Aelliana swallowed, for it was not fear, but anger that informed her. She took a deep breath and retreated into the constraints of adult-to-adult.
“I do not wish to be rude,” she said. “However, I must—I will return to Jelaza Kazone.”
“Forgive me,” Anne replied, following her into Liaden. “The delm requires yos'Galan to accommodate Korval's guest at Trealla Fantrol.”
“The delm,” Aelliana said, with restraint, “is in error.”
It seemed to her that her tall hostess smiled then, just a little, but her answer had nothing of levity in it. “As a member of the clan, of course I am bound by the delm's word. Your apartment has been readied, and—”
A shadow moved at the door, and Er Thom yos'Galan stepped onto the patio. His first glance was for his lifemate, and betrayed concern.
“Anne? Is there a difficulty?”
“Korval's guest wishes to return to Jelaza Kazone,” she said calmly.
Both winged brows lifted, and he turned gravely to Aelliana.
“Scholar, the delm was most wonderfully clear: yos'Galan is to have the honor of hosting Korval's guest. Please be assured that your comfort is the first concern of our House. It is of course vexing to have only yesterday settled into one set of rooms, and be obliged immediately to resettle into another. However, that is behind you, now. I hope and trust that you will find your apartment here to be everything that is convivial.”
“I am grateful to the House for its care,” Aelliana said, careful to keep her voice steady. “I—beg you forgive my lack of address, and honor me by accepting plain words.”
“Certainly, Scholar,” he murmured. “Korval is no stranger to plain speaking.”
“Plainly, then, sir: As much as the care of the House warms me, I do not wish to guest here—nor am I persuaded that Daav wishes it! I must return to Jelaza Kazone and—and speak with him. I fear—it is possible that his delm has measured with a heavy hand, and precipitously.”
“Ah.” Er Thom yos'Galan shared another glance with his lifemate. “The Code does tell us that the guest is sacrosanct, and that it is the duty of the House to meet the guest's reasonable desires,” he said.
“So I have also been taught,” Anne agreed.
“We should scarcely care to disoblige the Code, or the guest.” He bowed, sweet as a flower dancing on its stem. “I will myself drive you to Jelaza Kazone. Do you leave immediately?”
Relief washed through her so strongly that she feared her knees would fail.
“Yes,” she said, and cleared her throat. “Immediately.”
Er Thom yos'Galan paused as they came into the garage, his bright head cocked to one side.
“This is the car that Daav put at your disposal?”
Aelliana moved her shoulders, impatient to be away. “He had said the blue car, but, truly, sir, this is the first I have seen it.” Her voice carried an edge unbecoming to a guest. She took a breath and inclined her head. “I hope that it is not improper,” she added.
He seemed to shake himself, and awarded her a grave smile. 'Not in any way improper, Pilot; and it is, since you are too nice to ask, a very good car. It was our mother's. But, come! I see you are in haste to return to Daav.
“Of course you understand that the duty of the delm is to care for and solve for those of the clan,” he said some few minutes later, as they turned onto the valley road. “It is an uncomplicated melant'i, though stern, and with a tendency toward avarice. Therefore, it is the duty and privilege of we who respect the delm, but who hold Daav in our hearts, to be vigilant on his behalf, and ensure that Korval takes no more than the clan needs, and not so much that Daav withers and becomes nothing more than the demands of duty.”
Aelliana swallowed, staring at the Tree, the clouds of evening tangled in its tall branches. Her anger had not yet cooled—a novel sensation. And yet, she recalled suddenly, in the days before her marriage and the damage done, she had owned a temper, and had sometimes defied Ran Eld from what their mother had styled as wildness, and her grandmother as high spirits. Still, it would not do, if her first words to her erring copilot were hard. She ought at least to—
“Wait,” she said, turning to look at Daav's brother. “What if he will not see me?”
“He'll see you,” Er Thom said, as the car crested the hill, and began the race down toward Jelaza Kazone. “If you will allow me, Pilot—plain speaking may serve you very well here.” He glanced over, bestowing another of his grave smiles upon her.
“I fear the delm often measures Daav's portion with a heavy hand. Perhaps you may find a way to leaven that.”
Aelliana considered him closely, this man who shared his soul and counted it a gift, and who was held dear— very dear—by his brother.
“Perhaps I may,” she said.
* * *
There was no reason for him to be sitting in his office, with the lights dimmed and the screen dark. Such Korval business as demanded the delm's personal attention was retired, and he expected no outburst of emergency. Indeed, the emergencies of the last two days were enough to sustain him well into the next quarter.
He should, he told himself, rise, rid himself of his business clothes and—do something. Work in the garden, perhaps; or there was that business of Kiladi's yet to be concluded. Or—he might call Clonak and propose a night on the port.
Alas, that last was ill-thought, for it brought him 'round again to the sad certainty that Clonak, possessed of the most susceptible heart on the planet, had irrevocably given it to Aelliana.
