Hearts and Swords: Four Original Stories of Celta

by Robin D. Owens

  “Mo-ther,” the younger woman said in tones that had been used throughout time.

  “Sed-wy, we must rehabilitate your reputation. You’ve only been back in Druida for a week and already the old scandal is talked of. This assignment will help you.”

  “And unlike other nobles, Walker Clover might not know of my reputation,” Sedwy said with a touch of bitterness.

  Four

  Walker racked his memory to recall any gossip about Sedwy. Nope, he knew nothing, couldn’t remember any scandalous sexual affairs. More’s the pity.

  “Just think,” D’Grove said. “As a liaison between Walker and the Clover Family and the rest of us, you will be able to observe the Clovers, might even be invited to Clover Compound.”

  Hesitation, then, “I won’t be your spy,” Sedwy continued.

  Sure she would, Walker figured. She was already losing, and she knew it.

  Walker liked her attitude. She wouldn’t be smoothly humoring him. As for him, it would be interesting to fence with Sedwy Grove, whom her mother wanted to marry off to him and who was reluctant...but found him and his Family intriguing.

  He’d learn all he could from her about the nobles, the NobleCouncil, the FirstFamilies and their Council. That knowledge would serve him well in protecting his Family, climbing up the ladder of success until the Clovers were solidly noble.

  He felt more in control.

  He was a quick study.

  But contemplating Sedwy, he might not be that quick in learning, might need a lot of tutoring. Impulsively, he strode to the stairs down to the oval hall, ran down them quietly until the last few steps. Then he made sure his footsteps echoed through the room.

  The women turned his way. He moved forward to them. Sedwy was even more gorgeous up close than from afar. Her lush figure was staggering. What’s more, her blue green eyes were heavy-lidded, adding sensuality to her appearance.

  He stopped, pretending he wasn’t struck still by her beauty, and bowed to the older woman, forced proper words to his tongue. “Merry meet, FirstFamily GrandLady D’Grove.” He gave Sedwy a slightly lesser bow. “GrandMistrys Grove. I am Walker Clover.”

  “The Ashes informed you we were here?” D’Grove asked. Her gaze went to the half wall of the gallery above. Probably thinking that she and her daughter might have been overheard.

  “Indeed,” Walker said. “I believe they said that the GrandMistrys could help me with my recent status upgrade.”

  Sedwy’s eyes had narrowed, also focusing on the gallery.

  “And you do need help,” D’Grove said bluntly. “Your bow was good, but not correct. It was the bow of a Commoner man to a FirstFamily lady who has been Captain of All Councils of Celta.”

  He’d learned that bow from the Hollys while he was training at The Green Knight. Knew it was elegant—more elegant than T’Ash’s. Walker kept his face bland, raised a brow.

  D’Grove gestured to Sedwy. She smiled at him and he strove to keep his expression impassive.

  Sedwy said, “You are no longer a Commoner man, Walker Clover. You are a GrandLord. GrandLord Clover.”

  It was the first time someone had addressed him by his title, and the words prickled through him. Something he’d never wanted.

  In a persuasive voice, D’Grove said, “The FirstFamilies Council thought that your inclusion in our ranks would be easier if you had a liaison. My daughter Sedwy has volunteered for the position. We would be pleased if you’d accept her advice while you get to know us.”

  A mouthful of mis-speech. “Thank you. I’m honored.” Nodded to Sedwy. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” She’d flushed at her mother’s fib.

  “That’s settled,” D’Grove said. She smiled again, and it was interesting that her expression was more sincere than her words. Walker fumbled with his Flair to gauge her feelings—she did like him. Furthermore, she was glad that he found Sedwy attractive, was hopeful.

  D’Grove wore the same sort of smile that Uncle Pink had when he’d closed a good bargain for the Family. “Congratulations,” D’Grove said, “your official status will be determined after you take the Nobility Examination, but I’d imagine you’d be somewhere in the middle of that rank. Your Flair is stronger than some of the older GrandHouses who have been declining for centuries.”

  That thought just reminded him why they were here. So their Family wouldn’t decline. The idea ground in his head like a screeching gear.

  “Thank you for the correction.”

  Sedwy blinked as if surprised. “You don’t sound as arrogant as a GrandLord.”

  “Or as a man who might someday be the Captain of All Councils of Celta,” D’Grove said.

  Sedwy gasped, and her mother patted her shoulder. D’Grove’s sharp gaze stayed on Walker.

  He managed an amused smile. “T’Ash told me that my Flair results might lead me that way.”

  “The potential is there,” D’Grove said. “I’m sure your Family knows, too.”

  Walker kept the smile but lost the sincerity. “Everyone at Clover Compound is excited at our rise to the nobility. Big party tonight.”

  Curiosity flashed in Sedwy’s gaze.

  D’Grove narrowed her eyes. “I wonder when the newssheets will have the information.”

  “A reporter or two might even be waiting outside T’Ash’s gates,” D’Grove said.

  He chuckled. “Well outside. T’Ash still has a formidable reputation.”

  D’Grove lifted her chin. “That doesn’t always stop them.”

  Rolling a shoulder, he added, “None of the members of the newssheets Families have animal companions, which are pretty much regulated by D’Ash. Not many people want to alienate her, either.”

  D’Grove’s own expression went flat. Sedwy’s mobile face went still. A sore point for them, Fams. And he knew just how to change that.

  He bowed again, this time an inclination of a torso that he’d been told could be used at any time during a conversation with nobles. “Why don’t we go to the Fam adoption rooms and see who we can match with you?” He offered his best smile.

  Both women’s eyes opened wide.

  “You can do that?” Sedwy said on a rush of breath.

  Walker grinned. “I’ve been a member of this household for six years. T’Ash and I are allies.” He raised his brows and glanced at Sedwy. “I believe it is common for other nobles to bestow gifts upon those newly ennobled?” Gifts, Walker hoped, that didn’t include marriage contracts.

  Sedwy nodded. “That’s true.”

  He stepped between them, touched their elbows, and indicated the hallway that led through the house to D’Ash’s office suite and the Fam adoption room.

  The women’s auras surrounded him, and he sensed their interest, their excitement. Sedwy’s nearly fizzed.

  Everyone wanted a telepathic animal companion. He did, too. The only one in his Family to have one was Trif Winterberry. She had a cat that nearly ruled Clover Compound. Though her husband had a fox, that Fam ruled a den outside the compound.

  Walker opened the door to D’Ash’s suite for the ladies, saw D’Ash herself there, sitting behind the reception desk. She nodded to them, said, “I have some veterinary appointments.” She was the animal Healer of Celta. The only one, though it appeared as if one of her sons had inherited the Flair.

  “Ah, D’Ash.” He sent her his most charming smile. “You’ve known D’Grove for some years, and GrandMistrys Grove has been here for a while this morning. Long enough for you to be able to match her to a Fam, I’m sure.” He gave a self-deprecating shrug. “And I’ve always wanted a Fam.

  Now that I’m a noble, and the Head of my Household, I think I’ll need the companionship.”

  D’Ash softened as he knew she would. Oh, very well, came her voice in his mind.

  Walker simply froze. He’d never heard clear telepathic words. The sensation might have had him running, if he could move, and if Danith didn’t sound like the woman he’d interacted with daily for ye
ars. The hint of exasperation came through, sounding just as if she’d spoken aloud. He analyzed everything about the three words, decided the sensation wasn’t any more intimate than if a friend had whispered to him.

  Yet a shiver slipped down his spine. Before he moved, Danith was gesturing to a door on her right. “Ladies, please go into the Fam adoption room and meet the companions there.” She smiled at him. “I need to talk to Walker of his own Fam.”

  Walker watched the women leave. More particularly, he watched the sway of Sedwy’s hips.

  He dimly sensed anticipation, but when he tried to deduce how many animals were currently in the room, he couldn’t.

  His Flair was for people, not Fams, a relief. In this area he was just as he’d always been, with no Flair to impinge on his previous experiences and turn them strangely intense.

  As soon as the door had closed behind the Groves, D’Ash said, “Fams for both of them, Walker?”

  “That’s right.”

  D’Ash narrowed her eyes. “You’re up to something, Walker Clover.”

  He smiled. “Sure.”

  D’Ash stared at him thoughtfully. “You’re much more you, now, Walker.”

  “And that means?”

  “Less subtle.”

  “I don’t think the FirstFamilies appreciate subtle.”

  “Of course they do. And that’s what you’re going to do, aren’t you? Have a bold, confident manner and be scrutinizing and maneuvering subtly all the while.” She shook her head. “Better you than me.”

  “You don’t have to maneuver. Your Family is set.”

  Danith leaned forward. “Your cuz, Mitchella, is my best friend. We would never let anything hurt you Clovers.”

  “Maybe not you or T’Ash, or Mitchella’s husband, T’Blackthorn, or their children. But what of two, three generations from now? Whatever I do now, in these first years, will set the course for my Family.”

  Silence for a long minute.

  “This is going to be tough on you, isn’t it?” Danith asked.

  Walker shrugged. “No choice.”

  “No, but I can make it better for you by giving you a Fam. And if you think Fams for the Groves will help you, they’ll get animal companions. Let me think a bit.” She was still. He knew that look, she was using her Flair. She could probably sense the Fams beyond the door, how they were interacting with the Groves.

  This moment was nearly like a regular day. The wrenching pain that he’d never be back, doing what he loved, but instead becoming a noble lord, was so huge and black he strode blindly to a chair against the wall and sank into it.

  A few deep breaths later, he had a handle on himself, even though he still felt as if he were alone on a raft that was thrashing through tumbling white water. Heading for rapids.

  D’Ash made a humming noise. Smiling faintly, she stood, not seeming to notice Walker was unsteady. If he could maintain his facade before her and T’Ash, he could do it before any other noble.

  “D’Grove will be easy. I have someone for Sedwy to bond with, but not in the adoption room. He’s ready to leave his mother.”

  Walker cleared his throat. Danith chuckled. “The Fam I chose for you is a young fox who needed seasoning. He’s with Winterberry’s Fam, Vertic. He might be a little wild and will need a bit of socialization before—”

  “Danith, I’m very good at socializing wild young ones.” Walker stood, grounded again.

  “Oh, that’s right.” She grinned. “My children are examples. I’ll send Argut to you.”

  “A Clover name.”

  “Yes. He was meant to be yours all the time.”

  Walker bent and brushed her temple with a kiss. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now for Sedwy’s Fam.” Danith went down a short hallway, through an examination room, and into the nonpublic space. “My latest experiment in genetics.”

  Walker winced.

  “I’m definitely increasing their Flair with every generation.”

  His steps lagged. He was sure that she wasn’t poking his sore point on purpose.

  “They only had minimal Flair when I first started the breeding program, but after several years of working with them, I’ve developed some very good, Flaired Fams.” She opened another door, glanced up at the mask he kept over his expression.

  “Uh-oh.” Turning, she hugged him quickly. “No one has been experimenting with the Clovers, unless it’s your Family yourselves.”

  His teeth set. Apparently, despite the flow of information between the Clovers and the Blackthorns and the Ashes, Danith hadn’t heard that his mother wasn’t his biological mother. “Danith,” he asked softly. “Just what kind of creature are we talking about?”

  “What? Oh.” She shrugged. “Housefluffs. Hybrids of Celtan mocyns and Earthan rabbits. One of the few Earthan species that has done well on Celta, and proof that both planets were seeded with the same DNA aeons ago.”

  “Um-hmm,” Walker said, stepping into a small room that was tinted beige and spotlessly clean, but nevertheless had holes in the far wall and floor, burrows angling down into the ground.

  Burrows thankfully too narrow for a toddler, Walker knew from his first week’s experience at the Ashes.

  “Housefluffs have always been popular pets, but since I’ve boosted their Flair, they are in great demand. Not as destructive as rabbits and more easily trained and—”

  “They’re Fams, they’re intelligent,” Walker said.

  “Yes.” Danith lowered her voice. “Not as intelligent as cats or foxes or dogs, but sentient.” She went over to a hole in the wall and cooed.

  Several housefluffs hopped out, thickly furred with large ears. “Here they are. Adorable.”

  He studied them. Most women would want one. For himself, he was glad he had an adventurous fox on the way.

  “My Fam won’t eat it, will he? Since Sedwy will be my liaison to all you scary nobles, explaining FirstFamily customs, I don’t want to irritate her.”

  “Of course not,” Danith said, then called, “Baby number four.”

  Ears lifting, eyes gleaming, a small brown housefluff hopped on top of her feet. Danith lifted the young fluff with long ears edged in cream, held him close to her body, and stared up at Walker. “Sedwy’s going to explain customs to you?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Oh, good. Someone I can ask when I get confused. Even if T’Ash knows stuff, he never explains.”

  “Always glad to be of service.”

  “Take the housefluff. You know any good Grove names?”

  Walker answered, “Not offhand. You know those FirstFamilies are weird. Never paid much attention.”

  “That’s fibbing, Walker. You probably know every secret this household has and a lot about the Blackthorns.” She tilted her head. “Know more about the Hollys than they’d care for, some about the Furzes. And you know the Hazels’ and Vinni T’Vine’s most private secret. All FirstFamilies.”

  “And you are all weird.”

  “Not me,” she tapped her chest. “Commoner, like you.”

  “Just go on believing that.”

  She snorted and gave him the fluff. It was softer than anything he’d ever felt in his life. “I’ll take care of D’Grove. A fox denning on her estate has been wanting her attention for some time. We’ll have a little talk.”

  “See?” Walker said. “You can have a little talk with D’Grove as an equal.”

  Danith drew herself up to her full height. “In my professional capacity.”

  “Right.” The Fam wriggled in his hands until it could fix both big brown eyes on him. Greetyou, it said in a tiny voice in Walker’s head.

  “Danith, you’re sure this little one is right for GrandMistrys Grove?”

  “I think she needs something young and vulnerable to take care of. Something innocent.” She went to a table next to the wall, opened a drawer, and pulled out a square ventilated pouch with a long strap. “Carrying case.” She handed it to him and took off to th
e door leading to the adoption room. He followed her through.

  The three cats who had been encircling D’Grove left her, as did the two puppies tumbling over Sedwy’s lap. The rest of the Fams who’d been sitting or lying, showing the best aspect of themselves, settled back down.

  Danith said, “We’ll have more people in this afternoon, Fams. I have at least six appointments.” A rush of purring came from the cats as they curled back up on their perches. “D’Grove, will you come with me?”

  The older woman who had been tolerating the cat stares appeared interested again. She stood and brushed hair from her elegant silkeen robe. With one last look at Sedwy, she said, “I’ll see you later.”

  Walker said, “I hope Sedwy will come to our Family celebration tonight.”

  D’Grove relaxed enough to smile. “Good. Congratulations again.”

  “Merrily met,” Walker said one of the noble farewells. His gaze sliding toward Sedwy, he tried another bow to D’Grove. This time slowly, careful of the animal he held. When Sedwy’s fingers twitched, he knew it was enough and straightened faster, smiling.

  “Merry meet again,” D’Grove said. “Well done, GrandLord Clover and Sedwy.” With a wave, she left the room after Danith.

  He stroked the housefluff and it chuffed a pretty noise of contentment. Wearing his most mild expression, he looked at Sedwy.

  “Very good,” she said.

  “I’m a quick study.”

  “I’d say so. Nice Fam,” she said, and something in her tone made him think she didn’t think it was appropriate for even an unarrogant new lord.

  He said, “One of the most powerful FirstFamily GreatLords, the prophet, Vinni T’Vine, has a housefluff as a Fam.” Granted, Vinni was eighteen, but that was a full Celtan adult.

  She frowned. “I didn’t recall that.”

  “It’s true. And besides, this gentleman housefluff is not for me. He’s yours.” Walker smiled wickedly. “Danith informed me that my young fox is enjoying an adventure.”

  “Mine!”

  Greetyou, FamWoman! This time the housefluff’s mental stream was loud enough for Walker to hear the echo of his telepathic words to Sedwy.