Challenges

by Sharon Green

  “What’s wrong is what her natural personality has been made into,” Rion interjected, drawing Vallant’s attention. “She’s a sweet, warm, and lovely person who hasn’t been allowed to exhibit any of those traits. Being in touch with the power makes her more whole and assured, the same way it does with me. Perhaps I should have mentioned that since coming to Gan Garee, I’ve been more or less in touch with the power all the time. Living with Mother has given me the strong habit of circumspection at all times, and that’s probably why you weren’t aware of the situation.”

  “That, Rion, could be why you’ve changed so much so quickly,” Jovvi said, just about taking the words out of Vallant’s mouth. “You were able to see what more normal behavior consisted of, and the power helped you to adapt to it. I wonder why no one ever mentioned the power can do things like that.”

  “There’s a lot about the power that no one ever mentioned,” Vallant said, and this time Rion looked as though the words had been taken from between his teeth. “We need to do some discussin’ on the point, but first things need to come first. Rion told me that that noble who came to talk to him wanted most to know about Tamrissa. He said somethin’ about the Fire talent bein’ the most important one in a Blendin’.”

  “Oh, dear,” Jovvi said with raised brows, and Vallant had the impression she would have preferred to have used a stronger phrase, but had limited herself to the understated. “Do you think he was telling the truth, Rion? Misleading us would be easy since we don’t know any better, and it could only be a benefit to our opponents.”

  “The way he approached the subject leads me to believe that misdirection wasn’t his goal,” Rion answered with a small headshake. “The very first thing he asked was about Tamrissa’s flaws and problems, and that was when he fully expected me to answer. When I simply said she was a lovely lady, he tried to press the point. Finally he urged me to speak about everyone else first if I found it easier, but he still wanted me to come back to Tamrissa.”

  “You’re right, Rion, there’s too much there for it to be subtle misdirection,” Jovvi said with a distant look. “Comparing your emotions with his at the time, he knew you were about to say something and he felt elation and victory. The satisfaction wouldn’t have been so strong if his goal had simply been to pass on false information.”

  “You remember emotions the way other people remember words?” Vallant asked, curiosity suddenly piqued. “That’s somethin’ else I didn’t know. It looks like we’ll have a lot to talk about, but we still haven’t settled the other matter. And a strange thought just came to me: Coll and I discovered that the testin’ authority knows all about our respective problems. If everythin’s set up for the nobles to win, wouldn’t they be told all about us? The answer ought to be yes, so why would that group need to hear it from one of us?”

  Jovvi frowned over the point, obviously agreeing, and so did Mardimil. They all considered the question in silence for a moment, and then Mardimil made a sound of understanding.

  “Of course, I should have thought of this immediately,” he said then. “I simply keep forgetting what my former peers are like. It’s common knowledge that the Advisors never leave anything to chance if the matter is important, so it’s hardly likely that they’ve left the matter of who the next Blending will be to that same chance. They’ll already have chosen one of the groups, and that group alone will have all its support.”

  “So the others have to find out for themselves, or do without the information,” Vallant summed up with a nod. “Now it makes sense, along with why that friend of yours came over. He and his group don’t want to end up lookin’ like fools by bein’ unprepared and maybe losin’ to us.”

  “But according to the colors of our costumes, we won’t be facing them first,” Jovvi pointed out, again looking thoughtful. “Why would they bother to question us … unless … Rion, is it possible that your friend and his group have decided to go against the wishes of the Advisors and intend to try to win the Throne themselves?”

  “Certainly,” Rion agreed with a shrug. “Backstabbing and intrigue are the favorite pastimes of the noble class. If they’re successful they won’t have anything to worry about, but a question still remains: why us? I saw nothing to show that they approached the other groups as well, so singling us out makes no sense.”

  “It does if they’ve had access to our test results,” Jovvi countered, which statement immediately shifted Vallant away from supporting Mardimil’s. “We don’t really know how we did, remember, but we weren’t able to hold back too far. We could well have ended up close to the top of the list…”

  “Which would make us a force they decided they’d have to reckon with,” Vallant finished when Jovvi let her words trail off. “That should also mean we’re expected to win in the first competition—shouldn’t it?”

  “I’d rather not count on that, and I’m glad to see that you’re as doubtful as I am,” Jovvi replied. “The noble groups know a good deal more than we do, but Rion has pointed out that they don’t know it all. We’ll have to think long and hard about this…”

  “And finish discussing it at another time,” Mardimil added, looking past them. “Eltrina is over there and gesturing at us, which ought to mean our coaches are here. What a disappointment that we have to leave so early.”

  Vallant made a sound of amused support for that sarcasm, and Jovvi chuckled her own agreement. For a group of “peasants who were being honored,” they weren’t being very appreciative. Instead they lost no time following Coll and Tamrissa, who once again seemed to be extremely friendly. Vallant had once discussed the matter with Coll, and had been very relieved to learn that it was Jovvi whom Coll was most interested in. But considering the discussion Vallant had overheard earlier between Coll and Jovvi, it might be time to raise the matter again—

  Vallant forced himself away from that line of thought with disgust, wondering if he would ever learn and remember. How many times did Tamrissa have to show her extreme disinterest in him before he got the message? And how many times would he have to decide to stay away from all women before he could make his inner mind remember it? If Tamrissa and Coll became more than friends, it was none of his business. Even if it did hurt like blazes…

  What seemed like hundreds of nobles stood around in dozens of groups, and all of them glared at the commoners who were getting to leave before them. That was true for the ballroom itself, along the very wide corridor leading to the front entrance of the palace, and even outside on the approach. Vallant could see the rest of his group ignoring the glares so he did the same, but the urge to teach the useless fools some manners was really strong. If they hadn’t been so aware of his presence, he might have indulged in some of those childhood tricks everyone played once their talent grew strong enough.

  Like lining someone’s shoes with a very thin layer of frozen water. Vallant grinned to himself as he remembered the ploy, which was designed not to be noticed immediately. The ice simply sucked the heat out of the victim’s body through the soles of his feet, and before he knew it, the poor victim was shivering with cold. The moisture involved wasn’t enough to let you know what was happening, at least not until you began to squish a bit when you walked. That usually let the cat out of the bag—or the ice out of the shoe.

  “Since there’s no longer a need for me to accompany the ladies, I’ve decided to return to my usual place,” Mardimil said when they stopped at their coach. “Not to mention the fact that Coll needs to be filled in about our discussion.”

  “Before we get back to the residence and all those ears,” Vallant agreed, lowering his voice just the way Mardimil had. Coll had looked at them with quickly suppressed startlement, and Vallant had had to keep his own feelings out of his expression. His problem with Tamrissa was not Coll’s fault, a fact he kept reminding himself about as he climbed into the coach after his two groupmates. It isn’t Coll’s fault, so don’t start a fight with the man…

  Settling back in the seat next to Mardi
mil, Vallant worked to keep to his decision. He listened to Mardimil’s recital of what they and Jovvi had talked about, and even added a comment or two of his own. Coll was just as surprised to learn of Tamrissa’s importance as they’d been, and finally he shook his head.

  “I don’t know how she’s going to take finding that out,” he said, sounding worried. “She seems to be really strong when she’s touching the power, but I have a feeling it’s more … cover than reality. She lacks the confidence of a truly strong personality, which means all her doubts and uncertainties are still there under the surface. What are we going to do if she can’t handle it?”

  “She can handle it, and she will,” Vallant found himself stating very flatly. “She may have her doubts, but I know she’s strong enough to handle anythin’ they throw at her. As long as the rest of us are there to support her, she’ll do just fine.”

  “That’s a fairly strange sentiment coming from a man who’s treated her the way you have,” Coll said, and it seemed to Vallant that the man’s tone had grown considerably colder. “If your idea of supporting her is to make her cry, we’ll probably all be better off if you support our opponents instead.”

  “Make her cry?” Vallant echoed with a snort, beginning to lose control of his temper. “You seem to have missed the fact that she tore me to shreds before stalking off in a fury. If that’s the sort of thing makin’ her cry, I won’t mind seein’ the practice stopped here and now.”

  “Are you trying to claim that your attitude had nothing to do with it?” Coll demanded, the ice in his words beginning to heat up. “‘He drove me so crazy he was almost all I could think about,’ she said. ‘He trapped me into agreeing to lie with him and I waited most of the night, but he never showed up,’ she said. If that’s what you consider you being torn to shreds, you’d better get some help with your definitions. You—”

  “Wait just a minute,” Vallant interrupted, stunned and disbelieving. “She was never thinkin’ about me, not with the way she spoke to me. And she hated the idea of lyin’ with me, so why would she stay up waitin’ most of the night? You’ve got to be mistakin’ what she said…”

  “Ro, I’m not mistaken,” Coll said slowly and clearly, his anger having backed off quite a bit. “She had trouble admitting that she actually looked forward to being with you, but when she had to say you never showed up, she couldn’t even get the words out. She almost cried instead, but being in close touch with the power let her refuse to allow it to happen. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t start to happen.”

  “But … I still don’t understand,” Vallant groped, not caring how bewildered and lost he sounded. “If she really was interested, why did she keep pushin’ me away?”

  “I believe it’s because she fears beginning a relationship,” Mardimil put in, speaking as gently as Coll had. “Her first experience with one was so far from pleasant that the idea of starting a second must be nothing short of terrifying.”

  “She also said she didn’t blame you for stepping out of the way of the plans of very powerful men,” Coll added. “She took that as the reason for your sudden avoidance of her, which seemed a fairly safe guess. Nothing else had happened which would have explained your abrupt lack of interest.”

  “I … thought I was doin’ what she wanted,” Vallant muttered, his head spinning. “She kept snappin’ at me and tellin’ me to leave her alone… I decided I was bein’ pathetic, chasin’ after a woman who didn’t want me around. I knew she wasn’t sure about associatin’ with a man after what her husband put her through, but—I thought she didn’t want to know me.”

  Vallant knew his speech was just short of plaintive, but he was still too stunned to care about that, either. Tamrissa didn’t hate him? She’d almost cried at the thought of his not coming to her? Well, he’d just have to change that oversight…

  “You seem to have changed your mind again,” Mardimil remarked, apparently staring at him through the darkness of the coach. “If so, perhaps I ought to remind you about the beliefs of the testing authority. If you and Tamrissa suddenly stop feuding, it’s possible the testing authority will decide to replace you in the group.”

  “Or her,” Coll added in startled agreement. “They could suddenly decide that she gets along too well with the rest of us, and replace her with someone none of us could stomach. We were blind for not considering this sooner, but I think there’s a way we can fix it. Tomorrow we’ll have to have a group discussion that ends in a five-way fight.”

  “Now, that sounds like an excellent idea,” Mardimil said with a grin clear in his voice. “Not only will Ro still be feuding with Tamrissa, but the rest of us will have started to bicker as well. If the testing authority has any thoughts involving shifting us around, that should end them. They’ll decide that any changes can only make the situation better rather than worse, and better won’t be what they want.”

  “That’s fine for the rest of you, but what about Tamrissa and me?” Vallant demanded, only just suppressing the urge to curse. “She’s miserable thinkin’ I don’t care any longer, and I’ve got to tell her the truth. There’s a lot I want to tell her, and it’s waited too long already.”

  “Ro, it’s just going to have to wait a bit longer,” Coll said, sounding as though he were forcing patience. “If it doesn’t, you and she could find yourselves in separate residences. What good will it do you to make up with her if the two of you are immediately separated?”

  “And it shouldn’t be for long,” Mardimil added, as though he could sense the wall of stubbornness which had risen high in Vallant. “Once they actually form us into a Blending, there shouldn’t be any more danger of relocation. In the meanwhile, you can ask Jovvi to tell Tamrissa the truth. That will stop Tamrissa’s being miserable without putting your places in the group in jeopardy.”

  That suggestion made Vallant pause, even though he still hated the idea of waiting. As long as he knew Tamrissa wasn’t suffering it would be easier for him to wait, but he still didn’t like the restriction. He wanted to go straight up to Tamrissa, take her in his arms, tell her how wonderful it felt not to be hated by the woman he loved, and then kiss her. He also burned to give her his physical love, but that didn’t have to happen right away. A delay of an hour or two would be perfectly acceptable…

  “All right, you’ve both made your point,” Vallant conceded after a moment, knowing they were waiting to hear his decision. “I’ll tell Jovvi to pass on the word to Tamrissa and then I’ll join all the rest of you in pretendin’ to fight, but only until we’re formed into a Blendin’. After that…”

  Adding details was unnecessary, especially since the details were no one’s business but his and Tamrissa’s. He’d need to find a time to speak privately to Jovvi, though. Possibly tomorrow, if no one else decided to go with her to that trial. But she’d need someone with her anyway, so he’d definitely plan on going… After she got through the unpleasantness, there would be time enough to talk…

  And tonight he could dream about Tamrissa without calling himself names. Vallant grinned despite the impatience choking him, feeling as though a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Hopefully he’d be there to see Tamrissa’s expression when she found out the truth. It would be wonderful, absolutely wonderful…

  CHAPTER SIX

  Jovvi came down early to breakfast, expecting to find that everyone else had slept late. She and Tamrissa had gone directly to their respective beds last night when they got home, and the men had done the same. But Jovvi hadn’t been able to sleep, and the fact that the others seemed to have the same trouble had added to her wakefulness. She’d finally had to be firm with herself and use an exercise that forced sleep, partly by cutting her off from an awareness of the people around her.

  So when she walked into the dining room to find Vallant and Rion already there, her brows rose in surprise. They both looked up and nodded to her, but then Vallant gestured to his eyes and produced a broad wink. Even more surprisingly Rion did the same, and th
en Rion held up a finger.

  “Ro here is being rather foolish,” he said, sounding petulantly annoyed but not looking or feeling the same. “He’s decided to accompany you to court this morning, and that despite my disapproval. His being there will make it seem as though you’re unable to act for yourself and by yourself.”

  “Mardimil still doesn’t understand what it means to be a gentleman,” Vallant put in, the annoyance in his voice also unmatched by his emotions. “My goin’ with you will be seen as nothin’ more than common courtesy, somethin’ his sort has given up on. But then it is called common, so what else can you expect?”

  “From you?” Rion countered stiffly, greatly amused on the inside. “No more than what I usually get. What a pity that your jealousy over my already knowing the palace and some of its people has gotten completely out of hand.”

  Vallant made a loud sound of ridicule, but went back to his food rather than adding to the argument. But it wasn’t a real argument, Jovvi realized as she continued on to the buffet. They’d warned her with gestures that they were about to do something and then they’d started their unreal argument. Obviously they were doing it for the benefit of the servants who were surely listening, but the reason behind it would have to be found out only after she and Vallant were out of the house.

  Jovvi filled a plate and took it to the table, discovering that she was hungrier than she’d expected to be. There was no question about her going to court to see what happened to Allestine, but the prospect of going alone had tied her stomach in knots. She never minded doing things by herself, but this time… Thank the Highest Aspect that Vallant had decided to go with her.

  The rest of the meal was coldly silent, with Vallant and Rion deliberately ignoring each other. Right at the beginning Jovvi wondered if they were unobserved and actually wasting their time, but spreading her senses just a bit showed immediately that they weren’t. One of the male servants stood just out of sight near the kitchen, probably pretending to be on hand just in case one of them wanted something not on the buffet. But the eagerness with which he listened said he was there for another reason entirely, certainly so that he’d have what to report later. Luckily, though, there was no trace of his using Spirit magic.