Mouse and Dragon (32 page)

"Actually, I did, but only because Mr. dea'Gauss does insist upon explaining these matters to me as we go along."

Aelliana laughed softly. "Well, I wish
I
had known! However, it was all eventually done, signed, and filed. After, we fetched Trilla and Mistress Apel and all went to find something to eat, which I see now that I should not have done—"

"No." He raised a hand and put his fingers lightly over her lips. "A call would have sufficed. Had I only known that you were with Jon and not lifted for the Out . . ."

"Without my copilot?"

"The ship must come first, for the pilot."

"So it must," Aelliana agreed, and added the phrase she had lately learnt from Anne. "But there is not only one way to skin a cat."

Daav laughed. "So I learn. Your copilot, I am sad to report, is a lackwit."

"No, that I cannot allow. My copilot had other matters to concern him. How does Mr. dea'Gauss suggest we respond to this absurd charge of kin-stealing?"

"Mr. dea'Gauss is inclined to believe that Mizel can carry the day, does it come to that. He advises that I propose contract to you, Aelliana, which buys us more time together, all by Code and custom."

"Contract?" she repeated, around a sudden gone feeling in her stomach. "But—that merely puts off the inevitable! When the contract is fulfilled, I will be required to return to Mizel." She shook her head.

"He cannot have thought the matter through. The better solution is for us to cry lifemates, pay Mizel its price, and sign the lines."

A rush of emotion so powerful she could scarcely hold onto her own soul swept 'round her in joyous chaos.

"You had, I thought," Daav murmured, "no wish to be Korval."

"Nor do I," she answered warmly, "and I shall doubtless make many bitter errors. However, it appears that I must have Korval, if I am to attain Daav, and so I accept the handicap, if you can accept my ignorance."

"You are not ignorant," he told her. He touched her cheek with fingers that trembled. "I say to you, Aelliana Caylon, that your solving this day—rather, your solving of yesterday!—is masterful. Only consider Korval your ship and you shall do very well for all of us!"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Truly, Daav, it was all I could think to do!"

"Your instincts," he said solemnly, "are good."

He tipped his head, and she felt a returning flutter of fear, paired uneasily with doubt.

"Tell me true, Aelliana, for I would not see you trapped: Do you think that you may bear it?"

"Bear it?" she repeated. "Since the first time we flew together, I had wanted nothing but to sit board with you, always. If Korval is the ship we have to fly, then—better together than apart."

She felt his pride in her, and a certain feeling of awe, which, she thought hotly, would never do.

She reached up to take hold of the long tail of his hair, pulling his face down to hers.

"Kiss me," she commanded.

Balance must be maintained in all things. Debts must be paid promptly and in full.
—
From the Liaden Code of Proper Conduct
 

"Good morning, Mr. dea'Gauss. I hope I find you well?"

There were in Daav's office, downstairs, he in the chair and she standing behind, both within range of the screen.

Mr. dea'Gauss inclined his sleek head. "Good morning, your lordship; my lady. I am perfectly well, I thank you."

"Excellent," Daav murmured. "Please forgive me for accosting you in this uncivilized manner. My only excuse is that we are summoned in an hour to Lady yo'Lanna's side, and I have something rather urgent for you to undertake on Korval's behalf."

"Of course, your lordship. I stand ready to assist, as ever."

"I will be brief. Pilot Caylon has found a simple solution to our dilemma of yesterday, sir. She suggests that she and I sign as lifemates before the world, and thus place Mizel beyond distress."

Mr. dea'Gauss blinked, and raised his eyes to Aelliana's.

"Yes," she told him, with a smile. "It must be so, Mr. dea'Gauss. If you please."

"Few things which I have undertaken in the service of Korval have pleased me so much, my lady. I will, of course, make this my first priority." He gave a seated bow. When he had straightened again, he looked to Daav.

"Korval will offer the life-price of a first class pilot, and a scholar expert?"

Aelliana stirred, meaning to say that it was too much; she had been a scholar expert during her whole adult life. Had matters fallen otherwise, she supposed she would have remained a scholar expert until Mizel's Ring passed and the new delm had made her a whore.

Daav inclined his head. "Korval seeks to place value appropriately. We have no reason to stint Mizel and every reason to be generous."

"Very good," Mr. dea'Gauss murmured. "This business ought to take no more than a few hours. It is perfectly possible that I will have the concluded contract in hand this afternoon."

"We will come to you," Daav said, "when Lady yo'Lanna releases us. Pilot Caylon had been wanting to visit the shops in any case."

Oh, had I?
Aelliana frowned down at the top of his head, which was as helpful as one might expect. When she looked back to the screen it seemed to her that Mr. dea'Gauss was smiling.

"Very good, your lordship," he said. "I will set to work immediately. Good morning, my lady."

"Good morning, Mr. dea'Gauss," she said.

The screen went dark.

"Why do I want to visit the shops in Solcintra?" Aelliana asked.

Daav spun 'round in his chair and smiled up at her.

"Why, to purchase a dress worthy of Lady Kareen's formal gather, of course! I advise that you place yourself entirely into Eyla dea'Lorn's hands."

Aelliana sighed lightly.

"Who is Eyla dea'Lorn and how shall I find her?"

"She is an artist, and I will guide you to her, directly we have concluded our business with Mr. dea'Gauss." He tipped his head, his smile broadening into a grin.

"Where will you wish to go for our honey-trip, Aelliana? The mountains or the sea?"

"Do you know?" she said reflectively. "I think I had considered the trip to Avontai our honey-trip. Though I should," she admitted, "like to see an ocean."

Daav's grin twisted a bit. "Have you never been to the sea?"

"No, never," she said, and touched his cheek, reading ebullience, relief, delight . . . "I was waiting for you to take me there, you see."

"Then I shall," he answered more seriously than perhaps the moment warranted, and came to his feet.

"Come, let us collect your guest-gift and be on our way! It will never do to be late!"

She eyed him.

"Are we in danger of being late?" she asked.

"Not if I drive like a pilot," he answered, looking down at her quizzically.

"Drive like a Scout," Aelliana whispered, and stretched up on her toes to kiss him.

* * *

"Aelliana Caylon Clan Mizel." She straightened and looked boldly into Lady yo'Lanna's face, offering the bouquet of gloan-roses and gladoli they had gathered from Jelaza Kazone's gardens.

"Please accept a small token, ma'am, to commemorate our first meeting."

"I thank you." Lady yo'Lanna received the bouquet into her hands, and gazed at it for a long moment.

"Gladoli were my friend Chi's favorite flower," she murmured. "I have always been partial to gloan-roses. It is well-chosen."

"I had good advice," Aelliana said, and Lady yo'Lanna smiled.

"Of course you did," she said, and glanced aside with a smile that could only be said to be sardonic.

"Daav, it is good to see you among my guests once more. I think you know everyone who has come. Please do me the favor of reacquainting yourself, while I make Scholar Caylon known to all."

He bowed, of course; there was nothing else he might decently do.

"Certainly, ma'am. Is there anyone in particular you would like to have drowned?"

She appeared to give the question serious consideration, head tipped to one side, and eyes dwelling on the flowers she held. "No, I thank you. I believe that today I am in charity with all the world."

He bowed again. Lady yo'Lanna slipped her hand through Aelliana's arm. She cast him a single look over her shoulder from wide green eyes as she was led away, and he smiled as if he were perfectly comfortable with the arrangements.

He was not, to say true,
completely
comfortable with the arrangements, but that had more to do with his desire to be private with his lady, rather than sharing her among a dozen.

"How long," asked a voice at his shoulder, "is that going to continue, young Korval?"

Daav turned to confront Delm Guayar, Clonak's father, coincidentally Lady yo'Lanna's brother.

"Good morning, sir. As long as your lady sister desires, I should think, but surely not upwards of a day or two."

"Pfft!" Guayar frowned sternly. "The last time we met, I did you a good turn, sir. Do you intend to repay me by coming lack-witted and tedious?"

"Of course not! I hope to repay you properly in kind. Is there a bit of news I might drop delicately into one certain ear alone for you?"

Guayar considered him.

"I know what ails you," he said at last. "You haven't any wine." He slipped his arm companionably through Daav's and turned him toward the center of the garden. "Come, let us rectify that immediately. While we are on our way to the wine table, you may tell me how long you intend to allow the enchanting pilot to style herself 'Mizel.' "

"As it happens," Daav said slowly, "Mr. dea'Gauss is currently in negotiation. We hope for a speedy, and joyous, resolution."

Guayar inclined his head.

"It relieves me to see you moving to consolidate your strengths," he murmured. "I counsel, if it does not offend, that Korval can afford to be generous. When one wishes to acquire a jewel beyond price . . ."

"I concur," Daav said.

Perhaps he spoke a bit too sharply, for Guayar inclined his head and said no more.

They began to meet other guests. Daav made his bow to Lord Andresi, another of his mother's staunch allies, and to Nasil ter'Gasta Clan Idvantis. Seeing him on Guayar's arm, neither detained him long, and soon they were comfortable again, just the two of them.

"How does Clonak go on?" Daav asked.

Guayar moved his shoulders. "I assume he thrives, as the Scouts have not notified me of his attaining a less satisfactory condition. One never does hear from Scouts when they are at duty, you know. Your mother and I had used to speak of it, often."

"Indeed," Daav said, properly chagrined. "One might suppose I would be accustomed to that circumstance by now."

"When the heart is anxious, the mind grows forgetful," Guayar murmured, and slid him a sidewise look. "In my experience."

Daav inclined his head.

"Ah, at last! The wine table! Let us turn you up sweet, young Korval. Have some of Ilthiria's canary; it is excellent."

He took the older gentleman's advice, finding it good, as it so often was, and mingled with the guests who lingered in the area, pausing to speak with Thodelm Wespail regarding the latest vagaries of the market in aleut and the sudden popularity of
vya
among the Terran ports.

When he next glanced about him, Guayar was gone.

* * *

Aelliana and Lady yo'Lanna met quite a number of people in the course of their unhurried stroll. Aelliana had done her best to commit faces to memory, as she would memorize the faces that filled each new class. Most pleasantly, they had spoken with Len Sar Anaba Clan Gabrian, who was a trader, and knew Er Thom well; and exchanged bows with Lady Sera tel'Kai Clan Vakmont. Vakmont, Aelliana told herself, with a certain feeling of pleasure for knowing it, was High House.

"Do you mean to keep Korval on your string very long?" Lady yo'Lanna asked.

Aelliana felt her temper spark, and took a careful breath.

"Ma'am, I fear you are misinformed," she said quietly. "Daav had said you were his mother's best and oldest friend, so I have no hesitation in telling you that he and I are natural lifemates. We stand each at the side of the other because we must.
That
lifemating, ma'am, cannot be undone."

"I had wondered if that were the case, given the clan's history," the lady said smoothly. "But there are other matters, Pilot, which may only be captured correctly by paper and ink. I cannot imagine why Chi's son has not yet cemented his advantage."

"He has been convenable and patient," Aelliana murmured. "There were those things which I needed to find of myself, for myself, before I would allow even discussion of contracts."

"Ah. And now?"

Aelliana smiled. "Mr. dea'Gauss is speaking with Mizel now."

Lady yo'Lanna did not go so far as to smile, though she did press her lips together for a brief moment.

"That is excellent news," she said. "May I be the very first to wish you happy."

"The contract is not set yet," Aelliana protested.

The Lady laughed softly. "My dear Pilot Caylon, with the dea'Gauss in negotiation, success cannot be far behind." She used her chin to point at a man in a very fine tunic, coming toward them up the path.

"Now, here we come upon my good friend Etgora. You will doubtless find him pleasant enough, but pray be aware that he will look first at your rings and calculate from there."

Aelliana glanced down at her hands. She wore her Jump pilot's cluster and the silver puzzle ring she had from her grandmother.

"I have no shame in my rings, ma'am," she said composedly.

"No," Lady yo'Lanna said, sweeping forward, "nor should you."

* * *

". . . it was Plemia lost an elder pilot in the Out," yo'Taler was saying. "The most curious affair imaginable. She had delivered her cargo, and taken on the return, went onto the port for a bite and a glass—and never returned to her ship. It was like the port swallowed her up."

"The ship?" Daav asked.

"Ah, there's Korval! No, sir, you'll rejoice to hear that the ship was unharmed. It paid the docking fees until its account ran dry, which is when Port Admin noticed something amiss, and by then the pilot's trail was cold. No one came forward with her ID or a ship key, or any likely tale for taking what they knew was aboard. Nor could anyone recall seeing the pilot after she left with another, before port middle night."