Heart Sight

by Robin D. Owens

  They bowed in greeting, and Avellana and Vinni returned the courtesy.

  “Before we do this, I wish to ask the price for my personal armor,” Avellana asked.

  Uh-oh.

  “A golden favor,” Draeg said.

  Avellana stilled an instant beside Vinni, withdrew her hand from his, and stepped aside. “No.”

  Avellana! Vinni protested mentally.

  No. And they take advantage of you being a wealthy FirstFamily GreatLord. Of your FEAR. Her mental tone simmered.

  Draeg’s heavy brows went up. “No?” He slanted Vinni a surprised look. They’d been close enough in the social gang of The Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon that he might be able to catch Vinni’s sheer desperation. Draeg frowned.

  “I am sorry to have wasted your time,” Avellana said. “But if you know much about me—”

  “We do,” Draeg said.

  She nodded. “Everyone in FirstFamilies Noble circles seems to.” She drew in a breath. “Then you will know that I had rough Passages, particularly the first when my brain synapses were faulty and unrepaired. My mother, D’Hazel, paid a golden favor for D’Marigold’s help. My life has already cost one golden favor. I cannot accept that it must cost another.”

  Vinni met Draeg’s eyes. Avellana had disclosed a Hazel Family secret. Vinni narrowed his own eyes in steely threat. Draeg rolled a shoulder as if dismissive of the information. He would keep the secret that seemed small to him.

  And in the time that had happened, D’Yew rushed forward to embrace Avellana, who held rigid for only a few seconds before hugging back the younger woman.

  The GrandLady shot a glance at Draeg and Vinni. “HeartMates have expectations, but we need to be flexible.”

  Avellana sniffed, relaxing a little more in the teen girl’s embrace. They were much of a height. “I have had to be flexible all of my life.”

  “We can out-think men. Come, let’s talk and walk down to the stables and I’ll show you my horses and we’ll figure out a good price for your personal armor.”

  What Vinni could see of Avellana’s face appeared surprised. She hugged D’Yew back tightly, then released her. “I would like that. We can barter, a few holo paintings . . . or perhaps property.”

  “You can explain that to me,” D’Yew said, and led the way, a bounce in her step, toward the door. She cast a glance back at Vinni. “And it won’t be as much as Draeg said. T’Vine helped me earlier this year, and I don’t forget.”

  “I did promise a token,” Vinni said. “Any color.”

  “No,” Avellana said. Her chin lifted. “This personal armor is for me, and I wish to pay for it. You know, I have a partnership in Multiplicity and could pay you in land there . . .”

  “You do?” D’Yew sounded thrilled.

  “You forget,” Draeg scolded Vinni mildly after the women had left. “Unlike most FirstFamilies’ daughters, Loridana has lived for some time outside a Residence and a great estate. A wise move from your HeartMate, to offer Loridana more land outside this place.” Draeg clapped a hand on Vinni’s shoulder. “Why don’t I show you my latest mosaic? Actually, I’d rather show Avellana, but you will do.”

  “Fine.”

  • • •

  This is the life,” Draeg said as they stood just inside one of the back doors of the Residence, not quite a castle, but with a couple of towers and a crenellated top. Draeg’s voice held pure satisfaction as he stared at the semicircular mosaic pavement showing a woman riding a horse. Nice work. Not at Avellana’s level, but then she practiced her holo painting as if it were her main Flair. Draeg worked as a GrandLord and a fighter.

  Now he slouched casually, smiling out at the gardens, the woods behind the estate. “Plenty of space for me to make my mosaics.” He rolled his shoulders. “Last year—Cave of the Dark Goddess, the last few years were miserable, but after I met Loridana—Lord and Lady, everything changed for the better.”

  Vinni nodded. “You suffered through some tough times, even after meeting Loridana.”

  “Handled everything. All for the best,” Draeg replied. He turned his head toward Vinni. “It’ll work out for you, too.” He paused. “Guaranteed.”

  “You’re the prophet now?”

  “Just got a good feeling.”

  Vinni snorted. “Got the good feeling that all guys who have HeartMates will end up happy. Not necessarily true.”

  At that moment the Residence said in a mellow female voice, “The ladies await you, gentle sirs, in the blue room.”

  Vinni and Draeg strolled back to a salon, Draeg saying, “It will be all right because we’re finally going to catch the last main fligger of a Traditionalist Stance leader. Then those fliggering maniacs will be gone and their fanaticism a bad memory. Good fliggering riddance.” His expression turned predatory. “And you let me know if you need any help in taking him down. Any time. I’m damn glad to offer any assistance—”

  Inclining his head, Vinni said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “You do that.”

  A few minutes later Avellana walked with him back down the long gliderway, arm in arm.

  Other than their farewells to the Yews, they hadn’t spoken.

  “So you negotiated with D’Yew?”

  “Yes.” Avellana smiled up at Vinni. “She remembers you fondly.”

  “Good. That’s good.”

  “She also told me her whole story—of her wretched Family and her determination to live on her own, and how her love of animals saved her. She made me realize that my life has been privileged. I have always had people loving me. Perhaps I thought I received too much tender kindness from my Family and you, and—”

  “Perhaps in the wrong ways?”

  “How can there be wrong ways to love? Real love, not obsession.”

  “I admit that your Family and I overprotected you, and determined your life based on our fears for you.”

  “But Mother paid a full gold favor for help for my Passages, and that includes aid including to the death of the Head of the Household if cashed in. A huge price. Because she loves me.” Avellana paused. “But she would pay that for Coll, too, if necessary, or for Father, of course. We are a loving Family.”

  “Yes.”

  “So I have been blessed. That is knowledge to cherish.”

  They walked a few more meters before she said, “I liked how Lori’s story ended, how she triumphed and took her place and claimed her HeartMate. But it did make me realize that I have missed a lot of current events, though I was here on one fateful day.”

  Vinni grunted. “I kept you informed.”

  “Yes, with facts but not human stories.” She made a cutting gesture. “And it is time for me to do this, before the ritual where the irritation will be noticed.” Stopping him, she took both his hands, met his eyes, and matched his stare. He felt their emotional bond open wide, expand to the greatest thickness. Then, linked, he saw her reach for the thread humming with irritation, pluck it. They both gasped.

  Then she yanked and it broke.

  They cried out, shuddered, fell into each other’s arms.

  Owie! screeched Flora mentally.

  What was THAT!? Rhyz demanded.

  Vinni got the idea that the Fams had been dozing in a garden. Rhyz sounded particularly grumpy because he’d been roused from a catnip dream.

  Between pants, Avellana stated telepathically to them all, Years of simmering resentment, gone.

  Yay! trilled Flora in their minds, with true and simple joy.

  Hrrmmph! growled Rhyz.

  We are leaving in a few minutes, Vinni sent along the communication channel among them. You may come with us now or stay in the garden.

  I can ’port to the glider! Flora sent cheerfully. Baccat says no food for housefluffs and I can’t munch from gardens.

  Rhyz chimed in, Ba
ccat may try to impress Me with His food. I will stay here.

  Please teleport to me when I call you after my ritual cleansing, Avellana stated. I wish for your support during the further preparation for leading the ceremony tonight.

  I will come then. I have always supported You, as no other!

  The slow burn of Vinni’s irritation expanded, threatening to burst his kernel, just as he’d lost control twice earlier. Unacceptable.

  I love you, Rhyz, until later, Avellana sent.

  Looking up at Vinni, she frowned as if sensing his annoyance. Also unacceptable. She rubbed her hands up and down his arms, then gifted him with a small smile. “For now my long rancor has been banished. I cannot promise the feeling will not return, but it will not be tonight.” She narrowed her eyes but appeared as if she looked inward. “There seem to be tiny fragments. I will deal with them before our important ritual, also.”

  He inclined his head. “Thank you.” He hesitated. “I need to take care of an emotional problem, too, before tonight.”

  Now sadness washed over her eyes. “We are so much alike. But I love you, Muin.”

  “Love you, Avellana.” Linking fingers with her again, he drew her quickly from the Yew estate. He didn’t like that they’d experienced such a personal moment here. Thought negativity might linger on this estate. Hoped no other Yews lived who belonged to the Traditionalist Stance and reported on them.

  No doubt Loridana had ensured that no one held those views during her Loyalty Ceremony earlier in the year. She’d do that, and Draeg would have made sure, too.

  Outside the gates, Vinni called the glider, then paced away from her. “Let’s see this personal armor.”

  Her mouth formed, Shield, and a sphere encased her for an instant, then contracted and he noticed a sheen on her skin, then the spell seemed to sink into her. Mentally, she said, I have a power stone that I can use for a certain amount of time at full strength. I can also activate the spell at percentages of strengths and for various amounts of time. Very flexible. We negotiated to have a power stone for three years.

  Walking up to her, he put a hand on her shoulder. Or meant to. He couldn’t touch her. Frowning, he said, “That’s a drawback.”

  Avellana smiled, kept her reply telepathic. Yes, a big deficiency. Good thing we didn’t pay a golden favor for it—though I would have expected a lifetime quantity of stones. Instead I gave her a parcel of land in Multiplicity.

  Good job! Vinni congratulated her.

  Poof, Avellana said mentally as she formed the word silently. The spell vanished and his hand curved over her shoulder. Warmth flowed between them physically as well as emotionally.

  Avellana said aloud, “Both Loridana and I are very pleased she will be in Multiplicity. Her home will be small, but she will be another FirstFamily presence in the community, and she will keep some of her animals there, stridebeasts and horses and perhaps llamas.” Avellana grinned. “Another unique feature of Multiplicity that may draw residents.”

  “Very good,” Vinni agreed. Glancing at her, he said, “Promise me you will always initiate your personal armor before you leave D’Hazel Residence.”

  Her brows went up. “Even if I am going in a glider to the Hopeful Cathedral or teleporting to T’Vine Residence?”

  He gritted. “Always. If you join others who will defend you, you can, ah, use your judgment as to whether to banish the spell, but—”

  She stopped his words by kissing his mouth. Fisting his hands, he kept them from her, still thinking Draeg or someone else might be watching. The man must have instituted and trained more Yew guards.

  Avellana settled back, smiling. “I promise I will always initiate my personal armor before I leave D’Hazel Residence.”

  Vinni inclined his head. “Thank you.” Then he handed her into the glider.

  Flora appeared then. Vinni picked her up and snuggled her. She didn’t give him the comfort he needed. Probably an ocean full of comfort wouldn’t soothe him. His jaw clenched until his teeth hurt, so he stopped. He put Flora on Avellana’s lap and they both hummed with serene pleasure.

  When he entered the glider, the door slammed down.

  Avellana petted Flora. Now we must start preparations for the ritual.

  Vinni couldn’t, yet. He had to get rid of that damned clump of inner anger and guilt.

  Twenty-three

  Vinni dropped Avellana off at D’Hazel Residence and ’ported Flora to her basket in his sitting room. He deliberately didn’t go home—to T’Vine Residence. He couldn’t follow the complete and long procedure for cleansing and meditation before a major ritual, as Avellana would—

  It occurred to him that he didn’t know exactly what her preparations would be, how different getting ready for a ceremony might be for those of the Hopeful Faith as opposed to those who believed in the Divine Couple. Unlike the public ritual itself, he didn’t think she’d need to combine routines.

  His teeth hurt again and he stopped gritting them. Before he stood with Avellana in the sacred Vine grove along the side of the Residence, he had to get his head straight, his mind working right. Rid himself of unproductive negative emotions like envy, resentment, and guilt with regard to Avellana.

  He’d take Antenn’s advice and work on the physical to smooth out mental and emotional knots. But somewhere other than T’Vine Residence.

  If Multiplicity had been empty—or with the two Families who had moved in that day—he would have returned to the quiet and space there. He sensed through his friendship bond with Antenn that the man directed several crews building the wall and was doing his own preparations to raise Arta Daisy’s large home. So Vinni sent Antenn’s architectural office a formal notice that he’d like to buy land in the community, with a visualization of the property he wanted. He also requested a meeting with the man about designing Vinni’s home.

  No peace at T’Vine Residence, or Multiplicity. He didn’t want the structure and other people training at The Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon. He wouldn’t be returning to the baths any time soon, especially since Phae Thermarum remained missing.

  That left one good place. The long teleportation to the Great Labyrinth in the north should drain him of some excess energy. A brisk walk around part of the crater’s edge should finish this particular exercise off. Not as beneficial as a full, meditative walk from the center of the Labyrinth out, but Vinni didn’t have time for that.

  Exiting his glider, he sent it home, sucked in a big breath, and teleported to the landing pad gazebo near the top of the path down into the labyrinth. The scent of the air, cooler than that of Druida City, higher in altitude, full of fragrances from all the offerings and Family shrines below in the crater, wrapped around him. Yes, here he could find his balance.

  He’d covered a kilometer around the rim path when a whirl of seeing smashed into him. He stopped and let it spin through him in a tornado of colors but didn’t grab at the vision to hold and tame and understand. He simply stood and shuddered.

  When his physical sight cleared, he saw a sober-faced Abutilon Gwydion Ash walking slowly to him.

  Vinni’s gut clutched. The large young man who might be doomed. Vinni shot his gaze around the panorama, but this didn’t . . . quite . . . match the time and place of his visions of Gwydion’s demise.

  Still, Vinni’s Flair spiking as it had confirmed a bad future continued to lurk for the Ash second son.

  Gwydion stopped walking, too. He bowed to Vinni with practiced courtesy. “Greetyou, T’Vine.”

  After clearing his throat, Vinni called out, “Greetyou, Gwydion.”

  The young man’s face relaxed at the use of his middle name. He didn’t like Abutilon. He sauntered up. He held a half-meter piece of wood that looked like a twisted tree root. With a frown, he asked, “Problem?”

  “No.”

  The youngster of seventeen, a gentle giant with As
h’s inches and muscle but not his dangerous edge, Gwydion smiled at Vinni but tilted his head. Then he put the piece of oddly shaped wood that looked like a natural sculpture aside on a large flat-topped boulder.

  “I think you do have some problem nagging at you.” He rolled his shoulders in his roomy tunic. Though not a blacksmith like his father, as an animal Healer the boy worked with large animals such as llamas, horses, and stridebeasts that took strength to hold and manage.

  Sweeping a hand from Vinni toward a small, level meadow a couple of meters away from the edge of the labyrinth, Gwydion said, “Why don’t we spar a little, GreatLord?”

  Obviously the boy sensed more than Vinni felt comfortable with, but then he did Heal animals every day, and humans were animals, too.

  With a shrug, Vinni said, “Sure.” Then he decided to be more gracious and bowed. “Thank you for your concern and help.”

  “No problem,” Gwydion said. He moved with natural, youthful grace to the glen and stood in an easy fighting stance.

  Vinni joined him, gave him a fighter’s bow, eyeing the larger young man. Probably not as easy to defeat as he might think. All to the good, he did need to rid himself of grumbly thoughts that stuck in his head and made him restless.

  The boy returned his bow, settled into his balance . . . and watched and waited for Vinni to make the first move.

  So he did. The young man had been trained by the best, of course, but so had Vinni. And Vinni had had to fight longer and harder for what he wanted, at The Green Knight, in his Family, and in his life in general, so he beat the boy, taking him down and wrestling him to surrender.

  Still, he panted when he rose, offered the teen a hand, and pulled him to his feet. Yes, the youngster had muscle and strength, and would fill out more. Vinni had.

  Gwydion grunted as he dusted off his clothes, shook out his shaggy-cut thick black hair, gave Vinni another sweet smile. “Dad says I don’t have the killer instinct.” His eyelids half lowered. “That’s okay. I’m a Healer, not a fighter, but I’m thinking that I need to spend more time at the forge to develop my strength more.” He paused, then added thoughtfully, “And perhaps attend fighting training more often at The Green Knight.”