Belated Celta Thursday due to Sickness: End of Heart Fortune Cut

He blinked as he looked around. It was sort of like Glyssa, but different in a couple of basic aspects. A holo painting of the three friends was on the wall. All of them holding each other.
"Tiana Mugwort's office?" he guessed.
"Yes," Glyssa said. Thankfully she didn't take the chair behind the small desk, or make him lie down on the chaise lounge. Instead she took his hand and sat on the lounge, upright, of course, and tugged on his hand so he'd join her. He sat next to her, his thigh touching hers.
She closed her eyes and a long sigh compressed her chest and he focused on her pretty breasts.
"What an event!" she said. "So many people!"
"Ah, nice."
She laughed and her eyelids opened and she smiled. "I thought you'd be in your element."
"Not really," Jace said. "Hard to connect with so many strangers at one time, especially when they aren't strangers to each other."
"Yes."
Silence fell between them, like it hadn't since they'd come to Druida, like it hadn't since they'd had that walk to the lake. And suddenly he missed the camp and the forest and the lake so much it was like a physical blow.
Glyssa studied his face with more of the compassion of a friend, than the tenderness of a lover.
"They're saying you could become D'Licorice in the future, if you wanted," he said.
She shrugged.
"Do you want that?"
"I haven't given it much thought," she said. And though he was sure she told the truth, he figured she'd already come to a decision.
He took her hands, and stared into her lovely brown eyes flecked with green, and couldn't find words.
More quiet between them and it hummed with questions Jace couldn't nail down.
"What do you want, Jace?" she asked.





Chapter 32

And his thoughts sorted out and he could let them out of his mouth. "I want to return to the camp." He sucked in air. "Druida is interesting." His lips twitched up. "Especially as seen with Laev T'Hawthorn, and experiencing it as almost a noble."
He shook his head. "But I don't want to live here. I don't even want to live on this coast."
"You love the camp."
"I love that area," he corrected.
Her brows arched and her fingers went limp in his. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Is that all you want?"
He squeezed her hands, his own voice came out rougher than he liked. "You're pushing me to say?"
"Yes."
"You're pushing me to stay here?"
"I asked you first." Her hands twisted in his.
"I want you to come back to the camp with me."
She stopped trying to pull away and her smile bloomed. "All right." She took a choppy breath. "But things have changed between us here, and I want that change to be seen by the camp."
Her body might be vibrating, trembling, but he froze. "In what way?"
"We will be a couple. I want us to be seen as a couple. Not just convenient sex partners."
Simple relief. He squeezed her hands again. "Agreed. We're a couple."
"You can stay with me, or we can use your tent now and then, but we are a couple."
"Yes. The regular shuttle leaves tomorrow. I'm finished with my gifts for your Family and left them in the mainspace." He smiled. "Though I don't anticipate Enata seeing hers for a while."
"We can go tomorrow," she said.
His turn to close his eyes. "Thank you." Then, "Your Family will miss you."
"And I'll miss them, and my friends even more. But my field work isn't done, nor is our story."
More staring at each other. "My Family has accepted you."
He grunted. After a minute, he said, "They aren't bad."
Her lips quirked. "No, they aren't. Sometimes they aren't easy to live with, but they aren't bad people. We follow our own paths and standards, as do you."
Standing, he drew her up. "Right. Now let's go break the news we're leaving tomorrow. Easier in public with a big crowd."
"I suppose so."
****

More from Heart Fortune next week!
Jace in a high class social bar...by himself.

Cut Scenes

I'm more active on Facebook and I think I've kept up here with what I've posted there...especially birthday gift cut scenes. Here's one that was requested from Sorceress of Faith.

The Citymaster's request to speak came earlier in the book while Marian and Jaquar were on the island.
**********
A crackling zap whistled through the room along with a flash. For an instant Marain thought their kiss had generated the lightning. It didn't surprise her. She was hot, hot, hot – sizzling with desire.

But Jaquar stepped away and the lightning shot through the dome again. His mouth twisted into a wry smile. "My message crystal."

Marian blinked, trying to make sense of his words. She watched as he crossed to a large crystal ball set in a three-legged iron filigree stand. Lightning was his telephone ring tone? It boggled the mind. Boggled hers, anyway. So she let out her breath and sucked in another deep one as she stolled to the loveseat. She moved slowly because her knees were still weak.

Jaquar placed his palm over the clear crystal ball. "Salutations," he said.

"This is Sevair Masif, Citymaster of Castleton. I would like to consult with you...and the Scholar Lady Marian."

Lady. Marian smiled, that sounded so fine. Wouldn't her mother have been pleased. With a small jolt of shock, she realized it was the first time she'd thought of her mother since reaching Lladrana.

"–accomodations for the night," Jaquar said.

"One room or two?" asked Masif matter-of-factly.

Jaquar's eyes met hers. His still held a trace of raw passion. "I would actually prefer a suite with two bedrooms."

There was a slight pause. "Then I will arrange for you to stay at an inn."

"Done," said Jaquar as if he was closing a deal.

"Does the Lady Scholar Marian have any special tastes?"

Marian stared at the crystal. She couldn't see the image of the man who spoke to Jaquar, but began to wonder about him at such a question. But perhaps she was putting a connotation on the phrase that wasn't sexual like it could be construed in English.

But Jaquar raised his brows. "What do you mean by that, Masif?" he asked coolly. Again his gaze sought hers and for no reason at all an image of velvet bonds around a four-poster bed flitted through her mind. Blue velvet. She'd never had such thoughts before.

Another short silence, then a chuckle from the globe. "Exotique Alexa is known for her taste in tea," Masif said. "Does Scholar Lady Marian prefer tea?"

"No," Marian said loudly.

"Did you hear?" asked Jaquar.

"Yes," Masif said.

"We'll see you in about two hours," Jaquar said.

"Land in ** Square. I'll have my secretary and stablehand meet you. They'll be wearing my colors."

"Of course," Jaquar said. "Until later."

"Until later."

It wasn't until the crystal went dark that Marian realized it had looked as if it contained cotton wool. Or clouds.

"How can we get to Castleton in two hours?" Marian knew the city was located a couple of miles from the Marshall's Castle, and that was nearly in the center of Lladrana, far from the coast.

Jaquar had moved from the desk to a closet by the door, opened it, and pulled out a large set of saddlebags. "My volaran is strong in distance-magic," he said absently.

Volaran! Marian swallowed in excitement, anticipation – anxiety. She was going to ride a flying horse?

"Uh," she said, then realized he couldn't hear her since he'd crossed the room to his bedroom door, unlocked it, and was inside – packing. She hoped he wasn't filling the bags will all his stuff, she'd need some room, too. She cleared her throat and called out, "I don't ride."

He appeared at the doorway, with an irritated expression. "You don't either?"

"Either?"

Jaquar tossed the saddlebags next to her on the couch. "Alexa didn't ride either. I heard she broke an arm three times already trying to learn."

Marian winced.

"I suppose I should teach you a floating spell."

Her eyes widened. "I can learn to float?"

"You can learn to fall slowly."

"Oh." She was dissapointed, she'd always wanted to float or fly – and not in airplanes or on winged horses, by herself.

"Do you swim?"

"Swim!" her voice rose as she recalled the channel of sea between Jaquar's island and mainland Lladrana.

"I'll pull you from the water if you fall," he assured her with an amused gleam in his eye.

"I'm a strong swimmer," Marian said stiffly. She shifted uneasily. "Are there any–" sharks, giant squid, barricuda, pihrana** "–nasty water monsters in the channel**?"

"Not that I know of," he said. He gestured to the saddlebag. "Do you have something suitable for riding?"

"Tuck's coming with us."

"Of course, get him, too."

She'd wear him around her waist in a fanny-pack she'd crafted.


****
Those of you who've read Sorceress of Faith will recall that they actually went to the mainland by travelling by lightning...

More Heart Fortune Cuts and Celta Thursdays

On Facebook I've been posting excerpts of the Barton Clover subplot that was cut from Heart Fortune. And I offered there, as here, to post more if there were birthdays of my readers, as presents. I had 3 recent birthdays, so here's a huge chunk.

Chapter 31

Glyssa jerked at hearing her name. She hadn't known Walker Clover, T'Clover, knew her name, let alone of her.

"Yes, this can all be worked out later. Now we should celebrate an excellent match!" said an older woman from the doorway. She brought in a tray of champagne and flutes, poured for them all.

"To Barton and Enata!" T'Willow toasted.

Everyone drank. Naturally the champagne was top-of-the-pyramid. Glyssa sighed into hers. This event had wrenched her life – her Family's lives – into changes she hadn't imagined.

After they drank, T'Willow met her gaze. "I believe you have a connection with GreatCircle Temple?"

"Good, the marriage ritual can be tonight." Barton squeezed Enata and she squeaked.

"Tonight!" T'Licorice exclaimed.

"No reson to wait, is there?" T'Willow asked gently.

"The women–" Walker and Barton said together. They almost shuddered in unison, too.

Barton jutted his chin. "I want to be married tonight. Glyssa is one of that trio of friends with Camellia D'Hawthorn and that priestess."

"Tiana Mugwort," Glyssa said faintly.

"That's the one," Barton said. He smiled with glee at Walker. "You alert the Clover women, Head of the Family."

"Yeah. And you alert all the guards that will be needed tonight at GreatCircle Temple, providing we get that venue."

Preferring public to private communication, Glyssa took her scrystone from her sleeve, and murmured Tiana's direction.

"Here, Glyssa! How did it go with Enata and GreatLord T'Willow?"

"We are still at T'Willow Residence," Glyssa said formally. "He knew Enata's match at once."

Tiana's eyes widened. "Really!"

"Yes. He's Barton Clover."

"Barton Clover! He dated my sister," Tiana said.

Barton went wide-eyed himself, not in the same way. "Only one evening date, I mean, one dinner only. I promise you, Enata. Months and months ago."

He must be fibbing. Since Tiana's sister was recently married, it couldn't have been that long. Glyssa kept a comment behind her teeth about that. "In any event," Glyssa said. "GreatLord T'Willow advises an immediate marriage and GrandLord Walker Willow would like it there at GreatCircle Temple tonight."

"What!"

Walker crossed to Glyssa, looked down into the scry. "Can you see what you can do? We would love to have you officiate."

"Me?" Tiana seemed dazed.

"There shouldn't be more than a couple of hundred Family members," Walker said. "You can call on all the resources of the Clover women to help, um, decorate and whatever."

Glyssa saw Tiana literally reel against a wall.

"Barton is my favorite brother, and highly respected by our clan," Walker said.

"A couple of hundred people. Lady and Lord," Tiana continued to repeat.

"Is the Temple, the entire large area of GreatCircle Temple, free tonight?" Walker asked.

"Ye-es, I believe so. I will have to consult the schedule and my superiors, of course."

"Of course, but if GreatCircle Temple isn't free, I suppose we should have a wedding – not a marriage ritual, but a simple wedding – in the Family grove at Clover Compound."

Barton's shoulders came up around his burly neck. "Please, no, not at the Family Grove, Walker. The women will flig–, sorry, will pick at me all day long. I'll be bones by night. Really hard to love a woman if all you are, are bones."

Enata giggled. "You're funny."

Glyssa lifted her nose and pinned Barton with a stare. "Enata can match any Clover woman." After all, the Licorices had had their title since the second generation of the colonists. Not many Families could say that, certainly not the Clovers, the newest of the Grand tier of nobles.

Barton pulled Enata in front of him, wrapped his arms around her. "I believe that, Lady and Lord, bless. I have a woman in ten thousand."

"One moment please," Tiana said.

In the silence Barton sighed loudly.

Glyssa's mother studied the couple, then glared at T'Willow. "You are sure this is a good match?"

"An exceptional match," T'Willow said.

"Mo-ther," said Enata. Then tears came to her eyes. "I'm happy."

"'Who ever loved that loved not at first sight,'" Glyssa's father said.

"Christopher Marlowe," Barton identified the quote.

"What?" Walker Clover asked.

Barton jutted his chin. "Christopher Marlowe was the poet who wrote that."

"You read poetry,?" Walker sounded disbelieving.

Barton flushed and fisted his hand. "Keep it up, brother, and you'll be taking part in a marriage ritual with a broken nose."

"He is wonderful," Enata said.

"We don't need to get married tonight, wedding or ritual," Barton offered. "But Enata's coming home with me. For at least a few days. Right, sweetie?"

"Right," Enata said.

"Oh," D'Licorice said.

"I'm back," said a breathless Tiana, showing up in Glyssa's scry pebble once more. "The high priest and priestess are...intrigued at hosting a marriage ritual of such size. They ask that, even if they don't officiate, they be included in the gathering."

"Of course," Walker T'Clover said.

"Then the ritual will begin at MidEvening Bell, please have the bride and groom here a half-septhour before the ceremony. You can take care of contacting your Family. Now I have much to do. Blessed be." Tiana signed off.

"Blessed be," Walker said belatedly.

"My HeartMate and I would like to be invited to the ritual, also," T'Willow said.

Enata appeared dazed.

"Of course. I'll – we'll take care of that, GreatLord." A lopsided smile from Walker. "Thank you, Saille."

"You are welcome. You'll receive half of my bill."

"Fine."

"And now I might just be able to salvage my own schedule if you will all leave," T'Willow said.

"Enata and I will go somewhere private and get to know each other." Barton smiled winningly.

"Like hell," Glyssa's father said. "You are coming with me on a tour of the PublicLibrary and to be introduced to our Residence. Perhaps spend some time with me in the HouseHeart."

"Wow, fascinating," Barton said. "I've never been in a HouseHeart. Really great. Great idea!" He thumped Glyssa's father on his back, and Jace had to step in and steady T'Licorice.

Her father wheezed, "Got curiosity. That's good."

"All of the Clovers are curious," Walker said, slowly drawing a scry pebble from his trous pocket. "You'll have a swarm of children around once they understand they're welcome."

"Oh, my," D'Licorice said, a mixture of anticpation and wariness on her face. She turned to Walker. "I will go with you to make the announcement to your ladies."

Walker shoved his perscry pebble back in his pocket, offered Glyssa's mother an arm and a relieved smile. "I'm honored to introduce you to my HeartMate, Sedwy Grove Clover, my mother and my Aunt Pratty who runs us Clovers."

Glyssa's mother nodded decidedly. "Good. Thank you, T'Willow. We will see you later."

She walked out with Walker, talking animatedly about the ritual. Glyssa's father and Enata and Barton followed. Her father accepted a package on the way out.

Glyssa and Jace were left alone with T'Willow. That lord scrutinized them, grunted. "Anything you want to speak to me about?"

"No," Jace said.

"Yes," Glyssa said at the same time, then sighed and changed her answer. "No. We'll muddle through."

"I'm sure," T'Willow said and she couldn't tell whether that was optimism or truth speaking.

"Merry meet," she said.

"And merry part," he said.

"And merry meet again, tonight," she ended.

"Tonight."

She tried to keep her actions casual as she slipped her arm in Jace's, no pushing. As soon as they were alone outside T'Willow Residence she sighed and let the laugh that was in her out. "That was interesting."

"Very." Jace glanced around at the wide boulevard in Noble Country, where the FirstFamilies lived. "Your father left without us."

"I guess we need to get home, walk or teleport?"

"Teleport." She smiled. "To the guest room. I know you've been practicing. Why don't you whisk me away."

"Why don't I?"
* * *
Jace wanted to be anywhere but the marriage ritual. The Clover Family was massive, and their joy at the wedding filled the great Temple.

The whole huge circle of people seemed to be nothing but couples, from young teens who were engaged to oldsters who'd obviously spent most of their lives together. Well, there were the children, too, interspersed between the couples. More children than he'd ever seen at one time, including when he was one growing up in the village.

And Fams, too. Zem had been given permission to fly free. The other Fams, including more foxes than Jace expected, were confined to the edge of a quadrant.

Being linked together in the circle wasn't like the large circles at camp. More of these people had more than average Flair, the high Priest and Priestess, Walker Clover's wife who belonged to the FirstFamilies, so did Laev T'Hawthorn. Camellia D'Hawthorn and Tiana Mugwort, who led the ritual, came from lower noble Families. More noble Families he'd ever seen gathered together, let alone been a part of, including the Licorices.

Power throbbed through him in waves, he stood between Glyssa and her mother, nearly awed at the Flair cycling around the circle.
The whole atmosphere made him envious at the close bonds of the Families – the Licorices as well as the Clovers – and wary at how each person seemed to have a press of expectations on him or her to do certain things, fit into a Family slot.

Glyssa's future remained open. She could become D'Licorice, he saw that, how her Family and the Clovers would accept that. How she herself could grow into that status. That would be good for her. But not for him, and he was beginning to accept that she would be in his future. In fact, he couldn't imagine a future without her.

Enata, the bride, spoke a little piece, thanking her Family, saying she loved them, including her new brother, her sister's HeartMate.

Jace cringed. No, still not ready for that word. The ritual ended on a huge surge of joy that dizzied him and he shouted and could almost see the love aura around Barton and Enata. The circle was opened and he was finally outside of the circuit of Flair and more confused in his life.

Especially when folk treated him and Glyssa as a married couple.

She left his side for a few minutes and it was a relief until some Clover woman started asking about their marriage ritual and he choked on flatsweet crumbs.

Glyssa handed him a tube of alcoholic punch, excused them, and took him away from the main temple area, through the circular corridor to a small room.

Celta Thursday, Heart Fortune Cut with Barton Clover continued

Chapter 31

Glyssa jerked at hearing her name. She hadn't known Walker Clover, T'Clover, knew her name, let alone of her.

"Yes, this can all be worked out later. Now we should celebrate an excellent match!" said an older woman from the doorway. She brought in a tray of champagne and flutes, poured for them all.

"To Barton and Enata!" T'Willow toasted.

Everyone drank. Naturally the champagne was top-of-the-pyramid. Glyssa sighed into hers. This event had wrenched her life – her Family's lives – into changes she hadn't imagined.

After they drank, T'Willow met her gaze. "I believe you have a connection with GreatCircle Temple?"

"Good, the marriage ritual can be tonight." Barton squeezed Enata and she squeaked.

"Tonight!" T'Licorice exclaimed.

"No reson to wait, is there?" T'Willow asked gently.

"The women–" Walker and Barton said together. They almost shuddered in unison, too.

Barton jutted his chin. "I want to be married tonight. Glyssa is one of that trio of friends with Camellia D'Hawthorn and that priestess."

"Tiana Mugwort," Glyssa said faintly.

"That's the one," Barton said. He smiled with glee at Walker. "You alert the Clover women, Head of the Family."

"Yeah. And you alert all the guards that will be needed tonight at GreatCircle Temple, providing we get that venue."

Preferring public to private communication, Glyssa took her scrystone from her sleeve, and murmured Tiana's direction.

"Here, Glyssa! How did it go with Enata and GreatLord T'Willow?
"
"We are still at T'Willow Residence," Glyssa said formally. "He knew Enata's match at once."

Tiana's eyes widened. "Really!"

"Yes. He's Barton Clover."

"Barton Clover! He dated my sister," Tiana said.

Barton went wide-eyed himself, not in the same way. "Only one evening date, I mean, one dinner only. I promise you, Enata. Months and months ago."

He must be fibbing. Since Tiana's sister was recently married, it couldn't have been that long. Glyssa kept a comment behind her teeth about that. "In any event," Glyssa said. "GreatLord T'Willow advises an immediate marriage and GrandLord Walker Willow would like it there at GreatCircle Temple tonight."

"What!"

Walker crossed to Glyssa, looked down into the scry. "Can you see what you can do? We would love to have you officiate."

"Me?" Tiana seemed dazed.

"There shouldn't be more than a couple of hundred Family members," Walker said. "You can call on all the resources of the Clover women to help, um, decorate and whatever."

Glyssa saw Tiana literally reel against a wall.

"Barton is my favorite brother, and highly respected by our clan," Walker said.

"A couple of hundred people. Lady and Lord," Tiana continued to repeat.

"Is the Temple, the entire large area of GreatCircle Temple, free tonight?" Walker asked.

"Ye-es, I believe so. I will have to consult the schedule and my superiors, of course."

"Of course, but if GreatCircle Temple isn't free, I suppose we should have a wedding – not a marriage ritual, but a simple wedding – in the Family grove at Clover Compound."
Barton's shoulders came up around his burly neck. "Please, no, not at the Family Grove, Walker. The women will flig–, sorry, will pick at me all day long. I'll be bones by night. Really hard to love a woman if all you are, are bones."

Enata giggled. "You're funny."

Glyssa lifted her nose and pinned Barton with a stare. "Enata can match any Clover woman." After all, the Licorices had had their title since the second generation of the colonists. Not many Families could say that, certainly not the Clovers, the newest of the Grand tier of nobles.

Barton pulled Enata in front of him, wrapped his arms around her. "I believe that, Lady and Lord, bless. I have a woman in ten thousand."

"One moment please," Tiana said.
*************************************

Celta Thursday

It occurs to me that I should post here more than once a week on Celta Thursday, like I do on Facebook..., but until I get a little breathing space, this will have to do. :)

I backed up one line...and you won't expect this from Barton Clover!


**********************
"Nice build," said Glyssa's mother. "But does he read?"

Without looking at her, the man quoted:

Escape me?
Never---
Beloved!
While I am I, and you are you,
So long as the world contains us both,
Me the loving and you the loth
While the one eludes, must the other pursue.

"Well, well," said Glyssa's father. "Ancient Earthan poet Robert Browning. Interesting."

The newcomer opened his arms and Enata ran into them. They closed around her and he swung her from her feet and whirled her. Glyssa was swept away with the romance of it.

Then he set Enata on her feet. "Oh," she said, blinking and clinging to him. Enata! Clinging! Her mouth a little open.

"Oh, yeah!" he said and kissed her. Not a little, friendly smooch. Glyssa and Jace hadn't shared that kind of a kiss for...well, maybe within the first half-septhour from their meeting. The recollection of seeing, meeting, kissing Jace for the first time swamped her.

"Ha!" Another man strolled into the room and romance left Glyssa's heart as knowledge crashed into her mind. She saw the realization on her parents' face, also.
"Who?" asked Jace, his arm around her waist.
"That is Walker Clover." Glyssa kept her voice low. "The first noble Clover. He rose to GrandLord some years ago. Everyone thinks he'll be Captain of All the Councils someday."

"I've heard of him," Jace said.

Glyssa nodded.

"His brother?" Jace asked, nodding at the man still locking mouths with Enata.

Glyssa shrugged. "The Clovers are a very prolific Family. I think Walker has several brothers."

"Barton Clover," Glyssa's mother breathed, her face shining, her hands clasped prayerfully against her breasts. "With a Clover there is the prospect of many children."

Glyssa's father looked sour. "And they may be conceived right here before us. The guy has his hands on my daughter's derrier."

Barton lifted his head, scanned the room, spotted the long couch. Arm around Enata's waist, he headed in that direction.

T'Willow cut him off with raised brows and a smile. "Your brother is here. And Enata may wish to introduce you to her Family."

Barton jerked to a stop, a comical look of surprise crossed his face as he blinked and apparently noticed the other people in the room. He looked down at Glyssa's sister. "Enata?"

She flushed red, squirmed a little. "Enata Licorice, FirstLevel Librarian."

"Barton Clover, your future husband," he said.

"Head of Security for the Clover Family," Glyssa's father said. "Greetyou, Barton Clover." T'Licorice bowed.

Barton stiffened. Returned the bow. "Greetyou, T'Licorice." A deeper bow to Glyssa's mother, though he still held Enata's hand. "Greetyou D'Licorice."

"Hey brother." Walker buffetted Barton on his shoulder, leaned down and kissed Enata's cheek. "Welcome to the Clover Family, Enata Licorice. Call me Walker." He glanced around. "All of you, call me Walker, it's easier."

"So quickly," plainted Glyssa's mother.

Barton ducked his head, then rubbed his chest, staring at Enata. "You're here. You're just here, already in my heart. It only needed seeing you."

"I think the potion had something to do with it," Jace muttered.

Glyssa elbowed him, then smiled sweetly at her HeartMate. "If you'd care to try those potions, I'm game."

"No thanks."

T'Licorice offered his hand. "Welcome to the Licorice Family, Barton Clover. Enata is our heir. She will be D'Licorice one day."

"You can be the Licorice Head of Security," D'Licorice said.

Barton's gaze swept the room. "And there are how many of you?"

"Four," T'Licorice said.

Jace's stance eased a little as he hadn't been named a Licorice.

"Four," Barton said flatly. "There are hundreds of Clovers."

"We need Barton with us at the Clover Compound for now," Walker insisted. The GrandLord inclined his head to Enata. "His lady should stay with us, too."

"Must," Barton said. "Must stay with us."

"Enata is my heir," D'Licorice repeated.

Barton's gaze arrowed toward Glyssa. "You have another child."

"You have many other guards," D'Licorice said.

"I like my job," Barton said.

"And I will not be remaining in Druida," Glyssa said, then sensed no one believed her.

"We can work all this out later," Walker said. "I'm sure some of our Family would like to apprentice themselves to you – and when Barton and Enata have children, you might choose one to follow you rather than Enata." Walker spread his hands. "FirstLevel Librarian Glyssa Licorice may decide to become D'Licorice, and you might approve. The options are many."

*******
And, no, actually, I have no idea how this will work out.
Robin

Celta Thursday, Heart Fortune cut scene with Barton Clover

"Jace, is Bar– is the man pacing?" T'Willow asked.
"Yes."
"Good, the potion will be effective sooner. How did you persuade him to drink the potion?"
"I told him that he could return to his brother, the nag." Jace smiled but felt a sweet melancholy. Bar Whoever had a large and loving Family. Jace had had no one who cared what he did.
He glanced around the room. He supposed he could claim the Licorices, if he wanted. Not a big Family, they didn't appear too loving, and he didn't think he meshed well with them. But he figured they might be champs at nagging him to change his ways. Not that he wanted to.
T'Willow was standing in front of him and nodding. "I'm sure that his brother is already travelling here as a witness." He bowed to the older Licorices. "As you are. All of you, please remain still when the gentleman enters."
"Is he a gentleman?" snapped T'Licorice.
"I told you I knew him, and I firmly believe you will be pleased."
"What are the ingredients in the potion?" asked D'Licorice.
Yes, real nags.
"My professional secret. Nothing that will influence Enata against her will." He looked back toward her. She'd settled in the comfort chair.
D'Licorice's eyes narrowed, her mouth pursed.
T'Willow smiled. "Would you like a taste." In turn he stared at D'Licorice, her husband, then turned to Jace, tilted his head to see Glyssa behind Jace.
"No!" Jace said.
Glyssa sniffed loudly behind him.
D'Licorice wet her lips. "Perhaps we can take some samples home? For what this is costing?"
"Certainly." T'Willow moved toward his desk and tapped his scryscreen. "Mama," he said, "Can you prepare some of the Recognition Potions for me." He smiled at D'Licorice. "Two full tubes, one female and one male."
"Of course, Saille," a woman answered.
"Thank you."
The scryscreen pinged. "Here," said T'Willow.
"I'm pulling into the courtyard, has the meeting between my brother and his match taken place yet?"
"No."
"Excellent. I will be there momentarily. I want to see him take the fall."
Glyssa tapped Jace on the shoulder. "You're blocking my view."
"He's not gonna see you when he enters."
She smiled and his heart picked up beat and he wanted to kiss every one of the freckles on his face. Slowly. Nibble at her lips.
"Jace," she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Do you know who my sister's man is?"
"No."
Glyssa pouted. "Oh." Then she smiled slowly, lowered her lashes and sent him a seductive gaze that had blood falling away from his head to below his belt. "Would you like a pink drink? I'll take a blue one?"
No, he didn't. But his mouth opened anyway. His body was all too ready to agree.
The door slammed open and Jace thrust Glyssa behind him again as the fighter strode into the room.
Glyssa smiled at Jace's back. Maybe he wasn't vocal about their connection, but the HeartMate link must be acting on him. On them. Then her attention went to the large and muscular male. Nice, if you liked that type.
"Saille T'Willow, I hope you know what you're doing or I will beat your butt. I don't like being called in like a new guard." He slapped his broad chest. "I don't have a consultation with you. I don't want a consultation with you."
Enata stood and turned and the man stopped, looking stunned.
So did Enata. They stared at each other for a full minute.
Her brows dipped. "I've seen you."
The man blinked. "I know you. The librarian."
Glyssa stared. She should know the man.
"Nice build," said Glyssa's mother. "But does he read?"

****
Heh, heh, heh, I ended on a hook. Next week should end this bit...though I have more Heart Fortune cuts (one that never made it IN).

Robin