Mouse and Dragon

by Sharon Lee

  Bindan moved sternly away, Pilot tel'Izak dutifully in her wake. When they had been swallowed by the crush of bodies, Er Thom turned again to Aelliana.

  "May I be of use to you?" he asked, and turned his head slightly. "Or to you, Kareen?"

  "There's a rare offer," Lady Kareen said, her voice light, as if it were a joke between close kin, but her eyes angry, indeed.

  "Worth all the more, then," Er Thom answered. "What may I be honored to fetch you?"

  Lady Kareen drew a breath, and smoothed her hands down her skirt. "Nothing, I thank you, kinsman. Indeed, I have neglected the balance of my guests quite long enough! If you will forgive me, Scholar?"

  Aelliana inclined her head. "Of course, ma'am," she said, carefully. "I thank you for your care."

  "You are quite welcome, Scholar," the lady replied, her voice also careful. "Kinsman."

  Er Thom bowed. "Kareen."

  "Please, you must tell me how Daav goes on," Aelliana said rapidly, the instant the lady was away. "I—we saw each other, and it was as if I had taken a bolt. I could scarcely think anything, except that I must go to him at once. He was similarly struck, I saw—Delm Guayar took him in hand. But—"

  "He suffers," Er Thom murmured, taking her arm and moving her carefully through the crowd—away from Daav! she thought, with a wrench—"he suffers as you do, and will continue to do unless and until this is solved." He flashed her a look. "I speak, as you know, from experience. It may perhaps seem unnecessarily harsh, but it is my opinion that Mizel ought to be flogged. If, as we suppose, she knows that you and Daav are linked . . ."

  "She cares very little for that—indeed, how could she know what it meant, when we ourselves discover it as we go along?" Aelliana shook her head. "I have such a report of her state of mind from my sister that must concern anyone. I had hoped that the solution I proposed would move her, but it has been a twelve-day now, and no word."

  Er Thom was silent for a few slow steps.

  "Daav had promised to support you here," he said suddenly.

  "Yes, and so he has done, by sending you to me," she told him warmly. "I am very happy to see you, Er Thom, but I think—I think it would be best to take me back to Lady yo'Lanna so that you may return to Daav." She smiled, half-amused. "We shall each have our rock, and our comfort."

  He returned her smile, violet eyes flashing. "Aelliana, I may have been remiss—have I said that I like you extremely and am grateful to find you in care of my brother's heart?"

  Her eyes filled, and she pressed her fingers gently against his arm.

  "Thank you," she whispered.

  "No—thank you." He put his hand briefly over hers, the Master Trader's ring flashing purple lightnings. "Come, let us return you to her ladyship, so that we may all be civilized for one hour more."

  * * *

  "Anne, we are well-met," Daav said. He slipped his arm through hers. "For the love of the gods, whatever you do, do not let me go."

  She smiled and patted his hand. "Where's Er Thom got to?" she wondered in Terran.

  "Gone to rescue my darling from my sister's spite," he answered, gladly embracing her choice of language. "Since I am disallowed from performing the service myself."

  "Scholar yo'Vestra is making his way very deliberately in this direction," Anne commented. "Should I move us?"

  "Not in the least," Daav returned. "It will do me good to have a worthy target."

  Anne laughed, and then the scholar was upon them.

  "Lady yos'Galan, I offer myself in place of your present escort, who is wanted on business of the utmost urgency to Korval."

  Daav considered him.

  "Do you bear a more explicit message, Scholar?"

  yo'Vestra bowed. "The dea'Gauss awaits you in Lady Kareen's office, sir."

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  A Dragon will in all things follow its own necessities, and either will or will not make its bow to Society.

  —

  From the Liaden Book of Dragons

  Daav turned the last page over, and looked to Korval's man of business, sitting straight-backed and attentive on one of Kareen's damned uncomfortable visitor's chairs.

  "Mizel accepts all," he said, scarcely believing what he had just read, "and even adds a date by which Miss Sinit must be welcomed into yo'Lanna's keeping." He extended a hand, and flipped up the last page, half afraid that he had imagined it—but, no. Mizel's line was signed, witnessed, and sealed. All that remained was to apply his signature and Mr. dea'Gauss his, and the thing was done.

  At last.

  "I have a pen, your lordship," Mr. dea'Gauss murmured, rising and reaching into his jacket.

  Of course he had a pen. Daav received it with a nod.

  "My thanks yet again, Mr. dea'Gauss. I regret this disruption of your evening."

  "It is nothing, your lordship. What I regret is the length of time it has taken us to arrive at this very welcome port, and the unnecessary distress with which Pilot Caylon and yourself were burdened."

  Mr. dea'Gauss did not usually indulge in anger. That he was angry at this—but of course he would be. The misuse of melant'i and the waste of time and opportunity—yes, those things might well anger Mr. dea'Gauss.

  Daav addressed the paper, inscribed his name, and handed the pen to Mr. dea'Gauss, who wrote, brief and neat, noting also the time and date. He then withdrew a seal from his case and appended it in the proper place.

  "It is done."

  Relief pummeled Daav so that he sank back in his chair, exhausted. Done. Aelliana.

  Aelliana was in the next room, and there was nothing now to lose by acquiescing to his compulsion to go to her.

  He put his hands on the arms of the chair, meaning to rise immediately—

  "If your lordship pleases," Mr. dea'Gauss said.

  Daav grit his teeth.

  "There is more, Mr. dea'Gauss?" he asked, managing to keep his voice level.

  "I have with me other papers as well, your lordship, should you and Pilot Caylon wish to embrace the fullness of opportunity."

  Daav blinked. Other papers could only be the lifemate lines. It was customary to invite allies and guests to a gather during which the lines were signed and witnessed by all who dealt with Korval.

  Most of whom were gathered right here and now.

  Kareen would not thank him for turning her party to his own ends. On the other hand, as their mother had often said, The shortest route to done is through begun.

  "Yes," he said, rising more slowly than he had intended. "Let us have it done now, and done well, before all the world."

  Necessity was placed before Kareen's butler, who immediately grasped what was needful and proper for the occasion and took all in hand.

  A table materialized at the landing overlooking the gather hall, covered with a tapestry depicting the Tree-and-Dragon, pen, book, and glasses arranged according to Code. Servers were sent out among the guests below, to ensure that everyone held a glass.

  Behind the table stood Anne and Kareen; the latter irreproachably solemn, the former frankly beaming.

  Daav was escorted to his place by Er Thom, who would stand as his second. There was a wait, then, for Mr. dea'Gauss had gone to find Aelliana and explain the procedures to her. Now that he had leisure, he worried, for she had no kin here to support her, nor even any friends. Perhaps he should not have rushed this, and yet—

  And yet.

  Below him, the amassed witnesses began to move; folk took a half-step aside, or turned sideways, opening a path—a path wide enough to accommodate two slender women, arm in arm and heads high, both walking with pilot grace, neither faltering.

  Aelliana, and Samiv tel'Izak.

  Unhurriedly, but with purpose, they climbed the stairway, and it seemed that the room held its breath. Upon achieving the landing, Aelliana took her place before the second book, with Samiv beside her and one step to the rear.

  Daav shivered. The desire, the need to touch her nearly overwhelmed his senses. His breath came sh
allow and fast. Gods, it would not do to swoon, and if he, who shouldered the least part of their bond, was thus afflicted, what must she be feeling?

  He dared not turn his head to look at her.

  Below, the crowd shifted again and Mr. dea'Gauss mounted as high as the third stair, where he turned to address those assembled.

  "We are called to bear witness to the joining of the lives, the hearts, and the souls of Daav yos'Phelium and Aelliana Caylon. From this moment onward they shall share one clan, one purpose, and one melant'i." He paused for the space of two agonizingly long heartbeats.

  "Let the lines be signed."

  Their shared pen sat in its holder in the exact center of the table; a fanciful creation of silver and jet that was perhaps meant to evoke an old-style fin ship, the book open on the cloth before it. Aelliana, superbly coached by dea'Gauss, extended a hand, the jewels in the Jump pilot's ring winking like remote stars. From the side of his eye, Daav saw her pluck up the pen, write in the book, and replace the pen in the holder.

  Daav took up the pen, signed his name, and replaced the pen.

  Er Thom and Samiv stepped forward in time, as if they had practiced the move, each taking up the lesser pen at the table ends, and leaning over to sign their names, before stepping back to join Kareen and Anne.

  "Let the book find its proper owner."

  This, thought Daav, was going to be delicate. He closed the binder, fingers caressing smooth leather, and turned at last to face Aelliana.

  She was . . . glowing; her eyes were beyond emeralds, her face transcendent. He raised the book and softly kissed the leather, his eyes never leaving hers.

  There was a murmur, perhaps he had outraged those below. He did not care.

  He placed the book into her hands.

  "For my pilot."

  "No," she answered, her voice flowing out over the room. "We fly together."

  Silence from the gathered onlookers and now there was only one more thing to do.

  Daav raised his hand, showing Korval's Ring to those gathered.

  "Korval Sees Aelliana Caylon, beloved friend, pilot, lifemate, delmae." His voice wavered slightly, but he hardly cared. He closed the space between them, and placed his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him with so much love in her face that he felt his soul seared, aflame and exalted all at once.

  "The Clan," he said, loud enough to be heard in the farthest corner of the room, "rejoices."

  He bent his head, and kissed her.

  The room exploded into greenness, the air was scented with leaf. He stood on his toes, stretching into the kiss; he could feel the nap of his coat sleeves under his fingers, a heaviness in his womb, and passion poised like lightning.

  Daav . . . he heard her voice, inside his head, and abruptly it was his head again, and his hands cupping silk-smoothed shoulders. It was Aelliana who ended the kiss, and stepped back from him, her hands gripping his arms, and her smile enough to dazzle a blind man.

  Together, they took a deep breath and looked out over the room, where Kareen's guests stood, as if ensorcelled.

  "It is done," Mr. dea'Gauss announced, and turned on the stair.

  Deliberately, and with exquisite timing, he bowed: honor-to-the-delm.

  The last guest had filed by to offer felicitations, and they were momentarily, at least, alone.

  "Daav," Aelliana leaned into his side. "I must tell you something."

  He looked down at her, dared to raise a hand and touch her lips.

  "You're pregnant," he said, recalling that moment, or hour, when he had known her as entirely as himself. "The Tree is a brute."

  "Indeed, it is," she said warmly, "and so I shall say to it! However the means, the babe was got beforetime. Master Kestra gave me the news when I came to the Healers. I could not speak to you and did not wish to disturb Mr. dea'Gauss with the matter, fearing to introduce too many factors into his calculations . . ."

  "I understand," he murmured. He brushed his thumb over the high curve of her cheek. Gods, she was so beautiful—and now they fitly belonged to each other . . .

  "Daav?"

  He shook himself out of the growing reverie of passion.

  "There is precedent," he managed to say, fairly calmly. "Shan preceded yos'Galan's lifemating by several Standard years, after all. We need not be concerned with the Tree's sense of humor in this, except, to chastise it for circumventing your wishes."

  Relief washed over him—her relief. He caught his breath.

  "Van'chela?"

  "All's well," he said, unsteadily, his hand cupping her cheek. "Aelliana, I can—I have your signal."

  Joy flared, and he nearly lost his balance. Aelliana pressed closer to him, her joy joining with his, arousing him—and her . . .

  "Perhaps," Er Thom's voice came quietly from just beyond his shoulder. "Perhaps you had best go home."

  Daav turned his head.

  "Brother, we expect a child."

  Er Thom's eyes took fire, and he extended a hand to each, his grip fierce.

  "The clan rejoices," he said. Releasing them, he stepped back.

  "Go now. I will make your apologies to the host."

  "Kareen!" Aelliana brought her hand to her lips, and Daav felt her chagrin.

  "The whole purpose of this gather was to show the world how unsuitable I am."

  "She failed," Er Thom said. "If Kareen were less ruled by spite, she might succeed more often." He bent gently and kissed her cheek.

  "Welcome, Sister," he murmured, and stepped back. "I will deal with Kareen, and with The Gazette. Now, if you please, take your lifemate home before he embarrasses us all."

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Korval is contract-bound to stand as Captain to all the passengers until released by the Council of Clans, the successor to the Transition Committee. I should've written that contract looser, but who knew we'd even survive?

  —

  Excerpted from

  Cantra yos'Phelium's Log Book

  The window was open, admitting the sounds of the nighttime garden. Inside, the room was cozily bathed in butter-yellow light. Daav was stretched on his side on the sofa, reading his letters. Aelliana, on the chaise, with Lady Dignity's chin on her ankle, looked up from her screen, and considered him.

  "Did you say something?"

  He raised his head, black eyes dancing.

  "I did not, though I might have done." He rattled the paper in his hand. "Here's an invitation for Kiladi to teach a guest seminar on cultural genetics. Impossible, of course, but one cannot help to be proud of his accomplishments and the notice he receives from his peers."

  "Why is it 'impossible, of course'?" Aelliana asked. "Scholar Kiladi has much to offer. Some of his students at least found him to be of use."

  "One of his students," Daav amended, shaking his hair back from his face.

  Aelliana smiled. He had thought to cut his hair when they became lifemates, which was the custom of the tribe of the grandmother whom he honored. He had allowed, however, that the decision ultimately rested with his wife and that the grandmother would never gainsay the mother of another tent.

  "You may drag a crimson fish across my path, but I will not be diverted," she told him, pleased to recall Anne's phrase. "Even to alter the thought of a single student is sometimes enough reward for all a teacher's efforts. It is the duty of scholarship to share, and to illuminate. Scholar Kiladi publishes—and so he ought!—but that is no substitute for teaching."

  "To teach, Kiladi would need to absent himself—and myself, his willing vessel—for somewhat more than a relumma."

  Aelliana moved her shoulders. "There's no trick to that. We have already established that we may absent ourselves from the homeworld in the service of our courier business—which I have no intention to give up, you know! If Scholar Kiladi must remain a stranger to your kin, then it is simplicity itself to take ourselves out and away, and offload the Scholar at whatever port he likes. In the meanwhile, I will hire me a Guild copilot and wo
rk the ports, returning for the Scholar at a prearranged time and place."

  Daav smiled and her heart constricted in her chest.

  "You've given this some thought, I see? Who knew you would take so well to subterfuge?"

  She bent a serious gaze upon him. "I had a good teacher."

  Daav laughed, and folded the letter. "Well, it is a plan—but a plan, I think, for the future. Let us first have our child in arms. I do not wish to be apart from you when the event occurs, nor do I wish you to be in the hands of a hired copilot, docked on a third-tier world, when the child decides."

  He was worried still, Aelliana thought. They had had a Healer and a physician, neither of whom felt that the birth was beyond her. She suspected that his concern had root in her past, to which he now had access, as she had access to his. The heightened sensitivity, the Healer had said, was an effect of her pregnancy and would become less potent once the child was delivered. How much less potent, he had not ventured to say, nor whether Daav would retain his late-found ability to experience her as she did him.

  "Perhaps Scholar Kiladi might plead a prior commitment," she said, "and ask them to place him on the lists for next year,"

  Daav nodded. "I will suggest that course to him," he said, and smiled again, tenderly. "I love you, Aelliana."

  It was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She blinked them clear.

  "I love you, Daav."

  Having mutually renewed their bond, Daav returned to his mail and she to her paper. They worked comfortably for some time; Aelliana so immersed that it was not until she reached the end of the section and had closed her screen that she realized that Daav was very still, indeed, and that he had been so for some time.

  Carefully, her eyes on him, she put the screen on the table next to the chaise, and shifted her ankle from beneath Lady Dignity's chin. There was a taste in the air, sharp but not unpleasant, like ozone, which she equated with profound thought.

  "Is there something that requires solving?" she asked, rising. She smoothed her robe, watching him. So very still . . .

  He sighed sharply and looked up.