Crossworld of Xai

by Steven Savage

  “Yeah. Well, you know, I think they became friends too well and you know Brandon, and he had that stuff at Kraftburne. Anyway, now Riakka was talking to some friends of hers in the Mathematics department. Do you know how many people do studies of this city?”

  “Quite a few.” I nod. “So they helped her find something?”

  “Nah, one of the guys in the department is moving in with his boyfriend and is selling his house.”

  “I see. And you give me credit?”

  “Why not?” Jade grinned, suggesting some of her routine was a put-on. “Hey, they got it.”

  “Yes.” I exhale. I am a calm man - indeed with the training I have it’s an effort not to be calm. But I feel a burden lifted.

  “I wish I could have been …”

  “Shut up.” Jade saunters over to me, moving like waves and the spinning of planets. “Huan, you do all you can. And, no, I’m not going to pry into whatever Byrd’s getting us into. But don’t get down on yourself. It’s endearing … when it doesn’t make me want to kill you.”

  “She is my friend, Jade. And Slate, I believe … is approaching one. I do care for them.”

  Jade sat on the desk, edging towards me until one of her legs lay in my lap. “Don’t start making it work, HuanJen. You’ve always told me that what you do is what you are, and I’m starting to understand that. You do what you do, no more.”

  “True.” I pat her knee. He fur has a wonderful, silky texture. “Speaking of Garnet?”

  “I had a talk with her. She’s on the pill. Take your time. Use foreplay. The taste isn’t what you think. Anyone talk to Slate?”

  “I avoided it, I felt it’d be untoward. Did Garnet …”

  Jade crosses her arms. “She wasn’t a virgin when she met you HuanJen. Just a bit inexperienced. And Slate … I have faith. They’ll be fine. Just marry ‘em and they’ll handle it from there.”

  “Yes.” I smile up at Jade. “Does it make you think?”

  ” … yeah. When we’re ready?”

  “Yes.” I look into her eyes. They are a kind of translucent leaf-emerald. They glow with a kind of magic I don’t think she appreciates. I hear people so often avoid words like miraculous or magical, even in my profession.

  They’ve never looked Jade in the eyes.

  My apprentice and lover looks away for a moment - there are times she is uncomfortable with these moments of vulnerability. I know her, her ways, I do not press the issue.

  “How goes your studies on M?” The question is both relevant and distracting.

  “Ugh.” Jade scowls. “Do you know how … wait, you do. Someone named ‘M’ has been there for ages - like centuries? Now, my first suspicion was that ‘M’ is just a regular person with a weird traditional, but see, that’d be obvious, and I’d know it was obvious, and know that people would know I’d know so that they’d think I’d think it must have been that when actually it isn’t.”

  “Of … course.” Jade’s mind amazes me. Sometimes its like a tie-dyed four-dimensional corkscrew.

  “So, I’m working on it.” Jade shrugged. “I’m learning a lot about the Guild. Over a thousand years of recorded history - and some of it actually interesting. This wasn’t …”

  “No. I didn’t come up with this to trick you into learning about the Guild. This is me … ah, just trust me.”

  “I do.” Jade ruffles my hair. “Now, you have a wedding to plan. I know you want things in order …”

  December 6, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar

  When I volunteered to donate a wedding service to Slate and Garnet, I had assumed it would come quickly. When it reached December, there was a problem - I had made arrangements to hold it on the roof of my apartment complex. Needless to say, the weather was not conductive, even if the winters on Xai are mild - and this was shaping up to be a chaotic winter.

  Of course, Garnet and Slate had just purchased furniture, supplies, and other things that were not exactly cheap. I couldn’t exactly volunteer a change of venue, and Jade had pointed out in our budget that neither could we unless we wanted to wait even longer.

  But, among our friends …

  Reverend Rake used the extensive basement of his church to store a variety of items. Among them was a rather large tent that had been used for various charity events. It didn’t exactly belong to anyone, but Rake was gracious enough to lend it - which was quite nice, as several of us were worried he’d take offense at Garnet and Slate not wanting to be married at his church.

  Of course, the question came as to who would move it, and Rake was busy, and we couldn’t ask Slate, and …

  … it was me and Lorne Thompson, arguably the strongest member of our odd band of friends carrying tent parts to Brandon’s pickup truck. Rake’s church actually had something resembling a loading bay, which made it easier.

  Carrying a tent to a pickup truck owned by an oversexed Technologist, assisted by a huge gay Gendarme stripped to the waist is normal for me. I myself remained more modestly dressed, but I tend not to sweat much.

  “OK, get that end of the tarp … there.” Lorne manages to pick up one of the huge rolls that apparently contains part of the tent with ease. I manage the other end. I have never built a large tent before and thus am somewhat at a loss as to what is what.

  I am quite clear that much of it is heavy.

  “I think we’re about half done …” I manage as we maneuver the material onto the truck. There’s a chill breeze from outside, but Lorne ignores it.

  “More or less.” Lore maneuvered our cargo into place. “Well, we’ll get this to the storage room at the Crosspoint. The residents know when to help out?”

  “I’ve arranged everything. I posted some things in the laundry room and the common area. They’re good people. Besides, everyone is a sucker for a wedding.”

  “And then?” Lorne pats me on the back as we head back to the seemingly never-decreasing pile of tent parts.

  “The usual,” I answer. Here it comes. Well, at least people are more helpful than they were before Jade came into my life. She straightened out a few issues that, occasionally, everyone needs help.

  “I”ve heard about the Panoramic League.” Lorne says flatly. His tone of voice implies a great deal. I can tell his imagination has already started to work. It will fill in the blanks, and it will make new ones.

  I nod. “I imagine you have.”

  “Yes.” Lorne grabs a few poles. “I heard … the Guild is going to pick someone to help deal with the League. I asked myself, who in their employ would deal with them? Who would be strange enough to handle them? Who would not set off alarms.”

  “Yes. I rather imagine.” I have no idea what to say.

  “Well … if it is you. If it is difficult, don’t hide. I wasn’t supportive when Green was dying, none of us were really. So, and this is speculation, if it is you, know who you can rely on.”

  “I already do.” He gives me a strange look, then smiles, looking away.

  Lorne finally speaks. “I think this is going to be a lot of fun. Our first wedding in our little group. Xinafu’s looking forward to it.”

  “I imagine. I rather like him, Lorne, he’s good for you.” I feel I should say more, more words await to be spoken. “To think, a year and something ago, how many of us were single?”

  “Swinging bachelors.” Lorne returns to his tasks. “Well, not swinging, but you know. OK, if we swung, it was at a low frequency. Times, times change.”

  “Yes. Now, no more idle speculation. We have a wedding to prepare for. My job does not change.”

  “Yeah. Oh, speaking of hard work, you hear the Prostitute’s Guildhall won another Best Decorated award? They’re giving out gift certificates, and I think that means the president’ll clinch the next election … “

  December 9, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar

  Now, it is time for a wedding. I find myself rather nervous as I’ve married many a couple or other combination before. I have never performed a ceremony for any
of my friends.

  It is odd. I never have. It was something I had thought of until about five minutes before the ceremony was to begin. It was one of those thoughts that waited in ambush for you until just the right time.

  “Huan?”

  Jade is with me, in a smaller tent outside the larger one. I can feel the heat from inside the large tent we’d set up - a few of the residents dragged out some of the emergency heaters and plugged them into the roof outlets. Just supporting the Zone Cleric, just helping out.

  “Sorry.” I apologize to Jade. “Distracted.”

  Jade smiles “Well, pull up your socks and get with it”

  “I’m not wearing any.” I gesture at myself. She’s dressed me in my yellow ritual robes, complete with that bizarre flat hat the Order adopted from some of the later schools on Nexial Earths. I feel vaguely like a yellow malformed table, but I honor what few traditions I have.

  “No, it’s …” Jade grimaces. “Oh, that was a joke. To make you feel less nervous?”

  “Yes.” I admit. Jade finishes adjusting my hat. “I am quite nervous, I …”

  Jade’s lips press against mine as she kisses me. Her tongue flutters inside my mouth. Normally, I comfort her in such a manner, but I can always count on her, even if she doesn’t know it.

  “That help?” Jade asks as our lips part.

  “Well the tension has moved to localized parts of my anatomy, so yes. I will be fine.”

  “Nervous about other things?” Jade begins unpacking one of the bags she brought with us, quickly removing her robes, the ones I bought her last year.

  “Things will be in order after this, we will see.” I have nothing else to say.

  “Yeah.” Jade begins stripping off her street clothes, which I admit is enjoyable to watch. “We’ll be fine. Everyone will be fine. Hey, you always tell me everything balances out, right.”

  “True. My own words, come to haunt me …”

  “Yeah, and this is one haunt you can’t exorcise, my dear sorcerer …”

  The Order has its own ceremonies. Simple ones, personal ones. We are, as many Taoists, not caring for pointless ritual - it is what is part of the cycle of things that matters. Ritual is only an emanation. Even invocations are emanations of The Unity.

  I walk into the main tent, Jade following behind me, in the role of the dutiful assistant (though she refused to wear the ceremonial cap because of her ears). In front of us is the simple altar I use for times an altar seems appropriate; lacquered wood with a yin-yang emblem on the front.

  All simple. All enough, no more, no less.

  Our friends, their friends, their coworkers, and a few random residents of the Crosspoint look back at us. A cross-section of this world. Diverse, strange …

  I don’t see our neighbor Mrs. Kline. Then I recall she and Buster decided to watch the entrance. An elderly woman with a golf club and a Yorkshire Terrier with halitosis should prove to be an interesting deterrent to any interference.

  Everyone is looking at me. They do so often - for guidance, for comfort, for an exorcism, for a potion. Really, all I do is let things manifest. But, that is what I do, why I am here.

  “Slate and Garnet, come forward with those who witness.” My words flow easily.

  Slate and Garnet come forward, he dressed in a tuxedo that had to be very difficult to find, she in a simple white dress. Lorne stands next to Slate, dressed in a tuxedo as well, beaming with pride. Clairice stands next to Garnet, dressed in a light pink, smiling a smile of unknown feelings.

  My friends.

  It is time to begin.

  “Friends, coworkers, family, and all those here. We are gathered to join Slate Shaleson and Garnet Rubissom in marriage. If anyone objects to this speak now, or cast your words in doubt.”

  Silence. I didn’t expect any opposition, but I like to check. This is one of my additions to The Order ceremony, just in case.

  “Slate, Garnet, it is my pleasure to join you in marriage. Of all I do, this is one of my great joys. Of all I do, this is a special pleasure. It is made all the more special by the bonds we share together by acquaintance, by blood.”

  Slate smiles, and a glimmer appears in his eye. He is looking at Jade behind me, I can tell. For a moment, he looks at me, and his smile widens, just a bit.

  Jade hands me a ritual chalice, a thing of silvery metal, set with a few semiprecious stones. Sanctum-made. I’d been waiting to use it for awhile. I can smell the wine inside it, and I assume Jade bought the best vintage she could.

  “Slate, do you take Garnet as your wife. Do you commit to her? Do you share your life with her?”

  “I do.” Slate’s voice booms like elegant thunder.

  “Garnet, do you take Slate as your husband. Do you commit to him? Do you share your life with him?”

  “I do.” Garnet looks at Slate for a moment. She never looked at me that way, and I knew why. But him, him she can look at that way.

  “And all of you?” I address the crowd. “Will you aid them on this path, help them when they fall, comfort when needed, guide when requested?”

  There are various noises of assertion and a few curious looks. When I marry people, I let those gathered know we’re all in this together.

  I proffer the chalice to Slate. “Drink.”

  After Slate does so, I do the same for Garnet. When they both have drunk I set the chalice on the altar.

  It is time. I raise my arms.

  “We come from one source, we return to one source. On the path of life, if we are fortunate …”

  I hear Jade take a breath behind me.

  ” … we find someone to share our journeys with us. Slate and Garnet are two people who have found each other. By their commitment to each other, by the power invested in me by Guild Esoteric, by what has brought them together, I pronounce them husband and wife.”

  My words fly away into the world.

  And, as Jade noted, everything is quite, quite well.

  It is later. The party is over, everyone has gone home. The residents have cleaned up, and I am in the living room, in my robe, waiting to sleep. The day has flown by - Jade generously took care of some later errands, leaving me time to relax.

  It is in order. The right way, not forced, but allowed to form. Invoked by being. The comfort of knowing all is well - and yes it is temporary, but all things are.

  The door swings open and Jade enters. Without removing her winter coat, she dropps an envelope into my lap.

  “Guess what I got handed by Ahn himself?” my companion asks sarcastically. “I can guess what it is, just wonder why I got it. Oh, and Ahn says hello and he’s enjoying his job.”

  “Good. They were probably trying for a low profile.” I can tell what the envelope is before I see the Guildmark on it. “You know how the Guildheads operate. Or don’t operate.”

  “Yeah. OK, well, hurry up, open it!” Jade gestures anxiously. “I want to see what we’re getting paid for.”

  “All in time.” I shuffle through the contents. Papers, spreadsheets, disks. The usual. All in order.

  Like always.

  “It’s what I thought. Jade, please have a seat.”

  “No problem.” Jade tosses herself onto the couch next to me. “Now, spill it.”

  “Have you ever heard of the Panoramic League?” I ask.

  Jade looks at me curiously, then I see realization behind her eyes. “Yeah. I came across them in studying up on M. They’re a … hmmmmmm. I’m not sure how to put this. Entertainer-mystics?”

  She’s trying to wrap words around the subject, and it’s not easy. “That is a way to put it. They’re similar to the wandering bands of Jewish diviners in early Jewish history, or the Rishis of India. They divine, they create evocative works, they …”

  “Yeah, yeah, I remember.” Jade snaps her fingers, face alight with realization. “They’re sort of a traveling band of miracle-workers and artists. Do all sorts of weird shit like poetry that alters consciousness or dance that predicts the
future. Old, old tradition, I mean like they can trace their heritage back centuries, and … what does this have to do with us?”

  “Quite a deal.”

  She looks at me, with a bit of anger in her heart, but more concern and curiosity than anything else. She is adjusting to our lifestyle, more than she realizes, but still, there are many surprises.

  “Huan, they’re entertainers. OK, sure they do some clerical stuff, but what does that have to do with us?”

  “The Panoramic League is ending, Jade.” I can’t think of anything else to say. “They’re wintering in Metris and they’re shutting down operations, joining Guild Esoteric and the Guild of Entertainers. Not everyone is Guild on Xai, Jade, and this must go smoothly. Besides, they tend to be involved in supernatural incidents as a matter of course, and no one wants trouble.”

  “I see.” Jade nods. I can see her mind spinning away like a flywheel. “So, a group of people with an ages old tradition of doing weird mystical artistic crap are giving it up and going Guild. Now, I know we’re going to be hip-deep in some kind of shit, so spill it, loverboy.”

  I laugh a bit. She’s trying to keep up her disrespect. That’s her strength, really, that vast reserve of not-taking-things-too-seriously.

  “We’re they’re go-between, to help them settle in, explain policies, negotiate memberships. Clean up any messes. The League is not what it was, but it has a traditional place in some people’s hearts.”

  Jade nods. “Part social work, part supernatural, all us. OK, when do we start helping the clowns settle in?”

  “About a week. So we have time to prepare and relax.”

  “Cool.” Jade smiles. “Nothing else on the schedule?”

  “None.”

  “Race you to the bedroom.”

  “Gladly …”

  I leave the folder behind on the coffee table. All things in time.

  INTIMACIES

  Most people got very nervous about marriage.

  For Slate Shaleson and Garnet Rubissom, marriage had proven nothing to be concerned about. They had lived with each other for well over a year. Slate’s sister Jade was intimately involved with a Guild Esoteric Magician-Priest, so marriage had been free. Marriage was easy.