Gravity Dreams

'You're doing the chief magistrate's portrait?'

'He finally conceded that only I was worthy to do it.' She laughed. 'Why don't you put your bags away and then go up to the balcony terrace?' Her words were really a question, but a great deal of Mother's questions weren't.

My room was nearly exactly as I'd left it, except that the bed frame had been refmished, as had the writing table. I set the duffels before the closet, then washed up, enjoying the cool water on a flushed face. After that, I went across the hall and out onto the balcony, where I pulled up a chair. For some reason, I was tired.

From under the arches of the roofed second-level balcony I could see the sound, and the harbor, and the long and white-walled building that held Tynd Trading. My father had purchased the older home that had once stood on the site and totally rebuilt it - all so he could watch the harbor when he wasn't down there.

I'd barely gotten settled when Rhada and my mother arrived with two trays. Mother began to pour the tea, offered the tall and fluted cups to each of us, and eased into the high-backed trader's chair beside me.

Rhada set down the smaller tray - nuts, sliced apples, white cheese, and cakes and biscuits. 'He looks older, Aunt Kerisma.'

I should have; it had been nearly six years since I'd seen Rhada.

My mother's hand strayed to her thick and short silver-gray hair. 'Over six years, we've all aged, Rhada, Tyndel the least of all, I imagine.'

I didn't answer, but waited for my mother to touch her cup, which she did, before taking a long and welcome sip of the Arleen tea.

'I miss good tea.'

'So why don't you come back to Mettersfel?' asked Rhada. 'It doesn't work that way. The Dzin masters decide where I teach.'

'You don't have to do as they say.'

'Of course not. I can leave at any time. But I can't come back.' I smiled. 'I've learned a lot through Dzin.'

You'd be better off here. As a trader, or even as a private master in the trading school or in the Changers tutorial system. They pay Dzin-trained teachers well.' Rhada smiled and took a swallow of the Arleen, so big a swallow that I wondered whether she'd even tasted it.

'Where will you be going, dear?' asked Mother quietly.

'Hybra. It's a small town on Deep Lake, northwest of Henvor.'

'That's not far from the border with Rykasha.' Rhada shivered.

'Rhada, don't exaggerate.' My mother's tone was patiently exasperated. 'The border's been stable for nearly a millennium, and no one's even seen a demon in Mettersfel for over twenty-five years. Or most places in Dorcha.' She lifted her cup, sipped, and continued. 'Besides, if Tyndel wants to teach there, it will be good experience. If he likes it, then that's good. If he doesn't, then the experience will be good for him and make him more desirable to the others here or elsewhere.' She smiled, closing that subject.

Mother was nothing if not practical. I refilled my cup and had one of the butter biscuits.

'Have you heard about the Dhurs?' Rhada finally asked. The Dhurs were always a favorite topic of conversation. Everything they did was outrageous, impossible, and a form of insanity.

'What now?' I couldn't even guess.

'The Genchief of the Dhurs traveled to Mettersfel on a restored Second Confed warboat. He aimed the lase-cannon at the Mer-Change and demanded that the Changers advance the credits for a Dhur floating city.'

'And?'

'There's a new Dhur Genchief, and an interestingly shaped chunk of steel and composite that the Metalworkers are reclaiming. You can see the wreckage beyond the last pier. The salvage fees might pay off the damage claims against the Dhurs, including the power surcharges, but the Dhurs are claiming that it was all a misunderstanding.'

'With the Dhurs, a great deal is.' I took a surreptitious look toward the harbor. There was something that looked like a melted ship.

Rhada laughed.

Mother frowned.

'Have you run across anyone lately?' Rhada meant anyone she and Mother were likely to know.

'Outside of Khandet? He's still studying under Master Celvan. Not anyone else. Mettersfel doesn't generate a lot of interest in Dzin. I've lost touch with almost everyone.' A thought struck me. 'I should inquire after Esolde.'

'Esolde? Is she the blonde you longed after before you marched off to the masters at Henvor? She is a scholar doctor with the healing masters in Halz, well above you now, Tyndel.' Rhada was matter-of-fact, as she always had been, regardless of the impact.

So Esolde had gone to Halz? The great delta city of the River Dor? The only city to which the mighty merchants of Mettersfel paid heed, where healing raised more credits than trade?

'She was a lovely girl,' Mother offered. 'From a good family, too, and that always helps. Blood will tell.' She smiled wryly. 'In time, at least.'

'I remember you spent a great deal of time around a certain grape trellis,' suggested Rhada.

I couldn't help blushing.

'See! He's still mooning over her.'

'Mooning over a memory, I suspect,' said Mother. 'But I do know another lovely young lady you should meet.'

'Oh?'

'Her name is Foerga. She's a crystal worker - fine hand, very artistic, and really too sweet for most of the merchant types.'

In spite of the suggested arrangement, I was intrigued. And Mother had always had good taste. She had liked Esolde.

Aunt Kerisma ...' Rhada rose from the table. 'I need to be going home, but it was good to get away from the twins for a little while.'

I rose as well. 'It was good to see you.'

After escorting Rhada to the front door, I rejoined my mother on the balcony.

'I did mean it about Foerga.'

'I know,' I told her. 'I've always respected your taste. I'd be happy to meet her.'

'Good. She's coming for dinner tomorrow.'

'Ah ... all right' One thing about Mother - when she decided, she acted. Then, around my father, I supposed that was a necessity.

'I think I heard the glider enter the hangloft.'

She could also hear the sound of butterfly wings, or delphinium stalks brushing against each other, from a kilo away, one reason why there had seldom been any secrets in the house.

With the steps echoing out to the balcony I stood, barely before my father burst onto the balcony.

'Son ... it's good to see you.' My father stepped forward and hugged me, moving as he always did, in quick bursts, with an energy that declared there was never enough time for anything. Then he released his bear hug and dropped into the chair where Rhada had been sitting. 'So ... you're a master of Dzin now. What does that mean?'

'Not a great deal,' I had to admit. 'I get to teach in out-of-the-way places or as a junior master under an experienced master.'

'Someone has to, but you could do a lot more as a trader.'

'No,' I answered with a laugh. 'If you were in my position, you could do a great deal more as a trader.'

He laughed in return. 'I suppose you're right, but I hate to see all that intelligence wasted in a schoolroom.' He lifted the cup my mother had silently filled. 'I know. I know. It's not a waste. Someone has to prepare children, and if the teacher isn't the best, we all suffer in the future.' He shook his head briskly, as briskly as he did everything. 'I still think you're cut out for something different. But I've tried, and you've tried, and we are where we are.' He took a quick sip of tea. 'How long will you be here?'

'Three weeks.'

'Good. I understand your mother has some special treats planned for you. Besides your favorite meals, I meant.' He grinned.

'She's alluded to one already.' I grinned and leaned back in the chair, pleased that my father had decided to leave the past behind, and pleased with myself that I'd been able to rely on Dzin not to worry overly.