Lee, Sharon - Liaden 11 - Mouse and Dragon

He released her immediately. She stepped back, keeping a grip on his hand and pulled him back onto the reading chair.

“Sit,” she murmured, and when he had done so, she sat across his lap, leaning companionably against him. He was so cold; she was desperate to warm him.

“Mizel's letter to me was something like your own,” she murmured. “I had been too long absent from duty and therefore commanded to return to my natural place. It was also noted that I held free title to a ship, and to a business, both of which I would be required to relinquish to the clan. I could thereafter expect to receive my proportionate share of any profit realized from either.”

She felt a snarl of anger from Daav, which was better at least than the cold.

“Yes,” she said, comfortably settling her head against his shoulder. “It was very stupid, for of course I had to act in my ship's best defense, whereupon I went to the port, van'chela, in order to see Jon dea'Cort.”

“One wonders—why did your mind turn to Jon?”

“You'll recall that he holds a note for the repair and installation of the nav-comp units.”

“Ah, yes, so he does. Did you pay him, then?”

“Pay him?” She raised her head to look into face. “Van'chela, I fear you have become overtired. I cannot afford to redeem that note. No, I asked Jon to put a lien against The Luck.”

Delight shot through them. Daav threw back his head and laughed.

“Yes, of course you did!” he gasped, when he was able to speak at all. “And Jon was pleased to comply, I assume?”

“Not precisely at first,” she confessed. “But once I had made him familiar with the case, he was eager to assist in any way that he could. We went to his woman of business—and it was there that time began to slide away from me, van'chela, for the matter was not as simple to effect as it was to envision. Additionally, there were some points upon which Jon stood adamant, and still other complications introduced by his qe'andra. Did you know that a ship must be inspected and certified before a third-party lien can be set against it?”

“Actually, I did, but only because Mr. dea'Gauss does insist upon explaining these matters to me as we go along.”

Aelliana laughed softly. “Well, I wish I had known! However, it was all eventually done, signed, and filed. After, we fetched Trilla and Mistress Apel and all went to find something to eat, which I see now that I should not have done—”

“No.” He raised a hand and put his fingers lightly over her lips. “A call would have sufficed. Had I only known that you were with Jon and not lifted for the Out . . . ”

“Without my copilot?”

“The ship must come first, for the pilot.”

“So it must,” Aelliana agreed, and added the phrase she had lately learnt from Anne. “But there is not only one way to skin a cat.”

Daav laughed. “So I learn. Your copilot, I am sad to report, is a lackwit.”

“No, that I cannot allow. My copilot had other matters to concern him. How does Mr. dea'Gauss suggest we respond to this absurd charge of kin-stealing?”

“Mr. dea'Gauss is inclined to believe that Mizel can carry the day, does it come to that. He advises that I propose contract to you, Aelliana, which buys us more time together, all by Code and custom.”

“Contract?” she repeated, around a sudden gone feeling in her stomach. “But—that merely puts off the inevitable! When the contract is fulfilled, I will be required to return to Mizel.” She shook her head.

“He cannot have thought the matter through. The better solution is for us to cry lifemates, pay Mizel its price, and sign the lines.”

A rush of emotion so powerful she could scarcely hold onto her own soul swept 'round her in joyous chaos.

“You had, I thought,” Daav murmured, “no wish to be Korval.”

“Nor do I,” she answered warmly, “and I shall doubtless make many bitter errors. However, it appears that I must have Korval, if I am to attain Daav, and so I accept the handicap, if you can accept my ignorance.”

“You are not ignorant,” he told her. He touched her cheek with fingers that trembled. “I say to you, Aelliana Caylon, that your solving this day—rather, your solving of yesterday!—is masterful. Only consider Korval your ship and you shall do very well for all of us!”

She laughed and shook her head.

“Truly, Daav, it was all I could think to do!”

“Your instincts,” he said solemnly, “are good.”

He tipped his head, and she felt a returning flutter of fear, paired uneasily with doubt.

“Tell me true, Aelliana, for I would not see you trapped: Do you think that you may bear it?”

“Bear it?” she repeated. “Since the first time we flew together, I had wanted nothing but to sit board with you, always. If Korval is the ship we have to fly, then—best together than apart.”

She felt his pride in her, and a certain feeling of awe, which, she thought hotly, would never do.

She reached up to take hold of the long tail of his hair, pulling his face down to hers.

“Kiss me,” she commanded.

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Liaden 11 - Mouse and Dragon

Chapter Twenty-Six

Balance must be maintained in all things. Debts must be paid promptly and in full.

—From the Liaden Code of Proper Conduct

“Good morning, Mr. dea'Gauss. I hope I find you well?”

There were in Daav's office, downstairs, he in the chair and she standing behind, both within range of the screen.

Mr. dea'Gauss inclined his sleek head. “Good morning, your lordship; my lady. I am perfectly well, I thank you.”

“Excellent,” Daav murmured. “Please forgive me for accosting you in this uncivilized manner. My only excuse is that we are summoned in a hour to Lady yo'Lanna's side, and I have something rather urgent for you to undertake on Korval's behalf.”

“Of course, your lordship. I stand ready to assist, as ever.”

“I will be brief. Pilot Caylon has found a simple solution to our dilemma of yesterday, sir. She suggests that she and I sign as lifemates before the world, and thus place Mizel beyond distress.”

Mr. dea'Gauss blinked, and raised his eyes to Aelliana's.

“Yes,” she told him, with a smile. “It must be so, Mr. dea'Gauss. If you please.”

“Few things which I have undertaken in the service of Korval have pleased me so much, my lady. I will, of course, make this my first priority.” He gave a seated bow. When he had straightened again, he looked to Daav.

“Korval will offer the life-price of a first class pilot, and a scholar expert?”

Aelliana stirred, meaning to say that it was too much; she had been a scholar expert during her whole adult life. Had matters fallen otherwise, she supposed she would have remained a scholar expert until Mizel's Ring passed and the new delm had made her a whore.

Daav inclined his head. “Korval seeks to place value appropriately. We have no reason to stint Mizel and every reason to be generous.”

“Very good,” Mr. dea'Gauss murmured. “This business ought to take no more than a few hours. It is perfectly possible that I will have the concluded contract in hand this afternoon.”

“We will come to you,” Daav said, “when Lady yo'Lanna releases us. Pilot Caylon had been wanting to visit the shops in any case.”

Oh, had I? Aelliana frowned down at the top of his head, which was as helpful as one might expect. When she looked back to the screen it seemed to her that Mr. dea'Gauss was smiling.

“Very good, your lordship,” he said. “I will set to work immediately. Good morning, my lady.”

“Good morning, Mr. dea'Gauss,” she said.

The screen went dark.

“Why do I want to visit the shops in Solcintra?” Aelliana asked.