Wild Magic

› › ‹ ‹

The Kassian Tai came with candles and strained honey from the jars in her room. Areia Moha One-eye followed with Tai’s ancient drum that she’d inherited from the Kassian who was her teacher, who’d inherited it from hers and so on. Tai poured the honey into a crystal saucer and set the candles beside it, lit them with a coal from her fire. Holding the drum in both hands, Areia knelt beside the litter.

“Panote?” Faan said.

The Kassian Tai smiled. “He wanted to be here, but I forbade it. This is Abeyhamal’s work and Tannakes has no part in it.7

“I see.”

“Diyo, Honeychild. Take your place.” The Kassian Tai Wanameh settled the embroidered Talcaffa cloth about her neck, lifted her hand for Areia Moha One-eye to begin the drumming.

Faceted shimmers formed over her eyes, her skin bleached to a dark amber, threadlike antennas curved from her brow, gossamer wings vibrated behind her. Tai+SHE turned to face Faan. “WHAT IS IT YOU REQUIRE, HONEYCHILD?”

“A bargain, O Mother of Bees.” Faan sang the words; she didn’t know if that was right, but it felt right. “Or a battle.”

“YOU BARGAIN, FLEA?” The voice was honey sweet and thick with vibrato. The amber hands moved continually in odd, angular positions.

“A bargain or a battle.”

“I COULD CRUSH YOU WITH A THOUGHT.”

“Diyo, that is true. I would be a smear on the tiles and about as useful. This is your making, no doubt you know my terms before I state them. Well?”

“SAY WHAT YOU WANT. SPEAK CAREFULLY, FLEA. WHAT YOU ASK FOR, YOU SHALL RECEIVE.”

“One. If all terms of the bargain are not fully complete, the bargain is nullified. Two. Reyna is to be healed of his body wounds and the addiction that is destroying him, and you will see that he does not remember these past three days, that he does not remember any pain or betrayal. Three. You will do your best to protect him from further harm. Four. I know this leaves large holes in the bargain, but I will trust your honor to see it is done. Five. On my side, I will surrender my will to you and do whatever you wish to the extent of my intelligence, my strength and my’Talent, I will do your bidding even unto death.” She thought a moment. “Unto MY death.”

Abeyhamal in Pal laughed. “MY HONOR,” she cried out, “YOU THINK TO TRUST MY HONOR.”

“Diyo.”

“LET IT BE DONE, FLEA. TAKE MY HAND.”

“When I see Reyna whole and strong, then I will take your hand.”

“YOUR TRUST IS ODDLY LIMITED, FLEA.”

“It is my need that speaks, Bee Mother, not my distrust.”

“SO BE IT. BEHOLD.”

The stained sheet melted away. Reyna’s limbs were straight, his body clean, his face had its usual austere beauty. He slept sweetly, deeply.