for a desert born woman to choose as her home. I am glad she was well when you last saw her, although I am saddened to know my lovely little sister never recovered her sunny charms. Now. We have gotten through the difficult history, and now you know that you are descended of Dargasi royalty. You are currently farther within our lands than any kopeshk has ever penetrated, yet you are no kopeshk, regardless of how you were raised. But now, we must speak of this man you ride with, for I do not trust him. We have established your right to be here, to meet your blood kin, but what argument do you have for keeping that shifting-eyed kopeshk here with you? Keep in mind, if you stay with us, we will ride directly to the heart of our lands, to Karr'at itself. No kopeshk has walked the halls of Karr'at since the construction of the palace itself. That, you may or may not know, happened at the end of the Great War."
"That was a long time ago," Lorrine said vaguely, wondering when in hells the Great War ended. She didn't know much history at all. She knew needlework, bold and dramatic, a pleasing contrast to Kama's elegant delicacy. She smothered the inappropriate memory of Kama's soft skin.
"Yes, it was. So. Present your arguments now, and do it well, for I am inclined to send that fellow on his way. You deserve a chance, for you are family. But he relies purely on your good will."
"Um. . . well." Lorrine blinked. "Somehow I was not expecting that. Surely he has some redeeming features in your eyes."
"Not a single one," Ranam said coldly. "Dargasi do not allow kopeshk into their lands, ever. Seekers are allowed passage, because of a blood treaty predating Karr'at, but that fool claiming Seeker blood is pale. He may have the Sight, but the Sight is not any Seeker-specific talent. It has been known to appear in people of all nationalities."
"Today was honestly the first I've heard him claim any such thing," Lorrine admitted. But then she smiled. "He's not so bad, though. He's a lot of fun to be around. He isn't perfect, I'll admit that readily, but he's not too bad. He is filled with excitement and ambition, and he thinks to find treasure here in this mysterious, closed-off land."
"Treasure?"
The sharpness in his voice would have served as a warning to anyone else. But Lorrine hadn't been feeling well lately, at least not when she was on her own. When Derfek was with her, everything felt wonderful.
"Yes, he showed me a map he'd gotten from somewhere. He used it to convince people we were on an expedition, so they would give us money, the money I guess he wants to use to buy trade goods from you."
"I am interested to see this map."
"He has it," Lorrine shrugged. "I'm sure he'll show it if you ask. I've seen it, but I never really learned to read a map, so I can't tell you much about it."
"Has he mentioned anything about the treasure he seeks?"
"Not a word. He uses magic, though, so perhaps he wants to find some kind of magical artifact."
"Magic? That settles it, then. No user of magic will ever enter Dargasi lands, not for any reason."
"But whyever not? That makes no sense, a complete ban on people for an ability."
"Were you raised here, as you should have been, you would know the answer to that question. So whether or not you learn the reason will be determined by the Keeper of the Stone."
"Derfek said he'd teach me magic some day," Lorrine said, rather wistfully, for her efforts to hold Derfek to that promise had so far come to naught.
"He hasn't yet?"
This time, Lorrine caught the sharp tone even through the fog in her head. "No, he hasn't. Why? Is it important?"
Ranam relaxed minutely. "Yes, niece, it is important. No user of magic is allowed on Dargasi lands, not even a Dargasi exile returned. Although, you're not truly an exile. I'm not entirely certain of your status with us. By birth, you are a Princess, of sorts. Our royal rankings are somewhat different from those of the outside world. But you know nothing of our culture, and less than nothing of the why behind our culture. I will let the Keeper make his determination as to what to do with you."
"That's all well and good, but what about Derfek?"
"I thought I'd made myself clear. That man will never set foot upon Dargasi lands, not for any reason."
"Oh. My apologies, I seem to have problems remembering things these days, or indeed even having clear thought." Lorrine rubbed her head, wondering why it felt like she was making some kind of horrible mistake.
"That man," Ranam said, a bit too casually. "He is your lover, is he not?"
Lorrine nodded.
"And has he ever done anything to harm you?"
"Of course not!"
"And would you know if he'd, say, used a spell on you?"
"He would never!" Lorrine protested, utterly shocked.
"I know you believe yourself safe with this man, but I suspect there is something not entirely honorable in his intentions towards you. As your uncle, even though we just met, I feel I must request you carefully examine your relationship with this fellow and consider moving on through your life without him."
Lorrine laughed, although she felt more than a bit uneasy to find a small piece of herself in full agreement with this man, this uncle she'd never known of. "I think not! Derfek is a wonderful man, and I will ride with him as long as he will have me."
"And when he tires of you? What then?"
"He'll not tire of me," she said with confidence enough to mask the lie. "He loves me. We will always be together."
"Forgive me, niece, but I do not see the truth in that statement. But enough of that. Our destination lies ahead."
Lorrine looked ahead, where Ranam pointed, and saw a solid shape through the shimmering waves of desert heat.
"Where is this place that you are taking me?"
"There lies Karr'at. Our desert is a small one, less than a day's ride in any direction. We will reach the palace shortly after sunset."
"And what of Derfek?"
"What of him?" Ranam shrugged. "He will find shelter, or he will not. My men will know to keep him out until I tell them otherwise."
"That seems a little harsh," Lorrine began, then shook off the protest. "But Derfek is a strong man, with much intelligence. He will find a place to stay."
Lorrine wondered at her strange situation as they rode through the blazing heat. She continued to ask questions along the way, trying to learn about this strange man who called her niece, but all the time she wondered why her head felt so strange, why she felt so blasted stupid and slow these days, why it felt so damned good to be away from Derfek, however briefly. Maybe her uncle was right. Maybe she should set off on her own.
Kama never made her feel stupid.
Memory
Kama slipped into her room at the end of her first day as part of the Academy of Grace, only to halt and blink stupidly in surprise. Liesel sat in the single comfortable chair in the room, by the cold fireplace that waited patiently for winter to come. She held a book in the steady light of an elemental lamp.
"Liesel? What are you doing here?"
The Healer marked her place carefully before setting the book aside.
"Hello, Kama. I am here simply to find out what disturbed you so after you spoke with the Mother."
"Um. . . " Kama paled. Should she tell Liesel? Perhaps it would do her good to get the story out.
Or perhaps not. It had lain hidden for more than a decade now, perhaps it was best to let sleeping dragons lie.
"You might as well tell me, you know. After all the time we've spent together the last few days, I can feel your emotions as clearly as I feel my own, and I won't let it go until you tell me what's got you so blasted upset. This is such an old, deep pain, I believe you need to face it and vanquish it."
"There is no real need to dredge up such an ancient problem."
"Yes, indeed there is. Because, you see, I will not rest until I know what troubles your heart so."
"Why?"
The simple word had layers of meaning all through it. Why do you want to know? Why do you care? Why do you demand this of me?
&nbs
p; "Because of who I am," Liesel replied. "I am a Healer of hearts as well as bodies. I can no more leave this deep wound within you untreated than I could leave you to die from thirst and starvation. Now tell me."
Kama sighed, then sat on her bed, folding her legs beneath her. They ached in a pleasant way from her first dance class. She'd never danced before, but had always admired the grace and beauty of ladies swirling about in lovely, flowing gowns of shimmering satin and spiderweave.
"Mistress Eldanquin asked me a simple question, that is all. I reacted rather badly. She wished to know my full name."
"And?"
"Well, for one thing, I did not tell her." This time, with the topic under her own control, Kama spoke without the old memories overwhelming her, although they hovered nearby, waiting for a break in her control so they could attack. "My name. . . I was born a long way from here, just south of the Worldcrest. I had a family name, Varion, but. . . My father died. My mother remarried. The new husband had no liking for me or my three sisters. I was the youngest, at eleven. He married us off within the annum. My new name became Foxmeir."
Liesel gasped. "You! You're the missing wife? But. . . but that was annums ago!"
Kama nodded grimly. "I was a child bride. When my cousin Franco heard what had become of me, he rode to my rescue. It was all dreadful beyond words, right up until Franco burst into the bedroom where I was kept tied up like an animal and released me."
"Tied. . . " Liesel sighed, outrage melting into resignation. "I wish I could say I'd never heard of such things before, but I have, far too often for my own peace of