by Mari LaRoche
“What will you ask?” Even fearing dissolution, the words burst out of Vivian.
“A service. Dangerous, but well within the capability of the payer. Don’t worry, I don’t kill friends, especially ones who give me delicious problems to solve.” Amusement lit those vivid eyes.
Ušum rose. Her skirt ruffled in the continuing breeze. “So, you separated us again…we had almost fused. My personality was more dominant just through sheer force of age. I wasn’t looking forward to Amir mooning around me, wishing I were Vivian. How long can you keep us apart?”
“It’s a drain, but I wanted to hear what you both wanted from your own lips.” Alonzo shrugged. “I don’t like dealing with souls without their full consent. That way lies demons and necromancy and black robes and skulls.”
“I want a body that isn’t hers. I want to live, not at the cost of the woman I’ve watched over since infancy.” Ušum’s crisp words split the air.
"And you, Vivian?" His voice was kind.
"I want to live, too." Vivian stared at him. "Is there anything you can do to help us?"
"I think so. Be aware, both of you, that separating you will greatly deplete the personal power of you both. It will be split between you.”
"I want to live." Ušum raised her brow, pride in every line of her face. "Experience trumps simple aptitude. I’ll be fine. Split the power more toward her."
Vivian opened her mouth to protest, thought of the people hunting her as seer, and sighed. "Yes." She looked at her hands. They’d grown more opaque, but Ušum still seemed solid as their surroundings.
"What will you do if it's not the dragon’s body that you remember?" Alonzo’s gaze remained on Ušum.
"Be happy for new experiences." Ušum’s response was tart. "I don't want to steal her life. But I do want to have my own."
Amir hadn't stopped calling. The steady determination and hope made Viv's heart hurt. "Why is he calling me?"
“I asked him to; you were too faded, but the calls and your response to them gave me a point to start separating you two.” He put his hands in his back pockets and surveyed the garden. “Have you ever heard of the story of Blodeuwedd?"
Ušum snorted, the replied with her impatience clear in her voice. "No."
Vivian looked up at him. "A woman made of flowers, for a man who could sleep with no woman born. She was flighty, unfaithful, left him and I think she was cursed with owl eyes. Or turned into an owl."
"The advantages of an education. Yes, that's who I was talking about. I can do something like that for you.” He nodded at Ušum. “The treachery and bloodthirstiness associated with the form should work for you."
"I'll take it. Beggars can't be choosers.” She smiled back at him, showing her teeth. “And I own what I am, mage. You should take a little more care in your words. We only have this little bit of time—I don’t think your power can hold us apart for long."
"True. What is your name?"
Ušum flinched. "Given freely to you?”
“Of course.” His tone was gentle.
Viv watched as Ušum swallowed in the first uncertainly she’d seen in the woman. “Ušumgallu Telal Hebat. Conjure with it and I’ll eat you."
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Alonzo turned his attention to Vivian. "What is your name?"
The words sounded ritualistic.
Viv understood the uncertainty now, with his eyes focused on her, as if he could see everything she wanted to hide. But it was the only way to proceed. "Vivian Rivera."
“Then we begin.”
He reached down and pulled up a handful of violets, their purple and white vivid in his palm. Their scent drifted over her, poignant and sweet. Carefully, he deposited them on the stone next to Ušum.
"Do you want help?" Vivian walked to his side.
He shot her kindly glance and handed her a basket. He hadn’t had it before, but it gleamed in his hand, a rich golden brown, woven of honey colored wood. "Yes, actually. Choose things that remind you of her."
Ušum shifted position.
Alonso shook his head. “It won’t work if you choose, since you’re the subject of the spell. Possess yourself in patience.”
She made a rude gesture at him, and he laughed.
He began to gather plants and flowers from the areas close by the stone. Viv took the hint and headed for the farther reaches of the garden. As she walked, images of plants flickered in her head, and she closed her eyes for a moment, sorting them one by one.
With purpose, Viv decided what she would gather. Elder because it loved Ušum. Alder for protection from enemies and to open the door to other realms. Rosemary to strengthen and connect to memory as she called. Saffron, somehow related to storms—if the crocus grew here. Others as she saw them—if they struck her as appropriate.
Vivian moved all the way to the wall and inhaled as she snapped off alder twigs. Long, slow breathing to calm. This wasn’t a bad place to haunt if she ended up a ghost, since she couldn’t quite believe he could do it.
Gathering occupied mind and body while she processed fear. She was used to fear, she’d lived with it most of her life. The scents on the breeze here, so different but so like the island that she’d been on at Godhome. This air had different undernotes, the acrid tang of exhaust and other scents that Godhome lacked. It made it feel real, even if this was only a vision.
Roses grew next to the alder, the simple wild roses, white and red. Amir liked wild roses as well. She picked several blossoms, careful to retain thorns. She would need them.
She added the alder twigs and the rosemary to the basket, and they bobbed, leaving a fresh scent in the air.
She rubbed some of the chamomile in her hands to add its green pretty odor. She promised this perfect moment, here in this garden, that she’d plant an entire bed of chamomile if she got home. The gentle scent brought to her mind the elder tree’s price—blood. The plant most connected death and change, unspoken currents of communication in the air as she approached demanded payment for its substance, unlike the other plants. She hoped she had some blood currently.
Viv approached the largest elder and touched its trunk with gentle fingers. The bark was wrinkled and rough. She pressed a thorn against her arm until the blood broke free, swiped it on her fingers, and laid the offering on the bark. It wanted the blood, and she wanted to retain the connection to Ušum. A woman’s blood to help make a woman’s body.
The elder bush blazed with silver fire. The sharp odor of ozone flooded the air as a branch in flower cracked loose and fell into her hands.
“Thank you,” she whispered. Then she smiled and headed for the brambles. Berries and more thorns struck her as suitable.
Turning to head back, Viv could see Ušum standing, tapping her foot, and watching her and then the man. She looked ready to fly apart with the strain of not doing anything. On the way back, Viv paused among a drift of crocuses, finding the saffron she’d hoped for, and added that to the pile in her basket.
The mound of flowers and plant matter was roughly the size of a person after Viv added her gleanings.
Positioned on the opposite side of the pile from Ušum, Alonzo raised his hands and closed his eyes.
The hairs on Vivian’s arms stood up as a vast current of power thundered around her, rising from every inch of ground in the garden. She exchanged a startled glance with Ušum.
“This is your sanctum?” Surprise colored Ušum’s words. “How old are you, human?”
He didn’t answer, but a dry smile curved his mouth.
The power swirled around the pile of flowers and branches and the vegetation sparkled, growing as transparent as Vivian. It shifted and changed, a body growing and evolving within the sparkles. A woman, naked, her smooth brown skin without flaw, her hair the color of elder blooms, white and flowing down her back past her hips. A sweet, open face, like the imagination of what flowers would look like if they were a woman.
Tall and slender, like a lily, the body bore little similarity to Uš
um. A hint of the cheekbones, but Ušum had nothing of the softness to her that the flower maiden had in abundance.
"You need to freely accept the body." Alonzo’s voice was tense with effort.
Ušum rose, went to Vivian, and hugged her. "Here goes nothing."
She walked to Alonzo’s side and kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Even if she’s got no character in face or form."
Then she turned to the body and placed her hands on the unmoving chest. She towered over the woman, more than a head taller.
Under the further cascade of power that poured out of Alonzo, Ušum thinned and became translucent. He breathed like a runner, hands trembling. Beads of sweat stood on his face as he furrowed his brow. Strain was written all over his flushed face.
Vivian walked to his side and put her hand on his shoulder. Power siphoned out of her in a gush, and in a moment, Ušum had faded to nothingness.
The body took a breath, the skin flushing with warmth. The red lips parted in a sigh, eyes moving under the lids.
“Yes!” Fate’s voice came from the side. She stood by the wall, half concealed by the trees, smiling broad and bright. She set Bast on the ground. The Siamese bounded to Vivian’s feet, condescending to rub her head against Viv’s ankles.
Stunned, Viv swallowed and picked Bast up. Her hands and body had returned from translucent to firm. She turned to the mage, closing her mouth with a snap.
The old man winked at her; his face still strained. "Time to wake up."
22
Dizziness engulfed Vivian when Alonzo blinked out of sight, the world wobbling as she sat down hard. The lush garden blurred. Her eyes hurt, dry and scratchy as if she hadn’t blinked in a long time. She lowered her lids in an effort to clear them and stop the ground tilting.
The whirl intensified, giddy shades painting the backs of her eyelids, and she fought nausea. As she drew a deep breath, a weight materialized on her chest, warm and about the size of Bast. The sickening sensation of motion stopped, and she opened her eyes.
The cabin’s interior met her gaze. Her hands were held in a tight grip by Amir, who knelt next to where she lay on the floor. Bast did indeed lie on her chest. She turned her head and saw Amir’s golden eyes.
"Vivian?" His voice held a world of aching hope.
"Yes," she sighed. Speaking was unexpectedly difficult. Her throat was dry, and the words came out as a husky whisper.
Bast made her escape as his arms tightened around her, lifting and crushing her to him. His lips caressed her brow. "I thought I'd lost you. I'm so glad he was able to find you."
“I love you.” The words were unexpectedly easy, and she felt lighter for them.
His lips met hers in a long kiss, full of unspoken promises.
"Sentiment. Thick and gooey." Nia's remark floated in the air, probably trailing a banner of sarcasm.
Vivian pulled back and turned her head in that direction.
Nia stood, arms crossed, staring out the window. Next to her, the elder unicorn leaned against the wall, aggression in every line of his body. The air between them vibrated with it. He stood a head taller than she. His proportions were so good she hadn’t noticed how big he was until she had something to compare him to, Viv realized. The faint odor of rotting vegetation teased her nose. He still smelled bad.
Unicorns and dragons killed each other. Suddenly, even though Amir’s arms sheltered her, she felt less safe.
"You can wipe your feet on your way out. In fact, why don’t you do that now?" Xavier responded to Nia’s comment with utmost courtesy, sincerity oozing from every pore.
“Oh, I can think of things I could wipe my feet on.” Nia shifted her stance, facing him.
Both leaned forward, coiled like snakes.
Zhi’s soft voice broke the tension. "She's coming around."
“Look at that!” Donal’s voice held astonishment. Amir helped Viv to a fully seated position as they both turned to see what had provoked the exclamation.
The body Viv had seen in the garden lay on the floor near Donal, as beautiful as it had been there. A breath, and then eyes the color of violets opened, the long lashes framing them shades darker than her pale hair. She swallowed and coughed, the rough sound still somehow musical.
“I’m back.” Amusement pervaded the words. “You busy tonight, Donal?”
Donal shook his head and crouched by her. “Do you need help?”
“Is there a good reason why I should let a pair of weakened dragons walk out of my home? I like you Amir, but if you could smell her, you wouldn’t be so affectionate,” Xavier remarked.
“Because I’ve said they aren’t evil, and you promised to abide by my judgement.” Zhi’s quiet words were so full of reproof there was barely room for consonants in them.
“You also believe a carp transformed to a dragon.” Xavier’s frustration was obvious.
“Overcome your baser impulses, unicorn, and I’ll deal with mine. You smell like a field where someone left their produce to rot in the sun. Pungent and nasty.” Ušum got to her feet on her own, though Donal hovered. It was strange to see her looking small and delicate.
“You both smell like carrion, so I wouldn’t be casting stones.” Cyril spoke from the other side of the room. “I think being outside and at a distance might help tempers, too.”
“Agreed.” Amir helped Viv to her feet.
Ušum examined her hands. “I need to get used to this… I’m so short it isn’t funny.”
"Hush." Vivian heard the mage’s voice. Alonzo had straightened in the chair, Zhi hovering next to him. Cyril joined them, a relieved smile lighting his face.
Alonzo gave the room a quick smile, full of impishness seasoned with exhaustion.
"It's good to see you both awake, Vivian and Ušum. Now, about my fee…"
"I'm ready to pay." Amir's arm tucked around Vivian’s waist.
"Oh, I don't plan to have you pay. A triad shares equally in debt, and I want Nia to be the one who pays this."
Nia’s eyebrows rose, and she nodded. "Of course. Who do you want dead?"
The old man didn't answer. He rose, leaning on Cyril's arm, and headed for the door. Zhi turned into a side room and returned with a blue robe embroidered with flowers. She handed it to Ušum.
Ušum smiled at her and put it on, shaking her hair back. “Thank you; it’s a little chilly in here.”
“It’s more so outside, and we don’t have coats,” Donal pointed out.
“Viv and I don’t feel the cold unless we want to. Amir can warm it for you and Nia. And it should smell better out there.”
“Yes, Donal. I can make an area warmer for you and Nia.” Amir and Vivian followed Alonzo out, and true to his word, a faint shimmer of steam surrounded Amir in a circle above the snow. Nia and Donal stepped into the area.
It was warm, but a breeze carrying the cold crisp air from outside the circle felt good on Vivian’s skin.
The remnants of the battle were strewn all about, bare patches of ground showing where snow had been melted, the hunter’s bodies and bits of their vehicles, half-buried or lying on top of the white layer. The faint lingering smell of acid lingered in the air, stronger when the breeze shifted.
“Lovely sight. You’re going to clean it up before you go, right?” Xavier addressed the question to Donal.
“If not before, then as soon as I make some calls.” Donald’s answer was in a soft equitable tone, but his green eyes hardened. “In interest of maintaining a neutral relationship with you and the mage.”
“Oh, we aren’t a package deal,” Alonzo said cheerfully. “Or maybe with Zhi. These two are too aggressive.” He didn’t move from leaning heavily on Cyril’s arm.
Cyril gave him a tolerant smile.
Donal pulled his phone out and walked to the edge of the circle, his back to all of them, speaking in a soft voice.
Alonzo turned his gaze to the older unicorn. "I am invoking the debt that you owe me for the cover-up in the fifties that kept you from having to kill
the small town where the people found out about the three of you."
Xavier’s expression darkened. "Accepted. What do you want?"
"I want you and Nia to rendezvous at my cabin on the winter solstice. I want you to refrain from hurting one another and remain in the general vicinity for at least a week." A thin thread of amusement underlay the exhaustion in the mage’s voice.
"You're wasting a favor for that?" The derision in Xavier’s could have been rolled up and used to spackle the wall.
"Yes, I am." Alonzo wobbled on his feet, the younger unicorn steadying him.
Ušum walked to him, the snow almost knee deep on her. “I don’t think what you’ve asked for balances the scales. I am still in debt to you. Tell me what I need to do to balance the favor you’ve done me.” She stepped close and tilted her head back to gaze at his face. “Even if it’s a very short favor.”
Laughter flared on Alonzo’s face, followed by thoughtfulness. “You’ve been gone a very long time, haven’t you? You haven’t seen what the Reckonings have become. I’ll show you the last, and then tell you what I want.”
“Fair enough.” Ušum nodded.
“He gently moved his hands, and a picture evolved in the air. The interior of a small home, dimly lit by a single small window. Adults and children lay on pallets on the floor, covered in pustules, stirring and moaning feebly. A woman, wearing a long tunic, her lank hair caught back in a sloppy braid, tried to give water to a small child who cried fitfully.
“The Antonine plague. It killed millions; perhaps ten percent of the area claimed by the Roman empire. Marduk walked alone and the plague followed him…all the way to the Han empire. The deaths led to the Yellow Turban rebellion, which lasted twenty years. The two together caused uncounted deaths.”
Scent and sound fleshed the illusion out. The reek of illness and decay, the smoke of pyres, the cries of people buried in grief. The sound of flesh punctured by weapons, screams of the dying and wounded, the sobbing of the innocent violated by the victors.
On and on and on, a catalogue of misery that filled Vivian to the brim.
