"I don't like those—" D'Ash began, too late.
Johns watched all the stains in the teleportation area vanish. The spell even cleaned up the sweat on Johns's skin as it whooshed by him. He strode to the newly cleansed large animal teleportation pad and flicked the switch showing its availability, then joined Giniana.
Smoothing her tunic down with both hands, and vanishing the blood and bodily stains at the same time, Giniana looked at him with large eyes and murmured, "You helped incredibly."
He replied, "I wouldn't have even thought of speaking to the Residence, of requesting such a thing from the entity, but you told me about it earlier."
She sighed and rocked a bit. Stepping up, he held her, let her lean on him. Wished she'd do so more than physically.
D'Ash coughed slightly.
"Yes?" Johns asked.
"I want to thank FirstLevel Healer Filix, too," the GreatLady said.
"You're quite welcome," Giniana answered.
"And I also want to request that you come and teach me proper techniques for Healing humans that I might be able to apply for Fams and other animals. Obviously the Panaxes gave me substandard techniques they thought would be appropriate for animals and not primary ones used for humans." D'Ash smiled. "I'll charge them for the remedial education, at current prices. I can also document how they thought specific injuries should be treated and how you Heal humans."
Giniana stepped away from Johns and curtsied to D'Ash. "Thank you."
"I'll work out a list of what I think needs to be done and we can decide on the price and the time schedule." D'Ash frowned. "I am now in the position of not knowing which of my procedures are good and which are bad."
Time to go home, the kitten pronounced. Back to the cottage and Thrisca.
Johns stared at her, had the elderly FamCat contacted the kitten? Maybe.
"Later," said T'Ash, and as Johns and Giniana walked toward the door, he addressed his wife, "Beloved, I don't want you calling on the Residence for stored Flair energy unless it's a major emergency."
"This was a major emergency. I was depleted from the dog and the puppies—"
T'Ash grunted.
"—And Healing the kitten and the horse and rider teleported in with major injuries, dying."
"All right." Finally, the man put his HeartMate on her feet, looked around. "Residence, I didn't know you could supply us with strength and energy and Flair."
Johns should have hauled Giniana out of there, but his curiosity caused his steps to lag. The kitten, distracted again, coursed through the large room checking out the desk and teleportation pads and nosing the cracks under shut doors…
T'Ash Residence answered, "We were lost, long ago, when my first shell burned and you ran away as a child. You might not have known all I can do, what we can do together, and I forgot."
Giniana's steps slowed. She obviously listened, too.
"It's good we can remember things together," T'Ash said.
"Yes, we can do things together. Because you are generous with your Flair and perform rituals sending power into me and funding all my spells, I had Flair to return to you. But I did not recall such a gifting of power by myself. It was the actor who told me what to do, who reminded me what I could do for my Family."
T'Ash and D'Ash swung toward Johns, yet a full meter from the door. He felt their gazes, and the Residence's scrutiny, as if he stood under a spotlight.
"Ah, Saint Johnswort," T'Ash said. "An old name, an old heritage. Your house is becoming a Residence?"
The question jolted Johns, blanked his mind. "I—"
"Of course you shouldn't tell me, for security and privacy reasons," T'Ash stated. "Know that I am indebted to you. I owe you a favor."
Johns made a half-bow. "I appreciate that." He wouldn't be so stupid as to turn the man down, nor would he ever remind T'Ash.
But the FirstFamily GreatLord snapped his fingers, then held out a silver Ash Family token to Johns. "You saved my HeartMate from over-extending herself trying to Heal the horse. You saved the FirstLevel Healer from doing the same with GentleLady Sallow, so Sallow lived, too. You reminded my Residence of its power, made me and my wife aware of its capabilities. For all this you deserve a silver token."
Johns took the coin. He didn't quite remember what all a silver token meant, what aid, or even gilt he might get from T'Ash should he cash it in. It made him wonder what other tokens the Saint Johnswort family, he, might have. Maybe better than gilt in the bank. He'd research all that, later.
Since he didn't want to betray his ignorance, he pocketed the coin and returned the man's bow with his best.
Taking Giniana's fingers, Johns gave the Ashes a last nod. Then he and Giniana followed the dancing kitten through the doors to outside that opened for them upon approach.
Once outside the kitten stopped, squealing, hopped around. Me SEE. Me see all kinds of flowers. Me SMELL excellent poop and pee smells of other animals and FAMS … and nice flower smells … and acceptable human smells.
Giniana started forward, but Johns caught her fingers in his own. "Let her look around and experience the joys of living other than in an alley." He touched Giniana's face so she'd meet his eyes. "The emergency in there, and D'Ash's offer, should help relieve your gilt problems, right?" He hoped they could now spend more time together.
"Perhaps." Her shoulders tensed, then she moved them, her body easing as she deliberately relaxed. "I'm speaking with D'Willow during my afternoon break. There have been … developments."
Her grim tone warned him that she didn't want him asking about such developments. Bad developments, he reckoned.
Squeezing her fingers, he murmured, "Perhaps you will be able to make a more regular schedule. Get more sleep, not have to rely on energy potions or spells or Flair from Residences or FirstFamily Lords."
"Johns—"
"I'm concerned about you, because I care for you. And you are caring more for Thrisca than yourself."
"For this little while."
"And when did this 'little while' start? How long have you been pushing yourself?"
When she scowled, he raised a palm. "Never mind." He scanned the area for the kitten, saw her sniffing around and under the bushes.
Since he didn't want to kiss Giniana in the glider, always awkward, he stepped close. He put his hands on her upper arms, slid his fingers down to hers, enjoying the physical thrill that pulsed with his action. Reverberated between them.
He inched closer, now loosely embraced her, rubbed her tight shoulders and back, along her spine, touching her, letting their nerve endings connect, telling her with touch what he'd said in words. That he cared for her, more than easy sexual lust, that he'd support her. That he wanted to learn her, know her.
Then he angled his head and feathered his lips over hers for the merest taste of her. And suddenly fire ignited throughout his veins and he yearned to feel all of her against himself. He pulled her close, but not as intimately as he'd have liked, and savored the press of body to body, standing in the summer sun with light streaming on them, around them, throbbing through them like their pulse.
His mouth opened, his tongue gliding along the seam of her lips, plunging in as she opened to him. And her tongue tangled with his, sucking as if she relished his taste.
Lord and Lady, so good. Better than anything in his life. "I want you." The words followed the need tearing from him. And because he wanted to take her here and now, his sex hardened for that, his hands tingled with the need to grab and yank closer still, and hold, he surveyed the landscape for a good place to make love.
At the sound of her small choked noise, his attention pinned back on her, enjoyed the flush of color in her face, her dreamy eyes, her lips plush from their kiss. "I think I want that, too," she admitted.
Pure desire flamed through him.
She placed a hand between her breasts. "I feel the intensity of our bond. It's more than lust. More than basic attraction … more."
"When?" he demanded
, ready to blow off any other appointment in his life.
"Not—"
But he didn't want to hear "nots." "Tomorrow morning, instead of breakfast. No. You need the food and the rest, dammit."
"Wait, I mean—"
He didn't want to hear that, either, so before she could continue, he took off after the kitten who'd finished squatting under a bush and now dug determinedly, flinging dirt. He scooped her up, gestured Giniana to take the driver's side of the glider, stuck the kitten in a sling on a side window in the back, sat in the passenger seat and lowered the door.
"You think of the time and place." Emotions poured rough from him. He nailed her gaze with his. "Let me know."
Since her hands didn't grip the driving bar, he took one, put it on his own heart. "We have a bond. Think of that when doubts and lame rationalizations plague you to retreat from this relationship. As for me, I expect to see you for breakfast at the Thespian Club tomorrow morning, at least." And have her in bed—hers or his, he didn't care—soon.
In confused silence, mind warring with emotions, Giniana programmed the glider to leave Noble Country and drop Johns—her would-be lover Johns—off at a round park that served most of the public carrier lines of the city.
Her spirits had lifted unreasonably. She recognized that as a very good thing to battle the smear of depression that seemed to have covered her the last few weeks of unrelenting work and the dreadful teeter-tottering of hope and despair about Thrisca.
And the morning's work … the morning's impulsive generosity at helping a sick and feral FamKitten, had paid off immeasurably, for her as well as Johns.
Perhaps, even with the greater price of the Time Healing Procedure, Giniana could remove her name as a Healer from the emergency roster of all the HealingHalls where she'd registered.
She'd like that. Hadn't been brave enough to tell Johns how many months she'd filled her life with work and Thrisca, narrowed her life to such a thin focus.
CHAPTER 13
DESPITE THE RUCTIONS of the morning, Johns arrived punctually for his volunteer time at the Moores House for Lady-Blessed Children. As he descended from the public carrier, he wondered whether Raz Cherry would really come through on his offer to sell Johns a glider at a wholesale price.
Until then, he'd walk, take the public carrier, and occasionally teleport, as usual. He sauntered down a couple of blocks in the golden sunshine to the medium-sized but distinctly run-down building holding the Center. Just the idea of being with the kids lifted his spirits.
A branch of the Maidens of Saille, celibate nuns of the Divine Couple, the Lady and Lord, ran the facility for those children unable to join any grovestudy groups.
Last Samhain, New Year's, he and others of the Thespian Club and Theatrical Guild had participated in a publicity opportunity of giving gifts and lessons, and interacting with the children.
He'd liked the event. The children had touched him. His childhood hadn't been full of advantages, but he'd had drive and skill and Flair. The children at the Moores House usually lacked one of those qualities, if not all.
But they embraced the simple joy of every moment, every day, and that lifted his own spirits. He couldn't donate gilt, but he could give his time, and he did, once a week.
At the place, he received a warm but distracted welcome from the young nun-counselor. And his brows raised as she smiled and nodded, then left him alone with the children who ranged from about six to early-teen. He'd never been trusted completely alone with the kids before, without even an introduction.
But he smiled and reminded those who'd forgotten him who he was, gravely acknowledged a new girl and boy, both about ten.
They talked a little, then he went into story telling. He always read a simple story first, then acted it out to the children, taking all the parts. Then the children did a performance, too.
The last septhour of the afternoon rang with laughter that rolled into his ears and sank into him.
Near the end of the session, when the children took turns dramatizing their day, an older nun who managed the school gestured to him and asked about the last couple of games he'd be playing. He stated he'd end with "Poison Eyes."
At that her expression lightened. On a sigh, she said, "The children love dying dramatically."
Johns grinned back. "We all do." He paused a moment. "Why don't you join us?"
She blinked.
He rolled a shoulder. "It's a good way to release tension, express negative emotions," he reminded her.
"Yes. Hmm."
"When was the last time you had fun?" He sensed her emotional aura clenched tight around her body.
She glanced at the office. "I can't."
"Next week, then."
Her face became even more strained. "No. Yes. Perhaps." With a nervous gesture, she adjusted the yellow head-dress that confined her hair, denoting her as a celibate Maiden of Saille, gave Johns a weak smile, and left.
At the end of the period, after a good game of Poison Eyes, he settled the children on their quiet time sponges. On his way out of the Center he stopped by the minimal office to tell the Maidens he was leaving, and found both nuns there. They sent another volunteer, this time a young woman dressed in the colors of a journeywoman mind-Healer, to watch the children.
Closing the door behind him, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Both nuns sighed. The elder gestured toward the narrow window. "As you saw when you came in, this area of the city is becoming more popular. Our landlady did not renew our lease. She plans on demolishing the building and constructing boutique shops."
Johns grunted. "Do I know this person? Any way I can speak with her, perhaps persuade …."
But the women shook their heads.
A smile twitched on and off the older Maiden's face. "We are hoping that either the Saille House for Orphans or D'Sea's Mental Rehabilitation Facility will be able to find space for us at their locations.”
"Neither of those is ideal," the younger Maiden stated. "They come with significant restrictions."
Johns's perscry pinged. "I'm sorry, I need to go." He bowed to them. "I will volunteer here as long as you'll have me."
"Very good to know." She paused. “Can you come Mor Day next week instead of Midweek Day?”
“Yes, but first thing in the morning.”
“Many thanks!” the nuns chorused.
He nodded. As always, he walked away with a spring in his step. The affection of the children for him, their enjoyment of the stories and games he played with them, chased away any incipient brood.
He'd be reluctant to give up volunteering for them, but didn't know if he'd be allowed in one of the locations that the Maidens had mentioned. He frowned, wondering what he might be able to do, grimaced. Everyone around him seemed to need gilt. Including him.
But summer surrounded him and he shoved out of his mind all negative thoughts, grasped at the positives continuing to come his way the last few days.
He'd helped a friend, come to the attention of a FirstFamily GreatLord, T'Spindle, in a good way, gotten an offer for better training from GrandLord T'Marigold, and a glider at cost from Raz … though that would eat into his long-term savings.
Patting his trous pocket, he felt the silver token T'Ash had given him, a fantastic boon.
On the whole, despite his job ending, he felt his life took an upward slant.
Cheer filled him. Because of the woman, that one fascinating woman, who he hoped to make his lover tomorrow.
Giniana Filix, Healer, wary of actors, so a challenge layered on the humming desire between them. A kind woman with a good heart who smiled at him when she'd heard he volunteered at Moores House for Lady-Blessed Children.
An extremely caring woman who'd take in a kitten, who pushed herself to her limits for her Fam.
The smile fell off his face. Another challenge, a Fam. He knew that if Thrisca didn't like him, Giniana wouldn't associate with him, dazzling attraction or not.
He hadn’t met many Fams,
and never one who’d treated him well.
Nope, stop any incipient downer immediately.
Switch to dwelling on how he'd make love to Giniana Filix, maybe he could get a meal in her tomorrow evening before they went to their respective jobs. And share passion with her, too.
On the relatively long public carrier glider ride to his home in the southeast corner of the city, Johns occasionally feather-touched the connection between himself and Giniana.
He'd understood the flow of pleasant comfort when she'd returned to T'Spindle estate and her cottage, the love when she'd greeted her Fam. Some ensuing excitement—introduction of Thrisca and the kitten? The general focus of a mind preparing for work, and the busyness when she practiced her craft.
She seemed fine to him, now and for the moment. He'd sure keep an eye on her, though. And, if he was lucky, his hands and another favorite body part.
He walked the half block from the carrier dropoff to his land, teleportation-hopped over the wall and hedgerow near the rusted-shut front greeniron gates, then for the first time in years, he turned in a circle and looked at his property.
Behind him, the fancy gates his forebears had paid good gilt for twined with leaves and flowers. Before him a wandering footpath to the front door. Everywhere plants. Some weeds, some medicinal plants that looked like weeds. Like many estates, hedgerows framed the boundary edges within the walls and lined the gliderway.
By no means as huge as one of the great noble’s, or any of the the FirstFamilies’, his property still included a good chunk of land any noble would be pleased to claim. Johns thought one or the other of his herb-merchant forebears could have tested to become a noble, but they'd been proud of their status as upper middle-class Commoners.
The state of his land and home appeared a few years shabbier than it had, but not beyond repair, yet. If he labored at it.
He'd be able to do that if he didn't pick up another acting job right away, and should definitely carve out septhours a day to work on it. And soon if he contemplated bringing Giniana Filix here.
Heart 16 - Script of the Heart Page 12
