Kate Elliott - Cold Steel

“I can’t take your dowry.”

“Of course you can! It’s mine to give, because Vai settled the funds on me according to Expedition law, which follows Taino law in giving women title to households and the family purse. Which do you think I would rather have? The money, or my brother? You have to go to Europa. The hunters of our village can help you rescue Vai out of the spirit world. Shh!”

Lantern light shimmered, illuminating carts lined up against the back wall: The family’s business was local transport. Kofi shepherded his mother, his aunts, and the eldest men into the dusty shed. I received their blessing, which they gave by each one touching a hand to my hair. His mother offered me a cup of juice. After hearing my tale, they agreed that I might stay for one night. As for my brother, however, they were not so sure, for they had never met him and wished to know more about his character and manners.

One of Kofi’s brothers appeared, escorting Rory and Lucretia. I smiled to see them safe, until I noticed the inappropriately intimate manner in which their fingers were intertwined.

“Rory,” I murmured, “did I not tell you to stay away from her?”

Rory released Luce’s hand. He sauntered right past me to greet the older women, his smile as bright as the lanterns. With his lithe young man’s body well clad in one of Vai’s fashionable dash jackets and his long black hair pulled back in a braid, he surely delighted the eye. The men watched in astonishment but I knew what was coming. He offered chastely generous kisses to the women’s cheeks and tender pats to their work-worn hands.

“My apologies. I mean no offense by charging into your territory without an invitation. But I must obey my sister. You understand how it is with a sister who speaks a bit sharply to one even though she is the younger and ought, I should suppose, to look up to her older brother. Please, let me thank you. Your hospitality honors and humbles me. The food smells so good. I’m sure I’ve never smelled better.” He had routed two already and turned to the remaining skeptic. “That fabric is beautifully dyed, and looks very well with your complexion, Aunty.”

A cavalry charge at close quarters could not have demolished their resistance more devastatingly. He turned his charm on the old men, drawing them out with irresistible questions about their proud and memorable youth.

I went over to Luce, grasping her wrist. “Luce. He’s a tomcat.”

She lifted her chin. Because I treated Luce as a little sister, I often forgot that, at sixteen, she was old enough to marry. “I know me own mind, Cat! I’s old enough to do as I wish.”

“Be sure that he makes a habit of charming women of all ages and dispositions. And men, too.” I glanced over my shoulder. Rory was now seated between two of the women, chatting easily with all six of the elders about how things had been different in the old days. His easy lounging grace made the overturned wagon bed seem like the most gracious reception hall couch.

“He cannot help what he is!” Luce’s gaze flashed at me from beneath lowered lashes.

“True words,” I agreed. “You’re blushing. I want you to go home, Luce.” She drew in breath for a retort. “I need your help! Go home and get everything ready. Vai’s tool chest. His clothes chests neatly packed, all my things put in. In the morning fetch the winter coats I’m having made on Tailors’ Row.” I glanced up at Kofi, who had come over to stand beside me. “We might have to leave in a hurry.”

“So yee might,” he agreed. “I shall be going out to speak to the president of the Assembly and some other folk about the situation.” He pinched Luce’s cheek with the familiarity of an older brother. “That man is trouble, gal. Mind me words.”

“Sweet trouble,” retorted Luce. “I’s no fool.”

“I doubt me that,” retorted Kofi in the tone of a man who has seen a girl grow up from a toddling scamp. “Do as Cat ask. Don’ forget to pack Vai’s mirror and razor. And extra soap.”

“I know Vai is vain but surely that is a bit much,” I said.

Luce giggled. “I never knew a man could spend so much time in front of a mirror.”

Kofi frowned reprovingly at us. “’Tisn’t only vanity. ’Tis a shield.”

I exchanged a mirthful glance with Luce, but something in Kofi’s expression killed any desire I had to laugh. “Wearing fashionable clothes is a shield? From what?”

“Gal, in some ways I reckon yee understand that man well enough, but in another wise yee don’ really understand him at all.”

Indignation spiked right up into my head, but then I realized Kofi was showing me respect by speaking so plainly. “I suppose not. He was so awful to me when we first met that it took a long time for me to realize it wasn’t me he disliked. That most of the things he did, he did to protect himself from the way the other mages treated him so contemptuously. I think he assumed I would treat him the same way. All right, then. Luce, don’t neglect any items a man of Vai’s high-strung temperament might need. I must say, you’re a man of hidden depth, Kofi.”

He chuckled. “I know how to get a man talking. Vai was a man who was looking for a friend. I shall walk yee back to Aunty’s on my way, Luce. And don’ be sneaking back here tonight, for Cat and Rory must share a room.”

As they made to go, Rory broke away from the elders to take his leave of Luce. He drew her into the shadows to whisper in her ear so softly that even I had trouble distinguishing words. Then she kissed him in a way that made me suspect the cursed tomcat had kissed her more than once at the batey match, despite my having told him not to do any such thing.

I had no chance to scold him, for we were swept off to eat the evening meal with the entire family in attendance, some thirty people, including elders, adult cousins, all the children, more distant relations who lived and worked in the household, and two lads up from the country to work until they had earned enough to go home and marry.

“Now what do we do, Cat?” Rory asked later when we had retired to a tiny room and its two cots. As I hung a lit lantern from a hook, he dragged a cot over against mine and sprawled out across both. “I don’t want to go on the ocean. It scares me.”

“Move over! You’re hogging all the space.”

“I am not a hog!”

“Of course you’re not a hog, Rory,” I said soothingly, before I pounced for the kill. “But don’t make me call you a lecherous seducer. Didn’t I tell you not to touch Luce? She’s too young and very innocent.”

“Not as innocent as you think she is!” He sat up, crossing his arms as he frowned. “I am not like that unpleasant fire mage, James Drake. I would never pet any person without their full and willing consent—”

My throat tightened. “How do you know about my relationship with James Drake?”

“I lived with General Camjiata and his staff for three days before you came to retrieve me. Remember?”

“Did James Drake say things to you? About me?”

“Goodness, Cat. Your skin is all blotchy.” He patted my flushed cheek. “And warm!”

“I see what you’re doing. You’re changing the subject. Luce is too young for you.”

“Both you and Luce are old enough to breed.” He sniffed several times. “You’re not pregnant. In fact, you’re fertile right now. It’s very convenient for me that human women are only fertile part of the time. That makes it easy for me to—”

“Rory! This is not a subject you and I are going to discuss.”

“You started the discussion.” He ran a hand along his chin and lips like a cat about to start licking its paw in a self-congratulatory fashion. Yet just as quickly, his smirk faded. “As your brother, I ought to warn you. James Drake is a dangerous man.”