Heart Quest by Robin D. Owens Page A

“Can you pay the artist?”
    Greyku lifted her nose. She should be honored to tint Me .
    Uh—huh. If you can’t pay her, you will have to abide by Citrula’s decision as to how you will be tinted .
    The kitten lashed her tail and subvocalized a growl that sounded like cat swears. Trif held firm. She’d heard that cats demanded payment for their services.
    Very well . Greyku hunkered down, ears flattened.
    Citrula said, “Where can we do this? I don’t think it should take more than an afternoon.”
    D’Ash will let us do it in her office suite , Greyku said. She is curious. As are Samba and Drina and Zanth. I will charge them to watch and pay the artist! she rumbled in triumph.
    â€œA good idea,” Trif said to Greyku, then spoke to Citrula in the scrybowl. “Some Fams and people will be paying Greyku to observe the process. So I think you should consider a few options. Including jewel tones. Why don’t we say Midday Bell at T’Ash Residence.”
    â€œVery well, but not today, perhaps in a couple of days. I’ll scry.” Citrula shook her head. “Tinting a kitten jewel tones.” She laughed.
    Greyku smacked the water with her paw, rudely ending the call.
    Â 
    M itchella wisely sent one of her elegant gliders to ferry Trif from Clover Fine Furnishings to T’Willow’s Residence. An ugly stone fountain sat carefully protected at one end of the back glider bench. Greyku inspected it, then crawled into the basin and curled up for a nap.
    During the trip, Trif fretted whether Ilex had told her powerful cuz about finding her questing that morning. She sensed he was worried for her safety, but if he’d reported her to Mitchella, he was no friend. She’d rather he officially charge her with trespassing than inform her Family and her friends of her faults.
    No, Ilex wouldn’t tell on her. Not without alerting her first. She knew it. And that kindled warmth inside her.
    They drew up to T’Willow’s and a man in bright red livery lifted open the door and helped her out. Since the only two Nobles Trif knew had more casual servants, this made Trif extremely self-conscious.
    She pulled the small stone table fountain along behind her. The thing had a floating spell, but was still ungainly. It was also hideous. Trif couldn’t imagine why Mitchella, the queen of good taste, was giving it to someone she wanted to impress.
    Furthermore, Greyku sat like a queen in the bottom. Trif thought cat hair couldn’t be good for the pump, but maybe the waterspell took care of that too.
    The T’Willow GreatHouse looked a little like Clover Compound. As the most prolific family on Celta, the Clovers had purchased a whole block and begun ringing it with homes, with the courtyard in the middle. The T’Willow Residence wasn’t much like the fancy Earth castles or the towering fortresses most of the FirstFamilies had built.
    There was a nice-sized grassyard around the front of the building, but the walls were a pale cream-colored featureless armourcrete showing square windows and an inset door. Trif was sure all the loveliness of a Residence would be inside. She didn’t think the courtyard would have anything like a dusty playground, though.
    The server opened the door with a flourish and an older woman also in red, awaited them. She glanced at the fountain and beamed. “Oh, Saille will be so pleased ! Come this way, GentleLady Clover.” She bustled into the house and Trif followed with the fountain.
    Greyku preened. Everyone is pleased when I visit .
    Trif hit back a grin and touched her small Fam on the head. “I think the lady meant T’Willow will be pleased to see the fountain.”
    Sniffing, Greyku glanced around at the basin. It is not very pretty .
    â€œNo.”
    The woman led Trif to a corner room and knocked on the door. “GentleLady Trif Clover is here, and she has a surprise from GrandLady