Robin Owens - Heart Fortune

So he turned back toward the camp some meters distant, saw Andic wave at Funa. She hurried from Jace’s side, and as a twitch hit between his shoulder blades, he knew he’d been right to refuse her. Just logical.

Didn’t have anything to do with recent dimly remembered erotic dreams. Or that very strong tug on his emotions he’d felt the day before. Or the incredible four-day sex weekend he’d had with that redhead, Glyssa Licorice, he’d visualized as he’d fallen down the damn hole. Really.

Years ago he’d had to force himself to forget Glyssa’s name, and now he recalled it again.

He scuffed back to his battered tent—large enough for two, to give him the personal space he needed—realized he kicked up dust on the dry land, and picked up his feet and hit the easy stride he liked the best. Too much thinking hampered a guy.

DRUIDA CITY

Glyssa stood in front of the review panel that would approve her field trip and a paper, pursuant to the procedure to become a FirstLevel Librarian of Celta. This was supposed to be a formality, but she knew it wouldn’t be. “I intend for my field trip to be to the excavation site of the recently located starship, Lugh’s Spear . And for my research to be on the last Captain of that ship.”

Her mother’s lips flattened, and Glyssa kept her flinch inside. Her father’s disappointed expression was worse. Her older sister hefted a long-suffering sigh.

As always, her mother spoke first. “We were under the impression that your final research studies would be on HouseHearts—one of the reasons we allowed you so much time in the PublicLibrary HouseHeart. And we believed that your field sabbatical would be around the city, and perhaps to a few of the budding sentient Residences outside of Druida and in Gael City.”

“GreatLord T’Hawthorn requested I write a biography of the Captain of the starship Lugh’s Spear . How Netra Sunaya Hoku commanded the ship as it landed, his leadership of the colonists on the journey to Druida City, and, perhaps, research his later life after he gave up fame and status as one of the FirstFamily GrandLords.” That topic would appeal to her supposedly egalitarian Family, though bringing up Laev T’Hawthorn’s name contrasted with that. Even her Family, who disdained the appearance of wealth and status, was aware of the highest social strata of the planet . . . and that Glyssa had connections there, since one of her best friends had married into that level.

Glyssa continued, “Laev has wanted a representative at the excavation for a while. His HeartMate, Camellia, not only is invested emotionally in the excavation, but under our laws, has a financial interest in the salvage of the ship.”

“He’s a sharp entrepreneur,” Glyssa’s father said with a hint of admiration.

“Will he be funding your trip?” Glyssa’s sister asked, acid in her tone, more from envy, Glyssa thought, than from worry that Glyssa’s research might be less than impartial.

Glyssa drew a sheaf of papyrus from the long, rectangular pocket of her formal gown, walked the pace to the desk the FirstLevel Librarians sat behind, and gave them the copy of the files Laev had sent to her.

Her father grunted, her mother looked up sharply. “This includes facsimiles of Captain Hoku’s journals!” Now she was excited. Camellia had been dilatory in giving that to the PublicLibrary though all of them had nagged her about it.

“I will have full cooperation from Camellia and Laev, and a letter of introduction to the Elecampanes who own and run the project, and who may bring me on as a secretary of the project.”

“A secretary, ” her sister sneered.

Glyssa met her mother’s eyes, then her father’s. “Apparently they have no official secretary or historian for the site.”

Her Family gasped as one.

“Inconceivable,” said her sister.

“This must not be allowed.” Her father stood. He had a strain of restlessness and during times of great emotion, couldn’t keep still. Glyssa was beginning to feel like she might have inherited that from him. Deep inside, part of her sang at the thought of adventure.

Her mother clicked her tongue and her father resumed his seat. D’Licorice adjusted her sleeves on the table and intoned. “Is there anything else the applicant wishes to say about her field studies?”

Glyssa gritted her teeth briefly, but bowed her head. She’d decided to reveal all about the project, but not about her HeartMate. “GreatLady Camellia D’Hawthorn wishes not only a monograph on her ancestor, the last pilot and Captain of the starship Lugh’s Spear, she wishes a more popular story written for the general public.” The two plays based on the discovery of Celta were immensely popular. Glyssa shivered at the thought of providing a story for a third.

“Camellia would want something more easy to read,” Glyssa’s sister said nastily.

“Camellia is a successful businesswoman, not a scholar,” Glyssa shot back.

“Such comments are not pertinent to this review panel,” Glyssa’s mother snapped.

Glyssa straightened her spine, tried to keep her expression remote, as was expected. “I have agreed to the challenge.” Again she slid her gaze across her Family’s faces. They’d lapsed into scholarly impassivity also.

Her sister leaned forward. “What will you do if we do not approve of this field trip?”

Glyssa had hoped no one would ask that question. She lifted her chin. “I believe the excavation of the lost starship, Lugh’s Spear, a ship different than our own Nuada’s Sword here in Druida, a ship whose culture during the long trip from Earth to Celta was radically different than that of Nuada’s Sword , is of great importance. And, as we all know, Lugh’s Spear carried knowledge about the colonists’ genetic psi power that Nuada’s Sword doesn’t have. Lugh’s Spear is not only vital to us in illuminating our past, but for future generations.” That was the definition of a discipline of study, and she backed the truth of her words with Flair, psi power. “If this panel does not find official merit for my work, I will proceed without its blessing.”

“I am concerned that you will be so far away . . . and the excavation is dangerous,” her mother said.

Glyssa figured that was one reason her HeartMate had been drawn there. “I believe GreatLord T’Hawthorn is working with Commander Dani Eve Elder and the starship Nuada’s Sword in the implementation of a new long-distance communications system.”

They all looked fascinated at this, too. Her sister’s mouth dropped open.

“You have been busy,” her father said.

Glyssa nodded.

Her mother said, “I approve the field study. But I expect more than reports or notes as proof of progress. I wish monograph pages . . .” she paused, “and pages and chapters of a ‘popular work’ with every weekly communication sent from the camp.”

Swallowing, Glyssa nodded. Sounded rough to her, a setup for failure. She was a slow writer and everyone knew it. She’d have to make the most of every moment she had at the excavation.

“I agree,” her father said.

Her sister pursed her lips, let the moment hang. The decision had to be unanimous. All Glyssa’s muscles tensed.

“I suppose I agree, too.” She made her sigh low and drawn out and Glyssa nearly flinched. She’d always hated that sigh, which her sister knew.

“The student’s final research paper and the field trip for that research is approved,” Glyssa’s mother said.

“But she is not a FirstLevel Librarian until she turns in her paper,” Glyssa’s sister said, smiling widely. Leaning back on her chair, she lifted a hand and studied her nails. “And since the student is abandoning her initial project of HouseHearts, I will pursue that.”