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CHAPTER FIVE

When the herb-gathering expedition returned, Brunni had joined Vereez in sleep, and Ranpeti had been briefed. As Ranpeti thanked all three humans for taking their role as mentors so seriously that they’d extended it to helping Brunni and herself as well, Teg found herself surprised how much weirdness Ranpeti had been willing to accept.

But then, accepting that strange creatures from another world have been mentoring your niece and her friends through a series of increasingly peculiar quests is probably easier when the alien creatures are right there and helping to tell the tale.

As Nefnet began preparing to grind the herbs to prepare her various concoctions, she said, “I think it would be a good idea if as many of you as possible can get some rest so you’ll be ready to deal with what is to come. Ohent, Emsehu, and I—assisted by the various guardian creatures—will keep watch over the invaders.”

“I’m for my bed on Slicewind,” Teg agreed.

“Vereez is still sound asleep,” Nefnet said. “Why not leave her here? I’m not planning on napping.”

“If someone will bring a cot over,” Meg said, “I will stay here in the Library as well. If there is an emergency, Sapphire Wind may need someone to speak through. That also will leave space in our cabin for Peg and Teg.”

Once again, Teg hoped that Meg was merely being efficient, not that Sapphire Wind was somehow controlling her, but this really didn’t seem a good time to raise the subject.

Back aboard Slicewind, Peg said, “Toss a coin for the bathroom?”

“You go,” Teg replied. “I’m too tired to even brush my teeth. Lending Xerak mana seems to have caught up with me.”

But she managed to stay awake long enough to brush her teeth and wash her face, before tumbling into the bed beside a softly snoring Peg, and into a dreamless sleep.


The next morning, Teg was awakened by the sound of someone screaming.

Since they’d taken Ohent aboard, this wasn’t as unusual an occurrence as it might have been, but these didn’t sound like Ohent’s mad cackles. As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, and pulled her sleepshirt down where it had bunched around her hips, Teg noticed that Peg was already up and out of the cabin.

Staggering on legs that had stiffened overnight—Too many flights of stairs in that damned office building—Teg got to the cabin door, slid it open, and looked out into the lounge that occupied the middle belowdecks portion of Slicewind. The multipurpose area usually seemed roomy enough, especially since at least two members of the crew were pretty much always on duty above deck, but today, although the space only held two people, it seemed positively cramped.

Vereez, her injured arm in a sling, was staring with wide-eyed astonishment at Brunni, who had thrown back her head and was working herself up into a good, solid crying fit.

“I want my mama! I want my mama!”

Vereez got down on her knees in front of the little girl and gently grasped her shoulder with her one free hand. “Your mama is in the shower. She’ll be out in just a few minutes.”

Now that Teg thought about it, she could hear the shower in the bathroom off the lounge running. Slicewind’s two bathrooms were both equipped with showers, no tubs, as well as toilets and sinks. This didn’t leave much room, which was doubtless why Vereez hadn’t just taken Brunni into Ranpeti. Had she done so, Ranpeti wouldn’t have had room to get out of the shower.

Unless they closed the toilet seat and Brunni stood on it, and maybe not even then.

Teg sniffed the air. Poffee. The dark purple beverage wasn’t precisely coffee, but it was close enough in flavor and, more importantly for someone just barely awake, provided the right buzz. As she moved from the doorway into the stern cabin, angling around the mutually absorbed pair, Brunni caught sight of her and swallowed her howl with an audible gulp.

“I want poffee,” Teg said. “I see a pot in the galley.”

“It should still be warm,” Vereez managed, glancing guardedly at Brunni from the corners of her eyes. “Peg made it before she went over to the Library to help set up breakfast. She said you’d need it.”

“And a shower,” Teg agreed.

Brunni offered, “I had a shower. I want poffee.”

Vereez shook her head. “No poffee. How about juice?”

Brunni drew in a deep breath, obviously preparing for another howl. Teg found herself impressed by how many sharp teeth there were in the little polar-bear mouth.

If those are baby teeth, I don’t envy the parents at all.

“Do you always scream when you don’t get your way?” Teg asked, making her way to where the poffee waited, and noticing that Peg had left out what had become Teg’s favorite of the deep bowls used Over Where, rather than mugs, the one with the glaze that reminded her of the many-hued green of malachite.

Brunni was smart enough to catch a trick question, and trying to find an answer that wouldn’t be unsatisfactory made her forget her annoyance.

So she’s not a complete spoiled brat, then. That’s good.

At that moment, the shower stopped, and Brunni brightened. “Mama!”

Vereez decided to try being in charge. “Let her have a chance to get dry. Can’t you be patient even that long?”

Brunni considered. “Poffee?”

“Juice,” Vereez replied firmly, “or water.”

Teg waved her bowl at them and recrossed the lounge. “I’ll take a quick shower and join everyone at the Library.”

As she slid the stern cabin door behind her, she heard Brunni say, “Juice.”

When Teg came out a short while later—clean and dressed in fresh jeans and a tee shirt ornamented with petroglyphs, beneath which the slogan “My Life Is In Ruins” was written in an elaborate cursive font—she was surprised to find Vereez sitting slumped on one of the bench seats that lined most of the port side of the lounge, staring into a cup of poffee as if she might read oracles in the inky dark surface.

The younger woman looked up at Teg, her expression confused. “Brunni is nothing like what I expected.”

“You mean you didn’t expect her to be smart? Pretty?” Teg replied flippantly, crossing to the galley and refilling her poffee bowl, then taking a seat on the bench near Vereez. “Opinionated?”

“I thought she’d be . . . I don’t know. That we’d somehow connect. Instead, she’s a stranger. A complete stranger. I wanted a chance to, I don’t know, bond? So when Aunt Ranpeti heard that Slicewind had showers, and wanted to use them, I offered to come over and show her where everything was. And since the bathroom is too small for more than one person, I offered to watch Brunni while Ranpeti took her own shower after bathing Brunni. I thought it would be fun.”

Vereez paused, and Teg made an encouraging noise. After slurping some poffee, Vereez went on.

“I’d bought Brunni—I mean, not Brunni, Brunni, but my daughter who I was looking for—some presents when we were in Rivers Meet. One was a really cute little dress.” She indicated where a mass of frilly stuff in blues and greens had been set untidily to one side. “I’d have loved it when I was Brunni’s age, but when I offered it to her, she just sniffed and wanted her own clothes instead, even though they were decidedly grungy. Then, I don’t know what exactly I did wrong, but the next thing I know, she was howling for her mother and then you came out and . . .”

Teg was at a loss. She was an only child, and didn’t have any children of her own. She hadn’t even done the nearly requisite babysitting that had provided pocket money for so many of her classmates, having been required to work—for free—for various family members instead. Happily, Vereez wasn’t hoping for instant wisdom, and had continued talking.

“I guess I was stupid, wasn’t I? I mean I’m a stranger and . . .”

“And,” said a soft voice from above, “Brunni really isn’t at her best right now.”

Ranpeti briskly descended the ladder into the lounge. “Brunni is currently learning how to make something called ‘flapjacks’ from Peg, who apparently is mother to at least half of the people in your world. Brunni’s distracted for now, and I came over to see how you are. I gather Brunni wasn’t particularly well-behaved?”

“She wasn’t too bad,” Vereez said forcing a laugh. “I wasn’t ready for her to have so many opinions, though.”

“Part of that is the age,” Ranpeti said. “She’s at a stage where she has begun to realize there’s more than yes or no . . . If you think she’s bad now, you should have met her when the automatic answer to just about anything was ‘no.’ But she’s old enough to have favorite things: colors, pieces of clothing, food, games. Maybe I’ve spoiled her a bit, but since she’s my only child, it’s not like she’s had to learn to compromise like Inehem and I did.”

Teg offered, “And lately, Brunni’s been under a lot of stress, hasn’t she? She had to have been aware that people were after her, had a use for her. She may not have understood why, but she had to have sensed the threat.”

Ranpeti nodded. “I think she not only sensed people wanted to take her from me, but maybe even something as to why. I’ll tell you more later. For now, my excuse for coming over here is to let you two know that breakfast is ready. After that, we need to decide what to do about Inehem, Zarrq, and their associates.”

Vereez rose, her expression thoughtful, and set her poffee bowl in the sink. “Breakfast, at least, sounds good. Peg’s made us flapjacks before, and they’re great. Thanks for what you said, Aunt Ranpeti. Brunni might have been a bit unreasonable but, now that I think about it, so was I—and she’s only four and has a lot more of an excuse.”


After everyone had breakfasted, the group gathered around one of the long tables in the reception hall to discuss what to do with their captives.

“They’ve been quiet,” Kaj reported. “The guardians say that Inehem has mostly been asleep. Zarrq has been keeping watch. When I went in to bring them some more water and a little food, the butler guy asked me flat out if we were going to kill them. Or if the Library was.”

“What did you say?” Teg asked.

“Nothing.” Kaj bared his teeth. “I just smiled.”

Xerak, fully restored by a sound night’s sleep, said, “Why don’t we just send the lot of them back to Rivers Meet? After making them promise to leave Brunni alone, of course.”

“If we can trust them to keep a promise,” Vereez said darkly. She traced a line, invisible through the bandage, where her father’s sword had cut her. “After what they did . . . I’m not sure I’d believe anything they said. Family feeling seems distinctly overrated.”

Teg noted that the young woman’s gaze strayed to where Brunni, calm and content now, was chirping happily to herself as she used bits of marble as building blocks under the square-pupiled gaze of two of the Library’s dobergoats.

Reality has hit, and not one moment too soon. Just as Kaj has not turned out to be the long-lost beloved of Vereez’s dreams, what a real, living, breathing child would be to deal with on a day-to-day basis is also coming home. Can’t blame Vereez, really, for her illusions. She’s an only child, and probably has had very little contact with children who weren’t being tended by nannies whose job it was to make sure they behaved well before visitors.

Ohent cackled. “I know how to shape a promise they won’t break. Doesn’t mean they won’t exploit loopholes—if they can find any—but they’ll keep to the letter of their word. That I can promise.”

Grunwold shifted uneasily. “I could deal with sending Zarrq and Inehem and their people back to Rivers Meet, since the idea of killing them in cold blood makes me feel very weird, but I’m not sure that showing them mercy is going to make them our friends.”

“Probably not,” Vereez said, her voice deceptively soft, “but that doesn’t change that they’re here and alive. I’m tired of lies and sick of deception. I’m going to need to deal with my parents sooner or later, and I think sooner is better.”

“Then we’ll have a proper business conference,” Peg said briskly. “I’m sitting in for sure. Between three divorces and a record contract where I nearly made the mistake of signing away the rights to all my future work, I’ve learned to read fine print.”

Meg nodded. “I will also sit in. My late husband and both of my children have worked in industries where negotiations and contracts are important. I learned a great deal from listening to them over the years.”

Ranpeti put in, “I will, of course, sit in, as will Vereez.”

Teg said, “I want to be where I can overhear, but how about I go where I can sort through the sage’s seats?” She indicated an area of the reception hall where in days gone by experts had been available to answer questions. “Probably better we don’t have too many sets of eyes glowering at them.”

“Sounds wise,” Nefnet said. “I will also stay close, but not actually sit in.”

“I will,” Ohent said firmly, “and Kaj as well.”

“I’d better sit in,” Xerak sighed. “It will be easier to catch Inehem trying something if I’m close by.”

Ranpeti turned to Grunwold. “I have a difficult job for you, Grunwold. I don’t want Brunni in a position to overhear our discussions. I firmly believe that small children remember far more, far longer, than adults believe. She’s already been through considerable trauma, and is on edge, as her outburst this morning made very clear. Happily, she also seems to have a solid case of hero worship for you. If I can convince Brunni to accept you as a babysitter, would you?”

Again, Teg noticed the mixture of emotions that flickered over Vereez’s face, emotions shaped by twitching of ears, curling of whiskers, but no less real.

She’s a bit jealous. A bit relieved. And, I think, the relief isn’t all for herself. She’s learned her parents are poison, and she doesn’t want the child exposed to any more of that than she can help.

Perhaps catching Teg’s gaze on her, Vereez forced a smile. “I agree with Aunt Ranpeti. Brunni is better out of all of this.”

Brunni proved to be amenable to going for a walk with Grunwold-toh and, since Emsehu and several dobergoats were going along, they should be safe.

“If the meeting runs long,” Grunwold said as they headed out the door, “I’ll take Brunni up in Slicewind and let her pretend to steer. I always loved that sort of thing when I was little.”

After he’d taken Brunni out, Ohent indicated the seats around the table. “Put Inehem and Zarrq where they can’t touch each other. Better, put them where they can’t see each other without actually turning their heads. That will give us a better chance of catching them passing nonverbal signals. We used those all the time, back in the day, and I doubt they’ve given it up.”

“Sounds good,” Peg said briskly. “Do you think they need to be tied?”

“Let’s not,” Meg said. “We’ll be watching carefully, and Vereez has expressed a desire to settle matters with her parents. This will be more difficult if they are obvious prisoners.”

“Should I bring them out then?” Kaj asked, when arrangements as to seating had been settled.

“I’ll come with you,” Xerak said. “I want to make sure Inehem-lial doesn’t try to pull anything subtle and magical.”

Teg noticed that the affectionate “toh” had been dropped, although, conditioned to be polite to those in authority, Xerak had substituted the formal “lial.”

“You’ll escort Zarrq-lial, Kaj,” Xerak continued. “Meg, will the Library’s guardians keep watch over the other four if we leave them locked in there? I don’t trust that Leyenui won’t try something.”

Meg spoke in her Sapphire Wind voice. “They are intruders. They are servants of our destroyers. We will watch. Should they attempt anything, we are not human enough to show mercy.”

Kaj laughed. “Good line. I’ll tell them precisely that.”

When Inehem and Zarrq were brought out, the group assembled around the long table where, so long ago, three scholars had been disturbed at their work by a cadre of what Sapphire Wind—despite the fact that this incident had led to the Library’s destruction—had initially politely referred to as “extraction agents.”

But now it’s “destroyers,” Teg thought as she moved to take one of the sage’s seats, where she could watch but not distract. Sapphire Wind chose to be diplomatic to win our inquisitors over. Worth remembering.

A drinking bowl of water had been set at every seat, and Peg had supplied herself with a notepad and pen. These little touches gave the encounter something of the feeling of a committee meeting. Perhaps Inehem and Zarrq mistook the lack of bonds and obvious guards for an attempt at appeasement, because they started out on the offensive.

“You do realize that you may have created a major incident with the Creator’s Visage Isles,” Zarrq said, his small polar-bear eyes cold. “Their elders have chosen Brunni for a great honor, and they will not care to be interfered with.”

“Well,” Vereez responded, equally coldly, “that saves a question. I did wonder if you’d been trying to save Brunni, even take custody of her for yourselves, since you clearly don’t value me anymore.”

A motion of her muzzle toward the arm she had nearly lost to her father’s blade left no doubt as to what Vereez meant.

Ohent, silky tone mocking, added, “So, Zarrq, Inehem, you would have returned Brunni to the elders on Sky Descry? What would have been in it for you?”

“And how is that any of your business?” Inehem snapped.

“Well, I am as much her grandmother as you are.”

The manner in which Ohent responded made Teg absolutely certain that in those long ago days when they’d been part of the same team, there had been rivalry between the two.

Ohent continued, “But I really don’t think that what happens to Brunni is your business or my business. I think it’s Ranpeti’s business, Brunni’s business, then, maybe Vereez’s business.”

“So you have no interest at all in having a biological link to someone who can create miracles?” Inehem sneered.

In the ugly silence that followed, Xerak spoke with quiet pedantry. “The question would be whether you, Inehem”—for the first time he left off even the polite suffix “lial,” and the omission was like a shout—“believe you have a hold on Brunni. Based on the link I pried loose from her, the one that enabled you to anchor a transport spell on her, you clearly have done your best to make certain you do. How excited you must have been to learn that she had been chosen as the vessel of the Grantor of Miracles.”

Is there a relationship on Vereez’s side of the family to the Creator’s Visage Isles after all? Teg wondered. We’d been assuming the relationship came on Kaj’s side of the family. Or did Inehem and Zarrq discover which of Ohent’s lovers is Kaj’s father? I suppose none of this really matters. What matters is what can we do here and now to assure that Brunni has the life she wants, and that Ranpeti does not have her adopted child taken from her.

Peg cut in. “Xerak, did you free Brunni from whatever hook or hold or line that Inehem put on her?”

“I believe I have,” Xerak replied. “I will need to do a more careful check, but I think we can assume that I have done so.”

“Good,” Peg turned her attention to Vereez’s parents, tapping her pencil against the table in a brisk beat. “So, what are you willing to promise if we agree to let you go? Are you willing to agree to leave Brunni and Ranpeti alone? Let’s start there.”

Zarrq didn’t twitch a muscle, but his very stillness showed that he was reassessing the situation. His small dark eyes moved to study the ruined reception hall, as if for the first time he realized just how isolated he and his group were from their usual bases of power.

Vereez used her one good arm to raise the drinking bowl to her mouth, studying her parents over the rim as she delicately lapped her tea. “I don’t really want to make enemies of you.”

“I’m sure you don’t,” Inehem replied with a light laugh. “Your life would be a lot less simple without access to the various accounts we’ve continued to permit you to draw upon, for one. And, when you get over this ridiculous holdback phase, you will miss having not only our fortune, but our connections to benefit you.”

Vereez’s ears flickered back, but she managed not to snarl. “You misunderstand me, Mother. I don’t want to make enemies of you because enmity, hatred, all of that, is just as intimate in its own way as love, friendship, trust. I can’t say I’d enjoy being impoverished, but short of killing me, you can’t keep me from publicly presenting my side of why we became estranged. You seemingly dismissed this back when I mentioned the possibility when we last visited the House of Fortune but, given how you put me under house arrest immediately after, I think that shaft hit closer to the mark than I realized at the time.”

Zarrq spoke with the coldness he must have frequently used in his business. “This Peg asked what we would be willing to promise in order to be set free. Are you threatening us with illegal imprisonment?”

Meg spoke in the voice of Sapphire Wind. “Not illegal. You invaded this territory with hostile intent. As official caretaker of the Library, I may detain you indefinitely. That is legal. It is also legal for me to take action against you as one who caused considerable damage to this facility in the past. What is additionally real, if not legal, is that no one knows that you, your wife, your retainers are here. You may disappear, permanently, perhaps, and even if someday, somehow, you are traced to this location, many have disappeared forever in these environs. Are you willing to risk that?”

Silence again.

Everyone—not just Inehem and Zarrq—is reassessing, Teg thought. It’s too easy to forget that Sapphire Wind is a force to be considered. I don’t think Sapphire Wind will kill Vereez’s parents outright, just because they had a role in the Library’s destruction. After all, it has let Ohent stay here as a guest. But if Inehem and Zarrq push too hard, then Vereez won’t need to worry about having her parents’ blood on her hands.

“May we confer?” Inehem asked.

“No,” Peg replied promptly, “at least not privately. Talk all you want, but in front of your daughter, your sister, your former business associate.”

No one contradicted her, and Inehem gave a theatrical—“Ah, to find oneself in the hands of children and madwomen”—sigh, and turned to Ranpeti.

“You have been very quiet, sister mine. Do you have any questions to ask, threats to offer?”

“Not yet,” Ranpeti said. “I want to hear what you are willing to offer for the freedom of yourselves and your retainers.”

“Very well,” Zarrq said. He turned his attention to Ohent and Kaj. “For you, we can offer a larger stipend. We could even hire Kaj in some lucrative capacity. How large and how lucrative would, of course, depend on whether Brunni is returned to the Creator’s Visage Isles, since a percentage of what we hope to gain could certainly be passed on to you.”

Ohent looked at Kaj. “Well, Son?”

“I’d as soon as work for bloodsucking ticks,” Kaj said.

“So you already love your little daughter so much?” Inehem cooed. “Or perhaps you think this will get you in good with Vereez?”

“No,” Kaj snarled, the fur standing up along his hackles. “I’ve already told these people. Working in the necropolis, seeing what I did there, gave me a real hatred for people who let their children be booted out of their bodies. That goes for people who’d let that happen to a grandchild, too.”

Ohent reached over and gave him an approving pat. “I’m also not interested in having my stipend raised on those terms, and if you try to cut it, well . . . We signed an agreement. I’d be very happy to take you to court. I’d likely lose, but you’d lose more.”

“The stipend,” Zarrq reminded her, “was for taking custody of that Bird.”

Ohent smiled. “I still have it, I assure you.”

“Don’t even make me an offer,” Ranpeti said. “I never wanted to give Brunni over to the Grantor’s people, but they didn’t give me a choice. Vereez and her friends arriving was . . . Well, odd as it sounds, it was a miracle. I lived in the Isles long enough to know that rejecting a miracle when it is granted is base ingratitude.”

Inehem and Zarrq exchanged glances, then Inehem dipped her nose slightly and Zarrq spoke.

“Very well. Brunni being returned to the Isles is off the table for consideration. We think you’re foolish, but we will move to the next matter on the agenda. Rather than asking us what we are willing to give for our freedom, what do you want from us?”

“The question of Brunni’s custody left up to myself and Vereez,” Ranpeti said. “When I adopted Brunni, I also accepted a considerable sum from you, which I have left invested in the House of Fortune. I would prefer you don’t tamper with it.”

I bet Ranpeti changes banks as soon as she can, Teg thought.

Zarrq looked at Inehem who flattened her ears momentarily, but nodded, then said, “We will agree, but we would like to request that when Brunni reaches her majority she be told her full history, including her relationship to the wealthy and prestigious House of Fortune.”

Ranpeti looked at Vereez, who nodded.

“I meant what I said before, Aunt Ranpeti,” she said. “I’m tired of lies and deception. Secrets have a way of coming out at the absolutely worst time. I’d even suggest that we tell Brunni sooner than when she reaches her majority, a little bit at a time, starting with that you adopted her, then later why. I can wait for her to learn that I’m her birth mother. She’s been through so much now. Upsetting her with things she doesn’t understand would be a terrible way of showing how much I love her, wouldn’t it?”

Ranpeti gave her niece a gentle hug, carefully avoiding her injured arm. “Thank you. For me, and for Brunni. Now, I think you have the right to require something of Inehem and Zarrq. After all, so far they’re getting away with nothing they haven’t already given.”

Vereez faced each of her parents in turn. “I want you to officially grant me my adult status. So that our mutual social circle will not be tempted to ask questions, I suggest that you settle upon me the sum traditional at this time so I am not suddenly thrust upon charity.”

“Fair enough,” Zarrq said stiffly.

“I also want to return to the House of Fortune to remove my personal property, and an assurance that I will be permitted to depart thereafter.”

Inehem looked at Zarrq, who twitched his left ear, then spoke, “If we grant you these things, can we have the assurance that you and your associates will not reveal the, uh, more colorful elements of our past?”

“I can only speak for myself,” Vereez said, “but I certainly have no desire to publicize that the basis of my parents’ fortune, possibly even their ability to graduate from college, was based on fraud and theft.”

“I’d agree,” Xerak said. “After all, my mother’s reputation would be hurt as well. I’m sure Grunwold would agree—especially if Vereez’s nest egg was a generous one. Our mentors would probably support us.”

“As long as the agreement was kept,” Peg said, scribbling rapidly on her notepad. “If not, we have very little to lose.”

“I won’t agree,” Ohent said, “because it’s my past, too, so I’m not about to promise to give it up. You’d need to get Konnel and Fardowsi to agree as well, so we’ll just consider our past misadventures a secret among old associates, especially if my stipend continues on, maybe even with a little bonus so I can pay for the medical care I need.”

Kaj gave a brusque nod. “I’ll follow my mother’s lead on this.”

Meg said, “Sapphire Wind also does not agree to conceal misdeeds past and present. However, as long as Inehem and Zarrq agreed to leave the Library alone, and to abide by the rest of the agreements, I believe we can convince Sapphire Wind to settle.”

Her voice changed to that used by Sapphire Wind, “By leaving this Library ‘alone’ it is to be understood that this means directly and indirectly, all associated property and personnel, named and unnamed, and if any action is taken that can be understood to be in violation of this, punitive action will be taken, the least part of which will be the revelation of secrets you wish kept concealed.”

This neat little verbal contract, so spontaneously delivered, genuinely started both Inehem and Zarrq.

Peg laughed and started scribbling again. “That’s excellent wording. I think we need to use some form of that to cover all of the release agreements.”

“I agree,” Meg said. “We should make certain that all of our inquisitors and their allies—including Nefnet, Ohent, and Kaj— are protected from attack, direct or indirect. This last should include character assassination, ruining of credit ratings, and similar subtle forms of assault.” She gave a quietly ferocious smile. “It’s amazing what one can learn from reading crime fiction.”

Meg would make a very bad enemy indeed, Teg thought.

Peg finished scribbling, reviewed her notes, and frowned. “This still isn’t enough compensation. They attacked us, tried to kidnap Brunni, invaded the Library, and all they’re going to need to do is settle on Vereez what they would have settled in a short time anyhow and leave Ranpeti alone? How about a trust fund for Brunni? How about compensation for grief and suffering for the rest of us?”

Vereez’s smile was absolutely wicked. “I think Inehem and Zarrq might actually consider that buying the silence of those who otherwise would just be keeping their secret from good will might be value for money. After all, what if we had a difference of opinion and someone decided to get even with me? I mean”—she looked pointedly to where Ohent sat—“even the best of friends have disagreements, even become adversaries. Wouldn’t it be nice if they decided to compensate everyone, not just me and Aunt Ranpeti?”

Good move, Peg, Teg thought, and good follow up, Vereez. We’ve been spending pretty freely to this point, mostly because of Vereez’s credit line. With that gone, we’re going to need funds.

Zarrq’s gaze grew, if possible, even colder, but after exchanging looks with his wife, he nodded stiff agreement and named a figure. “Per person, of course.”

“Including Ranpeti and Vereez,” Meg put in. “As Peg pointed out, they have been too generous in their terms, asking only to keep what is, by right and custom, already their own.”

“We agree,” Zarrq said. “Now, is a verbal agreement sufficient or will there be written contracts?”

“Written,” Peg said, “and that will take a little bit, so you can go back to your room and inform your attendants what will be expected of them.”

Inehem frowned. “There is no need that their agreements mention anything about our pasts or what compensations we have agreed upon. In fact, why do they need to sign anything?”

“To make certain they do not speak too freely about the Library for one,” Meg said. “Also, consider this. The agreements will protect you from their speaking out about attempted kidnapping and other uncomfortable matters. Even if you already have some protections in place, you can’t argue against extra.”

Teg called from where she sat. “Xerak, I know Ohent said she’s very good at wording contracts, but is there some magical way of enforcing the contracts? Where we come from, there are sayings about pie-crust promises, ‘Easily made, easily broken.’”

Xerak gave one of those smiles that turned into a showing of fangs as he turned his attention to Inehem and Zarrq. “Actually, there are such enforcement clauses, from the simple to the horrific. My master taught us one that gives the violator mange.”

Inehem shuddered. “I know that one. It’s vicious, but I have no problem with that being included, as long as it applies to everyone involved.”

“Since we don’t plan to break our bargain,” Xerak said, “I don’t think anyone will complain.”

“Then we will return to our room,” Inehem said, speaking as grandly as if she were returning to the deluxe suite of a hotel, rather than to what was, essentially, a prison cell, “and brief our retainers.”

“I would like an opportunity to read through the contracts before we sign anything,” Zarrq added.

“Very reasonable,” Vereez agreed. “We will bring you out as soon as we have made sufficient copies. It may take a while, so make yourselves comfortable.”

As before, Xerak and Kaj handled escort duty. Ranpeti hurried outside to update Grunwold, and let him and Brunni know they could come back in if they wished. At one end of the table, Ohent, Meg, and Peg muttered to each other as they designed the basic templates for various contracts. Teg came down from the sage’s seat, and glanced at Nefnet who had been listening with interest.

“I can’t say I mind being included as a recipient of hush money,” Nefnet said, “but I’m not sure where I’ll be able to spend it if I stay here, and for now, that’s what I intend to do.”

Vereez spoke from where she was setting out clean paper and writing materials around the table for the scribing session to come. “Don’t worry, Nefnet. I certainly don’t plan to leave my funds in the care of the House of Fortune. I have a pretty good idea of what banks are reliable. If you’d like, I’d be happy to set you up an account, perhaps in Rivers Meet, since the transport artifact has a setting for there.”

“We should check first precisely where it goes,” Nefnet agreed, “but if it doesn’t take us to someplace where someone arriving would create comment, that would be a good idea. Except for some classes at the university, I don’t have a lot of ties in Rivers Meet, so it would be a good place for me to try integrating into current society—when I’m ready.”

Xerak noted, “Remember, the transport device can be set for different coordinates. It’s a bit of a hassle, but we could set it up for the location of your choice when you’re ready. Consider it our fee for your saving Vereez’s arm.”

“Does anyone else find it interesting,” Teg asked, “that both Inehem and Zarrq left open the question of whether or not Vereez was to be disinherited? Do you think that could be a bribe to encourage good behavior or bait toward future reconciliation?”

“I found it interesting,” Meg said.

“Me, too,” Peg added.

“Me, three,” Vereez said, forcing a laugh. “And as for bribe or lure, I can’t say. I wonder if they even know?”

Ranpeti smiled sadly. “I’ve known Inehem all my life, and even I can’t say I am privy to how her mind works. Don’t push the point and maybe you’ll learn someday.”

Ohent looked up from where she had been reviewing each copy of the contract, searching one last time for the sort of loopholes she knew her former colleagues would exploit. “I don’t think Inehem—or Zarrq for that matter—would use being disinherited as a light threat. You don’t remember our paternal grandfather, Vereez, but although he had very little, he used that threat so often it was almost a family joke. That didn’t keep it from stinging.”

Vereez’s ears canted thoughtfully. “I never heard that story. No wonder my mother was so proud of having made her own fortune, no matter that her nest egg wasn’t earned through conventional saving, as I was led to believe.”

“Families,” Peg said softly, “are very complex.”

Ohent handed the stack of contracts to Meg, who neatly separated them into which applied to which person.

“I think we’re ready for Inehem and Zarrq,” Meg said, and Xerak and Kaj went to get them, while Grunwold went to “play with” Brunni over to one side of the reception hall. They weren’t taking any chances that Inehem and Zarrq had come up with a final plan to get their hands on the little girl before the contracts were signed.

However, the signing proceeded without incident, including neatly thumbprinting in each person’s saliva over the curse Xerak had written out beneath the signature line.

After the signing was concluded, Inehem turned to her daughter and said with false sweetness, “By the way, my dear, I’ve noticed how you and your associates all trust that this Sapphire Wind is on your side. Based on my own research, I wonder if you are wise to do so. Consider this warning a parting gift.”

Inehem would not say more so, with only the ceremony necessary for activating the transportation spell, the captives were sent back to Rivers Meet—this a precaution to keep them from trotting over to have a chat with the acolytes of the Grantor of Miracles as soon as they returned. Inehem had attempted to protest that they’d left their luggage at a hotel in Sky Descry, but Vereez, still steely eyed and unforgiving as only the newly adult can be, simply said, “Get it shipped back. You can afford it.”


They set watches in case Inehem and Zarrq attempted to sneak back, but nothing happened. In any case, Xerak seemed fairly certain—and Sapphire Wind agreed—that the Library would be a very difficult place for someone to invade.

“Especially now,” Meg stated, “that Sapphire Wind can draw on the power of the two portions of Ba Djed that we have recovered.”

They waited until Brunni was napping under the watchful gaze of the pair of dobergoats who seemed to have taken a particular liking to the little girl to ask Ranpeti to relate how she had ended up in possession of the child and residing so very far away from Rivers Meet. Meg and Ohent had heard part of this story, but there hadn’t been leisure for the rest to do so.

“If you’ll be patient,” Ranpeti began, “I’ll give you the long version. By necessity, it’s going to be painful at times for several of you, perhaps especially for Vereez, but I want you to understand, I’m not being insulting or cruel. This is how it happened. As has been said repeatedly today, I am tired of lies and deceptions.”

“Well,” Xerak said, “we can’t exactly toss Vereez on Slicewind until her physician says she’s out of danger. A story would help pass the time.”

Vereez gave him a grateful smile, knowing how eager he must be to begin the search for his master, and Ranpeti began her tale.

“When Inehem learned that Vereez was pregnant, she came to me for advice. She and Zarrq had already decided that Vereez would not be permitted to keep the child. They felt this would ruin her prospects, whether for marriage or for whatever career she might pursue. They also felt that it would encourage Vereez in her infatuation with a young man who had already—by seducing a child of fourteen—shown himself unsatisfactory.”

She paused, as if expecting protest, but when no one spoke, she continued.

“There was some discussion that they might keep the infant themselves, raise it as a daughter or the child of a distant relation, but that sort of lie is hard to maintain, especially since Vereez must needs go into seclusion, and an infant showing up after that would pretty much defeat the purpose of sending her away in the first place. Therefore, the child must be given up for adoption.

“Inehem asked me if I knew of anyone who might be interested in adopting the yet-unborn infant—preferably someone who lived a great distance away or whose work would take them far away. I suggested myself. I am not interested in men, but I was increasingly drawn to the idea of having a child. This arrangement would solve both my problem and theirs—or so I thought. To my surprise, Zarrq and Inehem were initially opposed. If the unborn child resembled our side of the family, all would be well, but auguries seemed to indicate that she would resemble Zarrq’s side of the family. While it is not unheard of for sisters to share a man, Zarrq and Inehem have an unusually close relationship, and neither wished it to be in the least diminished in the eyes of a gossipy public.

“I persisted, though. Vereez has always been dear to me. I liked the idea of raising her child as my own. I persisted in my request and—in part, I believe, because several other promising options did not materialize or proved to be in one way or another unsatisfactory—eventually Inehem and Zarrq said I could have the unborn infant, but only if I agreed to certain terms.

“First, I must agree to be officially dead to my family. For this charade to work, I must move far away—to the other side of the world. It may seem unbelievable to you, but I agreed. I have always loved travel, and other than my sister and her family—who I was feeling oddly conflicted about now that I saw how they were dealing with Vereez’s pregnancy—I had few close ties. Zarrq suggested Sky Descry, and promised a very ample settlement, more than enough for the unborn child and me to live in great comfort.

“After much thought and prayer, I agreed. My sister and her husband took care of getting me a new identity which would hold up even under magical investigation. When the child was born, she was given to me while still wet from birth. We left on a ship, and Brunni lived her first few months in a first-class cabin, doted upon by all. I gave out that I was a widow, moving to get away from memories of my late husband. My obvious wealth made any eccentricity seem reasonable.

“All went well for the first four years. Then, a few weeks ago, Brunni began to have dreams about someone she called ‘the Sleeping Man.’ At first those dreams were benign, but then they transformed into nightmares in which the Sleeping Man was looking for Brunni, because she could help him to wake up. Shortly thereafter, I was contacted by representatives of the Creator’s Visage Isles and told—not asked, I want you to understand, told—that Brunni was of the lineage of the Grantor of Miracles.

“They explained very kindly—indeed, I think some of them were ashamed—that although normally they would not take a child to serve as vessel for the spirit of the Grantor, circumstances were such that they felt they could not delay.”

“Circumstances?” Vereez echoed, her voice vibrating into a shrill growl. “Circumstances?”

Teg reached out and took the hand that was not in a sling. “Vereez. We promised Ranpeti a chance to tell this tale uninterrupted. You can’t imagine this is easy for her, can you?”

Vereez bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Aunt Ranpeti. Teg is right.”

Ranpeti dipped her nose in gracious acceptance. “You’ve been hit with so much in such rapid succession. Bear with me. I’m almost done.” She sipped from her tea and then went on.

“I didn’t want to give Brunni up. I refused, only to be told that I had no choice. The laws of the land gave them the right to claim anyone—adult or child—if that person was connected to the Grantor’s spirit. I did gather that they would prefer to wait until the spirit reincarnated naturally, but forces were at work that made this unpleasant decision necessary. Then I was given the only choice they could offer me. I could turn Brunni over and go my way, or I could remain with Brunni and offer her what comfort I could. I made the only choice I felt was even possible. I kept hoping that something would happen, that the Sleeping Man would fail to reincarnate, something, anything.”

She managed a weak smile. “I didn’t expect help to come in the form of my niece, her childhood friends, and visitors from another world. But I am very, very glad that it did.”

“Will the government of the Visage Isles really leave Brunni alone now?” Kaj asked.

His tone was neutral, as if he was simply assessing possible future problems, not as if he pretended any affection for the child. Teg was dismayed to feel Vereez’s hand, which she still held, tighten and hear her soft sigh.

“It’s possible,” Ranpeti said. “But I’m not certain what legal rights they would have now that we have taken Brunni out of their land. If Inehem and Zarrq break their promise to me, I may lose my fortune. I will almost certainly have forfeited my home in the Visage Isles, but as long as Brunni is safe, I can accept that.”

Vereez nodded. “We may be impoverished together, but somehow we’ll manage. However, we’re not yet and may not be. The agreement my parents signed is very binding, and I can’t imagine my mother wants to risk mange.”

She forced a smile. “We’ve done our best on that front. What still interests me is that my mother and father sent you right to where—if what Teg and I saw depicted on the museum’s mural is what we think it is—an artifact associated with Ba Djed of the Weaver is kept; where it is, apparently, associated with the miracles that are the greatest claim to prominence for an otherwise obscure land. Is this one of those coincidences we’re supposed to overlook?”

Ohent had been sitting unnaturally still during Ranpeti’s recital.

“That’s too big a coincidence for me to believe,” she said flatly. “Inehem may have been guided—perhaps without her even knowing it—to suggest that place through dreams or visions. Remember, she was, even if briefly, custodian of the Bird. As I am witness, close contact with even part of Ba Djed digs deep grooves in a person’s psyche.”

“Sapphire Wind,” Meg said, “says it knows nothing of this other artifact. I believe it.”

“So do I,” Ohent said. “I can’t say why, other than that I have an awareness of Ba Djed, and Sapphire Wind is . . . How can I explain this? Secondary? It is not associated with Ba Djed itself, only with its care.”

Teg was aware that she was not the only one who felt reassured by this. It was hard enough dealing with Sapphire Wind and feeling uncertain as to its motives regarding Meg without wondering if the Library’s genius loci had an even larger agenda.

Of course, it could be lying to us. It might already be controlling Meg.

Apparently, Peg was having similar thoughts, for she said, “Sapphire Wind, right before she departed, Inehem made some rather nasty comments about you, about how we are being too trusting. While we’re on the subject of coincidence, there’s something I’ve been wondering about. It seems too great a coincidence that so many of the children of the extraction agents who were responsible for the Library being nearly destroyed are holdbacks.”

Meg’s lips started to move, but Peg held up her hand in a wordless request to be permitted to continue. Meg nodded, and Peg went on.

“Let’s leave Kaj out of the equation, because Ohent’s illness greatly shaped his options. However, we have three others, all of whom come from if not affluent, then prosperous families, each obsessed with a particular problem to the point that, once they became adults, or near adults, they were unable to move on. Why couldn’t a cure to Konnel’s illness be found? Once we came to the Library, Nefnet managed quite neatly, and in a fairly short period of time, yet she herself has said she was still learning her craft. Vereez had the resources of her very wealthy family, but she could not find the least trace of what had happened to Brunni. Xerak’s master vanished, and Xerak—who has shown himself extremely talented—again couldn’t find even the slightest clue to Uten Kekui’s whereabouts. Is it a coincidence that until they came here, these puzzles refused to unravel?”

Meg said in her own voice. “A nicely presented case. Sapphire Wind would like to reply.”

By now everyone, even those who were only tangentially affected by the situation, were listening with rapt attention. Meg settled herself, took a deep draft of tea, and leaned back. When next her lips moved, the breezy, sighing voice of Sapphire Wind came forth.

“I did not cause the problems. However, after the disaster, I did what I could to force those who had injured me, stolen from me, to return and make right what had been wrong.”

“But these children didn’t harm you,” Peg retorted fiercely, “and Brunni even less.”

“The ‘children’ did not, but their parents did, and their children benefited from their parents’ profit. Understand me, what I did . . . I cannot really explain it now, because I am so much less than I once was . . . but what I did was put into motion forces that would cause those who had broken and stolen Ba Djed, directly or indirectly, to play a role in it being reassembled and returned.”

Grunwold attempted to say something, but Sapphire Wind went on speaking as if it did not notice—which it may well have not.

“I have had the odd thought that, even as I was created to protect the artifact, you three inquisitors were created to reassemble it. This may explain why all of you are only children. If so, your parents did pay for their misdeeds, after a fashion.”

“Not Kaj?” Xerak asked. “He’s an only child, too.”

“I think not. His mother, in a sense, took on part of what should have been my job. She is the only one of the thieves to have taken responsibility upon herself.”

Ohent looked astonished. “Somehow, knowing that what I did may have spared Kaj, that makes all the hell worthwhile.”

Kaj said nothing, but he laid a hand on her shoulder.

“And Brunni?” Ranpeti softly prompted.

“As for Brunni, I think some other force is at work there. You must remember: I do not use Ba Djed, I was created to hide it, to protect it. I did what I did because that is what I was created to do. I cannot say I am sorry that after over twenty-five years I am finally approaching success. What I can say, although you are not likely to believe me, is that I am sorry that the descendants are the ones who must set right a wrong they did not do.”

Meg shut her eyes and when she opened them again, she was once again in control of her body. “I think that’s it.”

Xerak cleared his throat. “Not that this isn’t fascinating, and not that we don’t have a few other details to work out—like where Brunni and Ranpeti are going to stay—but I feel I have been extraordinarily patient. We now have two pieces of Ba Djed. We have found help for Grunwold’s father. Locating Vereez’s daughter became a precondition for us gaining access to the second part of the artifact. That’s fine. But I’m no closer to finding my master. Can we please move ahead on that matter?”

“Can we try to scry for Uten Kekui using the two pieces we have?” Peg asked. “Maybe that would be enough to give us a lead. I think Sapphire Wind should trust us to keep our word that we will find the final piece after we have found Xerak’s master.”

Sapphire Wind spoke through Meg. “I would trust and will. Let us make an attempt.”


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Framed