Heartmate by Robin D. Owens Page A

them. Mitchella or not, Danith would accept Claif when he proposed on Discovery Day.
    The collection box played the short melody announcing a delivery. Danith opened it to stare down on a little bunch of pansies charmingly set in a silver holder.
    Again she hoped they were from Claif. Again the card said “T’Ash.” Simply T’Ash, nothing more, not one word why he would send flowers or what he wanted in return. He would want something as payment. The man she saw last night would never do anything without motive or reward.
    She set her chin. She had told him she wasn’t interested in his games yesterday evening, and she hadn’t changed her mind. He hadn’t looked dense. Just exactly what was his game?
    Â 
 
“I’m glad to see you,” T’Ash muttered. Bang! He swung his hammer to thin the edges of the main gauche on the anvil. “I’m glad to see you.” Bang!
    He stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow with a rag. He’d been practicing the words for his scry call to Danith for half an hour and he still had only one sentence. This was going to be harder than he’d thought.
    He critically examined the blade. It was looking very, very good, and there was power in it, lightly shielded from Tinne Holly, T’Ash hoped. He’d done a fine job in setting the spells for protection and discipline, and would complete the next portion of the ritual Words later.
    The ritual Words! His eyes widened. This last half-hour he’d been concentrating on the dagger edges, not the spells, and chanting his first line to Danith. “I’m glad to see you.”
    He touched the hilt. Those words were in the weapon, all right. Damn.
    Then he threw back his head and laughed. The Hollys were such fighters that they were glad to see any challenger, and perhaps T’Ash could work that into the spell.
    He tossed his sweat rag aside and picked up a magic cloth to wipe down the blade, giving it a bit of brilliance-spell at the same time. Now, those were easy Words. Easy to create, easy to remember, not even taking much power or energy. Why was the formula for Danith so awfully important?
    Because she was.
    Zanth loped in. Go to shop now. Make My gift to FamWoman.
    T’Ash glanced at the timer. Zanth was right. T’Ash needed to clean up and open his store, where Tinne Holly would come to check on his new weapon.
    â€œThe shop will be very busy tonight. Three days from now, Mor, is Discovery Day. I’ll have many sales. Also, Tinne Holly will be by to have his main gauche attuned. You will have to wait until after that before I can spare time for you.”
    Zanth flicked his tail. Me patient.
    That was a lie.
    Will sit in corner velvet chair. Look at toys. Think of perrrfect toy for FamWoman.
    T’Ash was afraid of that. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Zanth. He did. He trusted Zanth to be Zanth. Perrrfectly capable of scratching some female customer cooing over him. Perrrfectly capable of spitting at Tinne Holly. Perrrfectly capable of disrupting the shop.
    FamWoman come tonight?
    T’Ash hoped so. She should have gotten the two offerings of flowers by now; perhaps she’d come to thank him. He smiled.
    He wondered if the HeartGift spell had influenced her at all, if she was even slightly enamored of him. If she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Perhaps the HeartGift only needed time to do its job and she was waiting at the store. Nice thought.
    FAMWOMAN COME TONIGHT?
    T’Ash sighed. “Perhaps.”
    Me approve. We go. First you dress. Look like Downwind feral.
    â€œRight. I’ll meet you at the shop. Do you want me to take or teleport the pink diamond there?” He hadn’t seen the stone since Zanth had glommed onto it.
    My stone. Me take. Zanth rose with dignity and left the forge, crooked tail waving.
    T’Ash glanced at the timer again. He’d have to leave the choosing of an attractive bouquet to the florist. He