compulsory mixture of blood for any potential rulers. It wasn’t popular – on either side – but the desire to avoid war was great, and the guru was deeply respected. In the end the leading families of both races agreed to mixed marriages and legislation to protect both Sollan and Amteh religions. Gradually a new, unique nation had evolved, a place Elena had learnt to love.
Though she seldom danced for pleasure, she would occasionally, just to please the children. She had no desire to be quarrelled over by the single men. Lorenzo was watching her with worshipful eyes, but she left him well alone. As she held hands with Cera and Timori and sang the bonfire hymn at midnight, bidding the full glory of the Sun to return in the spring, she felt a warm glow inside that no liquor could have wrought. It felt suspiciously like happiness.
All the while though she was conscious of Rutt Sordell’s sour features as he lounged against the wall, and dark-visaged Samir Taguine, drinking heavily with a scowl on his face.
I’m with you, Olfuss. I can’t wait to see the back of that pair either
.
She walked the children and their nursemaid Borsa back to their floor of the keep. The old woman was well gone with Rimoni wine, but her feet were unerring. Solinde looked like she could have danced all night, but Timori was nearly asleep in Elena’s arms and Cera was blinking heavily.
‘I’m glad I’m staying,’ said Solinde. ‘I’d hate to miss Eyeed. And the ball tomorrow is going to be the best ever.’
Cera shrugged. ‘At least one of us should go with Mother to see Tante Homeirah before she dies,’ she said sanctimoniously.
Elena was reminded of her own sister. Tesla had been vivacious like Solinde, while Elena herself was quiet, like Cera. Perhaps it waswhy Cera was like the daughter she’d never had, though instead of the woodlands and hills she’d explored as a child, Cera explored books and ideas.
‘Of course I wish I could come too,’ said Solinde quickly, not wanting to appear heartless, ‘but, you know …’
Cera pulled a face. ‘Yes, I know: Fernando Tolidi this, Fernando Tolidi that—’
‘That’s not fair! I danced with
everyone
.’
‘Yes you did,’ Elena interjected, ‘but now it is time to sleep. Into bed, now!’
She carried Timori to his own room whilst Borsa chased the two girls to theirs. Timori was nearly asleep, so she left him still clothed, pulled the coverlet over and kissed him goodnight. The little prince of Javon looked tiny in the huge bed, but his face was peaceful. Thick maroon candles perfumed the rooms with rose and cinnamon and the flames set the figures in the tapestries to flickering motion.
In the girls’ room, Cera hugged her tightly, rolled over and seemed to fall instantly asleep, though the corner of a book could be seen peeking from beneath the bedclothes. Elena left it there. Solinde just waved her away, her mind still on the knights that had crowded about her like moths.
Borsa was waiting in the lobby. She watched as always while Elena walked to the middle of the lobby and commenced resetting her gnostic protections. She lifted her hands in gentle gestures and a web of pale white lines appeared, woven into the walls, the ceiling, the floors, thickest about the door and windows. These were the wards she had created here, and once activated, only she and those people she had authorised could freely come and go. Others would be resisted; they could only enter if they were able to overcome the physical and mental stresses that the wards would bring to bear. It was not an impenetrable defence, but when allied with stone, locks and bars, it was effective against all but an attacker who was both very skilled and very determined.
When she was done, Elena let her Inner Eye close and her powers diffuse. Borsa was looking at her calmly, used to these wonders bynow. ‘The girls are happy tonight,’ the old nurse commented. ‘Solinde is growing up so fast.’
‘Too fast,
Though she seldom danced for pleasure, she would occasionally, just to please the children. She had no desire to be quarrelled over by the single men. Lorenzo was watching her with worshipful eyes, but she left him well alone. As she held hands with Cera and Timori and sang the bonfire hymn at midnight, bidding the full glory of the Sun to return in the spring, she felt a warm glow inside that no liquor could have wrought. It felt suspiciously like happiness.
All the while though she was conscious of Rutt Sordell’s sour features as he lounged against the wall, and dark-visaged Samir Taguine, drinking heavily with a scowl on his face.
I’m with you, Olfuss. I can’t wait to see the back of that pair either
.
She walked the children and their nursemaid Borsa back to their floor of the keep. The old woman was well gone with Rimoni wine, but her feet were unerring. Solinde looked like she could have danced all night, but Timori was nearly asleep in Elena’s arms and Cera was blinking heavily.
‘I’m glad I’m staying,’ said Solinde. ‘I’d hate to miss Eyeed. And the ball tomorrow is going to be the best ever.’
Cera shrugged. ‘At least one of us should go with Mother to see Tante Homeirah before she dies,’ she said sanctimoniously.
Elena was reminded of her own sister. Tesla had been vivacious like Solinde, while Elena herself was quiet, like Cera. Perhaps it waswhy Cera was like the daughter she’d never had, though instead of the woodlands and hills she’d explored as a child, Cera explored books and ideas.
‘Of course I wish I could come too,’ said Solinde quickly, not wanting to appear heartless, ‘but, you know …’
Cera pulled a face. ‘Yes, I know: Fernando Tolidi this, Fernando Tolidi that—’
‘That’s not fair! I danced with
everyone
.’
‘Yes you did,’ Elena interjected, ‘but now it is time to sleep. Into bed, now!’
She carried Timori to his own room whilst Borsa chased the two girls to theirs. Timori was nearly asleep, so she left him still clothed, pulled the coverlet over and kissed him goodnight. The little prince of Javon looked tiny in the huge bed, but his face was peaceful. Thick maroon candles perfumed the rooms with rose and cinnamon and the flames set the figures in the tapestries to flickering motion.
In the girls’ room, Cera hugged her tightly, rolled over and seemed to fall instantly asleep, though the corner of a book could be seen peeking from beneath the bedclothes. Elena left it there. Solinde just waved her away, her mind still on the knights that had crowded about her like moths.
Borsa was waiting in the lobby. She watched as always while Elena walked to the middle of the lobby and commenced resetting her gnostic protections. She lifted her hands in gentle gestures and a web of pale white lines appeared, woven into the walls, the ceiling, the floors, thickest about the door and windows. These were the wards she had created here, and once activated, only she and those people she had authorised could freely come and go. Others would be resisted; they could only enter if they were able to overcome the physical and mental stresses that the wards would bring to bear. It was not an impenetrable defence, but when allied with stone, locks and bars, it was effective against all but an attacker who was both very skilled and very determined.
When she was done, Elena let her Inner Eye close and her powers diffuse. Borsa was looking at her calmly, used to these wonders bynow. ‘The girls are happy tonight,’ the old nurse commented. ‘Solinde is growing up so fast.’
‘Too fast,
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