The Blood of Ten Chiefs by Robert Asprin, Lynn Abbey, Richard Pini Page A

"This—we have other business!"
    "Not anymore," Wreath said. Then she wrenched her gaze away. "Oh, why did this have to happen now?"
    "Maybe we can fight it," Prunepit said without conviction.
    Softfoot regrouped. "Fight it? Easier to fight the allos!" she said angrily. "Recognition is absolute." Then she realized what she was saying, and tears stifled her. Her relationship with Prunepit had been based on understanding and acceptance and respect, not Recognition. Recognition was the involuntary mating of particular elves, seeming to be a mechanism of the species to ensure offspring that bred true.
    "It must be a mistake," Prunepit said. "I don't love Wreath."
    "And I don't love you," Wreath said. "I never had any interest in you! I don't have any interest now!" For the first time, he was seeing her expressing genuine emotion—-and of course it was negative.
    "Let's be practical," Softfoot said. "Recognition doesn't care whether two people love each other, or even whether they like each other. It's just a mating urge. We all agree we don't want a—a longer relationship. Could we perhaps hide it?"
    "From whom?" Prunepit asked. "It's all I can do to keep my hands off her!"
    "Try to manage it, though," Wreath said grimly.
    "From the others," Softfoot said.
    "To what point?" Wreath asked. It was obvious that this was a phenomenal nuisance to her, despite its validity.
    "To the point of getting the mating over with the least disruption of our lives," Softfoot said with difficulty. She would have given anything to have been the one to Recognize Prunepit, and now had to accept its manifestation in one who didn't want it or him. "Since Recognition can't be resisted, the only way to make it go away is to complete it."
    "Complete it?" Prunepit said with horror.
    "I know you love me," Softfoot said. "Why don't you do what you have to do with her, and when it's done, turn your back on it and be with me? I confess it's not my favorite situation, but it does seem the best way through."
    Prunepit looked at Wreath. "And never tell the others," he said, finally understanding what Softfoot was offering.
    "And never tell the others," Wreath said, brightening. Her cold nature seemed unaffected by the Recognition; she was eager to minimize its inconvenience. "Maybe that would work. Except that when the baby comes—"
    "Any elf would be glad to think he made it—with you," Softfoot pointed out. "Who would suspect Prunepit?"
    "I have not been with any elf!" Wreath protested.
    "They won't believe that," Softfoot said. "They'll assume you have a secret lovemate."
    "Meanwhile, we can try to stop the allos," Prunepit said, uncomfortable with this dialogue.
    Wreath looked at Softfoot. She was quick enough to recognize the proffered convenience. "When?"
    Softfoot shrugged. "Now, if you want."
    "I don't want! But if it's medicine I must take, the sooner the better, so I can forget it."
    "We were going to run our test," Prunepit said with an edge.
    "Let's find a good place for it," Softfoot suggested. Prunepit was unable to read her exact meaning, but evidently Wreath did.
    They mounted and rode their wolves to a sparse section of the forest, well clear of the elves' usual haunts. They drew up at a large thicket of brush through which animal paths threaded. "There," Softfoot said brusquely. "I will scout about with the wolves."
    "Now, wait—" Prunepit protested as she rode off. But Wreath took him by the hand. "The faster we get this over with, the better," she said. "If we're lucky, one time will do it. I assure you this is no fun for me."
    "Oh." He followed her into the brush. He never would have believed that he could anticipate such an act with such a lovely creature with so little enthusiasm. Wreath had no concern at all for his feelings, or for Softfoot's. If she could have gotten bred without being physically present, she certainly would have done it.
    But when she opened her leather tunic and smiled at him, he found it impossible not to react