Imryne, of House Melrae: Thy Secret and Speechless Law

[aithne]

(The Hierophant of Fanaedar Dramatis Personae)

Imryne, of House Melrae
Book Four: The Hierophant of Fanaedar

Chapter One: Thy Secret and Speechless Law

     But the silence trembles with passion of sound suppressed,
            And the twilight quivers and yearns to the sunward, wrung
     With love as with pain; and the wide wood's motionless breast
     Is thrilled with a dumb desire that would fain find tongue
     And palpitates, tongueless as she whom a man-snake stung,
     Whose heart now heaves in the nightingale, never at rest
     Nor satiated ever with song till her last be sung.

     Is it rapture or terror that circles me round, and invades
     Each vein of my life with hope--if it be not fear?
     Each pulse that awakens my blood into rapture fades,
     Each pulse that subsides into dread of a strange thing near
     Requickens with sense of a terror less dread than dear.
     Is peace not one with light in the deep green glades
     Where summer at noonday slumbers? Is peace not here?
               .....
     And here, though fear be less than delight, and awe
     Be one with desire and with worship of earth and thee,
     So mild seems now thy secret and speechless law,
     So fair and fearless and faithful and godlike she,
     So soft the spell of thy whisper on stream and sea,
     Yet man should fear lest he see what of old men saw
     And withered: yet shall I quail if thy breath smite me.
--Swinburne, A Nympholept

 

(Imryne, in House Melrae)

Yvonnel tottered as she made her wobbly way from wall to chair. She was going two or three steps without falling now, and she was making her way into Imryne’s office. She lost her balance and fell as Imryne looked up, letting out a squeal of frustration. Imryne rose from her study of the account-books, coming over to pick up her daughter.

The baby sighed happily and snuggled into Imryne, tucking her face into the crook of her neck. Imryne breathed in her baby scent. “Is this what you wanted, little one? Well, it’s a better day than many, at least.” Yvonnel murmured and fastened one chubby hand around one of Imryne’s braids.

It had been a better day than many. Imrae hadn’t called for Imryne for almost a thread, and the next day was a Lloth festival day. Imryne was safe from having to dance attendance on Imrae for a little while. Over the cycle since Yvonnel had been born, Imrae had been calling Imryne into House Vandree, dancing attendance on her much as Amalica had before Imryne had betrayed her to her death. Imryne had found the crystal that controlled the drider, but it had done her no good. Imrae wore it around her neck, and constantly toyed with it with her thin fingers. Though Imryne’s ability to use the staff was growing, she hesitated to move against Imrae.

Imryne sighed, burying her nose in the baby’s wispy hair for a moment. Amalica was a wound in Imryne that had healed slowly. It now ached rather than tore to think of her, and how the hope had died in her eyes when the crossbows had thudded into her body. Time had gone on, though. Imryne still missed Triel every day, but that wound, too, was healing. She was starting to relax into the role of matron mother. Ryld being home did much to ease the pain of losing her mother as she had. He was walking well now, though he still carried a cane, and his voice was much stronger. He and Ulitree were inseparable; the two of them absolutely adored each other, and Ulitree had made several passing remarks concerning when she was going to be old enough to marry Ryld.

Other things had continued to change. After taking a half a cycle to contemplate her fate, Alystin had thrown herself whole-heartedly into the worship of Ellistraee, learning everything she could about the goddess and her religion. She had become devout in the way that converts were, attending all the services held in the cathedral, talking for hours with Tar and Faeryl. Two skeins ago, with Tar’s instruction, Alystin had cast her first spell as an Ellistraee priestess. The dam within her had burst, and now she was nearly as powerful a priestess as Imryne, and catching up with Tar. Being a priestess was as much a habit of mind as anything else, and Alystin had been a very good priestess before she had been turned out by Lloth.

She and Tar had gotten close; nothing sexual had happened yet, but Imryne had seen the looks between the two of them. Their initial squabbling had faded into good-natured banter and passionate debate. Alystin had also taken to pestering Jevan, asking him all kind of questions about elven culture and what it was like to live on the surface. She would corner him in the morning on his way to do his inspection of the guards, and at evening meals when Imryne and her family ate with the rest of the house. Jevan had avoided her for months, but had finally agreed to meet with her once a thread to give her elven culture lessons.

He was at one of those lessons right now, as a matter of fact. Imryne closed the account-book with a thump with her free hand, and shifted Yvonnel on her hip. A thump of a closing door told her that Urlryn had arrived home. “All’s well?” she called to her wife as she went to meet her.

“Boring,” Urlryn replied as she came and kissed first Imryne and then Yvonnel. “The network is digging up a whole bunch of nothing. Minor moves, if anything, and all in the lower houses. I’m keeping an eye on them, but there’s no pattern yet.”

“It’s all broken,” came Tar’s voice from across the room. She came over to them and pulled Urlryn into her arms, kissing her soundly. “The pattern. Imrae sits in the center like a boulder, and all of the patterns are trying to reorganize themselves around her. The great houses are paralyzed, and the lower houses are unsure if there’s a vacuum of power to fill or not. Jevan’s not back yet, is he?”

“No, and he’s late,” Imryne said. “Probably lost track of time again. I was hoping to work some more with the staff before the evening meal--”

She was interrupted by the door opening once more. Yvonnel crowed in delight as Jevan came in, looking slightly distracted, and a bit rumpled. Imryne set the baby down and watched her teeter over to her father, her eyes alight. Jevan scooped her up without thought. “Um. Loves.” He cleared his throat and looked at the three of them. “Alystin just tried to kiss me.”

Imryne felt a smile spreading across her face. “I wondered when she was going to try that, and who she was going to try first. So the question is, did you want to let her?”

Jevan looked uncomfortable. “I said that I wasn’t against the idea. but I...just don’t know. I said I wouldn’t be with her without all of you. She said that was fine, and please ask. She would like to come have sex with us with no other commitment if that was acceptable to all of you.”

“We don’t tend to do sex without commitment, it seems. But if you’re against it, Jevan, than it’s not really a question.” Imryne felt a twinge of disappointment.

“I am and I am not.” He shook his head. “I like her now, but I still have flashes of what she was, all Lloth and broody. Even though she hasn’t shown that side in years.”

“So it’s really her past that’s stopping you there, how she was when we first met her.”

“I guess, yes. What about you?”

Imryne smiled again at her husband. “I like her, and I think she’s attractive, but it isn’t me she’s been flirting with. I do think she’s mostly changed, though. She still hurts in places that are hard to reach, I think. I could grow to love her, given time. Tar? Urlryn? What do you think? “

Tar still had her arm around Urlryn, and she looked pleased. “She is very pretty and much nicer. I had nearly forgotten her old self. I have no objections.”

“It’s another girl.” Urlryn grinned brightly. “I like girls any way I can get them.”

Jevan looked at the two of them, then back at Imryne. “Alystin still thinks of you as a matron mother, not as Imryne. Hence why she doesn’t flirt with you.”

“Well, there’s a good chance that if we take her into our bed that she may change her mind on that one. Hopefully, at least. I’d find it difficult to be with someone who couldn’t see past the position I hold to the person I am.” Imryne came over to Jevan as he set Yvonnel down, and the baby teetered away. “It sounds like we’re at least thinking about seeing what happens there.”

“It’s up to you, love.” Jevan kissed Imryne, and she slid an arm around him.

She contemplated it for a moment. “Let’s give it a try and see what happens. If she can’t get past me being matron mother, or if she doesn’t mesh with one or more of us, we’ll figure out what to do then.”

“Does after the evening meal work? She seemed anxious.”

“It would, I think. Think she might be coming into season?” Imryne asked.

“It’s possible. Seems to be when drow women like to break the ice.” Jevan grinned.

Imryne laughed. “You’ve never been female. It takes going through the experience to really appreciate it. And it’s very lonely to go through it alone. Let’s call for a meal, and then you can get Alystin. Tell her that for tonight it's sex, with maybe more later.”

They shared a meal together, after settling Yvonnel in with the childminders. They checked on Nadal and Kophyn, who were being cared for by two different childminders. Then Jevan went to get one rather nervous-looking Alystin, who clung to Jevan’s hand like a lifeline. Once Alystin was in their bedroom and the door was safely closed, she shed her clothes swiftly, and all of them piled into bed.

Imryne found herself at first thinking of Alystin as she had been when she had first come to Melrae, a knot of dread and anger. It showed now, a little, as she kissed each of them, her uncertainty communicating itself through her touch. She hesitated when she and Imryne came face to face for the first time. “Close your eyes, Alystin,” Imryne murmured to her. “Just close your eyes.”

Alystin obeyed, and Imryne kissed her, tasting her mouth with a rising excitement. Around the two of them, she could hear the rustling of clothes being shed. Alystin had her hair in a single thick braid, and Imryne wrapped that braid around her hand, felt the other female tense and then abruptly relax, her back arching slightly. I guessed correctly, Imryne thought with a certain amount of pleasure, and then released Alystin so she could shed her own clothes.

Tonight, they concentrated on Alystin, making her feel welcomed as the sometimes slightly bashful center of attention. Alystin, it turned out, gravitated towards Jevan, wanting to be with him as much as possible. She enjoyed the company of all of them, lingering over all of their pleasure points in turn, but she always returned to Jevan. Imryne quashed a few stabs of possessiveness, recognizing the sensation of her heart being stretched to accommodate the possibilities of a new relationship configuration. It took her only one look at Jevan, at the look in his eyes and the way he would curl gently around Alystin, to recognize that he loved Alystin already, and probably had for a little while now.

That alone was a beautiful enough sight to make the slight pain worth it. She shifted so that Alystin's head was in her lap, her now-frayed braid spilling to one side of them. Urlryn was between Alystin's legs, happily experimenting, and Tar and Jevan were on either side of her, pressing sweat-slick skin to her body. “Oh, she likes that,” Imryne said as Urlryn moved her fingers and Alystin gasped, her body arching.

Urlryn grinned. “And I'll bet she'll like this even more--” She moved her other hand, and Alystin's voice spiraled up into a near-shriek, one hand clutching Jevan's shoulder, the other on Tar's hip. Imryne watched Alystin’s face go into the beautiful contortions of orgasm, her body stiffening. After, she lay panting, and Imryne smoothed the hair back from her forehead.

Alystin's voice was rough. “I think--” She swallowed. “I think that maybe some rest is in order.”

Imryne curved her body to kiss Alystin's brow. “You and Jevan rest. I think Urlryn and Tar and I have some energy left.” Jevan gathered Alystin up in his arms as Imryne snaked around to Urlryn. Tar had had the same thought in the same moment, and without mercy they played ancient games of love, using Urlryn's body as a gameboard. Urlryn did not argue, especially since the way to score points was to elicit wriggles, signs, moans, and screams from her.

The game devolved into the three females twining around each other, Imryne closing her eyes and glorying in not knowing whose hand was on her, whose mouth nibbled behind her ear. She could tell Urlryn and Tar apart when she touched them, and from there make deductions, but she wasn't in the mood for so much thought.

At one point she opened her eyes, glancing over to the side of the big bed. Alystin was on her side, Jevan behind her wrapped around her. Both of them were watching the goings-on, and from how they were slowly moving, the watching had inspired them to further, gentle lovemaking. Imryne's eyes met Jevan's, and she smiled.

Then someone--Tar, she thought--found the place between her legs that was a slippery river, and all thought left her as she felt a tongue doing some truly artistic things.

Finally, sated and spent, they all fell asleep, Imryne in the center.

(Imryne, in House Vandree)

Imrae lounged on her high couch, fingering the gem that hung from a chain around her neck with fingers that had the slightest tremor in them. Imryne avoided looking at it, instead watching how the light shifted and changed on Imrae’s bound and knotted hair. Being in House Vandree always made Imryne’s stomach roil. They had been talking about politics, the movements of the lower houses, speculating about the outcome of a staring contest between Symrivvin and Aleanrahel. Jevan was standing by the door with a Vandree guard--the Vandree weaponsmaster, Imrae’s oldest surviving son. Imryne did not envy him, having to stand and watch and be silent. Imryne at least had the distraction of trying to keep ahead of Imrae as well as she could. He could only stand, watch, and listen.

Now, Imrae stirred. “My time, Imryne, is getting short. My life will probably now be measured in cycles, no longer the hundreds of cycles I once had. I want Vandree to survive.”

Imryne’s stomach tightened. “You need an heir, don’t you?”

“Without one, Vandree will fall. No one will accept a male leader.” Imrae glanced at her weaponsmaster. “Not that they have the intelligence to lead. My only daughter left has turned against me. It’s time I find an heir. I would like it to be one of House Melrae’s. It is probably too much to ask for your first daughter Challay but another from your family or a sister of yours will do.”

The sensation of entrapment intensified, and Imryne betrayed her surprise. “Why Melrae? Why not Claddeth?”

The Vandree matron mother smiled gently. “Melrae is devious, just like Vandree. Claddeth, well, they lack vision.”

What you mean is that you have Claddeth in your pocket, and you need a hostage from Melrae more. “Ah, I see. I have to admit, I’m not sure I have anyone truly suited for the role. My younger sisters are fine, but they’re a bit...unfinished.”

“I can help finish them, if need be.”

Imryne did not shudder at Imrae’s idea of finishing. “Let me look over my sisters with an eye towards which might make a good heir for Vandree. There are some others, but they’re not in the inheritance line for Melrae.”

“A member of a cadet line will do as well. They will be Vandree, not Melrae. They will be in line to inherit the top house of Fanaedar, and they will have to be resourceful and strong. If you have such a person, send them along as soon as you can.”

“I will see who in my family might do. It is a great honor and opportunity. Thank you.”

Imrae waved her hand. “Thank you, Imryne. That is all.”

Imryne kept her composure until she and Jevan were safely in the inner house of Melrae. They passed through the four doors between the outer and inner houses, rebuilt after the attack and nearly identical to the destroyed doors, except that these still carried the smell of freshly carved wood. It was a reminder every time Imryne passed through them that any solidity of their position was an illusion. “This is not good,” she muttered to Jevan.

“No, you are going to have to send her someone. Challay is out, you can’t send your first daughter. I would say Maya, she has the best chance of getting in and out alive.”

“She’s so young. But I was thinking of her, myself. She has that talent of hers, as well as the brains of both her parents. She’s not going to be very happy about being parted from Sabal, but I think she’ll live.”

“You can send him with her. Her own guard.”

Imryne scowled, despite herself. “True. I just wish I knew what Imrae was up to, here. She knows we're an Ellistraee household, she can't really want an heir from us. Hostage, leverage to use against us. She may also plan on converting whoever we send to her side. Because Imrae is nothing if not reasonable whenever you talk to her.”

“Or extracting a confession, giving her a reason to attack,” Jevan suggested.

It was a horrific thought, no matter how she turned it. “Unfortunately, I can't really say no. Not without serious consequences.”

“We can't.” He shook his head. “Maya is our best bet, with Sabal to as her guard, to keep her sane and out of trouble.” He paused, and considered. Sabal still showed that tendency to want to make the females in his life happy. “Maybe.”

She snorted gently. “If we're trying to keep her out of trouble, Sabal is the wrong brother to send. Those two are thick as thieves and always thinking about things. But it might keep them both out of serious trouble.”

“Especially if they are tossed into a hostile house.” Jevan looked as if he disliked this idea as much as Imryne did. She always suspected that Sabal was one of his favorite sons, and it was difficult not to love Maya.

As much as Imryne had been angry at the two of them after Triel had died, she still loved them, and the last cycle and a half had done much to heal the rift between them. There were still times when the silence between her and the children was strained, but they got past them. “That plotting might keep them alive.”

“They are strong and resourceful. They will survive. I think that Vandree is starting to go. It shouldn't be too long.”

She opened her mouth to reply, then started as the buzzing feeling of a message spell arriving pressed on her. Sister. It is Quave.

She took hold of Jevan's arm and pulled him into an alcove. “Quave,” she whispered into his ear, then concentrated briefly on a spell to complete the connection. “Quave? What's the news?”

Varied and various. She could hear his dry tones, so well-remembered from her childhood. This was the first time in half a cycle she had heard from him; his opportunity to steal message spells was limited as was his opportunity to use them undetected. He had been moved into House Vandree proper just after Yvonnel had been born, and whenever he managed to contact her he was always full of news. Eilservs requested driders inside their compound. Druu'giir is eyeing Eilservs as potential for them to move up. Internal conflict. Met with Imrae to discuss an attack. Yasrena of Devir has been locked in Devir. Imrae was asked for help in combating mental problems or cures. Imrae has developed a cough, she can suppress it at times but it's more resistant to her spells as time goes by. Despana and Claddeth have strengthened ties exchanging sons into each family. Despana and Xalyth have pretty much parted ways. Their matron mothers don’t speak anymore. Unsure why. The Jenn are staying within their compound more and more. We don’t know what they are doing. Narcelia and Aunrae have been seen arguing. The drider are being killed by other drider--the sicker Imrae gets the less control she has over them. They are killing them off to let her keep control of the ones she can. Her control is dropping so much that one made an attempt on her life.

Imryne listened, committing every word to memory. “What happened when the drider attempted to kill Imrae?”

One of the female drider killed it. Took control of it and had it stand still while another drider stabbed it.

“Do you know who it was before it was a drider, at all?”

House Xalyth, or at least that’s what it shouted before it attacked. That's it for me, more when I have it.

“Thank you, Quave,” she murmured.

Talk to you later, sister.

“I love you.” She dropped the message spell, and took a deep breath. “Let's go back to our quarters.”

They were close, and once the door had closed behind them, Imryne dropped onto the couch and repeated what Quave had told her. As she talked, she was breaking the information down, adding it to the grand tapestry of the city, the echoes of every movement that she knew of. “Where do you want to start?” he asked, when she finished.

“Eilservs, probably. Whatever's going on in there may be something we can turn to our advantage. And I should meet with Greyanna.”

“Greyanna first?”

“She's easier to get hold of.” Imryne rose, intending to write a note that would be carried by bat to Xalyth. She was interrupted by a rap on the door. “Come,” she called, seeing Jevan shift to lay a hand on one of his swords out of the corner her eye.

The door opening revealed Alystin on the other side. She had a small, rolled piece of paper in her hand. “Sorry to disturb you, but a guard was coming to deliver this. I said I would take it.”

Imryne smiled, and the other female visibly relaxed, glancing at Jevan. “Thank you,” she said, and crossed the room to take the note from Alystin. She unfolded it, seeing Oblodra Pellanistra's familiar brushstrokes. “Ah, Oblodra has something for us.”

Alystin raised an eyebrow. “Busy, or can I stay?”

“A moment.” She read the note, frowning.

Melrae Imryne, If you could meet me at the place we both know as soon as possible. We have something to show you.
--Pellanistra.

She sucked in a breath through her teeth. “I'm sorry, Alystin, but Jevan and I have to go. We ignore requests from House Oblodra at our peril.”

Alystin nodded, and caught Imryne's wrist in hers. She drew Imryne close and kissed her lingeringly, then did the same with Jevan, who had stepped forward. Imryne felt a familiar flush of heat wash over her as she watched Jevan kissing Alystin; arousal making itself known. “If you have time later, can I come by?” Alystin asked.

Imryne grinned. “Of course. Maybe I can talk you into kissing me some more.”

“Anytime. Come find when you have a few hours, both of you, all four of you, or any combination works for me.” She was eyeing Jevan as she said that, hunger evident in her eyes. She smiled at the two of them and then stepped out, closing the door.

“She's definitely in her season,” Imryne said dryly. She walked into the office, Jevan following.

“Been wondering about that.” He watched as she sat down, pulling out one of the message-sized scraps of paper, picking up her pen. “Do we want to go there yet?”

She uncovered the ink-pot. “I like her very much. And I like how she looks with you.” She gave him a sharp, hungry smile.

Jevan flushed, his fair skin reddening. “So do I. Like her, I mean.”

“I think she'll do nicely, myself.” She looked down at her paper, then swiftly wrote the characters of Xalyth Greyanna's name. “I think we might need to bring another male into our circle for her, though.”

“Given time, she might find her own. Then the rest of you can decide if you want him as well.” He seemed to be unbothered by the concept, fortunately.

Greyanna, we need to speak urgently. Near last meal today, if possible. Melrae Imryne. She looked up from her paper, capping the ink bottle once more. “Might be smart to bring in a little variety, but it'll depend on the male. I think Tar is still grieving Ilfryn, and Urlryn likes females a lot better. Alystin is way more male oriented, as I think we've all noticed.”

He chuckled. “I got a workout last night. Urlryn is not angry, but she jokes about missing her next season. She doesn't want a repeat of the twins. She is only mildly serious, I think.”

“She has cycles to change her mind,” Imryne said, cleaning the pen and putting it away.

“Probably a good five. Speaking of, that note said as soon as possible. But does that really mean right now?”

Imryne stood, shoving her chair back. “No, it doesn't.”

With that preternatural swiftness, he was abruptly at her side. “Good.” And that was the last thing he said before his mouth was on hers, and their hands were abruptly busy undressing each other. He took her on the desk that had seen the plotting of generations of Melrae matron mothers, as she wrapped her legs around his waist, her fingers digging into the hard muscle of his back. Release found the two of them swiftly, leaving them gasping.

A little while later, after they had cleaned up and collected Maya and Sabal from their lessons, they presented themselves at the hidden cave they had brought Quave to several cycles ago. Pellanistra let them at the entrance. “There you are. I have something to show you.” She led them towards the small lake that occupied the center of the cavern, to a table where a male was sitting, applying himself to a bowl of fungus stew as if he had not seen food in months. He stood as they approached. “Let me introduce to you Arabani Sengo. This morning, he was a drider.”

Imryne drew in a breath. Sengo bowed. “Matron mothers.”

“Greetings, Arabani Sengo. How are you feeling?” Imryne asked.

“Weak, hungry, glad to have my real legs back.” The male gave her a half-smile, and his gaze was drawn back to the bowl on the table.

“I'm glad.” To Pellanistra, she said, “You managed it. How does the process work?”

The other matron mother waved her hand dismissively at Sengo, who sat down and began eating again. “Come with me, we can talk as we walk. The process is complex. We break the control lines first, and inject them with a partial transformation potion. It only affects the spider half. It reverts the lower body to legs.” They were out of Sengo's earshot, now, walking along the rocky shore of the lake. Jevan, Sabal, and Maya trailed behind. “It's very painful, from the screaming Sengo did. From what he described the spider body dies and withers, while the new legs grow inside and then they pull away from the dead spider parts.” Pellanistra looked at once thoughtful and pleased with herself. “We can just start injecting them. We think the control will break on its own, we just didn't want to alert Imrae.”

“Can it be put into a blow-dart form? Would it work like that?”

“I think so.” She lowered her voice. “One thing you should know. We are projecting that one in four will die, and of those that make the transformation, one in twenty will be driven mad from the pain.”

Imryne shrugged sharply. “It's better odds than they would have had otherwise.”

“Just a warning. We can have loaded darts ready in a few days.”

“Good. Just in time, too. I think Imrae is starting to lose control of them.” She wrinkled her nose. “One of them tried to kill her recently, evidently.”

“Drop the control and they tend to lash out first, then the old personality takes over. It's a side effect of the control.” She shook her head.

“That might be what happened, might not.” Imryne glanced out over the lake, seeing dark, nearly unruffled surface. Stone sense told her that the water moved very swiftly at the bottom of the lake, despite not looking that way. “Someone might be trying to egg Vandree into attacking Xalyth. Or Imrae might have wanted to use it as an excuse to do the same.”

“They would have to break the control, or if it was Imrae, she could just drop the control.” Pellanistra regarded Imryne with an uncomfortably intelligent gaze. “Could be a trap for Greyanna in some way, or Imrae faking weakness to see who is going to take advantage. She is old now, very old. But I don't think she would be showing weakness unless there was something in it for her.”

“And she has no acknowledged heirs,” Imryne added ruefully. “Which she's trying to change before she dies. She's asked for an heir from Melrae. I'm considering all of our options very carefully.”

“Got someone in mind?”

Conscious of Maya and Sabal behind her, she shook her head. “I haven't talked to her about it yet, so I can't say who.”

Pellanistra raised a eyebrow briefly, and Imryne had the uncomfortable feeling that she saw so much more than she said. She always does, though. “I understand.” She handed Imryne three glass vials and a bulb-topped syringe. The metal needle was extremely fine, the work of House Xorlarrin, an Indran house that specialized in all kinds of unusual metalcraft. “That's what we have so far, in case you need it. We will have more in a few days, rigged to darts about the same time. I will probably have enough for all the drider in about two threads.”

“Hopefully, Imrae's control will last that long.” Imryne grimaced, thinking of the way Imrae's fingers trembled when she touched the crystal that controlled the drider. “That crystal she uses may not be particularly comfortable or healthy for her to use. Are you going to keep Sengo here to keep an eye on him?”

“If that crystal is Ellistraee, it's got to be doing things to her. And Sengo, yes.” She dropped her voice so low that Imryne could barely hear her. “I want to see if he survives. Something may still go wrong and he could die.”

“Let me know,” she said. “We should be on our way.”

Pellanistra nodded. “Good luck.” She watched as Sabal shrugged into his father's coat once more--the leather groaned as he did so, Sabal's shoulders were now wider than his father's--and they arranged themselves for the flight home.

Once there, Imryne asked Maya and Sabal to accompany her to the matron's apartments. Once there, she told them that Maya was being sent into House Vandree as her heir, and Sabal was going to go with her as a guard. Maya accepted gracefully, though her eyes were terrified. Imryne thought Sabal's chest was going to explode, so proud was he that he was the one selected to keep his sister safe. Imryne groaned, silently. Sabal's cockiness was well-deserved, but he was so very young, and he was not yet well-versed in subtlety.

She could do nothing about it now but warn her son sternly about the dangers ahead, and hope he listened. After she sent him away, she read her messages, noting that Greyanna had agreed to meet. “Now,” she told Jevan. “I want to get this over with.”

They arrived at the front gates of House Xalyth and were quickly escorted inside, not into a reception room but into a small room off the Lloth temple in Xalyth’s outer house. Imryne was never quite sure what it meant that Greyanna preferred to meet with her and Jevan here. Perhaps it was only that she felt safer close to her goddess. “To what do I owe the pleasure, House Melrae?” Greyanna asked after they had sat down. Her thin fingers were busy, fidgeting with the intricate embroidery on her stiff sleeves. With Jhalass almost two cycles dead, she had returned to the elaborate dresses that she had always favored and that swallowed her blade-thin figure whole.

“Some interesting stories coming out from inside Vandree, these days,” Imryne said.

Greyanna almost smiled. “Which ones? Imrae is ill? Or that she got attacked?”

“Both of those. That attack can't be what it looks like on the surface.”

“It's not.” Now she did smile. “Xalyth may look toothless but we still have bite. Our work. We injected that drider with a potion. It broke Imrae's control. The attack was a happy coincidence.”

“That's what it chose to do when you broke the control?” Imryne tilted her head slightly. There was something askew with this story, but she didn't know what yet.

“They are a bit crazy when the control breaks. We assume it tried to retaliate on its master.”

Imryne gave Greyanna a blade-thin smile, and was pleased when the other matron mother shifted uncomfortably. “Shouting Xalyth's name, I heard.”

“One of ours, yes. Minor male, son of Talabrina I believe.”

One of those children you created and nearly broke Talabrina's mind in doing so. She kept the chill from her voice and manner. That offhand remark was a reminder of how much pain House Melrae, and Imryne personally, owed this woman. “Are you concerned that Vandree is going to use that as an excuse to move on Xalyth?” she asked mildly.

“Not yet, she won't. She needs an heir, and she knows that we have someone inside her house. We always have. She still doesn't know who.” There was a smug pride in Greyanna's voice. “Any attack on us will bring death to her. This is why we are still first house. Or did you think it was out of the kindness of her heart?”

“I assumed something like that was the case. I don’t think she actually has any kindness in her heart. In any case, she's actively looking for an heir again.”

Now here, Greyanna's interest sharpened. “When she does get one, she will probably try something. Any idea yet who got the job of sacrificing one of their own?”

“She's looking to Melrae, this time,” Imryne acknowledged.

“Going to do it, or is it time to move on the old one?” Her tone was deceptively casual. A trap lurked beneath those words.

Imryne shrugged. “For the moment, I'm going along with it. I don't quite yet see a clear enough advantage to take the house.”

“We do. You strike at the female drider. The overwhelming need for control when those three die will place a strain on Imrae's control. The drider go mad, kill each other and what's left of the Vandree guard. She will lose control of at least half of the driders left. Our assassin takes Imrae, the crystal and the drider can do the rest.”

It was an astonishing plan, more so for its bluntness than its brilliance. More so for Greyanna's serene belief that she could pull this off. Unfortunately, her plan had a flaw at its center, and that flaw was named Vandree Imrae. “That ends up with most of the drider dead,” Imryne pointed out, unwilling to point out the hole in Greyanna's strategy. Her skin was starting to crawl, a sure sign that Greyanna was lying to her about something.

“That a problem?”

“Considering that I think there might be a better way, yes.”

Greyanna gave her an evaluating look. “I would like to hear it.”

She twitched her mouth. “I don't think it's impossible to help the drider. Stuck in the bodies of those monsters are the personalities of the males that they once were.”

“Just males.” She curled her lip. “But I can see if you want the females back.”

“It's wasteful to kill all those warriors when we can save them for later use,” Imryne pointed out. “Or have you not noticed that males are becoming a lot scarcer among us than they once were? I have a better idea, but it requires a bit of finesse. I may be able to change the females back, or at least break Imrae's control over them.”

“That makes the males go crazy, that works.”

“I think, if I get the crystal, I know a way to keep them calm. It's a long shot, but it might work.”

Now Greyanna's fingers stilled. “Leaving you with control of the drider. It's a good plan to take the city. If you wanted.” She smiled.

Imryne returned that smile. “Which I don't particularly. Though I don't expect you to believe me on that one.”

“As soon as Vandree goes, our alliance breaks--with you in control of the drider. Makes me nervous.”

She almost chuckled. As well it ought to, Greyanna. “Then delay long enough for me to finish a project I'm working on that should at least neutralize the drider.”

“How long do you need?”

“Two threads, maybe a little more.”

Greyanna's fingers started moving again, now soothing the fabric of her skirt over her thighs. “Can you delay giving her an heir until that long? Best if your candidate wasn't in the compound when we strike.”

“I can.” Imryne smiled thinly. “Even if she is, anyone I send should be able to take care of herself. Unless you're planning something to kill everyone inside rather than the usual tactic of sending in warriors to kill everyone you find.”

“My plan was to turn loose the drider on Vandree, they would kill everyone in there. But if you can take the drider from her, Vandree will be weak. She never restored her guard, relying on drider to fill the rank.”

Imryne asked sharply, “Are you sure about that?”

“Positive. Fifty or sixty guard is all she has, and six hundred drider. That's all she shows, anyway. I would double the guard number but it still makes her weak to us, you, and all your allies.” Greyanna smiled, and Imryne's skin crawled again.

“This is Imrae we're up against, here. I don't put it past her to not have something major hidden away, just waiting for us to get our acts together and move on her,” Imryne pointed out.

Greyanna shrugged. “You can bet on a house or two going down with her. I have no doubt of that. The trick is not us or you.”

“True enough.” That reminded Imryne of what Quave had said. “Speaking of, I realize this may be a touchy subject, but have you had a falling out with Despana lately?”

She wrinkled her thin nose. “Yes, we did. They have gone to bed with Claddeth. The whole Mylyl incident strained my relationship with Narcelia. It finally broke. Just another enemy to deal with later. They will regret their break with us.”

Imryne would almost swear that Greyanna was personally affronted by the Narcelia's disloyalty. She wondered what plans had been spoiled when Despana and Claddeth had begun to marry into each other so heavily. “I'm sure they will. Speaking of, do you have any idea why Narcelia and Aunrae have been quarreling?”

Greyanna rolled her eyes. “I've heard a lot about it. Narcelia is a very controlling person. She has been riding Aunrae for years. I assume Aunrae is tired of it. Aunrae also hates Xalyth and they have been arguing over the alliance with us as well. I don't think she was fond of Claddeth either. Narcelia or Aunrae, one of them is going to kill the other.”

“Well, if Aunrae's the one to win there, she's probably trapped anyway. Her family's married too heavily into Claddeth for them to break.”

The other female shook her head. “I doubt it. Narcelia's children. She will cut her losses.”

“Probably. At least Despana has them to spare.”

“They do, strong house really.” Greyanna's voice turned thoughtful. “Doesn't look like it from the outside, but they were blessed with females. Now the children are grown and their numbers are huge.”

“Aunrae struck me as reasonable, though I haven't seen her in years. Might be a good thing if she wins that one,” Imryne said, musing.

“Might be good if we helped it along if we survive.” Greyanna stood abruptly, her dress rustling. “Let us know when you are ready, Imryne. We will help bring down Vandree.”

Imryne stood as well. “I will. Thank you, Greyanna.” Without another word, Greyanna took her leave, and a moment later Imryne and Jevan did the same. They walked from Hose Xalyth, and once they were well out of sight, Jevan scooped her up in his arms and flew her upward, to their ledge. She did not protest.

““I don't believe a word,” Jevan said. He sat down, catching Imryne by the wrist and pulling her down as well.

She seated herself so she was between his legs, her back against the warmth of his body. “I don't either. I can generally tell when she's lying, because she starts making my skin crawl more than usual. I don't know what she's up to, but giving Vandree an heir is going to spoil it.”

“Could Imrae know about Maya, or could Greyanna?” he asked. “If so, Maya could spot Xalyth's assassin. That would be a reason why she wants to do this before Maya gets there. This is a lot of ifs though. They would both have to be sure that you would give them Maya and not someone else.”

“Do we really have any other viable candidates? I love my younger sisters, but I was truthful when I told Imrae that they're unfinished. I'm not sure any of them would survive.”

She felt him shake his head. “And Challay isn't an option in their minds. No one gives up the first daughter.”

“We spend too much time cultivating our first daughters to give them up.”

“What about Phaere?”

It was an interesting thought. “I hadn't even thought about her, to be honest. My mother spent a lot of time with her, and she's very intelligent. Triel all over again. But...” She shook her head. “She shows some signs of instability sometimes. The same weak places in her mind that I have, and her treatment at the hands of her mother hasn't helped any. I'd love to know which ancestress started that. It seems to be a weakness in our blood.”

Wisely, Jevan did not comment on that. “Other options include ones I don't want to mention. I think Phaere could handle it, with Sabal. Speaking of Triel, maybe you should talk to her.”

“I was just thinking that Mother might be able to help me see my way through this one,” she said. “And who don't you want to mention?”

“Alystin,” he said.

The prickling cold of fear washed over her. “Goddess, no.” She paused, blinked. “Well. Maybe I'm more attached to Alystin than I thought I was.”

He pulled her braided hair out of the way and kissed the sensitive place just below her ear. “You and me both. Speaking of Alystin, she wanted us to come by for a few hours. Feel like being made love to again today? I think, if it's all right with you, that I am not going to worry about her getting pregnant. If she does she does, if not that's fine, too.”

“Yes, I do. And it's fine by me. If nothing else, I absolutely can't fault her taste in males so far.”

“And I can't her in women, either.” He turned her in his arms and kissed her.

For a moment, that kiss blotted out everything else. When they broke the kiss, her heart was hammering in her chest. “We'd better go, or Alystin will have to wait a few more hours.”

He chuckled, whispered, “I love you,” and they began to rise in the air. With some help from her natural levitation they got arranged and flew back to Melrae. Alystin was in her rooms, and was not inclined to wait even long enough to make it to the matron's quarters before she was naked and pulling Jevan and Imryne's clothes off. They ended up making love on Alystin's bed, a much narrower version of their own. The first bout was worthy of the word “frenzied”; Alystin was a woman who had been going without for so long that she drank in everything they could give her, and gave back as much as she could.

After they were spent from the first round, they lay in a sweaty tangle. “This might seem rude, but...Alystin, are you in your season?” Imryne asked. There were a few things that didn't make sense. Alystin was acting as if she were in her season, but she didn't taste right for it.

Alystin lifted her head. “I doubt it. I missed my season four cycles ago. Shouldn't be due for at least a cycle and maybe not for another four.”

“Odd. I would have sworn that you were,” Imryne said, willing to drop the subject.

Alystin had other ideas. “How honest can I be with you?”

Imryne looked at her, tried to gauge her intentions. “As honest as you feel comfortable with. We all try to deal in truths, among us.”

“I have only had arranged marriages. I have never been in love before.” Alystin looked away almost shyly, her cheeks darkening.

She sat up, smoothed one hand over Alystin's sex-rumpled hair. “Please don't hide, Alystin. It's all right. Jevan and I were talking earlier about the fact that we're both quite attached to you.”

She glanced back, and her pupils were expansive, catching the light. “Good. I hope you can love me like I love you someday.”

Imryne leaned forward to kiss Alystin's ear. “At this point, I'm almost certain that we will.”

The other female's eyes filled with tears, and she buried her face between Imryne's breasts, holding on to her tightly. She was trembling a little as Imryne stroked her hair, kissing the top of her head and telling her that she was beautiful. “I'm glad you're here, Alystin. I don't think I've ever really told you that before.”

Alystin lifted her head, a little. “I am glad to be here.”

“And I'm especially glad you're right here...” Imryne kissed her, and kept kissing her, and soon enough the three of them were making love once more.

After some time, they were quiet once more, temporarily sated. Alystin had her head pillowed on Imryne's stomach, her legs entwined with Jevan's. “Did you have a brother named Sengo?” Imryne asked her, cautiously.

“Mmm. Cousin. Drada's son.”

“Ah. Do you know if she raised her children in her faith?”

Alystin rolled her head a little so she could see Imryne's face. “If she did, she did so in private. He was killed in the deep, so the story goes. No body was found. Why?”

“He's alive. He was changed into a drider. And now he's back in his old form,” Imryne answered, quietly.

The other female let out a long soft breath. “I am glad of that. I don't know who I would give him back to. Drada is hard to find. But Arabani would take him.”

“I thought I would see if he survives the next few weeks. The change back may have some unanticipated side effects. I was then going to see what his loyalties were, and where would be best to send him. If he leans towards Lloth, I’ll send him back to Arabani.”

She rolled her head back, looking up at the ceiling. “Sengo was a pretty boy, but never very bright. He never made mage and his commander from the Jenn wrote that he would never make a squad leader, either. He was perfect candidate for the drider. Which is why they probably took him. I would like to see him, if he survives for sure. I don't think I could see him and then have him die on me again.”

“We should know in a few threads. And if we send him back to Arabani, he shouldn't see you, since a careless word might mean your mother knows you're not dead.”

“True.” Imryne felt Alystin hesitate. “How are you doing? You seemed a little...distracted, at first. I know you met with Greyanna earlier.”

Imryne grimaced. “Greyanna's about to commit herself to doing something stupid, and I can't imagine that's not going to end badly. There's trouble coming.”

“From what I knew of Greyanna, she was impulsive. Not so stupid, but impulsive. She acting on impulse again?”

“She's got it in her mind that without the drider, Vandree is critically weak. I give Imrae a lot more credit than that. I don't know what she's got up her sleeve, but it's more than Greyanna thinks. She has a spy--she thinks--in Vandree. I think she is relying too heavily on that intelligence.”

“Imrae has always feigned weakness and then crushed her enemies. Imrae will destroy Xalyth to the last. She has to know that,” Alystin said.

And perhaps that is what Greyanna wants. The Xalyth was weak, trapped, defeated. Was she trying to take herself out--and with her, her whole House? “Not that I will weep when Xalyth perishes, and I'll be happy to help them along. But Xalyth distracts Imrae a little, I think. Without them, we will have to be even more careful than we were. And she will have two of our own as hostage, as well.”

“Hostages?”

Imryne felt cold, though the room was warm from their exertions. “Imrae has asked me to give her one of our own as an heir to Vandree. I am thinking Maya, with Sabal going in to be her bodyguard.”

“Does she know what Maya looks like?”

She felt Jevan's hand on her hip, comforting. “There's only a very slim chance that she does. Why?”

Alystin took a sharp breath. “I can go as Maya. I have a better chance of acting like a Lloth priestess than she does.”

Shock made Imryne shiver. “I--I don't know, Alystin. I was going to send in Maya because she has a better chance of surviving, with her talent.”

“She is young. Imrae will trick her into saying or doing something that will get us all killed. Are you willing to bet on a child with only fourteen cycles to her name to stand up to Imrae?” She paused, then added, “For that matter, are you willing to send an ex-Lloth priestess from a rival house into a Lloth house and trust her not to give you away?”

“I trust you, Alystin. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't betray us, knowingly at least.” That, at least, was easy. “But I'm still not sure about sending you in to Vandree.”

“I can go as Maya and claim them as my children, if you want Maya and Sabal to go.”

All three of them gone. I am just getting attached to Alystin, I've finally managed to mend things with my children, and I am thinking about sending all of them away? “Maya's talent would be very useful, inside. I don't know, Alystin,” she said slowly. “I'll think about it. I don't want to send anyone in, to tell the truth, but Imrae is probably going to force my hand. There is a rather high likelihood that anyone I send in will end up dead. And I don't like the idea of you, or Maya, or Sabal dying.”

“I don't like the idea of any of us dying either, but the three of us have a better chance than just two children,” Alystin pointed out.

“True enough.” She smiled at Alystin. “Of course, part of the reason that I don't like the idea is that I'll miss you.”

“Good, I hope so. I will miss you all too. It will give me incentive to come back alive, and to bring your children back.”

“So, maybe. We have some time to plan, I think. I'm planning on putting Imrae off as long as I can.” She sat up, and Alystin shifted so she was beside Imryne instead of leaning on her. “Speaking of, I need to go do a few things. Jevan, I shouldn't need you for a few hours. Both of you, come to evening meal.”

“Wouldn't miss it,” Jevan said, his voice warm. Imryne kissed the two of them, dressed, and departed. There was still a cold feeling of dread and a prickle of anticipation in her gut as she walked to the Matron's quarters, to her office. The crystal was still in a desk drawer, still warm and slightly soft to the touch when Imryne cradled it in her palm. She took a deep breath, wrapped her hand around it, and squeezed gently.

The image of her mother appeared in her chair, looking exactly as she had so many times when Imryne had come in to brief her on what was happening, back when she was merely representative and Triel had been matron mother. Imryne's vision was blurred for a moment by tears. The sight of her mother was both good and unexpectedly painful, the wound of her absence only scabbed, not healed. She found her voice after a moment. “Mother, I have some questions.”

Her voice was the same as it had been before she died. “Please, daughter, I probably have answers.”

The image was so good, even her gaze had the same sort of weight that Imryne remembered. She rubbed her eyes. “I have a situation with Vandree. Imrae has asked for an heir. Greyanna has asked me to delay sending one. I assume Greyanna has things planned she's not telling us, but I don't know what they are, or if she knows that I plan to send Maya.”

Triel paused, closed her dark eyes. Her voice was a low thrum. “Greyanna will strike as soon as you send an heir. She assumes that you will send someone that has contact with Ryld. From there, Ryld can scan minds to find her assassin. Once exposed, she has no way to get to Imrae. Imrae will retaliate and Xalyth will fall, unless the drider are gone.”

“So the best case for her is if I delay until the drider are gone or changed.”

“Once they are gone, she will attack Imrae. Set the assassin loose and crush Vandree. She will take over Fanaedar again.”

Imryne grimaced at the image of her mother. “Not necessarily the outcome I want, either. What I need is to change the females back, and to get that crystal into Ulitree's hands. Or even just get the crystal. Once we have it, we can make the drider leave the city, and call them back. Xalyth will still attack. That's fine, as long as I'm sure she won't turn on us next. Greyanna is starting to resent our alliance more and more, I think.”

Triel inclined her head. Her hair was braided as if for a high holy day, for ritual on the surface. “At that point, the alliance is over but she will regain her strength before attacking you. The alliance served her and you, but it will break sooner or later and you will become enemies again. Do not discount Imrae. Even without drider she still has the power to deal Xalyth a crippling blow. If you help Xalyth, Vandree will probably fall; if you don't, Xalyth will probably die. You get to decide which is worse and which you want to deal with later.”

“At this point, Imrae is the worse of two evils,” she said dryly. “Greyanna is insane, but I know usually what to expect from her. She holds only a shadow of the power Jhalass did, and she will not rule nearly so long. Funny. She almost had me fooled for a bit there into thinking she might change.”

Her mother looked at her steadily, and for a moment appeared to be looking through her. Then her attention returned to the present moment. “In this case, daughter, I would let Xalyth die.”

“Why?”

“If Claddeth and Despana join, you are dead too.”

Imryne shrugged. “If Xalyth dies, we don't have the burden of our alliance to Xalyth to drag on us. Despana might come over to our side, and they would bring Claddeth with them.”

“That's a better option,” Triel said, her voice warming. “I think you promise Xalyth you will back them, and leave them hanging. She would do the same to you.”

“In a heartbeat. And the interesting part is that I can choose the moment of her attack.”

Triel spread her hands. “It gives you all the advantages, and no more Greyanna. It's not like she doesn't deserve her death. You can name more people that she has hurt than I would care to. Hurt, killed, tortured. Ryld was the first, Rauva, the list is endless. Talabrina was probably the worst.”

“I wonder, sometimes, what Jhalass did to her. She's crazier than even most Lloth worshipers.”

Her mother grimaced, looking as if she wished Imryne had not said that. “The same that she did to Talabrina. Tortured and raped her. Passed from mother to daughter, and the cycle repeated. And there is more pain in her story, my daughter. Greyanna had such potential...”

There was enough pain on Triel's face that Imryne decided against asking any more. “And those were her memories Phaere was trapped in.”

“Living them over and over again as Greyanna. I love you, daughter. Let Xalyth die.”

It was less an order and more a request. Imryne closed her eyes briefly, wishing fervently that her mother were really sitting there, not just as an illusion and a memory. “I love you, too. And I will.”

Triel was going a bit transparent around the edges. “The staff, daughter. You have the way to unlock it now.”

“Alystin?”

“Ellistraee, you. Corellian, Jevan. And Lloth turned good again, Alystin. The three parts that Ellistraee hoped to happen for her.”

Imryne drew in a breath, her throat abruptly afire with pain. “Reunited in mostly-mortal bodies.”

“Just the pieces that needed to use it the way it should have been used. You will need it for Imrae. She is more powerful than you can imagine. Watch what happens to Xalyth carefully.” Triel was fading badly now, Imryne could see the chair through her body. “I love you, daughter. Tell my other daughters and sons that too, my whole family.”

Then she was gone.

Imryne folded in half, the crystal cradled against her chest, and gave voice to a ragged scream of pain. Sobs came quickly on the heels of that scream, and she shook for some time. At some point, the door opened, and Tar was there, offering wordless comfort. “Every time I think I've started to recover from losing Mother...”

Tar kissed her hair. “I know, love. I know how it feels. I miss my own mother, still.” She pulled Imryne to her feet. “Come on, love. Food will make you feel better. I was coming in to tell you that the meal's ready.”

She let her wife pull her to the dining room, to the place that had once been Triel's and now was hers. Tonight, most of the children were here, a few of Triel's husbands, Nimruil arriving from the temple with Faeryl. Alystin and Jevan arrived late, both of them showing signs of having put themselves back together hastily. Yvonnel insisted on being in her lap, and Imryne shared bites of her dinner with her baby daughter. Kophyn played beneath the table, and Nadal claimed Alystin's lap for himself.

She looked down at her daughter on her lap, and smiled. I wonder if you know, little one, how much I need you safe and whole. You and the whole family. You are my strength.

Yvonnel chortled and gnawed on a piece of cracker. There was a murmur at the end of the table, and Imryne looked up. The guard at the door was holding a message-roll. “Matron mother, this just arrived for you.”

He brought it to her, and she saw that it bore the seal of House Shobalar. When she opened it, she saw Jaelryn's familiar handwriting.

We need to talk. J.

She looked up at the guard. “Have message paper and pen brought to me.” It arrived quickly, and Imryne dashed off a note. The remains of House Millithor, three hours from now. She gave it to the guard, who promised to get it delivered.

I wonder what Jaelryn wants? She shook her head. Best leave it for the moment. Worry about it in a few hours.

Still, she wondered. Yet another unpleasant surprise? Or something else?

Even Yvonnel on her lap could not ease her worry.