Wicked Bronze Ambition

66

We had been oozing toward Playmate’s stable since the fallen had gone by, presumably off to spend quality time with the forensics sorcerers at the Al-Khar. I wondered if General Block was bold enough to have a real necromancer on staff.

Target materialized as I was about to quiz Tara Chayne. “You’ll be uncovered for a while. Every swinging dick will be busy cleaning up. Be careful. Helenia? You doing all right?”

“I’ll make it. They’re going to let me ride.”

“Keep an eye on our boy. And keep the stupid under control. The boss don’t want to lose him yet.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Target trotted after the body haulers. Those guys were drawing local attention.

I was just realizing that Target had disrespected me when I noticed Playmate and Little Moo up ahead, a whole fifteen feet away, waiting outside his office’s street door.

Brownie and friends started bouncing around Little Moo. She had acquired a fresh outfit. Not something new, nor stylish, nor even that fit particularly well, but it was clean and didn’t draw attention. Her expression was less bewildered. She was happy to see the dogs. If Playmate hadn’t said something, she would have gotten down and rolled around with them.

Tara Chayne grunted, startled, then muttered, “Well, that was just a little bit remarkable.”

I glanced over. She was looking up rather than at Little Moo. I decided to help her stare back at the sky. “What?”

The baby blonde was gone, a “So what?” to me, being accustomed to not having her in my life anyway. “And?”

“She flew away. Well, floated, if you want to be precise.”

“She’s a Windwalker?”

Moonblight shrugged. “Not a talent we usually see before puberty.”

“Not to mention, it’s just damned uncommon. That ought to make her easy to identify.”

“You would think so, wouldn’t you? Windwalking being so unusual that everyone on the Hill always knows the people who can.”

“I have a bad feeling.”

“Good guess. Furious Tide of Light was TunFaire’s only active Windwalker.”

“So there might be another sorcery at work.”

“There must be.” Her interest waned as she considered Playmate and Little Moo.

Playmate wasn’t much to see, just a tall, bony black guy gaping because he saw me on a horse. He was at a loss for words except a mechanical “Bring your mounts inside. They’re worn out and hungry.”

“I don’t have much cash.”

“Singe is good for it. And it’ll be at cost. I owe you big.”

“Speaking of. Himself wanted me to see how you’re doing.”

“I’m good. Better than anybody had any right to expect.” He rested a hand on Little Moo’s shoulder, lightly. She stopped doing whatever it was he thought she shouldn’t do. I hadn’t caught what. “You don’t need to keep fussing over me.”

“Sure we do. You’re important to us. He wants you to come by so he can check on the cancer. He might want to see Kolda, too.”

“And he wants to meet the girl.”

“Yes. He does.”

We managed physical business while we talked, taking the horses inside, loosening their tack but removing only their bridles. Play brought water and oats. The mare looked at me like she might be having second thoughts about my fitness to be sharing the world of the master race.

Little Moo helped Play. She said a few words, not clearly, not to me. They didn’t have “Hate you!” among them.

Playmate crouched, examined my mare’s left side. “You’re right. You have a good eye, child.” He conjured a pail of stinky salve, grabbed a handful, and slathered it onto a raw spot developing where the saddle’s left-side fender had rubbed. He wanted to chide me about it but restrained himself. I couldn’t know any better. I hadn’t spent time in a mounted unit.

And I was known for my bad attitude toward the equine tribes.

Playmate is the goodest guy I know, but he does come afflicted with bizarre prejudices where animals are concerned. They’re freaking animals, Play!

We would get into a tiff if we kept on about horses. Time for something else and I was more interested in the girl.

So was Tara Chayne. She seemed captivated and awed, uncertain, determined to be disbelieving, and professionally confused.

I told Playmate, “You’ve obviously been a good influence. What happened?” And, to Moonblight, “What? You see something interesting or do you just have to pee?”

“I’m not sure. Eight of one and four of the other. I can’t believe it’s what it looks like.”

In TunFaire we see the improbable and implausible every day. The impossible comes up once a week.

Playmate said, “It just takes patience. She’s a good kid, eager to please. Truly slow, though.” Said softly.

“And?”

“And what?”

“Who is she? Who are her people? What’s her story? You got her into less ridiculous clothes. You managed some kind of communication.”

Meanwhile, Tara Chayne extended a hand, gently beckoned. Brownie and the girls surrounded Little Moo, looked to her for cues.

Playmate said, “The name she gave, once she understood what I wanted, was Hagekagome.” Hah-gay-kah-goh-may.

“Really?” Definitely not TunFairen, and not likely Karentine.

“Really.”

“That’s a strange one. But. .”

“You think you’ve heard it before.”

“I do. Oddly enough.”

“I do, too, Garrett. A long time ago. Near as I can tell-she is truly confused-she thinks you should know it because you used to live together. And she loved you very much.”

I opened my yap to declare that completely impossible. Tara Chayne laid a forefinger across my lips. “No.” Then, “As Constance told you, be kind, be gentle, and be patient. It won’t cost you a copper.”

“Why?”

“You would prefer to bruise feelings?”

“I’d prefer to know why I’m getting special instructions.”

“She’s a special child. Like none other.”

“Special how?”

“Consider her your challenged little sister. That’s enough to know.”

I flashed Playmate a look of appeal, saw that I would get no help there. He said, “She’s coming along but she’s still confused. She can form sentences part of the time but doesn’t make much sense with them.”

I showed him my best baffled frown.

“She’ll keep getting better if she’s treated well.”

Tara Chayne agreed. “She will. For a while.”

Plaintive, I demanded, “What does that mean?”

“It means that you will treat her well, treat her right, and be gentle and loving for as long as she’s with us. If you don’t, I’ll hurt you.”

Ooh! I felt the steel behind that.

“Damn it, if. .” No. Rein it in, Garrett.

I got skills. I got resources. I got the Dead Man to slash and burn through the smoke and mirrors.

I said, “Play, come by my place as soon as you can. And bring Little. . Hagekagome?”

The girl stopped playing with the dogs, stared at me with big, sparkling brown eyes, thrilled because I’d used her name. She waited several seconds to see if there would be anything more, then turned back to the dogs.

Number Two gave me a hard doggie glower before jumping back into the fun.

Playmate said, “We’ll be there. I’ll have my brother-in-law cover. What time is supper?” He had to yank my leash.

Everybody but Hagekagome snickered.