Intrigues

by Sharon Green

  The Lorand entity considered those various doings, then firmly took over the minds of the scattered flesh forms.

  - This will be the last time you perform an act of this sort, - the Lorand entity told the flesh forms, making the thought an order rather than a suggestion. – You will, however, make no attempt to sever ties with the organization to which you belong. Instead, you will make all reasonable efforts to discover the location of the leader or leaders of the organization. When you succeed you will seek out the captain of the palace guard, and tell that flesh form everything you have learned. -

  The flesh forms in the Lorand entity’s control acknowledged their instructions, then went back to the tasks they were in the middle of. The Lorand entity took one last look about, marking the locations where the weapons were being hidden, and then Lorand was an individual again.

  “I don’t believe the nerve of those people!” Tamrissa exclaimed at once, highly indignant. “And why isn’t that place being guarded against exactly what they’re doing?”

  “I suppose it isn’t being guarded because no one gave orders to have it guarded,” Jovvi suggested, her expression odd. “But isn’t anyone going to comment on what we did? In the beginning, I mean, to get to the amphitheater.”

  “Yes, that was rather strange, to say the least,” Rion accommodated her with his own wide-eyed expression. “I had no idea that our entity could just … decide to be somewhere and then be there instantly. Am I correct in assuming that this hasn’t happened before for the reason that we’ve never before known exactly where we were going?”

  “That or we weren’t before ready to do it,” Vallant put in, his own expression delighted. “It’s nice knowin’ the doin’ is possible, but I don’t see it helpin’ us much against that army.”

  “Because we don’t know the area where we’ll be facing the army,” Jovvi agreed with a nod. “But whatever we did to perform that little trick will be of great help when we do know where we’re going. If you haven’t noticed, it wasn’t necessary to draw strength from our link groups to go all the way to the amphitheater and back.”

  “I think there’s something else the rest of you haven’t noticed,” Lorand was finally able to say. Talk about being shaken…! “This time the entity was me, or I was the entity. That’s never happened before, and I’m not sure I like it.”

  “It is rather disconcerting,” Naran agreed with a sympathetic smile. “It happened to me last night, during the trouble at the party, and if we hadn’t been in the middle of so much else I would probably have been somewhat upset.”

  “When it happened to me in Widdertown, there was also too much going on for me to do more than mention it,” Tamrissa told Lorand with the same sort of supportive smile. “I haven’t really thought about it since, but I don’t remember it being all that bad.”

  “I found it downright pleasant,” Vallant said as Rion murmured something of the same. “We were in Collin’ Green and were about to be attacked at the time, and that was all I could think about.”

  “And my experience with it was during the confrontation with the Blendings from Astinda,” Jovvi said, closing the circle. “The experience was unexpected, but I didn’t find it particularly disturbing. Maybe that was because we almost lost Tamma… Was it really that bad for you, my love?”

  “Well, maybe not bad exactly,” Lorand conceded, the unsettling feeling of the experience beginning to fade. “I suppose the unexpectedness of it was what got me the most. Does this mean we’ve all now had a taste of the same thing? Apparently so, and that means the next question is: What comes next?”

  “I can answer that,” Tamrissa responded as she got up and headed for the tea service. “First we get to swallow a good deal more of this tea while we decide which of the strong Middles are going to start the first round of training classes while we’re gone. Then we’ll tell the people we’ve decided on that they’re nominated, after which we’ll tell the captain of our guard to expect one or more informers’ reports on the whereabouts of that man Ayl. Then we’ll talk about how many changes of clothing to take with us when we leave the city, and then we’ll discuss which of the associated Blendings to take as well. We’ll also have to think about how many link groups to take and the number of guardsmen, if any, and how many Astindans. Then I’ll get to burn up every last speck of that hilsom powder spread into the sand in the arena, while one of you others assigns guards to watch those seats in the stands where the bows were hidden. Once all that is done, we’ll have the time to wonder what, if anything, comes next in our experiences with the entity.”

  Lorand’s groan joined those from everyone else, a unanimous reaction to the long list of chores they had in front of them. Someone else would just have answered Lorand’s question by pointing out that they had very little time to worry about a next happening with the entity that might not even come about. Leave it to Tamrissa to be different, not to mention horribly detailed…

  Chapter 11

  Rion looked around at his brothers and sisters when they all met in the public area of the palace the next morning. The night of the party all the ladies had been beautifully gowned, including Naran, who had borrowed a gown from either Tamrissa or Jovvi. He and his brothers had been equally splendid in pastel-colored trousers and coats with complimentary shirts, their clothing being much more quickly produced by a small army of tailors.

  This morning, however, he and his brothers had chosen more soberly colored clothing, Vallant in blue with a white shirt, Lorand in brown with a pale yellow shirt, and Rion himself in gray with a light blue shirt. Naran had dressed in a new frock that had just been made for her, the material an eye-teasing shade that shifted from color to color as the light touched it in different ways. Tamrissa’s gown was an emphatic red trimmed with gold, a combination that seemed neither muted nor blazing. Jovvi, beside Tamrissa in a gentle off-white with pale blue and pale green trim, somehow managed to keep from being blotted out by Tamrissa’s gown color.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Jovvi announced as she looked around, pretending that they hadn’t seen each other yet this morning. “It seems that all of us are ready to go and face the music.”

  “As long as they understand that I’ll be doing my own dance step no matter what music they play,” Tamrissa said with more amusement than argumentativeness. “I think we all look marvelous, and the people who made this clothing for us deserve a bonus. And I think I’m going to love wearing riding dresses. What about you, Naran?”

  “Oh, I agree completely,” Naran replied with her own amusement as she stroked a hand down the material of her gown. “This will be much more comfortable than riding in an ordinary gown, and we have Jovvi to thank for telling us about it.”

  “Are you ladies certain you won’t change your minds?” Rion asked again, just as he had when they’d met earlier for breakfast – and a second examination of the amphitheater. “Arriving at the ceremony in coaches will give us a small amount of standing in the eyes of most of the people. Arriving mounted on horses won’t accomplish the same thing at all.”

  “But it will let everyone know that we aren’t the same sort of Blending they’ve gotten used to,” Tamrissa pointed out, just as she had earlier. “The sooner they understand that point really well, the better off we’ll be.”

  “I know you think we women are being disaccommodated for no reason, Rion, but it isn’t so,” Jovvi said, putting a gentle hand to his arm. “It is necessary to make this particular point, and I’ve learned to prefer riding a horse to riding in a coach. Tamma and Naran feel just the same about it, so please don’t worry that our dignity is being damaged.”

  “You see, love, I told you the others felt the way I do,” Naran chided Rion gently as he sighed and gave up his stance. “Everything will be fine, and better than fine.”

  Rion exchanged glances with Lorand and Vallant, their expressions telling him that he hadn’t had a prayer of changing the minds of the ladies. He’d known the same, but he’d still had to
try. He’d been able to throw off most of what he’d been taught while growing up with the woman who had claimed to be his mother, but treating women in the proper way wasn’t part of what had been discarded. Nor would it ever be, if he had anything to say about the matter…

  The hovering servants all about were finally able to begin accompanying them when Jovvi and Lorand moved off up the corridor that led to the palace entrance. Rion waited until Tamrissa and Vallant had followed before bringing up the rear with Naran, his misgivings submerged rather than erased. He hadn’t argued for his point of view as strongly as he could have, most especially not when the discussion first began.

  The morning began with a surprise when Vallant and Tamrissa suddenly appeared in Rion’s wing, but not through the usual route. Vallant had been studying the map he’d gotten from his servants, and somehow had discovered a secret underground corridor that linked all the wings. The corridor had been heavy with dust, showing that it hadn’t been used in quite some time, but that hadn’t stopped them all from using it to reach Lorand’s wing. Jovvi had been there when they’d arrived, and they’d all had a very pleasant breakfast in Lorand’s dining room as they praised Vallant’s cleverness.

  But Rion hadn’t done more than echo what everyone else said, his mind far too distracted with private thoughts. He’d had a dream last night, an odd and oddly disturbing dream, and he’d been trying to bring back enough details of the dream to let him understand it. There had been something about being part of the Blending entity, a now-familiar situation that shouldn’t have been disturbing in the least. But there had also been something else, and that was what Rion couldn’t quite remember…

  “Have you decided to walk instead of ride, my love?” Naran asked suddenly, bringing Rion back to the world around him. A single glance showed that Naran and the others were already outside and mounted, and only he stood staring rather than doing.

  “Possibly I should walk, my love, to teach me not to let my mind wander,” Rion responded with a smile that was a bit shame-faced. “I apologize for making everyone wait, and I’ll be with you in an instant.”

  He turned to his own horse then, and if he wasn’t mounted in an instant it didn’t take very much longer. Once he was settled in his saddle he could see that their escort of guardsmen was also ready, but rather than joining the others in heading for the palace gates, Jovvi moved her horse close to his.

  “Rion, something seems to be bothering you,” Jovvi said softly as their mounts moved along with the others. “Is there anything I can help with?”

  “Not really,” Rion told her with the best smile he was able to produce, leaning over to pat her hand in thanks. “I’ve been trying to remember the dream I had last night, but my memory isn’t cooperating. Something like that is very frustrating.”

  “Yes, I do know how that goes,” Jovvi agreed with relief clear in her lovely smile. “You feel as though you have the answer to every question in the world, if only you could remember it. I’ve experienced the same myself more than once.”

  “Well, this is the first time I’ve gone through it, and I’d be quite satisfied to have it be the last,” Rion assured her, making a deliberate effort to pull away from pointless distraction. “And later we must discuss again the matter of how we attend public functions. Tamrissa’s point does need to be made, but at the same time we really must be aware of the prejudices of others. If we want to be treated as leaders of the empire, we really must begin to act like leaders.”

  “I … think you may have a valid point of your own,” Jovvi allowed slowly after a moment of thought before bringing her gaze back to him. “We really will have to discuss it more thoroughly later.”

  Rion nodded, then gave his attention to their surroundings as they all rode through the gates opened by the guardsmen stationed there. Outside the gates there were a respectable number of people to both sides of the road, ordinary people who stared open-mouthed as they watched the party leaving the palace grounds. They’d probably hoped to get a glimpse of their new leaders as the coaches passed, and were more than a little surprised when there were no coaches.

  That thought annoyed Rion a bit, but it was more a matter of self-annoyance. Tamrissa did have a point about letting people know they would be different as a Blending, but there should have been some acceptable compromise that would have done little or no harm to the image of the position. If he had ignored the distraction of a foolish dream and put his mind to the problem…

  The next moment Rion became aware of something odd in the air about them, a faint … acrid sharpness in a handful of places that shouldn’t have been there. He really had no idea what it could be, but seeing Lorand stiffen in his saddle made it clear that quick action would be necessary. With the speed of thought Rion thickened the air around the members of their entire procession, and his effort was only just in time.

  Rounded, cloudy jars were suddenly hurled in their direction from the handful of places he’d noticed a moment earlier, jars that brought the sharp smell tainting the air immediately closer. The missiles were, for the most part, aimed at the six people leading the procession, and the jars cracked open when they came in contact with the invisible but solid wall of air. The contents of the jars splashed back in the direction of the watching crowds, and there were outcries of pain as those who had hurled the jars scrambled to escape the area.

  “Catch as many of those back-stabbers as you can!” Vallant shouted to the guardsmen escort, pointing to the running men. “Just don’t hurt anybody innocent while you’re doin’ it.”

  “Vallant, quick, help me!” Lorand shouted as he dismounted and headed for the nearest person screaming in pain. “Those wax jars held etching acid, and these people have to have it washed off them as fast as possible.”

  Vallant nodded as he also dismounted, and a heartbeat later there were torrents of water pouring over the seven people who had been splashed with the acid. Rion had already dissolved his wall, of course, and he watched all around as Lorand went from victim to victim, healing their burns as best he could. The guardsmen left in their escort were frantic, of course, babbling something about how the Excellences had to get themselves to safety, but not one of their six paid attention to the advice.

  “I think I’m beginning to be really furious,” Naran said in what was an actual growl, a tone which startled Rion. “I should have foreseen this, but my Sight is still being interfered with. What’s wrong with those people?”

  “Obviously we’re still being tested,” Tamrissa said in a matching growl from her place to Naran’s left, clearly understanding that the people Naran meant were those with her ability. “They don’t seem to care how many innocent bystanders get hurt as long as they find out whatever it is they’re still curious about. I think I’ll have a short talk with Dom Ristor Ardanis the next time I see him.”

  Tamrissa sat her horse as she glared about, very clearly looking for someone to take her anger out on. Jovvi had joined Lorand and was helping to ease the wounded, and everyone else in the modestly sized crowd seemed to be unusually silent. Two of those who had thrown jars were screaming after being caught and were in the midst of being dragged toward the palace gates for the duty guardsmen to see to. The rest – and the guardsmen chasing them – had disappeared, and Rion silently wished the pursuers good luck. Fanatics were a danger to everyone, and needed to be caught and stopped as quickly as possible.

  It took a few moments of intense effort, but at the end of the time the wounded were no longer screaming in pain. All seven of the victims, five men and two women, sat together on the ground with friends or family hovering nervously near, and even their color had returned almost to normal. Lorand was an excellent healer, and when he finally stepped back from the last of those who needed his attention an odd thing happened.

  The silence that had been thick with all sorts of overtones and undertones was suddenly broken as people began to cheer. The cheering intensified as clapping and foot-stamping was added, and a heavy
man with a big smile on his face stepped forward from the smaller group around the victims.

  “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself,” the man said loudly in more educated accents than Rion would have expected from the look of him. “We’ve actually got a Blending that cares more about ordinary people than they do about themselves. You really shouldn’t have stopped to help, not with crazies out to get you, but we’re all very glad you did. For what you did to ease my wife and son – and everyone else – you have my deepest thanks.”

  Quite a lot of people seemed to have heard the man, as the crowd cheered even more loudly after he finished speaking. Lorand, Jovvi, and Vallant were smiling as they remounted their horses, and when Lorand looked in his direction Rion knew what he wanted.

  “Please, thanks aren’t necessary,” Lorand told everyone with one hand held up, his voice amplified through Rion’s efforts with the air. “These people were hurt because of us, so just riding off wasn’t possible.”

  “It woulda been more’n possible fer th’ nobles,” someone shouted, and the comment was echoed by many voices. “Yer folks like us, real folks, an’ about time we got ya.”

  That second comment was cheered even more loudly, so Lorand simply smiled again, waved, and then led off up the road. Rion and everyone else followed, the guardsmen finally looking a bit more relieved. The cheering people got happily out of their way, and in just a few minutes they’d left the scene of the attack behind.

  “I hate it when people have backup plans,” Tamrissa grumbled from where she rode beside Vallant, just ahead of Rion and Naran. Her anger hadn’t lessened much, and Rion suspected that the cheering had added to her temper. Those people had been so sincerely grateful…