Artemisia managed a chuckle. aIam glad you think so. We will go on three. One, racc.o.o.n Fam. Two, new home now, and three.a They alit in the corner of the sitting room/study attached to her bedroom that Artemisia had designated a teleportation area.

aWhat do you have there!a demanded BalmHeal Residence, then added, aIt is a racc.o.o.n. Hrrmph. Long time since a racc.o.o.n was here.a aYou know of them?a Artemisia asked.

aOf course. I was built not long after all the FirstFamily Residences by the colonists. They had some domesticated pets, cats and dogs, on the ships. They also revived the DNA and bred some of the more hardy of their Earthan animals, like llamas and horses and rabbits and racc.o.o.ns, to make themselves feel more at home.a aOh,a Artemisia said.

This is a beautiful place. The racc.o.o.n wiggled in her arms and she put the animal down.

aWhat did it say?a the Residence asked.

aShe is female and complimented you on your beauty.a aOf course. If she is well behaved, she may stay.a That was a great concession. Artemisia wasnat sure why the Residence was giving it to her but didnat question it. As she stripped and threw her wet and ruined clothes into the deconstructor, she asked the racc.o.o.n, aWhat is your name?a I need a Fam name from a human, the racc.o.o.n said, discovering the line of Artemisiaas shoes in the open closet and snuffling from one to the next.

aI would like to give you a BalmHeal name. Perhaps the Residence can suggest one?a Artemisia asked.

aIam honored,a the Residence said but made no suggestion while Artemisia stood under a waterfall foaming with cleansing herbs, dried, dressed, and cleaned up the mess of her ruined clothes.

Finally, the Residence said, aI would like to offer Diceranda as a wonderful Fam name.a The racc.o.o.n chittered. Randa Racc.o.o.n, I LIKE it.

aRanda loves the name Randa, Residence,a Artemisia said.

There was a little creak. aThat will do. And the racc.o.o.n isnat as big as that dog was,a the House muttered.

aIam sure all our mental and emotional connections will progress quickly so we can speak telepathically with each other,a Artemisia said. aResidence, could you contact Danith DaAshas office and request an appointment with the animal Healer for Randa?a Randa whimpered. Artemisia gave her a stern Healer look. aI will feel much better if an animal Healer checks your health.a aScrying TaAsh Residence,a BalmHeal said.

aGood.a We are in the conservatory, her mother projected mentally and Artemisia relayed that to Randa. She took off in a back-hunched lope, ears straight out. She didnat move like any cat or dog Artemisia had seen.

When they reached the conservatory, her parents were sitting in greeniron chairs with plush brown cushions. Caff and cocoa carafes were on the gla.s.s-topped table, along with an object draped lightly in a softleaf. The knife.

Artemisia went straight for the cocoa.

aI thought so,a her mother murmured, sharing a glance with her father. aWhatas bothering you, Artie?a Just that easily, she recalled Garrett and his words. Her hand shook and a stream of milky brown liquid splashed on the table and ran off to the flagstone floor. Randa lapped it up.

aI cana"canat.a Artemisiaas voice broke. aCanat talk about it. Not now. Maybe not ever, and espec-specially not to Tiana.a Her father gave her a straight look. aThatas not like you, and not healthy.a She inhaled a deep breath. aI will speak to someone. A priestess, maybe. But not right now. Now I only have to get through it.a And if she told her father that Garrett had revealed they were HeartMates, it would deeply trouble the older man. Her Family had had enough problems in the past and it appeared that controversy would be spinning around Artemisia and Tiana some more. Artemisia wouldnat add to that.

As for her, she didnat care about the law since she hadnat been hurt by it. Garrett wasnat claiming her illegally. Head set her free.

A slow breath sifted from her father. aVery well.a Her mother had said a short housekeeping spell and all traces of the cocoa spill disappeared.

Randa burped. Artemisiaas mother waved a hand in the direction of flagstones near the dry sink. aWe can finally use the Fam feeding area there.a Randaas head swiveled, then she scampered off to the small square and a bowl of dry dog food.

aNow, about this knife . . .a Artemisiaas father started.

She told them how she found Randa, had pulled the knife from her and thrown it into the pool.

Randaas crunching of the food stopped and she padded close to them, hunched down.

There were interesting smells in the park where we denned. Then there was death. My dam took the knife and hid it in our burrow. Then the bad human came and kicked our den apart and found the evil knife and threw it and it hit me and hurt! We all ran away in different directions.

aYou nearly died,a Artemisiaas mother said, obviously now able to hear the racc.o.o.nas telepathy, though her motheras face remained haunted. aThis is another wrong against me and my religion.a aWhat?a Artemisia asked.

Her mother gestured to the knife under the softleaf. aThat is a cross-folk ritual knife, but with edges and point sharpened enough to become a weapon.a Artemisiaas father cleared his throat, but his gaze stayed on Artemisia. aYou and Randa must tell the authorities this story.a aI know,a Artemisia said.

He nodded to the softleaf folded over the knife. aAnd give them the knife. It may have trace amounts of evidence on it. And someone with Flair might be able to sense the murderer from it.a He lifted his elegant hands, let them drop. He wasnat a judge, a man of legal authority, anymore. Her heart twinged. It wasnat often she saw regret for his lost career, but it peeked out of his eyes now. aI can provide you with a sterile vacuum box for the weapon.a He still had that skill.

aThank you.a aBut your motheras softleaf might have also left traces, and might identify her. You will have to be more careful than usual to guard our secrets.a The dreadful feeling that neither of her parents would survive being cast from the sanctuary welled inside Artemisia and clogged her throat. She coughed. aIall be very careful.a His gentle smile was back. aI know you will. You are often too careful. Both my daughters are.a His gaze searched hers. aIt is a cross-folk altar knife, and your mothera"and Ia"might know more about such than the authorities.a Skin tightened around his eyes. aWill you grant me a little time to research the knife? I think I might be able to determine the artist who crafted it. You could take it in to the guards tomorrow with more information.a aOf course.a aWe are breaking laws keeping it.a He shifted in his seat. aBut something of the energy surrounding the knife also feels a bit familiar.a aThe murdered man was Modoc Eryngo.a Her fatheras face solidified into a stony judgeas expression. Her mother gasped.

aHe did great harm to us, implicating us and the cross-folk in the Black Magic Cult murders.a Her fatheras tone was harsh and his lips tightened. aIt seems this new murderer wants to do the same.a He let out a deep breath. aBut your mother and I were here, and you at a Healing vigil in the Turquoise House with Garrett Primross, and Tiana at a spiritual vigil at GreatCircle Temple. In this particular case, the murderer was unlucky.a aWill you researching the knife add traces?a aI donat intend to touch it.a Artemisia eyed the lump under the softleaf. She hadnat gotten a good look at it. But she really didnat want to. Though her father had it shielded so they couldnat feel its negativity, she recalled the evil of it. She made herself smile. aI can take it in tomorrow, with an expert opinion.a aArtemisia,a BalmHeal Residence said aloud, athe first appointment Danith DaAsh has to examine a new Fam is tomorrow morning at WorkBell. I accepted that as your schedule shows your first shift at Primary HealingHall begins at NoonBell.a aThank you, Residence.a aIall have the weapon and my report on the knife ready then,a Artemisiaas father said.

Her mother closed her eyes, murmured a prayer to her G.o.d, then opened her lashes. aWe will be all right. Everyone except those who granted us this sinecure believes that we left Druida City after suffering a year of disgrace and scandal.a Her motheras mouth was turned down with bitterness, again something Artemisia didnat often see.

Her father reached out and took both of his HeartMateas hands. aThis should lead to a final ending of the matter.a aI hope so,a her mother said. aBut it will stir everything up like dirt in well water first. Donat let the authorities fall into the trap of thinking I had anything to do with this, again.a aI promise you that,a Artemisia said.

We will not, Randa said. She stood on her hind paws and put her front ones on the edge of Artemisiaas motheras chair. I will say I found the softleaf. It has my blood on it, too. I can lie, she ended proudly.

Artemisiaas father chuckled. aNot really a quality that should be encouraged.a His wife raised her elbow to nudge him in the ribs. aLittle lies make life smoother.a He leaned over to kiss her on the lips. aAs always, we will agree to disagree on that point.a The cocoa that had made it into Artemisiaas mug had cooled and she drank the half cup down. aIall scry Guard Captain Winterberry from Danith DaAshas office after Randa is checked out. That may give the guards some pause, being called from a FirstFamily Residence.a aVery true,a Artemisiaas mother said. aA good idea.a Randa had hurried back to her bowl and was crunching again, as if eating would help her forget the upcoming ordeal.

The Residence made a sound like a clearing of a throat. aI have a scry from Barton Clover, who wishes to invite Artemisia to dinner tonight.a Artemisiaas mother sat up straight, eyes gleaming. aOh, today is not without blessings!a aI hadnat thought to go out into the city again today. I wanted to spend more time with my Fam,a Artemisia said, even as she knew her mother would insist.

But Artemisiaas battered heart had picked up its beat and determination washed through her. She would find a husband.

Twenty-three.

Garrett spent some time at the guardhouse with Winterberry, Berberis, and Milkweed, telling the guards what his informants had relayed. Naturally he protected the secret source of his data.

Suppressed emotions swarmed through the station. Every guard who worked there knew that a smear on their honora"the escape of the last Black Magic Cultist murderera"was finally over. Winterberry, of course, was outwardly calm, but his eyes glittered. Head been the main investigator at the time. Berberis must have been on the team, also, and maybe even Milkweed, though she was younger than her partner.

When Berberis and Milkweed went to question people at the old airship landing port, Garrett couldnat resist the itching at the back of his mind to ensure Artemisia was safe.

The guards had offhandedly told him that the Turquoise House had confirmed her alibi, but the team didnat seem too impressed. Time to talk to the House itself and see what kind of hard data the place had that might clear her.

This he could do for her, easily and right now. He could protect her.

Rusby had stretched out on Garrettas shoulder to snooze, attached by a astaya spell. Garrett was taking no chances with his Fam.

He was taking no chances with his woman.

That wisp of thought/emotion twined through him, as if the bond between them had already infiltrated his nerves, wrapped around his bones in tight spirals.

Shead gotten to him. Not just to his body, which would be attracted to her because of the bond, but her quiet serenity, her grace, her compa.s.sion.

Her sharp insight into him that made him so uncomfortable.

He left the public carrier before Apollopa Park. As he walked by, he found the gray aura that he a.s.sociated with the miasma of murder had already dissipated. Near the Temple, he saw the man Artemisia had lunched with, Leger Cinchona, and Garrettas gut knotted, his shoulder muscles stiffened. Threat.

The man was hunkered down, looking at pink yarrow blossoms. Gawky, intellectual. A priest, so probably even sensitive. And was still a threat to Garrett, taking his woman.

His whole body tensed as he stared at the guy. Who didnat seem to know he was being watched by an enemy.

Messing around in Apollopa Park looked suspicious to Garrett. He pulled his glare away from the man and shook out his limbs. He needed a good workout in the worst way, would have to take some time at a gym. Or maybe even darken the door of The Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon. His friend Laev TaHawthorn had put Garrettas name in as a guest for a temporary membership. Garrett had never followed through on that.

Maybe it was time. Good networking for his business and the best training in fighting and weapons a man could geta"if he could afford it. And he could afford it now.

As he could afford to stay at the Turquoise House, no matter what that being charged, something Danith DaAsh had put into his head. Though he wasnat sure it was a move he should make. Since head actually have to ask . . . or hint heavily that he might want to be the Houseas tenant. Would the House allow that?

The sh.e.l.ls head encased around himself since Dinnias rejectiona"and especially since the hideous trip to the clinic and the aftermath, the continuing struggle against the sicknessa"were cracking, letting more emotions in.

Tenderness and love for a kitten.

Yearning and attraction and l.u.s.t for a woman.

Now an unexpected ambivalence about wanting a special place, a home.

So he thought of home as he approached the Turquoise House. Head been in the HouseHeart and recalled being amazed and touched, though not at what. Yet he doubted if TQ was the right home for him. Garrett liked MidCla.s.s Lodge, but he was worried about Rusby and the nearby ocean, all the threats from people and animals that could harm a youngster.

The Turquoise House would be safer, and Garrettas band of ferals liked it. He rolled his shoulders. The resonance, the feeling didnat seem right. And would he ever forget suffering through the Iasc and reliving the worst days of his life there? He didnat think so. Bound to be memory smudges.

For some reason, the fever dream where he looked through gates at a garden rose. Dream home. Lush garden, serenity, turquoise poolsa"Healing pools. Didnat Artemisia live near . . .

h.e.l.lo, Garrett. Sleek Black paced him.

Rusby awoke, shook himself out, and stared down. h.e.l.lo, feral Cat.

Sleek Black growled.

aEnough of that.a Garrett glanced at Sleek Black. aYou have information?a I want a treat.

Of course he did.

aAll right, once we get to the Turquoise House.a As far as Garrett knew, the House still had someone delivering food for the ferals it fed. And if there wasnat a stash of treats, he could translocate them from his office or his home.

Then he was there, and gleaming, recently tinted greeniron gates opened. He glanced up at the scrystone embedded in the pillar. aGood control, TQ.a The green blue crystal pulsed in response, but TQ didnat have the power to talk much outside its walls and Garrett saw no front speaker.

It was probably contrary of Garrett to prefer the rusty gates head seen in his dream, and a tangled green garden, to TQas tended gra.s.syard and flower beds and, now, polished flagstones in the glider courtyard before the House.

Neither the shiny walls of the House itself nor the pristine door appeared any different than when head walked through a few days ago. But all was different, for Garrett himself, Artemisia, TQa"whose HouseHeart had changeda"and the fliggering b.a.s.t.a.r.d whoad been killed.

Whoad deserved to be killed after his own actions with the Black Magic Cult torture murders. Garrett was pretty sure that everyone on Celta would think of the death as justice.

Sleek Black gave a small throaty whine and Rusby sniffed in Garrettas ear and he turned aside from the front and walked around to the back gra.s.syard.

The flowers exploded with even more color and abandon. He eyed them. No doubt TQ was very proud of them, as he was with everything that pertained to himself. Garrett didnat think he could live with such a summer view. Too darn groomed . . . and there wasnat as much land as he likeda"a nice-sized yard for a middle-cla.s.s n.o.ble, but the courtyard in MidCla.s.s Lodge was larger and close to the beach.

Garrett stretched. Yeah, he wanted more room. Who could have known? He wouldnat be asking TQ about renteras rates. Garrettas tight breathing eased. No, he wasnat ready to have TQ as a home. A blessing, he supposed.

But they were in the back area where the bowls for ferals were. He lounged on a bench, letting Rusby hop down to sit on his thigh, and petted his kitten as Sleek Black munched a few bites. Just for form, Garrett thought.

The cat came and sat in front of Garrett, slicked his whiskers, and wrapped his tail around his paws. He gave a small belch and lifted his gaze to Garrettas. The racc.o.o.ns from the park have definitely moved. They have not returned. His back gave a ripple cat shrug. But racc.o.o.ns usually move very often.

Garrett crossed his ankles, let his lids droop over his eyes. Bright with flowers, the garden smelled really great, and even in the shade, the heat was settling into his bones. Nice to be able to take a break and not worry about a case or gilt or responsibility or . . . personal problems. aI donat think thatas enough information for a treat.a Rusby snorted and smiled, showing baby teeth. Garrett tapped his small head with his forefinger. aDonat tease. Youare with me now, youare a Fam. You have more dignity.a The tip of Rusbyas tail twitched and he wriggled on Garrettas leg, then subsided.

Sleek Blackas ears angled, nearly flattened. His eyes narrowed. I am sure that at least one of the racc.o.o.ns would have seen the big red anger well. You just must find them.

aUm-hmm.a Garrett rubbed his chin, put Rusby back on his shoulder with a astaya spell, and stood, popping his joints. Felt good. aCome on inside and Iall get you a treat.a Sleek Black hissed. Do not want to go into bad-smelling House.

Garrett thought of all the Houseas plans. He supposed he was surprised that there werenat workmen or furniture movers or something, that the yard and House seemed empty.

aSo, Sleek Black, how many winters have you lived through?a The cat shuddered. One. Icy paws.

aMaybe you should consider an inside job.a He lifted his muzzle, wrinkled his nose. Do not want to be a tame FamCat.

Rusby snorted. I will have pets and food and warms all of My life. And love.

Garrett swallowed as emotion rose through him. Thatas right.

As he approached the back door, it opened. There was a very small room with a bench and hooks. One of the shelvesa"new oak shelves on a sage-tinted walla"held several bags of dry pet food in various flavors. And a couple of small bags of moist treats.

aHowad you like some fishy moist treats?a Sleek Blackas tongue came out and licked his muzzle. aYesss,a he vocalized.

aYouave gotta come in,a Garrett said, stooping down to pour out some of the fish-shaped bits into a little bowl.

aWelcome back, Garrett,a TQ said. aIt is good to see you and Rusby. You must have a tour!a Garrett supposed so. Sleek Black inched through the open door, sniffed. Smells much better.

aYes,a Garrett answered. He could only pick up traces of herbal housekeeping spells but knew the catsa noses were more sensitive.

While Sleek Black ate, Garrett said to him, aTell all the others that I want a background check on a man.a When head first started gathering his little troupe, head explained the term. As new ferals joined, they got the info from the others. Garrett had never asked his informants to trace a priest before, wasnat sure how to describe him, fell back on location. aHe ate lunch with Artemisia Mugwort this afternoon at Darjeelingas HouseHeart and left with her. He was just in the park.a The altar man from the biggest round, Sleek Black said mentally, licking the bowl clean. I saw him. He glanced up at Garrett, and Garrett made sure from his expression that the cat knew begging for more was useless.

aTell everyone to keep an eye, ear, and nose out for the racc.o.o.ns.a I will go now, Sleek Black said and flipped his tail, running from the House and back toward Apollopa Park.

aAltar man?a He is a man who stands at the altar in outside holiday human circles for other humans, Rusby said.

Though any man could perform the duties of a priest and act as a manifestation of the Lord, a priest would do it more often. Garrett had already figured out the biggest round meant GreatCircle Temple.

He closed the back door and kept Rusby on his shoulder. Since the kitten was sitting up, Garrett touched him to make sure all was well.

Stepping into the main hallway, he found the color of the walls a pale, warm gold, and golden oak molding around the ceiling and for baseboards. aVery nice, TQ,a he said.

aThank you.a The more he went through it, the more he was impressed, though his heart was settled now that he knew it wasnat the home for him. The tinting throughout the House was something either a man or a woman could live with.

aI only have furniture in my MasterSuite,a TQ said.

Garrettas steps lagged as he approached the place of his suffering. He glanced in. The walls and ceiling were a pale blue. Tinted wisps of clouds drifted across the ceiling. Sort of charming.

The furniture was a deep cherry, with a bedsponge platform in a rounded rectangle and smooth curved sides. The headboard was a simple half circle. There were tables on each side of the bed and simple white lamps.