The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise Read Free

communicate with fur-bearing animals is a useful talent, and, as for the other part of it, here at Vildecaz I can prepare for the three nights without apprehension, no matter what happens.”
    “But you’ve turned twenty-three, Nin, and you haven’t – “
    ”Chosen an official suitor or two? Someone to serve as an escort and bed-partner, if not a husband? And where would I find a man who wouldn’t mind accommodating my . . . variations in the capital?” Ninianee suggested sardonically. “You know why I haven’t. Nor have you, and you’re almost twenty-two.”
    “Not an official one, no. But I do have possibilities.” She blushed as if she were ten years younger.
    “If I could stand Maeshar of Otsinmohr, I could have an official suitor tomorrow. And he would use his suitorship to make claims on Vildecaz that would make this Duzky a part of the Porzalk Empire, which would be the end of our autonomy. He would marry me and our separate authority would be gone, and so, I suspect, would he. I couldn’t be party to that, even if I loved Maeshar.” She made a face. “If only his land didn’t share such a long border with ours, it would be easier to avoid him, and I wouldn’t have to be so blunt in my refusals.”
    “But he wouldn’t be such a terrible official suitor,” Erianthee protested.
    Ninianee shook her head in disgust. “If you think so well of him, you make him your official suitor.”
    Erianthee shook her head. “It’s different for me.”
    “It certainly is. You have all the men at Court to choose from, and they know what kind of magic they’re getting with you.” There was no jealousy, no rancor in this remark, only a kind of ruefulness.
    “But I don’t like to think of you being lonely, Nin,” said Erianthee. “It’s bad enough that you can’t come to Court with me, but for you to have to remain alone –“
    Ninianee got up and put another cut branch on the fire. “I’m used to it. And luckily there is more than Maeshar to beguile me.”
    “How can you be used to it?” Erianthee asked. “When you never know until the first night of the full moon what – “ She stopped and glanced around, as if recalling that they might be overheard.
    “That’s why it wouldn’t be wise to go to Court,” said Ninianee drily, and sat on the arm of the chair she had occupied. “Don’t worry, Eri, I’ll be fine, and so will Papa. He’s still gathering information on Agnith’s Treasure, and that will occupy him for some time.”
    Erianthee allowed herself to be distracted. “Do you think it really exists – Agnith’s Treasure?”
    “I don’t know. It may. Or they may – who knows if it is a single thing or many? But it might not be real. Whatever it is – or they are – there is so much said about it that I can’t imagine anyone would know it if they stumbled across the real thing.” She laughed a little, to hide her skepticism. “It’s strange, isn’t it, to think Papa was once a powerful-enough magician to do all those spells, to summon Agnith herself?”
    “Do you think he ever did?” Erianthee asked. “Summon Agnith?”
    Ninianee shrugged. “I think what matters is that the old Emperor believed it, twenty years ago; you could probably find out if Riast believes as his great-uncle did, while you’re at Court.”
    “No.” Erianthee spoke with unusual firmness. “I’d have to deal with Riast’s heir, and Prince Bozidar is a trying young man; he acts as if he were already Emperor Bozidar VIII.”
    “Zlatz! He wants to be your official suitor, does he?” Ninianee lifted one eyebrow.
    Erianthee locked her hands together. “No. He wants to be my unofficial suitor.”
    In spite of her concern, Ninianee could not suppress an impish smile. “How very awkward.”
    “It is,” Erianthee said. “You don’t know what he’s like.”
    “Have you mentioned it to Dowager Empress Godrienee?” Ninianee asked. “If you haven’t, you shou – “
    “She mentioned it to me,