Robin Owens - Heart Fortune

Smiling, Camellia said, “Not a lie. You are a patron of the library.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Well if you’re going to the excavation, you can be the source of information Laev and the rest of the FirstFamilies council have on that project. I’ll have him contact you. You can go on our behalf if your Family nixes your field trip and paper on the expedition.”

A chill slipped through Glyssa at the thought of not making FirstLevel Librarian, failing in the career she’d started at ten years old. She swallowed hard.

Camellia picked up one of the spheres, read the title and made a face. “Another boring history.” She stared at Glyssa, then perked up. “You could write a paper on my ancestor Captain Netra Sunaya Hoku.” Camellia’s eyes brightened as she put the ball back into its cushioned nest. “Better, you could write something more popular than a paper. A . . . a novel or a play, or something.” She nodded decisively. “Yes, that’s what I want. I want regular people to read about my ancestor, understand how he saved so many lives.” She grabbed Glyssa’s hands. “Say you will.”

“I don—”

Glyssa, what happened! chimed in her other friend, Tiana Mugwort, mentally. I was attending a lecture by the high priest and couldn’t respond before now, but felt your need.

So Glyssa and Camellia shared their thoughts with her.

“Incoming scry from GreatLord T’Ash, at T’Ash Residence, for SecondLevel Librarian Glyssa Licorice,” said the voice of the PublicLibrary.

Camellia looked at her. Glyssa shrugged. She didn’t know why the lord would call her. She’d never met the man. “I’ll accept it,” she said.

The nearby wall scry screen cleared, then showed a large and scowling T’Ash holding a fox kit by the scruff of his neck. Off screen came the hisses of a very angry cat.

“Glyssa Licorice?” T’Ash snapped.

“That’s me,” she said.

“My HeartMate informs me that this one.” He gave the young fox a tiny shake. “Is your Fam Companion. Come get him. Now.” The scry went black.

Camellia laughed. “Sounds like GreatLady Danith D’Ash has given you a Fam.”

Glyssa rubbed her temples. “This isn’t the right time to get a Familiar. I can’t take a young thing out to an excavation.”

“You shouldn’t,” Camellia agreed. “But do you want a Fam or not?”

“Oh, I do!” Energy surged through Glyssa. Need for a companion, since she’d be leaving her two best friends, her Family . . . all that she knew.

“You should buy one of those automatic teleportation collars that will send him to D’Ash if he gets hurt,” Camellia said.

“It can’t teleport him thousands of kilometers!”

“They must have a Healing clinic,” Camellia said. “You can set the collar for that.”

Glyssa’s mind whirled. “I must leave as soon as possible.”

“Well,” Camellia pointed out, “T’Ash did say now .”

Glyssa had meant for the excavation.

“My Family expects me to be at home . . . sick.” Though a Fam would perk anyone up.

“T’Ash is not a man you want to cross,” Camellia pointed out.

“All right. I’ll ’port to our garage and take the glider.”

Camellia hugged her. “Laev will be scrying you about being our rep at Lugh’s Spear. ” She kissed Glyssa on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.” She went to the teleportation pad and left.

Glyssa put away the recordspheres—with a new index—and headed out.

A few minutes later the glider pulled up to Danith D’Ash’s offices. She was the animal healer and person who usually assigned Fams and was awaiting Glyssa’s arrival, holding and petting the little fox.

From what Glyssa could see, the young Fam didn’t need soothing. His tongue lolled out of his slightly open muzzle and his eyes gleamed with wild glee.

The glider stopped and the door lifted. Glyssa began to slide out when Danith D’Ash hustled up and the foxling jumped from her arms onto the seat. Glyssa winced at the little claw holes in the upholstery.

You are my FamWoman! The excited telepathic voice was accompanied with a few small barks from the red and white fox. His red fur was about the color of Glyssa’s hair.

Then he was in her lap, putting his paws on her shoulders, licking her face with a rough tongue and sending fox breath her way. He felt . . . simply wondrous, small and lithe and trembling with excitement.

In an instant he’d dropped to her lap and curled up, draping a fluffy tail over his nose.

“I need a programmable collar,” Glyssa said, dazed.

Danith D’Ash handed her one.

The fox lifted its head. I do not like that.

“It will break away if you’re caught on anything,” Glyssa said.

He snapped his teeth at D’Ash, so she floated it into the glider and to Glyssa. “The collar will return your Fam here . . . I’ll give you the exact coordinates for my son’s office.” The lady’s cheerful smile held an edge of strain.

“I’m actually leaving for the excavation of Lugh’s Spear for my field trip to obtain my FirstLevel librarianship,” Glyssa said, petting the young fox. “I suppose I shouldn’t take him.” She didn’t want to give him up.

D’Ash’s brows came down. “No, you shouldn’t—”

But D’Ash’s husband and HeartMate exited her offices and joined her, towering over her and laying a huge hand on her shoulder. “The kit will be fine.” T’Ash lifted his chin. “We’ve had troublesome animals here before, but that one. He’ll be fine. Good to meet you, GrandMistrys Licorice. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.” With a wave of his hand, the glider door snicked shut and they were off.

“Home, please,” Glyssa said to the Flair-powered vehicle. It picked up speed and exited through the T’Ash spellshields and gates in seconds. The gates clanged behind them.

Her fox turned and sat on her lap, looking up at her. Adventure!

She couldn’t deny the glee in his eyes that matched a surge in her heart. “Yes. And now to name you.”

You are a Licorice of the PublicLibrary Licorices , he said. I asked the T’Ash ResidenceLibrary for Licorice names— He’d done research! Glyssa was thrilled.

—and the Residence gave me some and I chose Lepid.

“Oh, clever fox!”

He licked her on her chin. I am. I am a CLEVER fox. More clever than any old cat, more clever than—

“Let’s not get into that. And my Family lives in a house across from the library. We don’t have any Fams—”

I am the FIRST Licorice Fam!

“Yes, but the PublicLibrary itself has two cats. You must be nice to them.” She looked at the wriggling fox, figured that would tax the kit. “At least until we leave the city. There’s plenty of exploring to be done in our house and the library. Avoid the cats.”

Of course! Lepid said.

Glyssa figured that was a promise easily broken by her new, young Fam. “If you get seriously scratched by the cats, I’m not sure you’ll be able to go with me.”

Not go!

“That’s right. You’ll have to stay here until you are well. But I will have to go, because my trip arrangements will be made by another GreatLord, Laev T’Hawthorn, whom I can’t deny.” She hoped. But Laev had been wanting to poke his nose into the expedition, and was a wealthy entrepreneur, a gambler. Surely he’d be all right with her plans.

Lepid grumbled a little in acknowledgment, then hopped from her lap to look out the window at the city as they left the rich noble estates. I think I like running better than sitting in this glider.