Wild Magic

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Reyna tightened the laces of his trousers, tied them off. He shook out the blousy black tunic, stood holding it and looking across the candle-lit bedroom at Juvalgrim who was sitting naked on a windowseat, his legs drawn up, his arms draped loosely over his knees, his long, long hair falling like black silk down his back and off the edge of the seat; he was gazing down the mountain to the dark mass of the city.

Juvalgrim sighed. “More of.the Edge is burning.”

“Come with me.” Reyna pulled the tunic over his head, settled it on his shoulders. “There’s not much you can do here any more. They’re pulling the noose tighter and tighter about you.”

“They?”

“You know what I mean.”

Juvalgrim moved his hand in one of his graceful, meaningless gestures.

“Let Manasso carry the Eye, if that’s what he wants. It’s not worth this, this…” Reyna spread his arms, wiggled his fingers, a sign for all the things that hung between them. “Come with me, Ju. Once you’re out of it, nobody’s going to bother you.”

Juvalgrim moved his shoulders, shook his hair loose. “Dear Rey.”

“That’s no answer.” Reyna caught up his cloak, swung it around his shoulders, clipped the neck cords to his belt. “I can’t give you anything like you’ve got here, but you’d be safe.”.

“I’d be dead.” The Wounded Moon was the finest of nail parings, only three days past Dark, but the sky was clear and the starlight lit the planes of Juvalgrim’s face, slid along a body still firm and lean despite his age.

“What?”

“You heard me.” He swung around, dropped his legs over the edge of the padded seat. “I might manage to escape the men, but the god, never. Rey, listen. The instant I cease to be of use to Chumavayal, I’ll be a grease spot on some floor. I just have to keep hanging on and hope I can outlast the Change.”

“You’ve lost me again.”

“K’laan! Sibyl warned me not to talk about that. Trust me, Rey. If I can keep on long enough, everything will be all right.” He slid off the seat and came quickly across the room; he took Reyna’s hands, held them gently prisoned within his own. “Listen, luv. Take your own advice. Get out. I’ll find the money for you. Next ship that leaves, you be on it.”

“What about Faan?”

“You know the answer, Rey. She’s caught. You can’t help her, the god has her. Honey Mother will use her till there’s nothing left.”

“Then I stay, too. She comes to me for shelter, Ju.

All those people pulling, at her, the gods fooling with her life… she has to have some place to rest.” He freed his hands, lifted one. of Juvalgrim’s, and kissed the palm. “She’s my daughter. As long as she needs me, I’m going to be there.”

Juvalgrim sighed. “Take care, luv.” A corner of his mouth curled up. “I should tell you not to come again, it’s too dangerous, but I need you, too.” He drew the pad of his thumb down the side of Reyna’s face, eyes laughing. “Not for rest.”

At the passage panel, he closed a hand about Reyna’s arm. “Come to the cave tomorrow, I’ll have silver for you; you’ll have to find a smith to turn it into coin. Ah, Rey, the times they do corrupt us.” He squeezed the arm. “Don’t try to buy water yourself, luv; get Abosoa Kassos you can trust to do it.”

Reyna ducked through the short, narrow opening. “D yo, Mamay, I’ll be good.”