Storm Rising

'Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that all the Heralds congregate here,' Silverfox observed casually. 'It would be rather like concentrating all the shay'a'chern in Valdemar and the Vales in an institution that was something like the Collegium. It makes such meetings of matching souls much more likely.'

If only I could do that.... But if he could extend his years, that would have the same effect. 'Still. It's indecent, and it's irritating.'

'I can see where it would be, although I find it rather charming. And at the same time, I rather feel sorry for them.' In spite of Firesong's resistance to being soothed, Silverfox's ministrations were having an effect. But that last statement was positively bizarre.

'Why on earth would you feel sorry for them?' he asked in surprise. 'I thought everyone was looking for a lifebonded mate! Isn't that the point?'

'I'm not looking for a lifebond,' Silverfox said firmly. 'I would much, much rather have someone who loved me out of pure attraction or simple affection than have someone who couldn't help loving me. So far as I can see, the difference between being in love and being lifebonded is rather like the difference between doing something because you want to and doing it because someone came along and put a geas on you to compel you to do it. You might have wanted to do it anyway, but the notion of being compelled to it makes me very uncomfortable.' He uttered a dry chuckle. 'No—not uncomfortable; it makes me very rebellious. Quite frankly, if I met my lifebonded, I would try to fight the compulsion just because it was a compulsion. And I would insist that something more than a compulsion held us together.'

'I can't see that.' Firesong shook his head. 'Lifebonded mates are so devoted to one another, so bound up with each other, it seems the perfect way of life to me. Being lifebonded means there are no misunderstandings, no jealousies, no incompatibilities; none of the things that cause so many problems in ordinary relationships—'

But Silverfox was chuckling in earnest now, as if he had said something very amusing. 'Who told you there were no misunderstandings, no incompatibilities? Did you read it somewhere? Do you know any lifebonded couples intimately enough to say that with authority? Believe me, I've had life bonded couples as clients in the past, and they have their share of both those things. The only difference between them and ordinary couples is that if they don't resolve problems quickly, they're going to suffer far more agony of spirit than you or I would.'

'That sounds like an advantage to me,' Firesong retorted stubbornly.

'Huh.' Silverfox did not seem to have a response to that statement. 'You seem very sure of that.'

'I am.' Firesong was not going to back down on this 'And I can't see where 'agony of spirit' is any worse than fires of jealousy. I'd say a person would be better off if he forced to reconcile differences; I think it's better for two people to be impelled to fix things between them than for or suffer heartache while the other goes off blithely about business without a care in the world. That would make a great deal more even-handed,' he finished grimly.

'Now that was certainly stated with conviction,' the kestra'chern observed. 'I might almost suspect you've found yourself suffering the slung shot of jealousy a time or two.'

'Enough,' Firesong replied cautiously. 'Enough to know it's probably one of the most poisonous of emotions, and it encourages obsession. How is being so obsessed with someone that you can't get your mind on your work any better than being forced to be compatible?'

Silverfox moved his ministrations to below Firesong's shoulder blades. 'You have a point. Certainly for some people it would make getting one's work done much easier. Obsession is a fairly ugly condition, and as you said, it is poisonous. It tends to warp one's outlook.'

'And it is one that is hard to cure.' Firesong winced as Silverfox's fingers encountered a particularly knotted muscle.

'So that is what is depressing you? Loneliness, jealousy, and obsession?' Silverfox sighed. 'That is a combination sufficient to depress anyone, even at the height of summer and with all going well. Given the current situation, I marvel you are getting anything accomplished. I am not certain I would.'

When did I admit that I was obsessed? Firesong caught himself, keeping himself from saying anything further. Silverfox was the most persuasive person that Firesong had ever encountered, not excluding Herald Talia. This was not the first time that the kestra'chern had managed to maneuver him into admitting something he had not intended to.

And despite the fact that he was anything but a nuisance, Silverfox had been doing a remarkable job of somehow being present whenever Firesong contemplated a little trip over to the Palace and the Heartstone for another visit to Falconsbane's Sanctuary. If Silverfox had been anything other than what he was, Firesong would have been dying to get rid of him by now, and he would have considered the kestra'chern to be a prime nuisance.

As it was, every time the kestra'chern turned up so very inconveniently, he managed to change the encounter into something pleasant, enjoyable. His timing was amazing; too coincidental to be an accident, but how did he know? How could he know? And he never made anything so obvious as an outright interception; he was just there when Firesong's thoughts turned grim, striking a casually provocative pose, or flirting cheerfully with him.

This was not the first time that he'd gotten Firesong to confess things to him, but this was the first time he'd