would have sworn the old man was distressed.
Februaren said, “No one in there could’ve survived. It’s worse than the hippodrome collapse.”
Principaté Delari stirred. Having been responsible for that. He had used a keg of firepowder to attack the monster of the catacombs in exactly the worst possible place.
“What shall we do?” Hecht asked.
Madouc suggested, “Staying out of the way would be appreciated by the city authorities.”
Delari agreed. “Good point. They’re irritated enough, having to put up with Patriarchal troops. Sit still. Let them work. They’re competent. If they want help, let them ask.”
Hecht nodded. Reluctantly. He had grown accustomed to doing what he thought was right, without consulting anyone.
Anna took hold of his left bicep. “Why don’t we go inside? Life could get exciting out here.”
The instant he was out of sight of the lifeguards Cloven Februaren turned sideways.
“How does he do that?” Anna asked.
All three children babbled, Vali loudest. “Maybe what is he doing would be more interesting.”
“Dreaming the Construct,” Heris said. “And that’s all you need to know now. And you’re not to repeat that to anyone.”
Hecht glanced at Principaté Delari. He had seen no evidence that Delari could, or did, “dream the Construct.” Why not? If it was so easy that Heris could learn?
Delari said, “We still have dinner to finish. Further discussion can wait.”
* * *
The gathering in the quiet room differed only in that Anna was present. Always before she had been asked to stay away. Heris arrived last, bringing coffee. Her great talent. Brewing the rare and incalculably expensive beverage.
Muniero Delari shut the door. Lined with stone, it was immensely heavy. He said, “Anna, you’re a remarkable person. As near perfect for our Piper as a woman could be.”
“But?”
“Yes. Right. I do have a but. I’d rather you weren’t here. What you don’t know can’t hurt the rest of us. But my grandfather says your ignorance could be a more deadly threat to you and the children. And the four of you have become important to us.”
This was new. Hecht sipped his coffee quietly, occasionally glancing at Cloven Februaren. The ancient had been away only minutes. He seemed content to sip coffee and look smug.
Anna looked to Hecht for support. He said, “I don’t know where he’s going. But you don’t need to be scared.”
“Let’s jump right into the cold water,” Delari said. “Heris, in addition to being the top coffee artist in Brothe, is Piper’s older sister.”
Hecht started. Then realized that almost everything Anna needed to know piggybacked on that one statement. Anna knew pretty much everything else about Heris.
Anna said nothing for more than a minute. Finally, “You’re all related. Grade Drocker was Piper’s father. Which explains a lot. But …” She stared at Hecht, eyes wide. “You fired the shot that caused his death.”
“I didn’t know who he was. I’m still not sure what difference it would’ve made. He meant to kill me. He’d tried before. He got two of my friends instead. He didn’t know who I was, either. Till around the time I went into the City Regiment, when he did a turnaround and started sculpting my career.”
“And his father took over when he went.”
Muniero Delari made a slight bow toward Anna. “More coffee, Piper?”
“Always. You know I’m addicted.”
Cloven Februaren leaned nearer Anna and, in a stage whisper, said, “Here comes the really grim part.”
Delari scowled. “Can’t you be serious about anything? Two hundred years old. The most powerful sorcerer in the world. And any one of Anna’s children is more serious and responsible.”
“Being serious now, Muno. Putting on my stern face and acting my age.”
A flicker of smile cracked Delari’s scowl. “He had a point, Anna. Obliquely. You’ve just been included in some extremely dangerous knowledge. The only people
Februaren said, “No one in there could’ve survived. It’s worse than the hippodrome collapse.”
Principaté Delari stirred. Having been responsible for that. He had used a keg of firepowder to attack the monster of the catacombs in exactly the worst possible place.
“What shall we do?” Hecht asked.
Madouc suggested, “Staying out of the way would be appreciated by the city authorities.”
Delari agreed. “Good point. They’re irritated enough, having to put up with Patriarchal troops. Sit still. Let them work. They’re competent. If they want help, let them ask.”
Hecht nodded. Reluctantly. He had grown accustomed to doing what he thought was right, without consulting anyone.
Anna took hold of his left bicep. “Why don’t we go inside? Life could get exciting out here.”
The instant he was out of sight of the lifeguards Cloven Februaren turned sideways.
“How does he do that?” Anna asked.
All three children babbled, Vali loudest. “Maybe what is he doing would be more interesting.”
“Dreaming the Construct,” Heris said. “And that’s all you need to know now. And you’re not to repeat that to anyone.”
Hecht glanced at Principaté Delari. He had seen no evidence that Delari could, or did, “dream the Construct.” Why not? If it was so easy that Heris could learn?
Delari said, “We still have dinner to finish. Further discussion can wait.”
* * *
The gathering in the quiet room differed only in that Anna was present. Always before she had been asked to stay away. Heris arrived last, bringing coffee. Her great talent. Brewing the rare and incalculably expensive beverage.
Muniero Delari shut the door. Lined with stone, it was immensely heavy. He said, “Anna, you’re a remarkable person. As near perfect for our Piper as a woman could be.”
“But?”
“Yes. Right. I do have a but. I’d rather you weren’t here. What you don’t know can’t hurt the rest of us. But my grandfather says your ignorance could be a more deadly threat to you and the children. And the four of you have become important to us.”
This was new. Hecht sipped his coffee quietly, occasionally glancing at Cloven Februaren. The ancient had been away only minutes. He seemed content to sip coffee and look smug.
Anna looked to Hecht for support. He said, “I don’t know where he’s going. But you don’t need to be scared.”
“Let’s jump right into the cold water,” Delari said. “Heris, in addition to being the top coffee artist in Brothe, is Piper’s older sister.”
Hecht started. Then realized that almost everything Anna needed to know piggybacked on that one statement. Anna knew pretty much everything else about Heris.
Anna said nothing for more than a minute. Finally, “You’re all related. Grade Drocker was Piper’s father. Which explains a lot. But …” She stared at Hecht, eyes wide. “You fired the shot that caused his death.”
“I didn’t know who he was. I’m still not sure what difference it would’ve made. He meant to kill me. He’d tried before. He got two of my friends instead. He didn’t know who I was, either. Till around the time I went into the City Regiment, when he did a turnaround and started sculpting my career.”
“And his father took over when he went.”
Muniero Delari made a slight bow toward Anna. “More coffee, Piper?”
“Always. You know I’m addicted.”
Cloven Februaren leaned nearer Anna and, in a stage whisper, said, “Here comes the really grim part.”
Delari scowled. “Can’t you be serious about anything? Two hundred years old. The most powerful sorcerer in the world. And any one of Anna’s children is more serious and responsible.”
“Being serious now, Muno. Putting on my stern face and acting my age.”
A flicker of smile cracked Delari’s scowl. “He had a point, Anna. Obliquely. You’ve just been included in some extremely dangerous knowledge. The only people
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