would be egotistical.» Rowenaster met his eyes squarely. «I'm glad you're so clear about what credit should go to whom, Cobeth. In light of this, I'm sure you intend to write Janusin a full apology for the mistake on last page of the playbill. You know—the one where you appropriated Janusin's series title? I'm sure you'll want to draft letter right now, Cobeth. You wouldn't want Janusin to lose any sleep over your mistake.» Cobeth crossed his arms over his chest and smiled innocently. «What mistake, Rowen? I don't recall there being any mistake at all.» Chapter Twenty-Four Timmer and Mab hurried along the crowded streets in the theater district of the Jinnjirri Quarter. Timmer felt conspicuously out of place, being of a non-Jinnjirri landdraw. For Mab's part, she wished Timmer would slow her brisk stride. Piedmerri were notoriously short in the leg and ample of weight, and Timmer's pace was more than Mab could presently handle. Worse yet and unknown to Timmer, young Mab lacked an accurate sense of direction. The northwest Jinnjirri border had scuttled it. In such a shifting region, the four cardinal points lost their value. Fine for Jinn, but devastating for a Piedmerri. Losing sight of Timmer for the countless time, Mab swore softly. Then the swing of Timmer's striking pale blonde hair caught her eye, and Mab turned to follow. When Mab finally caught up to the musician, she said, «Where is the opening night party?» «At Rhu's house. This street dead-ends in a cul-de-sac at the bottom of the hill.» She pointed. «See where all those happincabbies are? That gothic two storey is Rhu's place.» Mab squinted into the darkness, just able to make out the softly glowing coach lights of the well appointed carriages. She slowed, her eyes widening. «Will you look at this mist pouring in? And at this time of year, too.» She shook her head in amazement. «Must be on account of it being so warm. Land meeting water.» Timmer nodded. «Lake Effect.» In Speakinghast, anything and everything could be reduced to one cause— Lake Edu. If it was forty below—not uncommon in this part of the world during winter—with a wind chill of minus sixty, the residents of Speakinghast blamed it on the large lake due east of the city. If they woke with sinus headaches and a bad case of the grumps—this was the fault of the lake's changing pressure systems. Of course, colic, oil that smoked too much, and burnt food were also the result of the «Effect.» In this city, one might even hear: «Not tonight, dear—the tide's out.» Timmer watched the mist sweep down the street in front of her. She seemed to lose her previous self-consciousness regarding her draw. Doing a small, dancing turn, Timmer breathed deeply of the scent of fresh water lake—raw with a slightly fishy smell. The Dunnsung lifted her gray shawl above her head, making the hand-dyed material ripple like a gossamer veil in the gentle Trickster Summer breeze. She looked like a will o' the wisp, her footsteps silent, her pale hair damp from the caress of the mist. Mab regarded Timmer with fascination, wishing she could get her round Piedmerri body to move as gracefully as Timmer's. The Dunnsung waited for Mab to catch up. When Mab did, Timmer remarked, «I adore nights like these. They make me think of Jinnjirri, and what it must be like in that fabled land. Soft and shimmery and—» «Weird,» said Mab bluntly. She was getting very tired of Timmer's constant romanticizing about Jinnjirri. Likewise, Timmer was becoming increasingly irritated with Mab's narrow cynicism—it ruined the fantasy. Timmer scowled and said nothing further. She decided to dump Mab as soon as they got to the party. After all, thought Timmer, Mab grew up in Jinnjirri, so surely she could handle a simple Jinn cast party on her own. Timmer pulled her shawl across her chest angrily. Mab turned to Timmer as they approached the gabled house at the end of Renegade Road. «Do you think Barlimo believed that story about you and me grabbing a late night snack on the way back to the 'K'? I mean, do you think she'll put it together that I went to the party after all?» Timmer glared at Mab. «What if she does? You're a big girl, Mab. You reached your majority three years ago. That hardly makes you in need of a chaperone.» Mab nodded, wincing at the tone of Timmer's voice. She appreciated the older girl's confidence in her ability to handle her own affairs, but Mab didn't want to get to the party and find herself abandoned, either. She also knew that Barlimo's concern for her well-being had been genuine. Somehow, she wished Timmer hadn't lied about their destination to the Jinnjirri architect. Not that she needed someone to rescue her or anything dumb like that. The Merry Prickster party was just that—a fun, theatrical party. Furthermore, it wasn't in Jinnjirri, so the land would stay put. Mab smiled. A Jinn party in Saambolin might be enjoyable. Mab walked resolutely up the front steps to Rhu's communal household. She stepped aside for two elegantly garbed Jinnjirri women who were both crossdressed as men. Their hair sprayed out of the top of their heads, falling in different lengths to their shoulders. One smoked a small briar pipe. The other carried a hooded bird with a brilliant display of tail feathers on her crooked right arm. The two women walked past Mab in stately procession, their voices deep, their smiles sensual. Mab watched them disappear into the crowd inside, nodding her head. These Jinn were not like the ones at the Kaleidicopia. These Jinn resembled the kind of people who had raised her—artists of a particular flavor: iconoclastic, flamboyantly decadent, and sexually «on stage.» Timmer stared at the sheer number of people passing through the open front door. She had attended many Jinnjirri parties in the past, but never one hosted by The Merry Pricksters. She wondered if the troupe had an unusually good reputation as party-givers or something; the turnout here was astounding. Eyeing some of the exotic costumes surrounding herself and Mab, Timmer nudged the Piedmerri and said, «You might find some ideas for the Kaleidicopia's Trickster's Hallows. Even feels like a carnival here tonight.» Mab nodded slowly. «It does a bit,» she said more nervously than she wished. «Do you think there'll be intoxicants?» «You're asking me?» asked Timmer in surprise. «I thought you knew all about this kind of party.» Mab shrugged. «I lived in the country. This is a city—a Saambolin city. I understand the Guild regularly raids the homes of drug smugglers. Or users. I just wouldn't want to get caught in something like that. I don't do drugs. I never have—» Timmer put her hands on her hips. «Surely you don't expect me to believe that, Mab. You grew up in Jinnjirri. The Jinn are notorious for their experimentation with 'shifting' states of mind. I'm told their tolerance is draw inherited.» Mab took a deep breath. «Yes—that's true, Timmer.» Mab's voice took on an edge. «But I am not Jinnjirri. I am Piedmerri. And we like our sex and our thinking stable.» «Remind me not to go to Piedmerri,» groused Timmer. Catching sight of several Jinnjirri fondling each other in the corner of the commons room as she and Mab entered, Timmer smiled with relief. «Now this is more like it.» She sniffed the air. The smell of Royal Sabbanac floated out of a back bedroom toward the two women. It was a mild hallucinogenic, its scent acrid and ropy. An Asilliwir incense masked the full odor of this home-grown Jinnjirri weed. Timmer smiled dreamily and added, «I think it's time I lost my virginity.» Mab stared at Timmer in surprise. «My Jinnjirri virginity,» Timmer amended hastily. «You're quite right, Mab—I dumped my Dunnsung one long ago. In the back of an Asilliwir wagon, if I recall correctly. I was drunk at the time—the Asilliwir make a murderous resinous wine called retzin. It's pure rotgut.» She grinned. «Anyway, he had a beard. The moon was out, and we were young and lusty—» Mab rolled her eyes. «You're only twenty-three, Timmer. You make it sound as if you're a grandmother.» Timmer scowled at Mab. Pointing a slender finger in the Piedmerri's round, cherubic face, Timmer retorted, «You know what your problem is? You're a literalist. You have no sense of the romantic. No sense of mood. It's a good thing you aren't an artist. You'd put clay feet on everything you created!» Mab's eyes brimmed with tears. «We're an earthy people, Timmer. I'm—I'm sorry—if I don't—if I'm not—» Timmer swore, feeling guilty for having made Mab cry. «Oh, forget it, Mab. It's not important. Let's get something to eat,» she continued, ushering the little Piedmerri to the sumptuous spread of on the central feasting table. Accented with flowers, the dishes were a varied mix of hot casseroles in cast iron pots, vegetable and meat stews, cheese pastries, tossed salads, and roasted potatoes in butter. On a separate groaning board to their right stood pies, cheeses, and liquored fruits. Jinnjirri servants dressed in white and black served Piedmerri champagne in silver goblets. Timmer grabbed two joblets and offered one to Mab. Mab took it gingerly. Seeing this, Timmer decided it was time to part company with Mab. The Dunnsung had come to the party to play with the natives. As far as Timmer was concerned, Mab was a Piedmerri prude. And no prude was going to spoil her fun tonight! So without a word of explanation, Timmer said, «See ya.» Then she wheeled away from Mab heading for one of the smoke-filled back rooms, certain that Mab would never follow her. And Timmer was right. Mab watched her go, her face scarlet with embarrassment. She liked Timmer. And she wanted Timmer to like her. Mab took a sip of the bubbling drink in her silver goblet, feeling depressed. No matter where she went—she never belonged. She was even an outsider at the Kaleidicopia. And now Timmer was angry with her for being so stolid. Mab wished she were Jinnjirri. She wished she could just let go for once—
A Jinnjirri in a state of half dress interrupted Mab languidly at this point. He smiled at the Piedmerri and changed gender. «Which do you prefer?» asked the randy Jinn, her breasts swelling under Mab's very nose. The Piedmerri swallowed. «So it's men?» continued the Jinnjirri, immediately accommodating Mab by switching back to being a man. The Jinn smiled seductively. «My specialty is virgins.» Mab turned scarlet and downed her Piedmerri champagne. The Jinnjirri chuckled, leaning indolently against the feasting table. «I can always tell a virgin. I can smell them.» He leaned toward Mab and sniffed. «Mmm—Piedmerri wholesome. Mother's milk and soft muscle. You're the kind of young woman I like to get lost in.» Mab took a step backward. Trying to remember what had possessed her to attend this party in the first place, Mab realized she was very alone here. Very. Maybe she should leave. Now. Mab ignored further comments from her would-be deflowerer and set her goblet down on the table. She turned toward the front door and came to a complete standstill as she saw a familiar face enter the front door. It
