Mouse and Dragon Read Free Page B

moved a hand—half-negation. "Of this most recent injury, you need have no further concern. However, there was another matter—a trauma left untended. Scar tissue, you would say."
    "Yes," he murmured, recalling. "She had said she thought it—too late—to seek a Healer."
    "In some ways, she was correct," Kestra admitted. "Much of the damage has been integrated into the personality grid. On the whole, good use has been made of a bad start—she's strong, never doubt it. I did what I could, where the scars hindered growth." She sighed lightly and sat back in her chair.
    "The reason I mention the matter to you is that I find—an anomaly—within Scholar Caylon's pattern."
    Daav frowned. "Anomaly?"
    The Healer sighed. "Call it a—seed pattern. It's set off in a—oh, a cul-de-sac —by itself and it bears no resemblance whatsoever to the remainder of her pattern. Although I have seen a pattern remarkably like it, elsewhere."
    "Have you?" Daav looked at her. "Where?"
    Master Healer Kestra smiled wearily, raised a finger and pointed at the vacant air just above his head.
    "There."
    It took a moment to assimilate, wracked as he was. "You say," he said slowly, "that Aelliana and I are—true lifemates."
    Kestra sighed. "Now, of that, there is some doubt. The seed pattern was found in the area of densest scarring." She looked at him closely, her eyes grave.
    "You understand, the damage in that area of her pattern was—enormous. Had a Healer been summoned at the time of trauma—however, we shall not weep over spilt wine! I have . . . pruned away what I could of the scar tissue. At the least, she will be easier for it, more open to joy. That the seed will grow now, after these years without nurture—I cannot say that it will happen."
    He stared at her, seeing pity in her eyes. His mind would not quite hold the information—Aelliana. She was his destined lifemate—the other half of a wizard's match. He was to have shared with Aelliana what Er Thom shared with his Anne . . . She had been hurt—several times hurt—grievously hurt and no one called to tend her, may Clan Mizel dwindle to dust in his lifetime!
    He drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, reached through the anger and the anguish, found the method he required and spun it into place.
    He was standing in a circle of pure and utter peace, safe within that secret soul-place where anger never came, and sorrow shifted away like sand.
    "And who," Kestra demanded, "taught you that?"
    He opened his eyes, hand rising to touch his earring. "The grandmother of a tribe of hunter-gatherers, on a world whose name I may not give you." He peered through the bright still peace; located another scrap of information: "She said that I was always busy—and so she taught me to—be still."
    "All honor to her," Kestra murmured.
    "All honor to her," Daav agreed and rose on legs that trembled very little, really. "May I see Aelliana now?"
     

Chapter Three
On average, contract marriages last eighteen Standard Months, and are negotiated between clan officials who decide, after painstaking perusal of gene maps, personality charts and intelligence grids, which of several possible nuptial arrangements are most advantageous to both clans.

In contrast, lifemating is a far more serious matter, encompassing the length of the partners' lives, even if one should die. One of the pair must leave his or her clan of origin and join the clan of the lifemate. At that time the adoptive clan pays a "life-price" based on the individual's profession, age and internal value to the former clan.

Tradition has it that lifemates share a "bond of heart and mind." In view of Liaden cultural acceptance of "wizards," some scholars have interpreted this to mean that lifemates are "psychically" connected. Or, alternatively, that the only true lifematings occur between wizards.

There is little to support this theory. True, lifematings among Liadens are rare. But so are lifelong marriages among Terrans.
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