Adventures in the Liaden Universe Part 23

Lute, however, was unworried on this point.

"Have I not said that I have the way of it from my master and all the way back to she who first received the gift of the G.o.ddess? I am here to guide you. But it is you who must actually perform the task, or the spell will have no power."

"I will-put these things in that bag?" Veverain asked. "That is all?"

"Not quite all. Each item must receive its charge. The best technique is to pick up a single item, hold it in your hand and recall-in words or in thought-the connection between Rowan and the object. In this manner, the spell will build, piece by piece, each piece interlocked with and informed by the others."

Which was as apt a description of spell structure as she had ever heard, thought Moonhawk. But Veverain had no glimmer of Witch-sense about her and the tiny flickerings of talent she sometimes caught from Lute were not nearly sufficient to build and bind the spell he described.

Even if such a spell were possible.

At the table, Veverain glanced down among her choices, and put forth a hand. Moonhawk leaned forward, witch-sense questing, s.h.i.+vering as she encountered the raging gray torrent of Veverain's grief.

Veverain's hand descended, taking up the bright lock of hair.

"This is Rowan's hair," she said tentatively, and Moonhawk felt-something-stir against her witch-sense. "When we had kept household less than a year, he was chosen by the Master of the Vine to work a season at Veyru, in exchange of which we received a vineman of Veyru. The Master of the Vine came with a delegation and pet.i.tioned my permission for Rowan-as if I would have denied him such an opportunity! We had been together so short a time, and Veyru is no small journey-I joked that I would not recognize him when he returned. In answer, he cut off this curl and told me that I should always know him, by the flame that lived in his hair."

Carefully, she put the lock into the small leather bag. Lute said nothing, sitting still as a statue of himself.

Veverain chose the gray and green rock.

"When Rowan left home for that season in Veyru he bore with him this stone from our land, so that,wherever he was, he would always be home."

The stone joined the lock of hair in the bag and there was definitely something a-building now.

Moonhawk could see two thick lines of flame, intersecting at a right angle, hanging just above Veverain's head. She held her breath, staring, and Veverain picked up the sc.r.a.p of paper.

"The winter after Rowan returned from Veyru was a bitter one. We spent the days in the window, a book between us, while I taught him his letters. He learned to read-and write!-quickly, nor, once he had the skills, did he rest. He read every book in the village, and came back from the vineyards one evening to tell me that he had determined to write a book on the lore of the vine, so that the young vinemen would have a constant teacher and the old a check to their memories. He wrote that book, and others, and kept his journals. More, he pa.s.sed his skills to other men of the village, who have taught their sons, so Karn need not forget the cure for a vine blight encountered in my mother's time." She hesitated, fingers caressing the sc.r.a.p.

"This paper bears his signature-the very first time he signed his name."

Lingeringly, the sc.r.a.p of paper went into the bag and Moonhawk very nearly gasped. The third interlock was a bar of flame as thick as her arm, burning a pure, luminous white.

Carefully, Veverain picked up the sc.r.a.p of wood.

"This is a piece from our vines on the hill. Rowan loved the vines, the grapes, the wine."

A fourth bar of fire joined the first three, blazing. Stretching her Witch-sense, Moonhawk found the other woman's grief significantly calmer, less gray, melting, like heavy fog, in the brightness of the spell she built.

For the last time, Veverain reached to the table, and picked up the scarred silver band.

"This is Rowan's promise-ring," she said, so quietly Moonhawk had to strain to hear. "He wore it every day for twenty-five years. If anything on this earth will remember Rowan, this will."

The fifth bar of fire was so bright, Moonhawk's Witch-sense s.h.i.+ed from it, dazzled. So, the thing was built, and a powerful spell it was, too. But it wanted binding and it wanted binding now, before the heat of it caught the timbers of the house.

At the table, Lute moved. His right hand rose, the fingers flickered, and there between finger and thumb was the twig he had broken from the herb bundle.

"Rosemary, Queen of Memory," he intoned, solemn as a prayer, "keep Rowan close." He placed the sprig in the bag. Reaching out, he took up the rawhide cord on which Veverain had worn Rowan's ring, and began to tie the spell-bag shut.

"In love, memory; in life, love." His hands moved more complexly now, creating two elaborate knots, and half of a third. Sternly, he looked at the woman across from him.

"Once this bag is sealed with the third knot, the spell is made. Once made, it cannot be unmade." He extended the bag, the final knot incomplete, the spell burning, dangerously bright, above the woman's head.

Veverain took the cord in her two hands, and with infinite care made the final knot complete.

"Sealed with my heart, that I never forget," she said, and pulled the cord tight.Above her head, invisible to all but the staring Witch, the flaming bars wheeled, blurred and vanished, leaving behind, for those who could hear such things, the definitive snap of a spell st.u.r.dy-built and bound.

"Stand," Lute said, doing so himself. Veverain rose and he set the bag on its rawhide cord about her neck. "Wear it. And never forget."

From the floor, a flash of white-and-black ascended, landing light-footed on the table. Tween the cat b.u.mped against the housemother's arm, tail held joyously aloft. Veverain smiled.

"HAVE YOU MASTERED the counter yet?" the magician asked his apprentice as they walked toward the high village in the morning. Behind them, their hostess was already engaged with broom and dust rag, the windows flung open to receive the day.

"You know I haven't!" his apprentice retorted, hotly. "If you must know, Master Lute, I don't think you ever made that counter disappear in the first place-you merely entranced me into believing you had done so!"

"Ah, very good!" Lute said unexpectedly. "You have learned a basic truth of our trade: People make their own magic."

Moonhawk faltered, thinking of what had gone forth last night. "Master Lute, the spell you made last night for Veverain..."

"An ill.u.s.trative case," he said, refusing to meet her eyes.

"No," she said, and put a hand on his arm, stopping him. Determined, she waited until he met her eyes, though she did not compel him do so-indeed, she was not certain that she could compel him to do so, Witch though she was.

The black eyes were on hers.

"I wanted you to know-the spell you made for Veverain was true. I saw it building; I saw its binding."

She took a breath. "It was well done, Master Lute."

"So." He sighed, then shrugged. "But that does not change the original premise-people do make their own magic, just as many see only what they wish to see. Now, about the disappearing counter...." He flipped his cloak behind his shoulders and showed her his hands.

"If you wish to make counters appear and disappear, you would do well to supply yourself with several of the same color and hide them about your person. I, for instance, keep several green counters behind my belt-" A flourish, in the grand style, and there they were-four green counters held between the fingers of his left hand.

"Your belt!" protested Moonhawk. "You never-"

"I also," Lute interrupted, implacable, "keep several behind my collar." Another grand flourish and there were four more-yellow this time-between the fingers of his right hand.

"Master Lute-"

"And when you are done with them, why, it's a simple thing to put them away." A shake of both hands and the counters were gone.Moonhawk drew a deep breath.

"Of course," said Lute, "it is often wise to keep a counter or two elsewhere than upon one's person.

Like the one I store behind your ear."

"Behind my ear!" she cried, but there was Lute's hand, brus.h.i.+ng past her cheek, and then reappearing, triumphantly displaying a red counter.

Moonhawk sighed.

"Master Lute?"

"Yes, Lady Moonhawk?"

"You're a dreadful master."

"And you," Lute said, turning toward the village, "are an impertinent apprentice. It is a good thing, don't you think, that we are so very well matched?"

Certain Symmetry

THE MORNING OF the sixth and final day of Little Festival dawned in pastel perfection, promising another pellucid day of pleasure for festival-goers.

Pat Rin yos'Phelium, Clan Korval, a faithful five-day attendee, had failed through press of pleasure to greet the dawn from the near side-and likewise failed of observing it from the far side, as he was most soundly asleep, and remained so for some hours beyond.

When he did rise and betake himself to his study, he found the day's letters and packets piled neatly to hand, the screen displaying his preferred news service, and a pot of tea gently steaming next to a porcelain cup.

Pat Rin poured for himself and settled into his chair, rapidly scanning the news summary.

The results of yesterday's skimmer races at Little Festival were, inevitably, top news. It could not be otherwise, with both the thodelm of yos'Galan and the nadelm of Korval entire in partic.i.p.ation.

Pat Rin sighed, gently, and sipped his tea. One's mother was annoyed, however courteously she had accepted one's cousin's instruction in the matter. He sipped again, savoring the blend, and allowed his gaze to wander from the screen for a moment.

One's cousin had proven ... unantic.i.p.ated. One encountered an edge-and a precision of cut-which had not been noted before cousin Val Con's departure for the Scouts. It might be that scout training had produced this surprising alteration in the una.s.suming-even shy-halfling Pat Rin recalled. Or, as one's mother contended, it might simply be that Val Con was coming into his own, that genes would tell, and by the G.o.ds it had seemed for a long and telling moment as if her brother Daav himself had stood before her.

Well.

Pat Rin had some more tea, and set the cup aside. He would need to acquaint himself with this new iteration of Val Con. No doubt this skimmer race victory would bring to him any number of gentle inquiries as to the ... availability ... of the nadelm. He made a note to speak-unofficially, of course!-to cousin Nova regarding Val Con's current standing with regard to the marriage mart. In the meanwhile, hisown business beckoned.

He brought his attention once more to the news screen, noted that several of his more minor investments were performing with gratifying efficiency; read with bored interest the listing of contract-marriages negotiated and consummated; learned of a brawl in mid-Port between the crews of a Terran freighter and a Liaden tug; scanned the list of performances, contests and displays scheduled for this, the last day of Festival, and-blinked.

Fal Den ter'Antod Clan Imtal had died.

Pat Rin called for more information and quickly learned that Fal Den's kin had published a suicide to the council of clans and had declined, as was their right, to provide particulars. Business partners and allies of Clan Imtal were advised that the Clan was in full mourning; that the viewing box and pleasure tents held by Imtal would be closed for the remainder of the season, and that those who had been engaged in Balancing accounts with Fal Den should soon find themselves satisfied.

Pat Rin closed his eyes.

He could not name himself a close friend of Fal Den ter'Antod, but he had certainly known the man, and had placed a certain value upon him. Neither a great beauty nor a great intellect, Fal Den possessed charm and an engaging forthrightness of manner that made him an agreeable and even welcome companion. His faults included a belief in the forthrightness of others and a rather thin skin, yet despite these he capably managed both an impeccable melant'i and the not-inconsiderable interests of his family on the Port. To believe that Fal Den was dead, and by his own hand...

Pat Rin opened his eyes, reached out and touched the discreet pearly b.u.t.ton set into his desk.

Fal Den dead. He had seen him only three days past, on the arm of Hia Cyn yo'Tonin, which was deplorable of course, and had Fal Den been the sibling Pat Rin did not possess, he would have been moved to whisper a word in his ear...

The door to his office slid open and the excellent pel'Tolian, his general man, stepped within and bowed.

"Good day, Lord Pat Rin."

"Alas, I must disagree," Pat Rin returned. "I find it thus far a singularly distressing day."

"Perhaps matters will improve, as the hours move on," Mr. pel'Tolian suggested.

"Perhaps they will. Certainly, it is possible. In the meantime, however, I must request you to procure a mourning basket and have it delivered to the House of Imtal. I will write the card myself."

"Very good, sir." The man bowed. "Shall you wish to partake of a meal?"

"A light nuncheon. And a gla.s.s of the jade."

"Very good, sir," Mr. pel'Tolian said again and went away, the door sliding silently shut behind him.

Pat Rin sat with his eyes closed for perhaps the count of twelve, then turned to deal with his mail.

There were four letters and two packets. Two letters were solicitations of funding for ventures so wonderfully risky that to describe them as "speculative" was to overreach the facts by several magnitudes of wishful thinking. Such letters originated with the same sort of person who thought it ... fitting ... to invite him-as multi-season champion at pistol and short arms at Teydor's-to join hunting parties on distantoutworlds where he might slog through underbrush for days and fire mini-cannons at blameless creatures while enjoying the company of those to whom nothing was more pleasurable.... He dropped both solicitations into the recycler.

Next was an invitation from Eyan yo'Lanna to make one of her house party, proposed for the middle of next relumma. That was good-sufficient time to have the tailor produce something new and appropriate, perhaps involving the yo'Lanna colors. The sudden fas.h.i.+on of declaring a party within hours or even minutes-the "express" mode, as it was called-made it difficult for one to plan ahead even as it made judging the party's ... desirability ... all but impossible.

Eyan's parties, however, were often amusing, correct without being stifling, and always informative. Pat Rin reached into the right hand drawer of the desk, pulled out a stiff ivory card with Korval's Tree-and-Dragon embossed on the front, opened it and wrote the appropriate graceful acceptance. He slid the card into an envelope, penned the direction with his own hand, affixed one of Korval's postage coupons, and placed it in the carved wooden tray that served as his outbox.

The fourth letter was from his foster father, Luken bel'Tarda, begging the pleasure of his company that evening for a private dinner at Ongit's.

Pat Rin smiled. The invitation to Ongit's was a joke, by which Luken meant to convey that Pat Rin was arrears in visits. In which complaint, he thought, glancing at the calendar, Luken was entirely justified.

He pulled out a sheet of paper bearing only his name, wrote that he would be pleased to dine with his foster father this very evening and begged his pardon for being a light-minded flutter-about-town. He signed himself "Your affectionate son," sealed, directed, stamped, and placed the completed billet in the wooden tray.

The door of his study opened to admit Mr. pel'Tolian, bearing the requested light nuncheon and gla.s.s.

This, he disposed upon the small table to Pat Rin's left, then picked up the completed mail and, cat-footed, departed.

Pat Rin turned his attention to the first of the two packets. The postage was Aragon's. He had shared several delightful and adventurous Festival hours with a daughter of the House only yesterday. As the adventure had been at the lady's initiative, Pat Rin a.s.sumed the packet to contain a Fairing-a gift of grat.i.tude. He broke the seal, unfolded the box, shook out the silken garment enclosed-and very nearly groaned.

He had expected Shan and Val Con's escapade to result in a rash of monstrosities aping Val Con's innovative cloak, the so-called "skimmer" he'd used to such astonis.h.i.+ng effect in yesterday's races. He had simply not expected the fas.h.i.+on to have taken so quickly.

Aragon's third daughter had sent him a skimmer-blue, where Val Con's original had been warning light orange-which modification was not, Pat Rin thought, as pleasing as one must have a.s.suredly a.s.sumed that it would be. The name of the tailor was impeccable-in fact, his mother's own tailor-and the material flawless. Nor did it seem at all unlikely that the silk had been chosen to precisely match the color of his earring, of which the lady had been most fond. Ah, youth.

He sighed and folded the wretched thing onto his keyboard, and turned back to the opened box. There was no note, which was proper, and told him that Aragon's daughter had breeding, if not taste.

He picked up the second packet, frowned at Imtal's postal mark, broke the seal, and for the second fine in a hour found himself at Point Non Plus.For the packet contained a leather book no larger than Pat Rin's hand, stamped with the sigil of Clan Imtal. Foreknowing, he opened the volume to the first page and verified that what he held was indeed Fal Den ter'Antod's personal debt-book.

There was no note, as of course there would not be, the Code being explicit upon this point. By the act of sending this book, Fal Den had chosen the executor of his will. He, Pat Rin yos'Phelium, was to tend all accounts left unBalanced at the time of Fal Den's death, paying justly where the fault had been Fal Den's; collecting fully where the debt was owed. No light task, this, nor deniable.

And he had precisely thirty-six hours in which to complete it, a.s.suming that all debts were on-planet, which seemed likely.

He did not read past the first page. Not yet. With the patience of a true gambler he closed the book and settled back into his chair.