Part 18 (1/2)

Artemisia managed a chuckle. aIam glad you think so. We will go on three. One, racc.o.o.n Fam. Two, new home now, and three.a They alit in the corner of the sitting room/study attached to her bedroom that Artemisia had designated a teleportation area.

aWhat do you have there!a demanded BalmHeal Residence, then added, aIt is a racc.o.o.n. Hrrmph. Long time since a racc.o.o.n was here.a aYou know of them?a Artemisia asked.

aOf course. I was built not long after all the FirstFamily Residences by the colonists. They had some domesticated pets, cats and dogs, on the s.h.i.+ps. They also revived the DNA and bred some of the more hardy of their Earthan animals, like llamas and horses and rabbits and racc.o.o.ns, to make themselves feel more at home.a aOh,a Artemisia said.

This is a beautiful place. The racc.o.o.n wiggled in her arms and she put the animal down.

aWhat did it say?a the Residence asked.

aShe is female and complimented you on your beauty.a aOf course. If she is well behaved, she may stay.a That was a great concession. Artemisia wasnat sure why the Residence was giving it to her but didnat question it. As she stripped and threw her wet and ruined clothes into the deconstructor, she asked the racc.o.o.n, aWhat is your name?a I need a Fam name from a human, the racc.o.o.n said, discovering the line of Artemisiaas shoes in the open closet and snuffling from one to the next.

aI would like to give you a BalmHeal name. Perhaps the Residence can suggest one?a Artemisia asked.

aIam honored,a the Residence said but made no suggestion while Artemisia stood under a waterfall foaming with cleansing herbs, dried, dressed, and cleaned up the mess of her ruined clothes.

Finally, the Residence said, aI would like to offer Diceranda as a wonderful Fam name.a The racc.o.o.n chittered. Randa Racc.o.o.n, I LIKE it.

aRanda loves the name Randa, Residence,a Artemisia said.

There was a little creak. aThat will do. And the racc.o.o.n isnat as big as that dog was,a the House muttered.

aIam sure all our mental and emotional connections will progress quickly so we can speak telepathically with each other,a Artemisia said. aResidence, could you contact Danith DaAshas office and request an appointment with the animal Healer for Randa?a Randa whimpered. Artemisia gave her a stern Healer look. aI will feel much better if an animal Healer checks your health.a aScrying TaAsh Residence,a BalmHeal said.

aGood.a We are in the conservatory, her mother projected mentally and Artemisia relayed that to Randa. She took off in a back-hunched lope, ears straight out. She didnat move like any cat or dog Artemisia had seen.

When they reached the conservatory, her parents were sitting in greeniron chairs with plush brown cus.h.i.+ons. Caff and cocoa carafes were on the gla.s.s-topped table, along with an object draped lightly in a softleaf. The knife.

Artemisia went straight for the cocoa.

aI thought so,a her mother murmured, sharing a glance with her father. aWhatas bothering you, Artie?a Just that easily, she recalled Garrett and his words. Her hand shook and a stream of milky brown liquid splashed on the table and ran off to the flagstone floor. Randa lapped it up.

aI cana”canat.a Artemisiaas voice broke. aCanat talk about it. Not now. Maybe not ever, and espec-specially not to Tiana.a Her father gave her a straight look. aThatas not like you, and not healthy.a She inhaled a deep breath. aI will speak to someone. A priestess, maybe. But not right now. Now I only have to get through it.a And if she told her father that Garrett had revealed they were HeartMates, it would deeply trouble the older man. Her Family had had enough problems in the past and it appeared that controversy would be spinning around Artemisia and Tiana some more. Artemisia wouldnat add to that.

As for her, she didnat care about the law since she hadnat been hurt by it. Garrett wasnat claiming her illegally. Head set her free.

A slow breath sifted from her father. aVery well.a Her mother had said a short housekeeping spell and all traces of the cocoa spill disappeared.

Randa burped. Artemisiaas mother waved a hand in the direction of flagstones near the dry sink. aWe can finally use the Fam feeding area there.a Randaas head swiveled, then she scampered off to the small square and a bowl of dry dog food.

aNow, about this knife . . .a Artemisiaas father started.

She told them how she found Randa, had pulled the knife from her and thrown it into the pool.

Randaas crunching of the food stopped and she padded close to them, hunched down.

There were interesting smells in the park where we denned. Then there was death. My dam took the knife and hid it in our burrow. Then the bad human came and kicked our den apart and found the evil knife and threw it and it hit me and hurt! We all ran away in different directions.

aYou nearly died,a Artemisiaas mother said, obviously now able to hear the racc.o.o.nas telepathy, though her motheras face remained haunted. aThis is another wrong against me and my religion.a aWhat?a Artemisia asked.

Her mother gestured to the knife under the softleaf. aThat is a cross-folk ritual knife, but with edges and point sharpened enough to become a weapon.a Artemisiaas father cleared his throat, but his gaze stayed on Artemisia. aYou and Randa must tell the authorities this story.a aI know,a Artemisia said.

He nodded to the softleaf folded over the knife. aAnd give them the knife. It may have trace amounts of evidence on it. And someone with Flair might be able to sense the murderer from it.a He lifted his elegant hands, let them drop. He wasnat a judge, a man of legal authority, anymore. Her heart twinged. It wasnat often she saw regret for his lost career, but it peeked out of his eyes now. aI can provide you with a sterile vacuum box for the weapon.a He still had that skill.

aThank you.a aBut your motheras softleaf might have also left traces, and might identify her. You will have to be more careful than usual to guard our secrets.a The dreadful feeling that neither of her parents would survive being cast from the sanctuary welled inside Artemisia and clogged her throat. She coughed. aIall be very careful.a His gentle smile was back. aI know you will. You are often too careful. Both my daughters are.a His gaze searched hers. aIt is a cross-folk altar knife, and your mothera”and Ia”might know more about such than the authorities.a Skin tightened around his eyes. aWill you grant me a little time to research the knife? I think I might be able to determine the artist who crafted it. You could take it in to the guards tomorrow with more information.a aOf course.a aWe are breaking laws keeping it.a He s.h.i.+fted in his seat. aBut something of the energy surrounding the knife also feels a bit familiar.a aThe murdered man was Modoc Eryngo.a Her fatheras face solidified into a stony judgeas expression. Her mother gasped.

aHe did great harm to us, implicating us and the cross-folk in the Black Magic Cult murders.a Her fatheras tone was harsh and his lips tightened. aIt seems this new murderer wants to do the same.a He let out a deep breath. aBut your mother and I were here, and you at a Healing vigil in the Turquoise House with Garrett Primross, and Tiana at a spiritual vigil at GreatCircle Temple. In this particular case, the murderer was unlucky.a aWill you researching the knife add traces?a aI donat intend to touch it.a Artemisia eyed the lump under the softleaf. She hadnat gotten a good look at it. But she really didnat want to. Though her father had it s.h.i.+elded so they couldnat feel its negativity, she recalled the evil of it. She made herself smile. aI can take it in tomorrow, with an expert opinion.a aArtemisia,a BalmHeal Residence said aloud, athe first appointment Danith DaAsh has to examine a new Fam is tomorrow morning at WorkBell. I accepted that as your schedule shows your first s.h.i.+ft at Primary HealingHall begins at NoonBell.a aThank you, Residence.a aIall have the weapon and my report on the knife ready then,a Artemisiaas father said.

Her mother closed her eyes, murmured a prayer to her G.o.d, then opened her lashes. aWe will be all right. Everyone except those who granted us this sinecure believes that we left Druida City after suffering a year of disgrace and scandal.a Her motheras mouth was turned down with bitterness, again something Artemisia didnat often see.

Her father reached out and took both of his HeartMateas hands. aThis should lead to a final ending of the matter.a aI hope so,a her mother said. aBut it will stir everything up like dirt in well water first. Donat let the authorities fall into the trap of thinking I had anything to do with this, again.a aI promise you that,a Artemisia said.

We will not, Randa said. She stood on her hind paws and put her front ones on the edge of Artemisiaas motheras chair. I will say I found the softleaf. It has my blood on it, too. I can lie, she ended proudly.

Artemisiaas father chuckled. aNot really a quality that should be encouraged.a His wife raised her elbow to nudge him in the ribs. aLittle lies make life smoother.a He leaned over to kiss her on the lips. aAs always, we will agree to disagree on that point.a The cocoa that had made it into Artemisiaas mug had cooled and she drank the half cup down. aIall scry Guard Captain Winterberry from Danith DaAshas office after Randa is checked out. That may give the guards some pause, being called from a FirstFamily Residence.a aVery true,a Artemisiaas mother said. aA good idea.a Randa had hurried back to her bowl and was crunching again, as if eating would help her forget the upcoming ordeal.

The Residence made a sound like a clearing of a throat. aI have a scry from Barton Clover, who wishes to invite Artemisia to dinner tonight.a Artemisiaas mother sat up straight, eyes gleaming. aOh, today is not without blessings!a aI hadnat thought to go out into the city again today. I wanted to spend more time with my Fam,a Artemisia said, even as she knew her mother would insist.

But Artemisiaas battered heart had picked up its beat and determination washed through her. She would find a husband.

Twenty-three.

Garrett spent some time at the guardhouse with Winterberry, Berberis, and Milkweed, telling the guards what his informants had relayed. Naturally he protected the secret source of his data.

Suppressed emotions swarmed through the station. Every guard who worked there knew that a smear on their honora”the escape of the last Black Magic Cultist murderera”was finally over. Winterberry, of course, was outwardly calm, but his eyes glittered. Head been the main investigator at the time. Berberis must have been on the team, also, and maybe even Milkweed, though she was younger than her partner.

When Berberis and Milkweed went to question people at the old airs.h.i.+p landing port, Garrett couldnat resist the itching at the back of his mind to ensure Artemisia was safe.

The guards had offhandedly told him that the Turquoise House had confirmed her alibi, but the team didnat seem too impressed. Time to talk to the House itself and see what kind of hard data the place had that might clear her.

This he could do for her, easily and right now. He could protect her.

Rusby had stretched out on Garrettas shoulder to snooze, attached by a astaya spell. Garrett was taking no chances with his Fam.

He was taking no chances with his woman.

That wisp of thought/emotion twined through him, as if the bond between them had already infiltrated his nerves, wrapped around his bones in tight spirals.

Shead gotten to him. Not just to his body, which would be attracted to her because of the bond, but her quiet serenity, her grace, her compa.s.sion.

Her sharp insight into him that made him so uncomfortable.

He left the public carrier before Apollopa Park. As he walked by, he found the gray aura that he a.s.sociated with the miasma of murder had already dissipated. Near the Temple, he saw the man Artemisia had lunched with, Leger Cinchona, and Garrettas gut knotted, his shoulder muscles stiffened. Threat.

The man was hunkered down, looking at pink yarrow blossoms. Gawky, intellectual. A priest, so probably even sensitive. And was still a threat to Garrett, taking his woman.

His whole body tensed as he stared at the guy. Who didnat seem to know he was being watched by an enemy.