Phoenix and Ashes

haven't? Because looking for wisdom is a process, and not something with an actual goal?'

'And?' he prompted. 'Think what you have learned from the other cards thus far.'

People who actually are something don't need to make a show. No, it was more than that. Wasn't there a quote? 'To—know you know nothing—is the beginning of wisdom?' she faltered.

'And the wisest man does not claim wisdom for himself, though others may account him as wise,' the Hermit said, gently, and with what she recognized with astonishment was true humility. 'But that is not why you are here now. You will seek for wisdom your whole life long, little Fire-mage, and sometimes it will be through pain and trouble, and sometimes with joy and pleasure. You cannot cease from learning, especially you whose Element is Fire, for Fire changes all it touches, and everything it touches, changes. Fire is the transmuter of all. Earth becomes ash and glass, Water becomes vapor, Air is consumed. In alchemy, only through tempering and trial in the crucible, through Fire, can base become noble. Fire is a bad master, but a good servant, and for it to serve you, you must be more clever than it is.'

She nodded earnestly. Not that she was entirely comfortable with all this business of master and servant—but some of what she had read in her mother's notes had made it clear that while there were some Elementals who were, well, people, the vast majority of them were no brighter than a cat or a dog. But all of them had a dangerous side. Well, look at her Salamanders, for instance. Sweet-natured with her, but she'd seen them go after those nasty little gnomes, fierce as ferrets. And the Fire Elementals were terribly dangerous when they weren't controlled.

Look what had happened in San Francisco in the United States, after that terrible earthquake.

'So you aren't to grant me wisdom,' she said, looking up at him, for he was very tall, even stooped over as he was, bowed with the weight of his knowledge and years. 'Because obviously wisdom is only earned with experience, and I haven't got much.'

'But I can give you knowledge, and I have.' He nodded at her, and to her astonishment, continued, 'And you have shown yourself ready to proceed by admitting that you lack wisdom and knowledge both. Sometimes, little one, the answer is to give no answer. Sometimes it is better for the Fool to ask not, 'what is that cup?' but to say, with an open heart, 'I do not know, can you help me?' And now I am to take you to Justice, who marks the halfway point in your journey.'

She stared at him, unable to believe that she had passed his tests, had won her way to the next card. Surely not.

But he was walking away, as if he fully expected her to follow. So follow she did, through the darkness that was illuminated only by his lantern, a thick darkness that closed in around them, until they came to another of those marble halls with classical pillars that seemed to be everywhere here. There he stood aside, and waited for her to go inside.

'I'm not ready!' she exclaimed, feeling a rising panic.

'No one ever is,' he said, and—

—to her immense relief, she woke.

She realized instantly what had awakened her. It was the sound of voices, coming up through the floor. Alison and her daughters were back, and Carolyn and Lauralee's voices were unusually shrill with excitement.

'I can't believe it!' Carolyn exclaimed. 'A real weekend party and a real Society ball! Mother, how did you persuade her?'

Good gad, what are they up to now?

'I have my ways,' Alison purred. By the sound of things, they must be in Lauralee's room, directly beneath Eleanor's. 'I pointed out that Reggie certainly knew any number of officers who were on injured-leave, as well as being able to extend invitations to the pilots in training at Oxford, and suggested that a proper weekend party, the kind we all remember from before the war, could be just the thing to shake him out of his gloomy spirits. And of course, I used my influence on her.' Alison laughed. 'I must admit, the presence of the other guests has helped in this far past my expectations. I do believe that Lady Devlin has woken up to the fact that she's buried herself in that old place for two years, and that she misses polite society. One can hardly call her father either polite or society.'

Carolyn giggled. 'If he'd been my father,' she said boldly, 'I'd have sent him packing months ago! I'm glad he's gone. And if Reggie marries me, I'm going to see to it that he stays where he belongs!'

'Hmph,' Lauralee replied. 'If Reggie marries me and that horrible old man turns up, he just might climb into bed one night and find himself sharing it with kobolds. And if that doesn't frighten him into heart failure, I don't know what will. Better to find a way to be rid of him permanently, Carolyn; he has a fortune of his own, and his daughter will inherit all of it. Waste not, want not, I always say.'

'Don't bicker, girls,' Alison said absently. 'We need to plan for this weekend party carefully. The difficulty, however, is that we must go into London for several days if we are to get proper costumes for this occasion. It will be a fancy-dress ball, after all. Now, are you quite certain your magics are firmly in place on your rivals? We cannot afford any slippage.'