Mouse and Dragon (37 page)

He rose from behind the desk and stretched, feeling cramped muscles catch, then loosen.

Well.

"Sleep," he told himself. "Now."

He turned away from the desk—and immediately turned back as the comm chimed.

Who, at this hour?
he thought, but his fingers had already accepted the call, and there was Mr. dea'Gauss in the screen.

"Good morning, your lordship," he said peremptorily. "Necessity dictates that you hear two things, immediately."

Daav sank back into his chair. "You have my attention, Mr. dea'Gauss."

"Excellent. The first thing that you must hear is that Aelliana Caylon Clan Mizel has accepted the portion settled upon her some
relumma
past by Daav yos'Phelium."

Daav's heart stuttered. Here it is, he thought. She has had enough, and who can blame her? A pilot's first care is for her ship, and a ship—a ship needs money.

He inclined his head.

"I hear," he said, formally.

"Yes." Mr. dea'Gauss sighed. "The second thing you need to hear, your lordship, is rather complex. If you would prefer that I come to you—"

"We have begun, sir," Daav interrupted. "Let us by all means continue until we reach the end."

"As you say." There was silence for the beat of three. In the screen, Mr. dea'Gauss glanced aside, as if gathering his thoughts. It was then that Daav saw that his man of business was not calling from the offices downtown, but from what appeared to be his private rooms.

"The following is proposed, as an offering to Mizel," Mr. dea'Gauss said at last. "There are five specific points."

Five points? Daav wondered. But what use had they for points, or for appeasing Mizel in any way if Aelliana—

"One. Korval will pay to Mizel the life-price for a first class pilot as set down in the Accounting Standards. That sum will be paid in full at the time the contract is signed.

"Two. In six years, Korval will pay to Mizel the life-price for a scholar expert as set down in the Accounting Standards.

"Three. Sinit Caylon will be fostered into yo'Lanna for six years in order to complete her education."

Daav sat forward in his chair.

"Four. In acknowledgement of the fact that Mizel is grown dangerously thin—and made thinner yet by reason of Three, above, a dea'Gauss will be placed into Mizel's service for a period of six years, to perform those tasks that would, in the proper order of things, fall into the nadelm's honor.

"Five. Aelliana Caylon will pay the blood-price for Ran Eld Caylon's death, which debt properly falls to her, when Sinit Caylon takes up Mizel's Ring."

It was a thing of broad and scintillant amazement, Daav thought; a solving worthy of a delm. Saving one or two small details.

"Mr. dea'Gauss, I stand in awe of Pilot Caylon's solution. However, I cannot help but notice that your Line has become entangled in Korval's contract, which we surely cannot have—"

"Your lordship of course is not conversant with all the details of our House," Mr. dea'Gauss interrupted. "I therefore hasten to assure you that this is the very solution toward which I have been groping for a Standard or more. There is one of my House, who serves in the firm, for whom this proposed assignment is—in a word, your lordship, perfect." He inclined his head. "I welcome this opportunity to further strengthen the bonds between our clans."

There could be no doubting his sincerity, Daav thought. He inclined his head.

"Very well, Mr. dea'Gauss. I also see that we have involved yo'Lanna in this. It is perhaps unworthy of me to suppose it, but I fear my mother's dear friend will not share your generous impulse."

"On the contrary, your lordship. Pilot Caylon reports that her ladyship would be delighted to assist in this matter. She asserts that it is not to yo'Lanna's benefit to see Mizel dissolved and further states that it is the duty of the High to assist those who stand below."

Daav gave a shout of laughter.

"Exactly," Mr. dea'Gauss said solemnly. "I should add," he said after a moment, "that Pilot Caylon was kind enough to calculate the seed money needed for the proposed future payouts, and to cite several funds paying interest enough to grow the seed into payment in full."

Daav bit his lip. "No doubt the exercise afforded considerable pleasure to Pilot Caylon."

"She seemed very much in spirits," Mr. dea'Gauss said quietly.

Daav took a breath against the sudden stab of longing. Below the desk, out of sight of the screen, he clenched his fists until his knuckles screamed.

"I am pleased to hear it," he said, steadily. "Mr. dea'Gauss, in your considered opinion—is Mizel likely to take this?"

"There lies the genius of the plan, your lordship. If Mizel does not take it, then the delm must surely be brought before her peers and closely questioned as to her reasons. As Lady yo'Lanna states, it benefits no one to allow a clan to dissolve. In offering this, Korval is seen as looking to the best benefit of Liad." Mr. dea'Gauss inclined his head. "Which is according to its charter."

Daav bent his head and considered the plan. It posed, in its way, just as much risk as the one he and dea'Gauss had produced, yet carried a greater likelihood of success, if Mr. dea'Gauss was to be believed, and an avenue of legal recourse open to them, if Mizel balked.

"It is well," he said, raising his head. "I do not need to ask you to bend your best efforts, I know. Please, proceed as you see fit in negotiating these new terms. The dice are in your hand."

Mr. dea'Gauss bowed.

"I shall do my utmost, your lordship."

The wages of spite are well-earned.
—
Liaden Proverb
 

Daav gave his cloak to Kareen's butler and paused a moment to order himself. He wore a misty grey coat and silvered lace, in complement to Aelliana's colors. That he arrived alone, and yet constrained by Mizel's whim, angered and dismayed him.

Still, he reminded himself, he would at least be able to see her, a pleasure that had been denied him for too long. If he were very lucky, they might meet in a condition demanding that they exchange a brief greeting with the bow. It frightened him, how much he ached to hear her voice.

Well, and standing out here in the hallway would serve nothing, save Kareen's spite. He gave his lace another, unnecessary, shake, and moved down the hall to the reception room.

He had arrived somewhat behind time, wishing to avoid a long dawdle in line before he paid his respects to the hostess and was passed inside. Thus, he found Kareen alone in the reception hall, with only her good friend Scholar Her Nin yo'Vestra to support her.

He made his bow properly: guest-to-host, augmented with the hand-sign between kin.

"Good evening, younger Brother!" Even in the High Tongue, Kareen sounded positively cheerful, which could not, Daav thought, be a good sign.

He straightened warily.

"Good evening, Sister," he replied, speaking in the Low Tongue more from habit than from any particular wish to annoy her this evening. He inclined his head to her support. "Scholar yo'Vestra."

"Korval," the man answered, with a certain sternness, as he was every bit as much of a stickler as Kareen. Indeed, the two of them sat together upon the League for the Purity of the Language—two cornerstone members.

"Do go in," Kareen urged him, smiling. "You will of course find many here whom you know."

Yes,
he thought, his stomach tightening,
too cheerful by far.

He bowed again and passed into the great room.

It was not quite a crush, he thought, pausing to survey the room. That would change over the course of the evening. He had only been somewhat late, and that in service of his own convenience. There were those others who would time their entrance so that the most eyes fell upon them.

At the moment, he saw the usual and expected assortment of guests. Kareen had drawn almost exclusively from the High Houses for this entertainment, with a few of the more . . . ambitious of the Mid Houses, nor had she stinted herself in the matter of ostentatious display. The hall had been repainted a velvety gold, with new rugs to match. It was rather like standing inside a jewel box, with the guests acting the part of the jewels.

Daav took another step into the room, meaning his path to intersect with that of a server wearing a wide-sleeved gold shirt and carrying a tray full with glasses, when the crowd shifted, only a little; he saw Lady yo'Lanna, surrounded as usual with the beautiful and the amusing, the woman at her side perhaps the new favorite—

He went taut, even as the breath was crushed out of his lungs. Joyfully, he accepted the bolt of her beauty and he stood there, transfixed—no! Breath returned with a rush; his heart slammed into overdrive and there was nothing, there was no one but her, to whom he must go immediately. He took a step . . . 

Aelliana turned, her eyes wide and fey. Her hand rose, lace flowing away from her fingers like water, as she, too, took a step—

His arm—the grip was firm enough to pierce the glaze of enchantment. The voice was overloud, commanding attention.

"Young Korval!" Guayar told the room. "Just the man I was wanting to see!"

Daav shook his head, unable to move his eyes from her face, the compulsion painful now, so that his breath came short, and he—

"Daav . . ." That was lower, almost a growl. "Command yourself."

"I—" His voice died. Gods,
he
would die, if he did not go to her now,
now
, and damn the consequences—

"Come with me," Guayar said. "You want wine."

"No," he whispered. "No, I
don't
want wine."

The grip on his arm was firm enough now to bruise. He scarcely felt it, in the greater agony of his soul.

"Very well, then," Clonak's father said, with quiet patience, "you want a glass of
tea
. Come with me, please, you are becoming an object of interest."

Lady yo'Lanna extended a hand; leaned close and whispered something to Aelliana. She—Aelliana turned her back on him.

"Daav?"

"Yes," he said raggedly, turning painfully toward his own rescuer. His body ached, as if he had been thrown onto sharp stones from a height. "For the gods' sweet love, sir, do not loose my arm."

Guayar sighed, but held firm. "No more than a dozen steps, there is an alcove provided with refreshments," he said, in normal tones. "We may be private there. I swear that my small bit of business will go no longer than is required to drink a glass of tea."

* * *

"Will you lose everything for one unguarded step?" Lady yo'Lanna whispered in her ear.

Aelliana shivered. She could not move, except to go to him. She would die, if she did not touch him.

"Turn around." Lady yo'Lanna gripped her arm.

"I cannot," she whispered.

"You
will
," the older woman said, her voice conveying absolute conviction.

Daav—Delm Guayar was speaking to him. She saw the longing in his face;
felt
the effort it cost him, to stand in one place, trembling, as she was trembling, soul on fire and heart a-stutter . . . 

She closed her eyes. The pain did not abate.
I will not lose,
she thought.
I will not forfeit my life.

Shaking, she turned away.

* * *

Shaking, he put himself into the alcove's farthest corner, closed his eyes, and concentrated on being very still. Now that it was aroused, the compulsion did not fade as he had hoped it might. He knew where she was; blindfolded, he could walk to her side, through walls, if he must . . . 

"Here is tea," Guayar said.

He opened his eyes, and received the glass with both hands. The liquid sloshed and rippled unnervingly.

Apparently, Guayar thought so, too, for he sent a sharp look into Daav's face.

"Attend me, please," he said, as if he were speaking to a child yet in nursery. "You are to remain
precisely there;
you will not endanger your clan or your lady or yourself by word, action or deed while I am away. Do you swear it?"

Daav took a hard breath. "How long will you be gone?"

Guayar awarded him another sharp look.

"I am going to fetch your brother."

Daav inclined his head. "On my honor, I will wait here until my brother comes."

"Excellent."

Alone, Daav closed his eyes, and felt for the steps that would bring him to that place of quiet peace. He could not concentrate; the imperative to
go to her
shattered his thought, flooding him with agony.

Biting his lip, he reached for the Rainbow, but the colors slid away from his thought, leaving him bereft and ill.

A light step alerted him. He opened his eyes.

Er Thom was in sapphire and ivory. He stood in the entry to the alcove, the golden light from the main room limning his slim figure, throwing his face into shadow.

"Kareen will be angry if you break that glass," he commented. "It's part of a set."

"I'll buy her a new set," Daav answered, horrified to hear how his voice quavered.

"Best not to call attention," his brother said, and came forward, walking easy and soft. "Brother, what pains you?"

Daav took a breath, keeping his eyes on Er Thom's.

"I am compelled," he said.

"Ah." His brother inclined his head. "I understand."

Of all the beings alive, Daav thought, his brother would understand. More the pity, that Er Thom's brother had not understood when a similar compulsion had been visited upon him.

"Brother, I owe you a profound apology."

"Nonsense," Er Thom said briskly. He slipped the glass from Daav's hand. "Let me fetch you something more fitting to drink."

"Not wine!" he said sharply.

"Of course not. Come out of the corner, Daav, do."

Come out of the corner,
he thought, blinking back tears;
as if it were simple.

 . . . and yet, it was Er Thom who asked it; Er Thom, who knew precisely what it would cost.

Daav straightened his shoulders and stepped away from the wall. His knees trembled, but he could stand. His hands were cold, and his lungs ached as if he had been running at the top of his speed for far too long.