Heart Fortune

later when the two were led to the hole.

He’d never seen such a fuss as when the Comosums realized they had to descend into a hole, either by actually walking down a girder for three whole stories or being lowered by harness. Their protestations were only cut short by Raz T’Elecampane silkily reminding them they’d been paid and if they wanted to cancel their contract, they could . . . and pay the penalty and the airship fare to and from the camp. And the more they fretted, the longer the whole thing would take.

The women layered themselves in great Flair spellshields and were lowered by harness, but refused to carry viz recordingspheres or cameras.

They went into Lugh’s Spear, their shrill voices rising behind them, and stayed down what Jace figured was the shortest amount of time they could get away with and not be called lazy slackers or cowards, less than a half septhour.

When they returned topside, they both looked pasty with fear and announced the ship was NOT SAFE AT ALL!!!

Raz T’Elecampane dealt with them with extreme and deadly courtesy, wishing an oral report of their findings, and gently reminding them that he would expect a lengthy report within the eightday, and then led them back to Glyssa’s pavilion for tea and goodies.

Jace shared a look with Sanicle, who rolled his eyes and shrugged. “They were terrible.”

Looking around at the crowd who’d gathered for amusement or the confirmation of their fears, Jace said, “This just made it easier for people to complain and leave.”

“Yup, that’s right,” Sanicle said, looking as wistfully as Jace back down into the hole. “The Elecampanes will probably close this up again, have us all digging or studying the few items we were allowed to bring up.”

“Maybe we’re tapering off for this year, but I’ll bet my next paycheck that Raz and Del will have other experts out first thing in the spring,” Jace said.

Sanicle snorted. “No bet there.” He cast a sideways glance at Jace. “But you could take that little break with your lover in Druida, if you like.”

Jace’s gut squeezed and he said the same thing he did every time the subject came up. “No.” He was torn. He wanted the sex, to stay with Glyssa, and Druida City might be fun. But not with her Family and the Hawthorns and every other person he’d have to meet.

But his insides got a real workout as he strolled toward the Elecampanes’ and Glyssa’s tents and heard more carrying on by the ladies Comosums.

They wanted to leave immediately, but even they were smart enough to see the airship that had brought them had already departed while they were throwing their fits. Flatly refusing to remain a week, they used the communications tent to arrange for another airship to come and pick them up late morning the next day, the soonest possible time for the fastest airship. And they positively preened with lifted snobby noses that Glyssa Licorice was supposed to accompany them back.

Glyssa’s jaw had flexed, her brows lowered and she’d tromped off to the communications tent herself.

Jace kept an eye out for her as she returned and noted her high color and very stiff spine and knew things had not gone well for her.

And suddenly the import of the whole thing struck him. She was leaving in the morning. He’d really have to decide what to do.

Twenty-two

That evening, as Jace ambled while Zem and Carolinia and Lepid hunted—banned from Glyssa’s tent since the two snotty noblewomen were there—he noticed an odd glow at one corner of the Elecampanes’ tent, a golden glow. One he hadn’t seen earlier. In fact, one that he hadn’t noted the day before. The more he stared at it, the more he felt a small tug toward it. He strolled near until shock rooted him and his pulse pounded in realization.

This corner of the Elecampanes’ tent was where they kept a spellshielded storage no-time for the crew’s valuables. Most of his pay stayed there until it was banked.

His pay wasn’t glowing. It was that other thing.

That other one valuable item he carried around always, nearly forgotten in the small, heavily shielded pouch. His HeartGift, imbued with the energy of his Third Passage that could still glow to his and his HeartMate’s sight. Especially if the HeartMates were in the vicinity.

He couldn’t deny it anymore. Glyssa Licorice was his HeartMate. Queasiness washed through his gut. Sex was fine, but he didn’t want anything more. Didn’t want to be tied down. Made to follow other people’s rules, forced to fit into someone else’s life. Other peoples’ expectations.

Most of all he didn’t want to be linked to someone who could break him, as his mother had broken his father. Or someone he might break, if ever he gave in to his mother’s influence and bad blood inside him.

Glyssa was leaving tomorrow. He could let her go without speaking of this, of the heavy fear that had thudded through his mind at the discovery and rippled all the way through his body.

If he really wanted to be a coward, he didn’t have to see her again. No, that wouldn’t work. She would no doubt hunt him down. Hadn’t she already done that?

Pulse throbbing hard and hurtful in his temples, his eyes already dilated with shock, he swiveled his head to her pavilion. She had a safe no-time. If she’d brought the HeartGift she’d made for him, and she had great Flair so she would have done that during her Second Passage, and maybe even connected with him in her Third, and didn’t he recall the previous incredible sex dreams he’d had, yes, he did, and he was babbling in his own mind.

No glow in her tent where she kept the secure no-time. He rocked back on his heels. She didn’t have the HeartGift she made him with her?

Before he could figure out what that meant, Zem swooped down to land on his shoulder. The hawkcel’s breath was warm and smelled blood laden, but he moved like the king of the sky.

We were invited to the city with FamWoman? he asked.

“Yes.”

But we are staying here.

Reluctantly, Jace asked—as he’d forgotten to ask before—Did you want to go to the city?

Zem tugged at a piece of Jace’s hair, not hard enough to hurt. You are my FamMan, I will go with you, but seeing a city once might be interesting. You will not stay here during the winter?

“No.”

Then I will go with you to wherever you go. But first I will show you my nest. It is very well constructed.

“Yeah, that would be good.” Jace understood his Fam, had bonded greatly with the hawkcel, and yeah, it had changed him, but he’d welcomed that change into his life.

He didn’t welcome being a HeartMate.

“Jace! Jace, wait up!” Maxima Elecampane joined him. She smiled up at him brilliantly. “I haven’t seen you very often to talk with you lately, and my parents and Glyssa and those gluttonous noblewomen are eating courses and courses of food, gorging on a feast tonight.” She wrinkled her nose. “Rather have been at the mess tent, looking at the new Holly guards.”

“Uh—”

“Let’s walk,” Maxima said.

Soon they were at the edge of camp and headed toward the outline of the stubby wing of the ship. Farther than Jace had anticipated going. “I’d rather stay in camp,” he said and turned to stroll between the tents and the