Intrigues (8 page)

“Well, you don’t beat around the bush much, do you?” Zokill asked, studying Jovvi carefully with a neutral expression on her own face. “Is the rest of your bunch just as outspoken?”

“Our lady of Spirit magic here is shy and retiring when compared to our lady of Fire,” Lorand supplied with amusement hidden from everyone but Jovvi. “We men are proud of our ladies, though, and therefore tend to support the things they feel strongly about. Are your people willing to join the training program we’ll be organizing?”

“Training program?” Zokill echoed, glancing narrow-eyed at Mohr. “I haven’t heard about any training program.”

“That’s because
no
one has heard the details about it yet,” Lorand said, saving Mohr from the woman’s accusation. “We’ll be assigning strong Middles to teach people how to make the most of their talents, and those who do well will be put to immediate use. Those who don’t do well through no fault of their own will have other positions offered to them, but those who don’t care to be bothered won’t be catered to.”

“And I have a question about your group aims regarding women,” Jovvi said at once, giving Zokill time to do no more than open her mouth in response to what Lorand had told her. “Have any of your people looked into the situation of courtesans? I happen to know that a certain number of them aren’t working as courtesans by choice. What provision have you made to free the unwilling ones from what amounts to outright slavery?”

“If we’re discussing women in difficulty, I have a question of my own,” a new voice added, Tamrissa’s, as she and Vallant had come up to join the group a moment earlier. “There are any number of women who were forced into marriage with men who are beasts. If someone is doing something about women’s problems in general, shouldn’t something be done about
that
?”

“I – never expected any of you to be really interested,” Zokill blurted, trying not to look at Tamrissa with awe. “You’re Fire magic, I know, but you’re so
strong
… I never knew there could be such a difference… Are you really willing to support my group…?”

Tamrissa took over the discussion, so Jovvi used the opportunity to move a few steps away from the cluster. The Zokill woman had been filled with frustrated hostility when she first joined them, probably from having her cause constantly dismissed by the men around her. Now that the proposed new rulers were showing more than a slight interest she was ecstatic, not to mention well on the way to regarding Tamrissa with hero worship. Jovvi needed a break from all those intense emotions coming from a large number of people in the room, but standing alone for a moment or two was the best she could do. Returning to the peace and quiet of her wing was entirely out of the question…

“How about something to drink?” Lorand murmured as he came up to put an arm around her. “You look like you could use
something
fortifying.”

“You know me much too well,” Jovvi returned with the smile that was his alone, putting a hand to his chest. “Yes, I certainly could use something to drink, but just fruit punch or tea. This isn’t the time for any of us to be even the least bit out of balance.”

“Don’t I know it,” Lorand returned wryly, his own smile matching. “I never knew how easy it was to fall into the habit of fortifying yourself against constant stress on too often a basis. That means I’ll be joining you in the punch or tea idea, and I’ll also be right back.”

Jovvi watched him move away toward the refreshment tables, now smiling to herself. Lorand wasn’t aware of the fact that every servant in their immediate vicinity was watching to see if the new rulers needed or wanted anything, so his going
after
drinks was unnecessary. One gesture on his part would have had the drinks brought to
them
, but that was all right. Lorand – and the rest of them – would get used to constant pampering eventually, which would probably be a shame…

“Excuse me, Jovvi, but I must speak to you for a moment,” a male voice said, and Jovvi turned to see a man she didn’t really know. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and very handsome, and the agitation inside him shouted itself to her senses.

“I’m Hargan Royd, a member of one of the Air magic link groups,” the man went on in a rush. “I’m also terribly nervous, but I can’t wait any longer to say what I need to. I think you’re the most wonderful woman I’ve ever seen, and I really admire you.” Then he took her hand with a soulful look. “And I’m also terribly in love with you.”

The man Royd then kissed her hand before backing off with a bow and hurrying away. Jovvi stared after him with her brows high, but then she felt a small smile curve her lips. She hadn’t had strange men professing their love and admiration since she’d stopped being a courtesan, and the experience had lifted her spirits in a way that a glass of wine couldn’t have. The incident meant nothing, of course, except to give her a warm feeling…

“Here’s your fruit punch,” Lorand said as he returned with two crystal cups, offering one of them to her. “And I swear that some of these servants are annoyed with me because I was about to fill the cups myself. You’d think I was trying to steal something.”

“In a manner of speaking, you
were
trying to steal something,” Jovvi answered with amusement as she accepted the cup. “If we all start to do things for ourselves, we won’t need so many servants. To some of these people you were trying to steal their job.”

“I hope the training program gets results really fast,” Lorand muttered, staring balefully at the servants moving around the room. “Once we expand the work force, most industries will flourish and new ones will grow up. Maybe then they’ll stop treating us like cripples.”

Jovvi smiled as she sipped at her punch, making no effort to tell Lorand that he was indulging in wishful thinking. Too many people considered it outrageous for rulers to fend for themselves, which might even turn out to be a good thing. A
little
pampering couldn’t hurt anything, any more than a little admiration…

Chapter 5

Naran entered the ballroom on Rion’s arm, carefully keeping her expression neutral. When Ristor Ardanis, the leader of the hidden group with Sight magic, had spoken about her Blending’s future reign in glowing terms, Naran had been delighted and relieved. But this morning she’d been able to see past that glowing picture painted by someone else, and the landscape didn’t quite match. Yes, her Blending
would
make excellent rulers – if they ever managed to be Seated. There were so many shadows of other possible outcomes in the way that Naran couldn’t tell for certain…

“Is something troubling you, my love?” Rion suddenly murmured as they walked toward where the others already were. “You seem quiet nearly to the point of being withdrawn."

“I’m afraid that the last part of our announcements tonight won’t be accepted with the same enthusiasm that the link groups and other Blendings showed,” Naran told him with the best smile she felt able to produce. “I don’t want you to be upset when that happens, my love, not when people always take the announcement of extreme change rather badly. There will be a lot of shock and protest before those around us grow used to the idea of there being a sixth talent, so you mustn’t make a fuss.”

“Is that why you made no mention of this difficulty sooner?” Rion asked, typically looking and sounding more hurt than angry. “Because you feared I would make a ‘fuss’?”

“No, it was because I didn’t want to upset you sooner,” Naran returned firmly, holding his gaze to make him know she spoke the truth. “What gives you pain does the same for me, my love, and I know you’ll feel hurt when you think I’m being rejected as a part of our Blending. But those who speak against my kind will be frightened, Rion, and it takes time before fear can be conquered. Please, for my sake, give them that time before becoming angry and impatient.”

“It remains a sad fact that I can refuse you nothing, my love,” Rion said with a sigh that made Naran smile. “If it’s patience you need, it’s patience you will have, even if I have to grit my teeth against speaking. I had not imagined that you would ever ask something this difficult of me.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask something a bit
more
difficult,” Naran replied, knowing well enough that Rion teased her in part. “Our brothers also need to restrain themselves, so you must speak to them before we begin the announcements. They won’t be pleased with what happens, but they’ll exercise the same patience if
you
ask them to.”

“I assume you mean to speak to our sisters at the same time,” Rion said with another sigh, this one of resignation and full surrender. Naran had the impression that Rion had hoped Lorand and Vallant would do what he’d promised not to, and losing that option had brought him closer to real cooperation. “Jovvi will pose little or no problem, but Tamrissa is another matter.”

“Actually, as far as I can tell, Tamrissa is the only one of us who is
supposed
to react differently,” Naran said, hearing the vexation in her own voice. “Much of what I saw this morning is clouded, but when I practiced with my link groups I was able to get a clearer peek or two. I have the impression that those with my talent are trying to protect us by not letting me see many details of what’s to come.”

“Then it must be rather unpleasant but necessary,” Rion said, a musing expression now on his face. “What I wonder, though, is just who it’s most necessary
for
.”

“Yes, I’ve been wondering the same,” Naran admitted with a bit of discomfort. “Those with Sight magic have had to stay hidden for so long that their need to be a full part of the outer world must be nearly overwhelming. I can understand being willing to pay any price to get what you need so badly, but I don’t care for the thought that our sacrifice might be part of that price.”

Rion made no response other than growing a small frown, possibly remembering how the first Fivefold Blending had been sacrificed to keep the secret about Sight magic. It wasn’t an incident to dwell on, but it also shouldn’t be completely forgotten…

By that time they had reached the place where Jovvi and Lorand stood, a short distance away from the small crowd near Tamrissa and Vallant. Rion, the dear, made no effort to hesitate in telling Lorand that he needed to ask a favor of him and Vallant. The two men moved on to where Vallant stood listening to the conversation Tamrissa was in the midst of, so Naran turned to Jovvi with a smile.

“Rion wasn’t happy to hear that we would have trouble, but he agreed not to add to it,” Naran told Jovvi in a murmur. “He also agreed to ask Lorand and Vallant not to make a fuss.”

“I told you Rion would agree,” Jovvi returned in a similar murmur, adding her own smile. “And because it’s Rion asking, Lorand and Vallant will also agree. Now all I have to do is hold my own temper, and we should be fine.”

“If Tamrissa doesn’t undo all the efforts of both of us,” Naran responded with something of a sigh. “I still don’t understand why she’s the one meant to set the tone for us.”

“Hopefully we’ll find out once all the shouting is over.” Jovvi’s smile had warmed even more, and her touch to Naran’s hand was just as warmly reassuring. “But whatever happens, at least we can face it together.”

“That togetherness is what makes all the difference,” Naran said, then laughed a bit self-consciously. “As though
you
need to have that truth pointed out. You know as well as I do what it means to be all alone in the world.”

“I certainly do,” Jovvi assured her with a laugh. Naran could tell that Jovvi meant to add something to what she’d already said, but suddenly the pleasant background music stopped being played. The two of them joined everyone else in the room in turning to see what was going on.

Lavrit Mohr, his face flushed with pleasure over the larger role being allowed him and his Guild, stood near the now-silent orchestra with his arms raised for quiet. When he got that quiet, he sent a beaming smile to everyone.

“On behalf of the Chosen Blending, it’s my honor to welcome you all here tonight,” he announced happily. With the help of Air magic users setting up the proper resonances, his voice was heard easily all over the enormous room. “There are certain things the members of the Chosen Blending want you to know, so it’s my pleasure to yield the floor to
them
.”

There was a smattering of applause as Mohr yielded the raised orchestra platform instead of the floor, and Naran felt Jovvi’s touch to her arm before Jovvi began to lead the way to that platform. Naran would have been willing to stand to one side apart from the others if the gesture would have done any good, but she knew well enough that it would be wasted effort. For that reason Naran followed after Jovvi without making the offer, and the two of them reached the platform a moment after their Blendingmates.

“They’re all yours, love,” Lorand said to Jovvi softly with a smile, Tamrissa, Rion and Vallant obviously agreeing with him. “Maybe they’ll swallow the medicine more willingly if you’re the one who gives it to them.”

“I doubt that, but I’m willing to try,” Jovvi answered as Naran took her place beside Rion – and also took his hand. “I’ll start with something smaller, since smaller things are easier to swallow.”

When Lorand nodded with a smile and stepped back, Jovvi turned to face their audience.

“Good evening, everyone,” Jovvi said, and Naran could feel the warmth and gentle friendliness flowing out of their Spirit magic member. “On behalf of my Blendingmates, I’d like to thank all of you for coming tonight. As you’ll find out, the days of being ‘ordered’ to this palace or allowed the privilege of coming here are completely over. Pulling down the nobility would have been a waste of time if we simply adopted their method of doing things.”

A murmur ran through the large crowd, mostly a sound of pleased agreement. An occasional frown creased a face here and there, undoubtedly produced by those who were firm believers in “tradition,” but for the most part the news was received with approval.

“We’d also like to correct certain procedures started by the nobility to keep themselves in power,” Jovvi continued to immediate silence. “There will no longer be any laws preventing people from using their talents in a positive way, meaning a way that doesn’t hurt someone else. Teaching classes will be established for everyone, young and old alike, run by Middle and High practitioners who have been taught much of what their talents can do. The lessons should increase everyone’s strength and control.”