Heart Fortune (Celta) (3 page)

A chill slipped through Glyssa at the thought of not making FirstLevel Librarian, failing in the career she’d started at ten years old. She swallowed hard.

Camellia picked up one of the spheres, read the title and made a face. “Another boring history.” She stared at Glyssa, then perked up. “You could write a paper on my ancestor Captain Netra Sunaya Hoku.” Camellia’s eyes brightened as she put the ball back into its cushioned nest. “Better, you could write something more popular than a paper. A . . . a novel or a play, or something.” She nodded decisively. “Yes, that’s what I want. I want regular people to read about my ancestor, understand how he saved so many lives.” She grabbed Glyssa’s hands. “Say you will.”

“I don—”

Glyssa, what happened!
chimed in her other friend, Tiana Mugwort, mentally.
I was attending a lecture by the high priest and couldn’t respond before now, but felt your need.

So Glyssa and Camellia shared their thoughts with her.

“Incoming scry from GreatLord T’Ash, at T’Ash Residence, for SecondLevel Librarian Glyssa Licorice,” said the voice of the PublicLibrary.

Camellia looked at her. Glyssa shrugged. She didn’t know why the lord would call her. She’d never met the man. “I’ll accept it,” she said.

The nearby wall scry screen cleared, then showed a large and scowling T’Ash holding a fox kit by the scruff of his neck. Off screen came the hisses of a very angry cat.

“Glyssa Licorice?” T’Ash snapped.

“That’s me,” she said.

“My HeartMate informs me that this one.” He gave the young fox a tiny shake. “Is your Fam Companion. Come get him. Now.” The scry went black.

Camellia laughed. “Sounds like GreatLady Danith D’Ash has given you a Fam.”

Two

G
lyssa rubbed her temples. “This isn’t the right time to get a Familiar.
I can’t take a young thing out to an excavation.”

“You shouldn’t,” Camellia agreed. “But do you want a Fam or not?”

“Oh, I do!” Energy surged through Glyssa. Need for a companion, since she’d be leaving her two best friends, her Family . . . all that she knew.

“You should buy one of those automatic teleportation collars that will send him to D’Ash if he gets hurt,” Camellia said.

“It can’t teleport him thousands of kilometers!”

“They must have a Healing clinic,” Camellia said. “You can set the collar for that.”

Glyssa’s mind whirled. “I must leave as soon as possible.”

“Well,” Camellia pointed out, “T’Ash did say
now
.”

Glyssa had meant for the excavation.

“My Family expects me to be at home . . . sick.” Though a Fam
would
perk anyone up.

“T’Ash is not a man you want to cross,” Camellia pointed out.

“All right. I’ll ’port to our garage and take the glider.”

Camellia hugged her. “Laev will be scrying you about being our rep at
Lugh’s Spear.
” She kissed Glyssa on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.” She went to the teleportation pad and left.

Glyssa put away the recordspheres—with a new index—and headed out.

A few minutes later the glider pulled up to Danith D’Ash’s offices. She was the animal healer and person who usually assigned Fams and was awaiting Glyssa’s arrival, holding and petting the little fox.

From what Glyssa could see, the young Fam didn’t need soothing. His tongue lolled out of his slightly open muzzle and his eyes gleamed with wild glee.

The glider stopped and the door lifted. Glyssa began to slide out when Danith D’Ash hustled up and the foxling jumped from her arms onto the seat. Glyssa winced at the little claw holes in the upholstery.

You are my FamWoman!
The excited telepathic voice was accompanied with a few small barks from the red and white fox. His red fur was about the color of Glyssa’s hair.

Then he was in her lap, putting his paws on her shoulders, licking her face with a rough tongue and sending fox breath her way. He felt . . . simply wondrous, small and lithe and trembling with excitement.

In an instant he’d dropped to her lap and curled up, draping a fluffy tail over his nose.

“I need a programmable collar,” Glyssa said, dazed.

Danith D’Ash handed her one.

The fox lifted its head.
I do not like that.

“It will break away if you’re caught on anything,” Glyssa said.

He snapped his teeth at D’Ash, so she floated it into the glider and to Glyssa. “The collar will return your Fam here . . . I’ll give you the exact coordinates for my son’s office.” The lady’s cheerful smile held an edge of strain.

“I’m actually leaving for the excavation of
Lugh’s Spear
for my field trip to obtain my FirstLevel librarianship,” Glyssa said, petting the young fox. “I suppose I shouldn’t take him.” She didn’t want to give him up.

D’Ash’s brows came down. “No, you shouldn’t—”

But D’Ash’s husband and HeartMate exited her offices and joined her, towering over her and laying a huge hand on her shoulder. “The kit will be fine.” T’Ash lifted his chin. “We’ve had troublesome animals here before, but
that
one. He’ll be fine. Good to meet you, GrandMistrys Licorice. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.” With a wave of his hand, the glider door snicked shut and they were off.

“Home, please,” Glyssa said to the Flair-powered vehicle. It picked up speed and exited through the T’Ash spellshields and gates in seconds. The gates clanged behind them.

Her fox turned and sat on her lap, looking up at her.
Adventure!

She couldn’t deny the glee in his eyes that matched a surge in her heart. “Yes. And now to name you.”

You are a Licorice of the PublicLibrary Licorices
, he said.
I asked the T’Ash ResidenceLibrary for Licorice names—
He’d done research! Glyssa was thrilled.

—and the Residence gave me some and I chose Lepid.

“Oh, clever fox!”

He licked her on her chin.
I am. I am a CLEVER fox. More clever than any old cat, more clever than—

“Let’s not get into that. And my Family lives in a house across from the library. We don’t have any Fams—”

I am the FIRST Licorice Fam!

“Yes, but the PublicLibrary itself has two cats. You must be nice to them.” She looked at the wriggling fox, figured that would tax the kit. “At least until we leave the city. There’s plenty of exploring to be done in our house and the library. Avoid the cats.”

Of course!
Lepid said.

Glyssa figured that was a promise easily broken by her new, young Fam. “If you get seriously scratched by the cats, I’m not sure you’ll be able to go with me.”

Not go!

“That’s right. You’ll have to stay here until you are well. But I will have to go, because my trip arrangements will be made by another GreatLord, Laev T’Hawthorn, whom I can’t deny.” She hoped. But Laev had been wanting to poke his nose into the expedition, and was a wealthy entrepreneur, a gambler. Surely he’d be all right with her plans.

Lepid grumbled a little in acknowledgment, then hopped from her lap to look out the window at the city as they left the rich noble estates.
I think I like running better than sitting in this glider.

Glyssa didn’t tell him that the trip across the continent would have him cooped up in an airship for septhours. It would be fast as opposed to stridebeast—there weren’t any roads—but confining. Her perscry—personal scry pebble—played the chord she’d assigned to Laev T’Hawthorn, and she slid a thumb across it. “Here,” she said.

He grinned at her, and yes, the man was rubbing his hands. “Camellia told me of your offer, Glyssa. I’m also working on a satellite communications system from the starship here to the
Lugh’s Spear
encampment. You’ll be taking out some equipment. Everything is ready. I’ll send you the documents—all the financial information regarding your salary and duties, a couple of other people are interested in your reports—Camellia will send you more copies of her ancestor’s journals and maps, and I’ll keep you up to date on my consortium for putting up a communications satellite. You’ll be traveling with equipment,” Laev said in satisfaction, “and will be leaving in two days.”

“Thanks,” Glyssa said faintly. Two days! No time to procrastinate telling her parents.

They’d turned onto the broad city street that the main PublicLibrary fronted.

“Merry meet,” Laev said.

“And merry part,” Glyssa gave the formal response.

“And merry meet again.” The lord’s smile was quick and charming. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening at GreatCircle Temple for a blessing ritual.”

“Right,” Glyssa said. The scry pebble darkened as Laev ended the call. She drew in a large breath as the glider pulled into the drive before her house.

Now all she had to do was tell her parents she was leaving.

EXCAVATION OF
LUGH’S SPEAR
,

The Next Morning

The camp was abuzz with the news that an unscheduled single-zoom airship had arrived and the pilot had headed straight to headquarters.

It only took seconds for rumors to bound through the encampment. Jace wasn’t close enough to the owners to casually stroll into their pavilion and ask what was going on, and his bump of curiosity wasn’t such that he panted to know. Unlike his friendly rival, Andic Sanicle, who lingered near the main tent.

Jace headed out to look at the excavation.

A couple of years ago, an expedition had been put together by the Elecampanes and they’d legally claimed a great amount of uninhabited land. No one had believed they’d find the lost starship, but after some effort, the location of
Lugh’s Spear
had been determined. Now the project, also run by the Elecampanes, showed the huge outline of the starship.

The landing on Celta had been hard, the ship had broken with some lives lost, then, a few days later, the ground beneath the massive vehicle had given way and it had fallen and been covered with rockfall.

The colonists had tried to make a community, some had stayed and died out in a few generations—Celta remained hard on her new people—but most had trekked to the city of Druida, where the intelligent starship
Nuada’s Sword
had landed.

Jace had seen the plays depicting the discovery of Celta and the ensuing journey. Hard not to when GrandLord T’Elecampane was the noted actor Raz Cherry. The man did theater productions even in camp.

A shiver twitched between his shoulder blades as he scented water in the air from Fish Story Lake and the Deep Blue Sea. No, this time he thought that Celtans not Earthans, would stay. The location was great . . . one of the reasons that the Captain had decided to land here. He’d been right about that.

Unfortunately, from what Jace understood, he’d also been right to worry about that landing.

Jace shook off the past and the future and walked toward the hole in the ground where the beam was, stared at it. When he’d fallen, the spellshields had protected him. It had taken a couple of septhours to dig him out, and he’d felt the strain of the lack of air, though he’d fallen into a small air pocket and the spellshields provided minimal air for three septhours.

He’d landed on an actual metal floor, and though he’d been trapped—and one of his hates was being constrained—he’d had time to check out the hole’s dimensions. Beyond a not-too-deep rock slide to his left should be a stretch of corridor. His mind had danced with notions of what might be there.

But though the owners of the project, the Elecampanes, had listened to him, since the accident no one had gone back down. Instead they’d been, once again, scouting out the entrances of the ship, to dig near there.

Frustrating. He
yearned
to see what wonders the Earthans had left. When the ship had landed so hard and broken, the colonists had only been allowed one large sack of personal items, and that had included the Captain, the immediate former Captain, and his wife. Not many had been permitted back into the ship. Those who had, had brought out things to set up the community.

A lot had been lost when the ship had gone down. All sorts of treasures inside.

“Greetyou,” said a soft voice, and an equally soft arm slipped between his side and his chest, since he had his hands jammed in his trous pockets. Forcing an easy smile on his face, he looked down at Funa Twinevine. He’d stopped having sex with her casually when he’d understood that she was also sleeping with his rival, Andic Sanicle. She was a hard worker, but she also had her eye on the treasures and was a shade more greedy and less honorable than Jace was comfortable with.

Three

J
ace had known a lot of adventurers, one of his favorite types of women
to play with. Funa was certainly easy on his eyes with a heart-shaped face, wide, lush mouth, and large, dark-brown eyes. She’d been inventive and flexible in bed, something he also enjoyed.

“Greetyou,” he said.

She frowned, pursing those lovely lips that he had no intention of ever kissing again—at least not until after she stopped sexing with Andic—and leaned against him. His body remembered being atop a bedsponge with her, but his mind and emotions remained cool. He kept the smile, though.

Funa stroked his arm. “You haven’t been friendly, lately.”

He grunted and shook his head. “I don’t like sharing a woman. Just irrational that way.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” She stepped back, fitted her hands on her hips.

“No. And I won’t. Do as you please.”

Tossing her sleek, long hair over her shoulders, she said, “You didn’t ask for exclusivity.”

He hadn’t even thought about that. Truth was, he hadn’t cared enough about her to think of that, but he knew she wouldn’t want to hear that, who would? “My mistake.” He made it regretful.

“Hmph.” Her shoulders wiggled. “I don’t want to give up Andic as a lover.”

Jace winced. “Ouch.”

And she let go a full-bodied laugh, punched him lightly in the shoulder, then sent him one of those under-the-eyelash sexy looks. “Not yet, anyway.”

Andic had discovered the last cache of artifacts near the camp, had gotten his cut for them up front.

Jace had empty pockets but hopeful dreams. He turned back to eye the beckoning but dark and narrow hole in the ground. He’d bet he could still fit, and in a couple more meters, if there was a passage, it would be wide.

Now Funa sighed. “That opening is so tempting, isn’t it?” She looked out at the crew heading with two heavy-duty earth-moving machines to where the Elecampanes thought the midship main door was.

“Yeah,” Jace said. Too tempting. He’d only get in trouble if he went down. And though he didn’t mind trouble, exploring on his own might get him thrown off the project. Not worth that.

So he turned back toward the camp some meters distant, saw Andic wave at Funa. She hurried from Jace’s side, and as a twitch hit between his shoulder blades, he knew he’d been right to refuse her. Just logical.

Didn’t have anything to do with recent dimly remembered erotic dreams. Or that very strong tug on his emotions he’d felt the day before. Or the incredible four-day sex weekend he’d had with that redhead, Glyssa Licorice, he’d visualized as he’d fallen down the damn hole. Really.

Years ago he’d had to force himself to forget Glyssa’s name, and now he recalled it again.

He scuffed back to his battered tent—large enough for two, to give him the personal space he needed—realized he kicked up dust on the dry land, and picked up his feet and hit the easy stride he liked the best. Too much thinking hampered a guy.

DRUIDA CITY

Glyssa stood in front of the review panel that would approve her field trip and a paper, pursuant to the procedure to become a FirstLevel Librarian of Celta. This was supposed to be a formality, but she knew it wouldn’t be. “I intend for my field trip to be to the excavation site of the recently located starship,
Lugh’s Spear
. And for my research to be on the last Captain of that ship.”

Her mother’s lips flattened, and Glyssa kept her flinch inside. Her father’s disappointed expression was worse. Her older sister hefted a long-suffering sigh.

As always, her mother spoke first. “We were under the impression that your final research studies would be on HouseHearts—one of the reasons we allowed you so much time in the PublicLibrary HouseHeart. And we believed that your field sabbatical would be around the city, and perhaps to a few of the budding sentient Residences outside of Druida and in Gael City.”

“GreatLord T’Hawthorn requested I write a biography of the Captain of the starship
Lugh’s Spear
. How Netra Sunaya Hoku commanded the ship as it landed, his leadership of the colonists on the journey to Druida City, and, perhaps, research his later life after he gave up fame and status as one of the FirstFamily GrandLords.” That topic would appeal to her supposedly egalitarian Family, though bringing up Laev T’Hawthorn’s name contrasted with that. Even her Family, who disdained the appearance of wealth and status, was aware of the highest social strata of the planet . . . and that Glyssa had connections there, since one of her best friends had married into that level.

Glyssa continued, “Laev has wanted a representative at the excavation for a while. His HeartMate, Camellia, not only is invested emotionally in the excavation, but under our laws, has a financial interest in the salvage of the ship.”

“He’s a sharp entrepreneur,” Glyssa’s father said with a hint of admiration.

“Will he be funding your trip?” Glyssa’s sister asked, acid in her tone, more from envy, Glyssa thought, than from worry that Glyssa’s research might be less than impartial.

Glyssa drew a sheaf of papyrus from the long, rectangular pocket of her formal gown, walked the pace to the desk the FirstLevel Librarians sat behind, and gave them the copy of the files Laev had sent to her.

Her father grunted, her mother looked up sharply. “This includes facsimiles of Captain Hoku’s journals!”
Now
she was excited. Camellia had been dilatory in giving that to the PublicLibrary though all of them had nagged her about it.

“I will have full cooperation from Camellia and Laev, and a letter of introduction to the Elecampanes who own and run the project, and who may bring me on as a secretary of the project.”

“A
secretary,
” her sister sneered.

Glyssa met her mother’s eyes, then her father’s. “Apparently they have no official secretary or historian for the site.”

Her Family gasped as one.

“Inconceivable,” said her sister.

“This must not be allowed.” Her father stood. He had a strain of restlessness and during times of great emotion, couldn’t keep still. Glyssa was beginning to feel like she might have inherited that from him. Deep inside, part of her sang at the thought of adventure.

Her mother clicked her tongue and her father resumed his seat. D’Licorice adjusted her sleeves on the table and intoned. “Is there anything else the applicant wishes to say about her field studies?”

Glyssa gritted her teeth briefly, but bowed her head. She’d decided to reveal all about the project, but not about her HeartMate. “GreatLady Camellia D’Hawthorn wishes not only a monograph on her ancestor, the last pilot and Captain of the starship
Lugh’s Spear,
she wishes a more popular story written for the general public.” The two plays based on the discovery of Celta were immensely popular. Glyssa shivered at the thought of providing a story for a third.

“Camellia would want something more easy to read,” Glyssa’s sister said nastily.

“Camellia is a successful businesswoman, not a scholar,” Glyssa shot back.

“Such comments are not pertinent to this review panel,” Glyssa’s mother snapped.

Glyssa straightened her spine, tried to keep her expression remote, as was expected. “I have agreed to the challenge.” Again she slid her gaze across her Family’s faces. They’d lapsed into scholarly impassivity also.

Her sister leaned forward. “What will you do if we do not approve of this field trip?”

Glyssa had hoped no one would ask that question. She lifted her chin. “I believe the excavation of the lost starship,
Lugh’s Spear,
a ship different than our own
Nuada’s Sword
here in Druida, a ship whose culture during the long trip from Earth to Celta was radically different than that of
Nuada’s Sword
, is of great importance. And, as we all know,
Lugh’s Spear
carried knowledge about the colonists’ genetic psi power that
Nuada’s Sword
doesn’t have.
Lugh’s Spear
is not only vital to us in illuminating our past, but for future generations.” That was the definition of a discipline of study, and she backed the truth of her words with Flair, psi power. “If this panel does not find official merit for my work, I will proceed without its blessing.”

“I am concerned that you will be so far away . . . and the excavation is dangerous,” her mother said.

Glyssa figured that was one reason her HeartMate had been drawn there. “I believe GreatLord T’Hawthorn is working with Commander Dani Eve Elder and the starship
Nuada’s Sword
in the implementation of a new long-distance communications system.”

They all looked fascinated at this, too. Her sister’s mouth dropped open.

“You have been busy,” her father said.

Glyssa nodded.

Her mother said, “I approve the field study. But I expect more than reports or notes as proof of progress. I wish monograph pages . . .” she paused, “and pages and chapters of a ‘popular work’ with every weekly communication sent from the camp.”

Swallowing, Glyssa nodded. Sounded rough to her, a setup for failure. She was a slow writer and everyone knew it. She’d have to make the most of every moment she had at the excavation.

“I agree,” her father said.

Her sister pursed her lips, let the moment hang. The decision had to be unanimous. All Glyssa’s muscles tensed.

“I suppose I agree, too.” She made her sigh low and drawn out and Glyssa nearly flinched. She’d always hated that sigh, which her sister knew.

“The student’s final research paper and the field trip for that research is approved,” Glyssa’s mother said.

“But she is not a FirstLevel Librarian until she turns in her paper,” Glyssa’s sister said, smiling widely. Leaning back on her chair, she lifted a hand and studied her nails. “And since the student is abandoning her initial project of HouseHearts, I will pursue that.”

Glyssa stopped protest from escaping her mouth. Then recalled she’d spent years cultivating people who might talk, in general, about the HouseHearts in their intelligent Residences. Good luck to her sister in trying to pick up that.

“I don’t think so,” their mother said. “We will put that project in abeyance at this time.”

Glyssa’s sister scowled, but Glyssa’s stomach sank as she realized she was right. Her mother was setting her up for failure.

“Yip! Yip, yip, yip, yiiippp!” Lepid zoomed through the cat door, followed by the two library cats. He leapt onto the wide desk, scattered all the organized papyrus, then ran around the room and finally bounded into Glyssa’s arms, continuing to yip and taunt the cats.

“What is that?” Glyssa’s sister asked.

“A fox!” Glyssa’s father exclaimed, walked over, and scratched Lepid’s head, grinning at Glyssa. “You got a FoxFam!”

“Yes.”

We do not want him here,
said the calico cat.

The PublicLibrary is OURS
, said the long-haired brown cat.
OURS only. Two Cats is enough.
Glyssa thought the large building could accommodate five, and the annex one.

“I presume D’Ash gave him to you because he caused trouble,” Glyssa’s mother said.

Glyssa’s parents were very smart.

“He’s the same color as your hair,” Glyssa’s sister said, patting her deep auburn chignon.

“Calm down, everyone,” her mother said. “He won’t be staying here in the library.”

Hisses turned to cat mutters with a lot of whisker twitching. Tails high, the cats stalked to the Fam door and through it.

Lepid rubbed Glyssa’s father’s hand with his head. “He’s a charmer,” her father said.

Glyssa’s mother came around the desk. A small furrow showed between her brows. “Do you plan on taking such a young Fam to the excavation?”

“Yes,” Glyssa said. She touched the black collar around Lepid’s neck. “I can program this for the excavation’s clinic.” She’d checked that the camp had a medical facility.

“Very well,” her mother said in a smooth tone that had everyone looking at her. “We will deal with any further logistics when you and Lepid return.” She enveloped Glyssa in a warm embrace—as if that would ease the sting of being managed.

Her mother definitely didn’t approve of the trip. Glyssa set her chin. Too bad. Lepid wriggled out of her grip, jumping onto the floor.

“Tiana Mugwort is conducting a ritual at GreatCircle Temple for the success of my endeavors this evening at NightBell. You all will come, won’t you?” Glyssa asked.

Her sister sent her another look, eyes glinting with envy.

“Of course,” her father said. He put an arm around her mother’s waist, rolled his shoulders under his formal robe. “Glad this is over.” Bending, he kissed Glyssa’s cheek. “You can do this, pumpkin.” Then he kissed his HeartMate. “Last appointment of the day. Let’s go home and list items we want Glyssa to look into when she’s at the site.”

They all teleported away, though Glyssa was sure that her mother and father were heading for the bedroom as opposed to their study. Her sister left without a word.

Adventure!
Lepid said.

There was that. Glyssa grinned, did a little dance step.

“And finding my HeartMate,” Glyssa murmured, picking up the small fox again. She hadn’t mentioned her HeartMate to her Family. They would strongly disapprove of her previous fling, and would be irritated that she was mixing the personal with the professional—as if they didn’t do that all the time. But though her parents were HeartMates, fortune hadn’t granted her sister a fated mate. Enata had not found a man she wished to have as her husband yet. So Glyssa rarely spoke of her own HeartMate.