Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress XXIII

by Waters, Elisabeth

  She fell silent and moved her hand away from Laurel's head about twelve inches. Melisande stepped back and circled Laurel at a cautious distance, holding her open palm about a foot away from Laurel's body. "Your hair," she said finally, frowning in bewilderment. "It's your hair. There's a... feeling about it that's different. But that doesn't make sense. What have you done to it?"

  "N-nothing," said Laurel, struggling for a degree of calm. She took a fold of her sleeve and blotted her cheek. "I've been working in my office all afternoon." She waved a hand. "Oh, I'm planning to color my hair black for the opening of the exhibition next week, but I'll do that with a glamour. Today's been just paper pushing. No magic at all."

  For some reason Melisande was turning pale. Slowly she said, "Why would you be coloring it black?"

  Laurel smiled weakly. "It seems appropriate. Black hair, red silk dress with mandarin collar, fan, you know. Call it playing dress-up, call it being culturally cooperative, whatever; I just thought it might be something nice to do."

  "Um." Her sister-in-law put an index finger to her lip, pensive, and gazed at Laurel.

  After a moment of silence, Laurel's curiosity finally overcame the last remnants of her emotional outburst earlier. "Okay, what? Is there a problem with the idea?" Her sister-in-law shook her head, and she continued. "Then what are you staring at?"

  "Your hair," Melisande answered. "It turned black just now—while you were talking about it."

  * * * *

  "You're joking!" Laurel said, and went to the mirror in the cottage's entryway. Sure enough, she was no longer the blonde that she had been that morning. "But how?"

  The door opened behind her, and she felt strong arms encircling her and lips nuzzling her ear as a voice whispered, "Hello, beloved. I've missed you so much today!"

  Well, now, this was something new. "I've missed you too, brother dear. But your wife is over there."

  Stephen stiffened and released Laurel as if she had suddenly sprouted porcupine quills. "Wha—?" He stared across the room at Melisande, who giggled and waved at him. "My word. It appears we have two raven-haired beauties in the family. How did this come about?"

  "We have no idea," his wife replied. "It happened just a few minutes ago."

  "I... see," Stephen said, hanging up his cloak. "No, I don't. Not a bit. That is peculiar." He deposited his portfolio on a side table. "As much as I'd like to look into it, though, might it wait until after dinner? Frankly, I'm starved—and class went overtime again this morning, so I didn't make it to the dining commons."

  Melisande humphed. "And whose fault is that? It's your class; if you don't dismiss it, what do you expect? I should make you cook dinner yourself as punishment." When Stephen said nothing, she relented. "Oh, all right. I'd just have to throw away what I already made, and that would be a waste."

  As they made their way to the dining area, she added, "Don't worry, Laurel, we'll figure out what's going on, one way or another. Maybe it's something that can be fixed easily."

  * * * *

  The day of the Exhibition's opening arrived, and the crowds were every bit as large as its organizers had hoped. Stephen, Melisande, Laurel, and Edward roamed the mammoth exhibition hall, awestruck at the finery before them. Laurel had seen the likeness of each item included with the import documents, of course, but the images couldn't do justice to the reality. Perhaps it was merely the exotic nature of the pieces—after all, armor was armor and a sword was a sword, no matter what style they might be made in—and perhaps if she saw an everyday version of the same thing she wouldn't be nearly so impressed. As it was, though, every one of these artifacts proclaimed that it was the property of an Emperor.

  Laurel had not managed to convince any of the others to go along with her in imitating Chinese dress; nonetheless, they had to admit that hers suited her quite well. "You'll have to be careful," Stephen had said. "When the exhibits return home they might take you back with them!"

  While Stephen and Edward examined a case containing a scroll written by a court magician from the Ch'in Dynasty, Laurel and Melisande admired a terra cotta warrior sculpture from the same era. As they marveled at the detail of the soldier's facial features—indeed, he seemed to be an actual warrior who had been transformed into earthenware—a voice behind them said in Mandarin, "Excuse me. May I ask who you are?"

  They turned around to see a middle-aged Chinese woman in western garb, accompanied by two men who were rather more massive than the typical Chinese male. When she saw their faces, she said in surprised English, "I beg your pardon! I had not realized—Please forgive me. I had thought you were of our homeland rather than of Albion. I did not mean offense."

  Laurel answered in Mandarin, "Please do not be concerned. No offense was taken." For Melisande's benefit, she continued in English. "I am Laurel, Senior Import Clerk, and this is my sister-in-law, Melisande. How might we assist you?"

  The other woman's fluster receded somewhat, but her confusion remained. "I am Nianying, if you please, assistant to the curator of the Emperor's Treasures. I could not help but wonder, how is it that you have a blue halo around your head?"

  Laurel and Melisande were both taken aback. "A what?"

  "A halo, is that the correct word? A nimbus, a cloud of light? I am a Perceptive; I see things about people that others do not. And I see your head surrounded by a glow."

  Melisande looked at Laurel and chuckled. "A halo, eh?"

  Laurel laughed as well. "This is the closest anyone's ever come to accusing me of being angelic."

  Melisande turned back to Nianying. "If I understand you correctly, I have the same gift as you—we use the term 'Sensitive.' But I don't see this halo you speak of."

  Nianying paused to consider this. "Perhaps it is because you are unfamiliar with the phenomenon and thus do not know what to see. Would you take my hand, please?" Melisande did, and Nianying continued, "Now, please, look again."

  "Hmm. I still don't—Wait. There is a difference." Melisande continued studying the bemused Laurel, and said, "Goodness!"

  "You see it, then?"

  "I certainly do," Melisande answered. Then to Laurel, she said, "Like a bright cloud of robin's-egg blue, hovering behind your head, or maybe around it, I can't tell for sure. Perhaps you'd better get measured for wings after all."

  "Wait," said Laurel. "Nianying, you said we were unfamiliar with this. Does that mean you do know what's causing it?"

  The other woman replied slowly, "I... know one thing that could cause it... but I did not expect to see it outside of our homeland. Tell me, please: have you been chosen to be a Servant?"

  Laurel and Melisande looked at each other and shrugged. "Er... at the College we learn that we are chosen servants," Melisande said slowly. "We do what we can to fill that role. Is that what you mean?"

  "I do not know," Nianying said. She paused, and then, as if deciding to try again, she said, "You see here," waving her arm at all the exhibits, "the Lesser Treasures of our Emperor, the Son of Heaven. But there are also the Greater Treasures, which do not leave China. Each is attended by a Servant, who helps it to fulfill its proper task. The Servant is blessed with long life by the gods, and holds a special place in the hearts of the Emperor and his people."

  Melisande thought about that. "I see. No, that's not what I meant. But we do have the sort of people you speak of; we call them Guardians. My husband and I have three of them as mentors."

  "Wait a second," said Laurel. "Are you saying that I'm a Guardian?"

  "Not yet," said Nianying. "If that is what I see, then you have been chosen to be a Servant but have not submitted to that choice. If you have Greater Treasures in Albion, which of them has chosen you?"

  Again Laurel and Melisande looked at each other. "All the ones we know of have Guardians already," said Melisande. "And as far as I know, they're all in good health—the Guardians, that is. The treasures are well taken care of."

  At this, Nianying seemed troubled. "There is one possibility, but it seems unlike
ly. Twenty-six days ago, in the Forbidden City, the servant of the—I suppose the best translation is 'Scholar's Pin'—died after a millennium of life. The Emperor chose a young woman to replace her, but she has not yet submitted to the choice. She was engaged to marry a young man of her province, and did not wish to enter that union knowing that they would not live and grow old together. When I left to come here with the exhibits, she still had not submitted."

  Melisande chuckled. "'Submitted.' Huh. It sounds as though becoming a 'servant' is tantamount to a marriage."

  "It has been compared to such, yes. That is another reason she is reluctant."

  "I see. But that doesn't sound like anything that affects us—"

  "Wait," said Laurel. "Nianying, this 'Scholar's Pin'—what does it look like?"

  "It is the counterpart of the Warrior's Pin: a hairpin, made of silver. From the end it appears round. There is an inscription along its length, and a loop at one end—"

  "I think," said Laurel, looking at Melisande, "we have our answer." She reached back and removed the pin from her hair, which fell haphazardly to her shoulders. Showing the pin to Nianying, she said, "Is this it?"

  Nianying's eyes grew wide, and before Laurel and Melisande knew what was happening, she and her two attendants were bowing deeply to Laurel. "Please accept our reverence, O Daughter of Heaven! We did not know—"

  "Hey, hold it right there!" said Laurel. "I'm not an angel and I'm certainly not God! Stand up!"

  "But this is appropriate," said Nianying with a hint of sternness to her tone. "When you are trained in the Forbidden City, you will learn what is done and what is not done—"

  "Trained? In the Forbid— Do you mean I have to go to China for the rest of my life?" Laurel was thunderstruck.

  Nianying was puzzled. "Of course you will. That is what is done."

  "And I'm going to live for a thousand years, and never see home again? No!"

  "I do not understand," said Nianying. "This is a supreme honor. The gods surely know your mind, that you are a great scholar, and they have given you this gift."

  "I know, but—wait a minute. Great scholar? I may be precocious, but that's hardly the same thing."

  Melisande interjected, "Laurel, don't be silly. You're an excellent student. We know it even if you don't. And this is not only an honor, it's an opportunity. You've enjoyed your Chinese studies, right? Here's a chance to—"

  She stopped suddenly. "Oh, no. Stephen. The Ordeal."

  Laurel blanched. "The geas! I couldn't go to China if I wanted to."

  Melisande fixed her with a look. "Do you really not want to? At all?"

  "Well... " She paused. "Look, if anyone had told me at any other time that I could find a good job in China, let alone an Imperial post, I'd be all over it. Yes. But... but not if I can't ever come home again! How would you like it if someone decided you couldn't ever see Stephen again?"

  "That's different—but okay, I see what you mean."

  Nianying asked, "What is this 'gayas'?"

  Laurel explained the College's course of study, the final Ordeal, and the magical bond that kept Laurel in the capital city until Stephen should pass his—which at the moment appeared unlikely.

  "That will not do," said Nianying. "You must live in the Forbidden City. The Pin must return home. So must its Servant."

  "Can no one leave the City?" Melisande asked thoughtfully. "Can the Pin's Guardian never travel?"

  "It has never been done before. The Treasure... "

  "Our Treasures are kept safe, but their Guardians are free to move about if necessary. Lord Logas and Lady Sarras are out of the city even now, looking into a matter in the north country, and their Treasures are well taken care of. Again, I ask: Can this not be the case in China?"

  Nianying spluttered, "In four thousand years it has never—"

  "In four thousand years things can change. We have travel options that we did not have a century ago, and Laurel need not be separated from the Pin for very long. Might this not work?"

  This time Nianying paused. "I shall ask those who know."

  Melisande turned to Laurel. "And we too can travel, don't forget." To Nianying she asked, "Unless the Forbidden City is forbidden to the Guardian's family also?"

  The other woman reflected. "I truly do not know. It is forbidden to most. But the Servant is held in high esteem, not far from that of the Son of Heaven himself. This may not be impossible."

  Laurel broke in, "But the geas! How—?"

  "Do you think Grandmother would lift it for this?" Melisande asked.

  Laurel snorted. "Not for all the tea in—uh, sorry. There is no way she would do that. She's decided that Stephen has to have his Senior rank, and that means the Ordeal. There's no getting around it."

  "I didn't think so," Melisande said. "Nianying, we need to talk."

  * * * *

  "And that's the story," Laurel said to Stephen and Edward. Along with Melisande and Nianying, they sat on benches placed in the center of the room, provided so that people could rest their aching feet between studying the exhibits. "It seems the Guardian-designate doesn't want the job, so she hid the Pin in one of the crates headed for Albion, probably thinking that it would delay the situation. Which might also have happened because the influences that govern the Pin didn't want her anyway. The Pin wants me."

  Stephen frowned. "But what about the geas?"

  "That's the problem. It has to be broken, and quickly. And you know Grandmother will never lift it, so you have to pass the Ordeal."

  "But that's impossible," Stephen said. "I can't do magic, so I can't do the practicum."

  "Look," Laurel said. "Lord Logas and the Order of Saint Luke took care of the physical damage Edward did. That's history. We just have to figure out the para-physical factors that are blocking your magic. And we need to do it fast."

  Edward protested, "But that's what we've been trying to do for almost a year now! Diet, classroom environment, possible counteragents—we've even looked at the weather patterns around the University, and nothing has worked yet!"

  Nianying broke in. "This is nonsense. The Servant must return to China with the Pin. Everything else is of lesser importance."

  Stephen fixed her with a hard glare. "Look, lady. I'm sorry you haven't been able to hold on to your Treasure, but this is a family matter!"

  "It is an Imperial matter. The Servant is part of the Emperor's family now."

  Edward murmured, "Uh, Stephen, you're talking to a representative of the Emperor here. Are you sure you want to start an international incident?"

  Stephen turned to Melisande. "What do you say in all this?"

  She took his hand and smiled at him. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you. All the way."

  Laurel broke in. "Look, Stephen. We have to decide this, and we have to decide it now!"

  At that moment several things happened, so quickly that in the blur of motion no one could tell which came first and which followed, even though afterwards the logical order was quite clear.

  A siren's wail ripped through the hum of conversation in the hall.

  Those who were looking in the proper direction saw that the case that had held the terra cotta warrior was now empty.

  As everyone looked around them, wondering what had gone wrong, Melisande let go of Stephen's hand, rose to her feet, and backed away from the group.

  A roar echoed throughout the hall, bouncing off the walls and terrifying the attendees to within an inch of their lives.

  Through a doorway charged the earthen statue, no longer standing at attention but running as if to battle, swinging a sword over its head and heading straight for Melisande.

  Stephen reached over and behind his head, made a peculiar movement with his thumb and third and fourth fingers, shouted a phrase in Hebrew, and, like a Colonial pitcher firing a fastball, flung his hand out toward the rampaging warrior, which exploded into a thousand shards of pottery.

  The siren stopped. Silence blanketed the room. Everyone looked
around them, wondering just what in the world had happened. One by one, bits of puzzled conversation commenced. Stephen, Melisande, and Edward stared at the pile of terra cotta fragments that had been a charging soldier.

  "Ooooh boy," said Edward. "You get to tell the Emperor you broke his doll."

  Stephen said nothing.

  Melisande grabbed him around the waist and held him tight. He turned and clasped her in a fervent embrace.

  Behind him, Laurel commented, "Well, brother dear. It looks like the Goliath Maneuver still works."

  Edward turned to stare at Stephen. "What was that?"

  Stephen slowly shook his head. "I... don't know. A freak weather pattern?"

  "Horse feathers," said Laurel. "You have your magic back and didn't admit it even to yourself."

  "Pegasus," said Stephen absently.

  "What?" said Laurel, nonplussed.

  "Pegasus had horse feathers."

  Laurel punched him in the arm. "I'll Pegasus you! So when's the Ordeal?"

  Stephen let go of his wife. "Wait a minute." Going over to the remains of the fallen soldier, he said, "From what I saw, this thing blew up. So why aren't the pieces all over the room?"

  He looked at Melisande, who grinned and nodded to Laurel. The latter shrugged and gestured; the terra cotta soldier reappeared in its display case, and on the floor sat one of Nianying's attendants, slowly picking himself up, rubbing his chest, and giving Stephen a not-too-friendly look.

  "Because I can only cover so much space at once," Laurel replied.

  "Well, there you are," said Edward. "They don't call her the 'glamour queen' for nothing."

  Stephen glared at his sister. "I suppose I should be grateful to you. But frankly, I'm ready to spit nails. Just what on God's green earth did you think you were doing?"

  His sister glared right back. "If you're really asking—" She ticked them off on her fingers. "One, we verbally knocked you around so you wouldn't have time to think. Two, we scripted it so that Melisande would support you and then get attacked, so you'd be sure to defend her, Prince Charming. Three, we had the siren go off to stir up the chaos even more. Four, we were sure your daily magic form exercises would kick in, and you'd go through the proper motions. And five, we made the attacker nonhuman so you wouldn't hit it with something lethal!" She smiled sweetly. "Any questions?"