Heart Journey (29 page)

He nodded and they pulled away smoothly.

Shunuk yipped and huddled against the opposite door.

“Not for you,” Del said. Shunuk had gotten a cold, too, and been taken to D’Ash to get zapped. He hadn’t liked it, something about his nose being scoured and compromising his sense of smell.

“D’Ash has a kitten for Raz.” Del continued to smile and leaned back against the furrabeast leather seats. Her third gift for the man. Not that she’d give it to him now. He’d pulled back from her, so she had withdrawn. From hurt and pride, but it was good strategy. He retreats, she puts even more distance between them. She might even have to walk away.

She just realized that she could do that. She’d
hate
it, but the connection between them was strong, and she trusted that bond. They were HeartMates; he wouldn’t forget her.

Shunuk sidled over, sniffed at her new silkeen gown.
Nice smell.

Yes.
She smoothed the fabric.
Silk from Chinju.

That’s true, too.
Del sighed. At one time she’d thought she’d sail to Chinju, work on that continent where the decedents of
Arianrhod’s Wheel
had settled. Now her future was different.

Previous visualizations had been of herself traveling and surveying and mapping, then her and Shunuk. An image couldn’t form when she tried to include Raz . . . or Doolee.

Del jerked a shrug. As she changed, so would her goals and her trail . . . her life’s journey.

T
he moment they arrived at D’Ash’s office Shunuk hurried to inves
tigate the Fam adoption rooms, apparently sensing another fox. From what he’d said,
Maybe Raz would like a pretty fox more than a stupid kitten
, Del figured the fox was female, a vixen.

Del’s lingering hurt at Raz’s rejection had decreased. She’d taken steps to win her man by setting wheels in motion with Amberose. If Del hadn’t been on her way to pick up Raz’s pet, she’d head out again, just her and Shunuk, into the country for some relief. Find a nice rustic place to stay with trails into the hills or a long beach to walk . . . somewhere she could hunker down and regain her balance.

But when she held the grayish-blue and white and black mottled kitten in her hands, she wondered about taking such a young life away from the city. It was so soft, hardly overflowed the palms of her hands placed together.

It blinked up with big yellow eyes, perfect for Raz in all its variety.

Yawning and showing a very pink tongue, it said mentally,
I am a SHE and not an it.

Del sent a startled look at D’Ash.

That woman nodded and chuckled. “Yes, I heard her, too. Fams are becoming stronger in Flair all the time. More people than just HeartMates can easily hear Fam companions. They broadcast better.”

I want FOOD!
the little one shouted and both women laughed. Del stroked the round belly with her thumbs. “How often does she need to be fed?” Del knew little about young of any kind.

“Every two septhours.” D’Ash beamed.

Del flinched.

D’Ash took the kitten from Del and placed the young cat on a counter with a small saucer of milk. The tiny cat lapped at it enthusiastically, splashing her whiskers white. The scene tugged at Del’s heart.

“As long as you leave some fresh-spelled milk out for her, she can feed herself,” D’Ash said.

Didn’t sound as if Del should take her into the wilds, though. “How curious is she?”

“She’s been all over the Residence,” D’Ash said proudly.

Del stared at the kitten. Her tail twitched in a fearless manner, but the baby would be an easy snack for any animal out there.

Yet, the more Del thought, the more she wanted to get away from town. Smell non-city smells, walk through tangled hedges . . . an idea came. There was a small inn near the Great Labyrinth. Lately the place was becoming more popular. Nobles who showcased their Families with offerings were taking care of the great meditation crater more, especially the younger generation of FirstFamilies who were beginning to make themselves felt in powerful circles.

Talk was that if you wanted to look at the powerful and important, a trip to the Great Labyrinth might snag you a sight or two. Or if you wanted to catch a GreatLord or GreatLady to ask a favor, that might happen, too.

Del studied GreatLady D’Ash. “You said that Fams are increasing in Flair . . .”

D’Ash laughed. “Not only Fams. We’re seeing increased Flair in Earthan descended animals and hybrids, like housefluffs of rabbits and mocyns—”

“People, too,” Del said.

D’Ash nodded. “People, too. No one can argue that the prophet Vinni T’Vine has incredible Flair, or young Avellana Hazel.” D’Ash shuddered.

Del eyed her. She’d heard strange, hushed rumors about seven-year-old Avellana Hazel, but at the look on D’Ash’s face, decided it wouldn’t be wise to pursue them. Del sure didn’t want to become addicted to noble gossip like her parents. She was curious, and it was hard not to press, but she continued with her point. “It’s easier for people to teleport in one jump to and from Druida City to the Great Labyrinth, isn’t it?”

Appearing surprised, D’Ash nodded again. “Yes. Some nobles usually teleport into the center of the Great Labyrinth if they don’t want to walk in.
No one
can teleport from the center of the crater to the rim, it’s bespelled forever that way. Walking fast—not meditating—with no stops, the path takes at least a septhour around and up the crater. But from the city to the site in one teleportation jump . . .” Her brows knit. “Yes, I think I could do it.”

“You are a noble GreatLady.”

“I was born a commoner, but do have GrandLady status by my own Flair. I could probably ’port there. My HeartMate, T’Ash, could, of course.”

“All of the FirstFamily nobles.”

“Probably.”

“And GrandHouse-level Flaired nobles.”

D’Ash said, “Maybe. I’m sure you could, D’Elecampane.”

Del grunted. “Prefer to ride. Never know when you might need the energy to teleport out of danger, and take your mount and Fam with you.”

“Good point.” D’Ash’s expression showed her high approval. “
Have
you teleported yourself and your mount and Shunuk out of danger?”

“A time or two. Left me nearly unconscious and flat on my back.” That was literally true; she winced as she recalled landing on sharp stones poking at her back and her butt. Good thing she’d been wearing her best and newly bespelled leathers.

Finishing her quick meal, the kitten circled herself in a ball and fell asleep. Del couldn’t help herself, she picked up the little cat. The kitten gave a sleepy burp and purred. Del crooked her arm and set her in the corner of her elbow.

“So, I bet the up-and-coming middle class who are gaining more Flair will be able to teleport to the Great Labyrinth soon,” Del said.

“Maybe. I don’t think I’ll be telling my friend Trif Winterberry about that, though.”

Del smiled. “She’d try?”

“Oh, yes, and she’s pregnant. It isn’t wise to teleport when you’re pregnant, not even newly pregnant, you know.”

Del didn’t, didn’t care to. She shrugged, stroked the kitten’s ear, smiled at D’Ash. “I think that the Great Labyrinth will become more crowded. You might tell your HeartMate that the FirstFamilies Council should consider limiting access.”

“Oh, no!”

Del gave D’Ash a hard look. “Not to nobles, but to the amount of people allowed in during a day.”

“It’s a meditation center for
all
.”

“We don’t want it to be a dusty labyrinth path for all.”

“The bowl is filling up with more and more shrine offerings. You have one, don’t you?” D’Ash said.

The Elecampanes had made a shrine after they’d channeled their Flair to scrying. “We have an arbor and a trio of birdbaths that can be used as scrybowls within the labyrinth. Outside scrys don’t work in there.”

The medium-sized pet door flapped in and out as Shunuk trotted in. His head was high and he radiated displeasure. Uh-oh. Felt like he’d been rejected, too. Del examined him. His fur was sleeker, he’d put on a little weight so he didn’t look scrawny. His color was uneven, but she thought he looked fine.

Shunuk sniffed.
Is that our new kit?

Obviously the vixen had not thought he looked fine.

“Yes, the kitten for Del’s HeartMate, Cerasus Cherry,” D’Ash said smugly.

Del hadn’t told D’Ash that.

D’Ash slanted her a glance and said, “My best friend is Mitchella Clover D’Blackthorn, Straif’s wife, Doolee’s mother.” D’Ash gave a relieved sigh. “Thank you for letting them keep Doolee; they love her very much.”

What had Del gotten herself into? She’d known, of course, that there were circles and allies and cliques and what all among the nobles, the FirstFamilies. But her parents had been interested in that, not she.

Shunuk had jumped on a table close to Del so he could snuffle at the sleeping kitten. She awoke and hissed, swiped at his nose. Then sat straight up on Del’s arm, eyes narrowed.
Fox breath BAD.

Shunuk growled but turned his head aside. He squinted at the kitten, gave insult for insult.
Cat has little muzzle, hardly pointed at all.

That was true, though the kitten didn’t have as squashed a face as some cats Del had seen.

My nose is nice,
Shunuk said.

Del wondered if the vixen had said something about Shunuk’s muzzle. Looked good to her, but who knew fox standards?

“I guess you didn’t get on with Alapex,” D’Ash said.

Grunting, Shunuk said,
Born and bred in Druida City. Not for me.

Del had had the idea that he wanted a city vixen as a mate. The hard feelings of rejection would wear down, especially if they crammed their lives with new events and other emotions. “Yes, this is the new kit. We’ll be keeping her with us for a few days.” Until Del got over
her
hurt. “I thought tomorrow morning we could ride north to the Great Labyrinth and spend a couple of days there.” Through the weekend and the first day of the week when the theater was dark, leave Raz on his own, though she would sure miss the loving—physical and emotional.

OUT of Druida!
The kitten gasped. It wriggled with excitement and curiosity.

“The Great Labyrinth is safe enough. Bespelled not to allow dangerous animals. But countryside, not city, and fun to explore . . . for all of us.” Del glanced at D’Ash, the expert.

The GreatLady tilted her head, examining Del. “You really aren’t a city woman, are you? You won’t be staying in Druida.”

“No.” Del tried not to snap the word.

D’Ash opened her mouth, closed it, nodded. Del thought she’d stopped herself from commenting on Raz. Then D’Ash raised her hands, palms out. “Go with my blessing. Exploring the Great Labyrinth sounds wonderful; usually people just walk the meditation path.” Her mouth quirked. “I don’t think there’s any schematic plan, any, ah, map of the Great Labyrinth. Where each Family’s shrine is. That might be good to have.”

Work. Del slanted her a look, but the woman appeared innocent.

D’Ash rubbed her chin. “Hmmm. I think T’Ash would pay for a good three-dimensional rendering. Maybe Mitchella could market it as a decorating item or a meditation tool, a small table-sized three-dimensional model of the Great Labyrinth.
I
would buy one. T’Ash might do so, too. Maybe a huge landscape globe of it.”

Del’s mind boggled at the thought of forcing a landscape globe into a certain shape with her own Flair. The very thought made her head hurt—and the word
model
made her insides ache since she associated it with Raz and starship models.

Maybe she could do a three-dimensional colorful holo of the place, but for a real, solid sculpture . . . that would be something she and Raz could cooperate on . . . “Someday, maybe.”

D’Ash walked with them as they left the small room and went through her offices to her separate entrance. “Yes, I would pay good gilt for something like that—a holo or a sculpture or a landscape globe of the Great Labyrinth. At the very least, I’d bet the Guildhall would like a plan.”

“Maybe,” Del said.

“Probably lots of nooks and crannies most don’t know about,” D’Ash said, waving them out with a cheerful smile. “Sounds fun.” Then she drew herself up to her full, small height and grinned wider. “Though everyone knows that the center of the Great Labyrinth is T’Ash’s Family’s World Tree.”

Bye, Danith,
the kitten warbled mentally to D’Ash.
We go, go, GO!
They all faced forward and walked to the waiting glider, slid onto the back bench.

Del’s pocket hummed, then Elfwort’s voice said, “Hey, Del, you have a call.”

This time Raz was scrying.

“To D’Elecampane house,” Del told the driver as she carefully slid into the seat while holding the kitten. Shunuk had leapt in before them.