Intrigues

by Sharon Green

  “Let’s also say that your violence would have mine to keep it company,” Jovvi said, leaving Lorand in no doubt that she meant what she’d told him. “But we’d better save this discussion for another time. Some of our more exalted guests are beginning to make their way over to us.”

  Jovvi settled a pleasant smile on her face as Lorand glanced up to see who their social ambushers were. Lavrit Mohr, High Master of the Guild, was there with his new second-in-command and some of his people, as was Ristor Ardanis, leader of those with Sight magic, along with some of his followers. Mohr and Ardanis hadn’t been standing together because they hadn’t yet been introduced, but that was one of the reasons for the party.

  “Excellences, it’s good to see you again,” Mohr said with his usual bow when he reached Jovvi and Lorand. “I hope there will be time tonight for some of the city leaders to be introduced to you.”

  “That’s one of the reasons we’re all here,” Lorand assured the man with his own pleasant smile. “We’ll eventually want to meet everyone who is in charge of doing almost anything at all. It’s time the credit for a job well done finally went to the people actually doing the work.”

  “You see, Dom Henris?” Mohr said to one of the men who had approached with him, his words almost gleeful. “I told you they were reasonable human beings rather than the puffed up imitation nobles you were told they’d be.”

  “What’s this?” Lorand asked with mild curiosity, and Jovvi added her own attention to the conversation. “Someone is calling us names already?”

  “Just that fool Ayl and his misguided followers,” Mohr answered in a way that wasn’t quite as dismissive as he’d probably wanted it to be. “Excellences, allow me to present Dom Relton Henris, spokesman for the new shop owners Guild.”

  “It used to be the shop workers Guild,” Dom Henris said with a self-conscious smile and bow. “We used to spend our time worrying about how to make ends meet, but now we have more pleasant topics to discuss – thanks to you and what you’ve done for us. When those rumors started to circulate about how you would become just like the nobles once you moved into the palace… Well, most of us started to worry again, I can tell you.”

  “I don’t blame you for feeling that way,” Jovvi told the man with one of her best smiles. “There seems to be something about being in charge that changes level-headed people into fools, but we’re aware of the danger so we’re deliberately resisting it. If anyone happens to see that starting to change, we’re hoping they’ll say so.”

  “At least by anonymous letter,” Lorand added in a droll tone. “In someone else’s place, I don’t know if I’d be foolish enough to mention the point in person.”

  That comment made everyone around them laugh, which in turn eased a good deal of tension in the group. Jovvi knew it was impossible to ease nervous people with words alone, but a well-timed joke or two did the job rather effectively. Lorand had said just the right thing, and if they’d been alone she would have kissed him for it.

  “There’s someone here you need to meet, Dom Mohr,” Lorand continued when the laughter was done. “Once your people have regular shipments started on their way to this city again, we’ll have to pay for them quickly so our suppliers have confidence in us. Dom Ristor Ardanis and his people have been given the job of locating the funds of former nobles, to be used to keep the city fed and supplied. Their efforts have already shown results, so we’re ready for the first of the shipments.”

  Jovvi watched Mohr turn to take the hand Ristor Ardanis offered as he stepped forward, but the Guild High Master ended up shaking hands in a mechanical way. Mohr had begun to frown at the leader of those with Sight magic, a reaction Jovvi and Lorand had been expecting.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet someone who provides gold rather than takes it,” Mohr said to Ardanis, trying to recapture his good mood as he studied the shorter, rounder second man. “It may be indelicate of me to say this, but – May I ask which of the talents you have? I can’t seem to reach through… “

  “Your question is more understandable than indelicate,” Ardanis assured Mohr with one of those warm, beaming smiles the man was so good at producing. “There’s a reason why you’re unable to discern my talent, but I’m afraid that discussing the reason will spoil the surprise our new leaders have planned. They’ll get to it as soon as everyone has arrived, so there’s only a short time left to wait.”

  “Then it would be inexcusable of me to press the matter right now,” Mohr said with a better smile, showing those without Jovvi’s talent that the Guild’s High Master had reacted to Ardanis the way most people did. “If the wait is too long I may die of curiosity, but other than that – “

  “Excuse me,” a brisk female voice interrupted, addressing itself to Mohr. The woman who owned the voice was more than just brisk, and it was clear that she wasn’t really asking to be excused for anything. Jovvi studied the woman with interest, noting that the self-confidence she showed would have looked more at home in an older person. The newcomer was no more than in her middle thirties, with a faintly pretty face and a good figure.

  “Dama Zokill,” Mohr said, momentarily looking startled and blank. “I wasn’t expecting you quite this early… “

  “I’m sure you weren’t,” the woman Zokill replied, her smile the sort that withered plant-life. “And possibly you weren’t expecting me at all. By some odd happenstance my invitation to this gathering wasn’t delivered until an hour ago, leaving me no choice but to show up in ordinary clothing rather than the finery everyone else here is displaying. But at least I am here, so now I would appreciate an introduction to the people you claim should be our new leaders.”

  “I’m not the one making the claim, Dama Zokill,” Mohr tried to protest, glancing toward Jovvi and Lorand in embarrassment. “My Guild and I are in a position to know things others don’t, and for that reason we support – “

  “Yes, yes, I’ve already heard all that,” the woman interrupted again, gesturing aside the explanation. “But as with most things I become involved with, I’ll make up my own mind about just how fit your candidates are. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to be introduced to these people.”

  “Yes, of course,” Mohr muttered while Ristor Ardanis worked to hide his amusement. “Excellences, allow me to present Dama Rilna Zokill. Dama Zokill has become the representative of a group of women who – “

  “Not just women, Dom Mohr,” Zokill interrupted for the third time, actually speaking to Jovvi and Lorand rather than the man who had – reluctantly - introduced her. “I represent a large group of people, men as well as women, who feel that they haven’t had the same opportunities in life that others have had. My people make up a good part of those who live in this city, and we’d like to know what you mean to do for them.”

  “First you’ll have to tell us what kept those opportunities from your people,” Jovvi responded pleasantly while Lorand seemed at a loss for words. “If we’re talking about women who were passed over because they are women, I can understand the problem and will join with my Blendingmates to see that something is done to change matters. But if we’re talking about people who sit back and make no effort to get something for themselves, and then spend their time complaining about how life and other people just aren’t fair, we won’t be able to help you. We won’t make people give up what they’ve struggled for just because you have a more persistently loud voice than they do.”

  “Well, you don’t beat around the bush much, do you?” Zokill asked, studying Jovvi carefully with a neutral expression on her own face. “Is the rest of your bunch just as outspoken?”

  “Our lady of Spirit magic here is shy and retiring when compared to our lady of Fire,” Lorand supplied with amusement hidden from everyone but Jovvi. “We men are proud of our ladies, though, and therefore tend to support the things they feel strongly about. Are your people willing to join the training program we’ll be organizing?”

  “Training program?” Zokill echoed, glancing n
arrow-eyed at Mohr. “I haven’t heard about any training program.”

  “That’s because no one has heard the details about it yet,” Lorand said, saving Mohr from the woman’s accusation. “We’ll be assigning strong Middles to teach people how to make the most of their talents, and those who do well will be put to immediate use. Those who don’t do well through no fault of their own will have other positions offered to them, but those who don’t care to be bothered won’t be catered to.”

  “And I have a question about your group aims regarding women,” Jovvi said at once, giving Zokill time to do no more than open her mouth in response to what Lorand had told her. “Have any of your people looked into the situation of courtesans? I happen to know that a certain number of them aren’t working as courtesans by choice. What provision have you made to free the unwilling ones from what amounts to outright slavery?”

  “If we’re discussing women in difficulty, I have a question of my own,” a new voice added, Tamrissa’s, as she and Vallant had come up to join the group a moment earlier. “There are any number of women who were forced into marriage with men who are beasts. If someone is doing something about women’s problems in general, shouldn’t something be done about that?”

  “I – never expected any of you to be really interested,” Zokill blurted, trying not to look at Tamrissa with awe. “You’re Fire magic, I know, but you’re so strong… I never knew there could be such a difference… Are you really willing to support my group…?”

  Tamrissa took over the discussion, so Jovvi used the opportunity to move a few steps away from the cluster. The Zokill woman had been filled with frustrated hostility when she first joined them, probably from having her cause constantly dismissed by the men around her. Now that the proposed new rulers were showing more than a slight interest she was ecstatic, not to mention well on the way to regarding Tamrissa with hero worship. Jovvi needed a break from all those intense emotions coming from a large number of people in the room, but standing alone for a moment or two was the best she could do. Returning to the peace and quiet of her wing was entirely out of the question…

  “How about something to drink?” Lorand murmured as he came up to put an arm around her. “You look like you could use something fortifying.”

  “You know me much too well,” Jovvi returned with the smile that was his alone, putting a hand to his chest. “Yes, I certainly could use something to drink, but just fruit punch or tea. This isn’t the time for any of us to be even the least bit out of balance.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Lorand returned wryly, his own smile matching. “I never knew how easy it was to fall into the habit of fortifying yourself against constant stress on too often a basis. That means I’ll be joining you in the punch or tea idea, and I’ll also be right back.”

  Jovvi watched him move away toward the refreshment tables, now smiling to herself. Lorand wasn’t aware of the fact that every servant in their immediate vicinity was watching to see if the new rulers needed or wanted anything, so his going after drinks was unnecessary. One gesture on his part would have had the drinks brought to them, but that was all right. Lorand – and the rest of them – would get used to constant pampering eventually, which would probably be a shame…

  “Excuse me, Jovvi, but I must speak to you for a moment,” a male voice said, and Jovvi turned to see a man she didn’t really know. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and very handsome, and the agitation inside him shouted itself to her senses.

  “I’m Hargan Royd, a member of one of the Air magic link groups,” the man went on in a rush. “I’m also terribly nervous, but I can’t wait any longer to say what I need to. I think you’re the most wonderful woman I’ve ever seen, and I really admire you.” Then he took her hand with a soulful look. “And I’m also terribly in love with you.”

  The man Royd then kissed her hand before backing off with a bow and hurrying away. Jovvi stared after him with her brows high, but then she felt a small smile curve her lips. She hadn’t had strange men professing their love and admiration since she’d stopped being a courtesan, and the experience had lifted her spirits in a way that a glass of wine couldn’t have. The incident meant nothing, of course, except to give her a warm feeling…

  “Here’s your fruit punch,” Lorand said as he returned with two crystal cups, offering one of them to her. “And I swear that some of these servants are annoyed with me because I was about to fill the cups myself. You’d think I was trying to steal something.”

  “In a manner of speaking, you were trying to steal something,” Jovvi answered with amusement as she accepted the cup. “If we all start to do things for ourselves, we won’t need so many servants. To some of these people you were trying to steal their job.”

  “I hope the training program gets results really fast,” Lorand muttered, staring balefully at the servants moving around the room. “Once we expand the work force, most industries will flourish and new ones will grow up. Maybe then they’ll stop treating us like cripples.”

  Jovvi smiled as she sipped at her punch, making no effort to tell Lorand that he was indulging in wishful thinking. Too many people considered it outrageous for rulers to fend for themselves, which might even turn out to be a good thing. A little pampering couldn’t hurt anything, any more than a little admiration…

  Chapter 5

  Naran entered the ballroom on Rion’s arm, carefully keeping her expression neutral. When Ristor Ardanis, the leader of the hidden group with Sight magic, had spoken about her Blending’s future reign in glowing terms, Naran had been delighted and relieved. But this morning she’d been able to see past that glowing picture painted by someone else, and the landscape didn’t quite match. Yes, her Blending would make excellent rulers – if they ever managed to be Seated. There were so many shadows of other possible outcomes in the way that Naran couldn’t tell for certain…

  “Is something troubling you, my love?” Rion suddenly murmured as they walked toward where the others already were. “You seem quiet nearly to the point of being withdrawn."

  “I’m afraid that the last part of our announcements tonight won’t be accepted with the same enthusiasm that the link groups and other Blendings showed,” Naran told him with the best smile she felt able to produce. “I don’t want you to be upset when that happens, my love, not when people always take the announcement of extreme change rather badly. There will be a lot of shock and protest before those around us grow used to the idea of there being a sixth talent, so you mustn’t make a fuss.”

  “Is that why you made no mention of this difficulty sooner?” Rion asked, typically looking and sounding more hurt than angry. “Because you feared I would make a ‘fuss’?”

  “No, it was because I didn’t want to upset you sooner,” Naran returned firmly, holding his gaze to make him know she spoke the truth. “What gives you pain does the same for me, my love, and I know you’ll feel hurt when you think I’m being rejected as a part of our Blending. But those who speak against my kind will be frightened, Rion, and it takes time before fear can be conquered. Please, for my sake, give them that time before becoming angry and impatient.”

  “It remains a sad fact that I can refuse you nothing, my love,” Rion said with a sigh that made Naran smile. “If it’s patience you need, it’s patience you will have, even if I have to grit my teeth against speaking. I had not imagined that you would ever ask something this difficult of me.”

  “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask something a bit more difficult,” Naran replied, knowing well enough that Rion teased her in part. “Our brothers also need to restrain themselves, so you must speak to them before we begin the announcements. They won’t be pleased with what happens, but they’ll exercise the same patience if you ask them to.”

  “I assume you mean to speak to our sisters at the same time,” Rion said with another sigh, this one of resignation and full surrender. Naran had the impression that Rion had hoped Lorand and Vallant would do what he’d promised not to, and losin
g that option had brought him closer to real cooperation. “Jovvi will pose little or no problem, but Tamrissa is another matter.”

  “Actually, as far as I can tell, Tamrissa is the only one of us who is supposed to react differently,” Naran said, hearing the vexation in her own voice. “Much of what I saw this morning is clouded, but when I practiced with my link groups I was able to get a clearer peek or two. I have the impression that those with my talent are trying to protect us by not letting me see many details of what’s to come.”

  “Then it must be rather unpleasant but necessary,” Rion said, a musing expression now on his face. “What I wonder, though, is just who it’s most necessary for.”

  “Yes, I’ve been wondering the same,” Naran admitted with a bit of discomfort. “Those with Sight magic have had to stay hidden for so long that their need to be a full part of the outer world must be nearly overwhelming. I can understand being willing to pay any price to get what you need so badly, but I don’t care for the thought that our sacrifice might be part of that price.”

  Rion made no response other than growing a small frown, possibly remembering how the first Fivefold Blending had been sacrificed to keep the secret about Sight magic. It wasn’t an incident to dwell on, but it also shouldn’t be completely forgotten…

  By that time they had reached the place where Jovvi and Lorand stood, a short distance away from the small crowd near Tamrissa and Vallant. Rion, the dear, made no effort to hesitate in telling Lorand that he needed to ask a favor of him and Vallant. The two men moved on to where Vallant stood listening to the conversation Tamrissa was in the midst of, so Naran turned to Jovvi with a smile.

  “Rion wasn’t happy to hear that we would have trouble, but he agreed not to add to it,” Naran told Jovvi in a murmur. “He also agreed to ask Lorand and Vallant not to make a fuss.”