that was what was supposed to come from a man and a woman being together, not pain but pleasure. For the first time I found myself believing it might be true and real, as true and real as the strong, solid arm my hand rested on.
Maybe … later … I’d find out…
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Jovvi enjoyed Rion’s attentiveness during lunch, but she couldn’t help noticing that Lorand hadn’t gotten back yet. Vallant Ro sat in his place next to Tamrissa, speaking to her in a low voice that occasionally rose a bit in shared laughter. Tamma’s cheeks seemed to have turned a permanent pink, but she obviously enjoyed the attention Vallant paid her. Jovvi was happy for her, but—
But Lorand’s absence was becoming more upsetting. Pagin Holter sat to Jovvi’s left, polite but so tightly withdrawn that she couldn’t even consider trying to reach through to him. He had no intentions of sharing his disturbance with anyone at all, and he ate quickly before leaving with no more than a nod. Rion, on the other hand, was in a light and expansive mood, reveling in the memory of having come to the rescue of two women. His offer to her had been sincere and interesting as well as flattering, but not difficult to deflect. Rion was definitely becoming a very charming man, but he still lacked the experience to make refusing him difficult.
And none of that was able to distract her from the fact of Lorand’s continued absence. Was he having trouble qualifying for the competitions? Well, that was a silly thought; of course he was having trouble. Jovvi helped herself to a cherry tart and took a bite of it, but couldn’t keep her mind from asking the much more pointed question she’d been trying to avoid: he was certainly having trouble, but would he be able to overcome it?
The answer to that lay out of reach, invisible along the path of the unsolidified future. Jovvi finished the tart and then her tea, spoke lightly to Rion for another minute or two, then excused herself. She needed to be alone for a while to balance the worry that threatened to ruin her entire equilibrium. And it was so silly! It wasn’t as if she and Lorand were going to build a life together or
anything. So why did the worry over him even distract her from the near disaster of Allestine’s visit?
Jovvi didn’t know, but as she climbed the stairs to her room she thought again of how close she’d come to being right back under Allestine’s hand. And with Tamrissa to keep her company! She wouldn’t have minded having Tamma in her own residence here in Gan Garee, but wouldn’t have wished even Beldara Lant the burden of having to work for Allestine. As long as you were obedient and popular with the clients, Allestine was all sweetness and smiles. But just try to balk her on something…
As Jovvi entered her room, she wondered if Eldra really had run away from the residence. She wouldn’t put it past Allestine to use the story as an excuse to let her come to Gan Garee herself, most especially if she’d noticed that Jovvi had taken most of her favorite outfits. That was probably the stupidest thing she’d done, but there was no helping it now. Allestine was here and would be back, just as soon as she got over her fright, but—
But where was Lorand? Jovvi discovered that she now stood with her hand on the door after closing it behind her, only two steps into the room. Obviously she was very badly in need of restoring her balance and equilibrium, when she wasn’t even sitting down to worry. She had to find a comfortable place quickly and do what was necessary, so she started for the bed—and nearly tripped over something invisible halfway there! Running into whatever-it-was hadn’t been painful, but it had almost sent her sprawling. Jovvi spent a moment trying to see what it was, then gave up using her eyes and instead used her hands. Bending down and groping found her the invisible obstruction, and she ran her fingers over it.