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Bossgond shook his head. “The corridor between worlds is inexplicable. The winds can be absent or like a hurricane. Monsters…”
“No!”
“I saw you come through, but only glimpsed your pet at that time. I have not seen him since. The binoculars are not designed to explore the corridor. I’m sorry.”
Marian bit her lip. “Thank you, anyway.”
At that moment all the chimes in the open window sounded.
“Visitors come.” Bossgond scowled.
“A boat?”
“No.” He flicked his fingers to the window. “Go see.” He looked as if he suppressed a smile…at her expense? She crossed to the window.
A flying horse carrying two people circled the Tower, then descended to land in front of the main door. Marian found herself leaning out of the window to stare at the Pegasus. It was the most beautiful creature she’d ever seen, and she’d never been a girl fond of horses. But this beast was different. It glowed with magic.
“Hey!” someone called. “Hey, Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
Marian choked and tore her gaze away from the winged horse to narrow her eyes at the small woman at the bottom of the Tower. Alexa—the other Earth woman, the first Exotique in centuries.
“Will that grumpy old man let us in?” Alexa called, and Marian was torn between laughter at Alexa’s words and surprise that they’d both called him the same thing.
“I’ll ask,” Marian shouted back in English, then turned to Bossgond. “Will you allow Alexa to visit?”
“I let the volaran through my shield, didn’t I?” he snapped, and Marian sensed he’d learned enough English from her to know “grumpy old man.” She flushed but didn’t apologize.
“I have not spoken with the Exotique Swordmarshall Alyeka yet.” With little grace, Bossgond tromped down the circular stairs, grumbling under his breath.
Marian followed, excitement fizzing through her. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Bossgond ordered, “Light.” The lowest round chamber, which Marian hadn’t seen before, lit with a mellow glow.
The room was so beautiful that Marian gasped: the walls were paneled in rich wood, carpets covered the stone floors, two large fireplaces with sculpted marble surrounds held crackling fires. Several tapestries hung on the walls. There were no windows. A defensive measure?
Ripples of sound came from the entry doors—a scale rising and falling, rising and—
“Will you stop that!” Bossgond yanked open one side of the doors, letting late-spring sunlight flood into the room, and faced a woman smaller than he. Alexa.
She wore thick tights and a tunic that came to mid-thigh. And chain mail, with sheaths for sword and her wand—baton. Grinning at Bossgond, she said, “Shalutashuns, Bossgond.”
Marian realized several things all at once: Alexa was about Marian’s own age, small for an Earth woman—about five foot even—and very small for a Lladranan. And she had a terrible accent.
“Shalutashuns, Marian,” Alexa said, sounding drunk. She sighed and switched to English. “It’s the accent. I’m not good at languages and Lladranan still tangles my tongue.”
“Kind of you finally to visit me,” Bossgond huffed. “I’m only the most Powerful Circlet on Amee.”
Alexa blinked at him. Her next words were carefully pronounced. “I had no idea you wished to see me. You could have invited me, or come to the Castle.”
Bossgond drew himself up so he could tower over the smaller woman. It didn’t faze her. “I do not travel.”
“Huh,” said Alexa. “Sounds like you were just as interested in me as everyone else in Lladrana and irritated because I didn’t come and satisfy your curiosity.” She grinned widely. “As a matter of fact, I’d never heard of you until a couple of days ago.”
He narrowed his eyes and looked like an evil mage. “Th-those arrogant Marshalls. Those impertinent younger Circlets…” he sputtered.
“I’m sure you’re right.” Alexa nodded. “Sometimes prying information out of them is like pulling teeth.”
He looked horrified.
Alexa glanced at Marian. “You think they use that idiom?” she said in English.
“It doesn’t look like it. I think you’ve shocked him to his core.”
“Hmm. I haven’t had any dental problems since I’ve been here.” She ran her tongue around her teeth. “I wonder what they do. I hope it’s better than on Earth. I hate dentists.”
“How long have you been here?” Marian asked.
“Nearly three months. The weeks and days are about the same as on Earth, you know.”
“Yes.”
Alexa heaved a sigh. “I suppose we’d better find out what you know and what you don’t.”
“A good idea.”
“You must have a million questions.”
“Somewhere around that.”
“Did the feycoocu come with you?” asked Bossgond.
“What?” Marian didn’t catch the word.
“Fey-coo-cu,” Alexa said slowly. She fingered the baton sheathed at her side. “She’s my sidekick.” Alexa grinned. “A magical shapeshifter.”
Marian stared. “If you say so.” But a little thrill went through her.
Alexa laughed. “Yep, we have plenty to talk about.” She turned to a simmering Bossgond. “I am not proficient on volaranback. My husband brought me. The feycoocu accompanied us in her hawk form.”
“Husband?” Marian asked. “Did two of you come from Colorado?”
“Nope, I met him here.” Alexa shifted, flushed slightly. “I know it’s been quick, but you know that old saying about extreme circumstances and love. You don’t get any more extreme circumstances than these on Lladrana.” All humor left her face, and she rubbed at the scar on her cheek. “Let’s walk and talk.”
“I think we’d better,” Marian said, swallowing apprehension. On the whole, she’d been treating this lightly, but there was no denying that if a bunch of people summoned you from another world, they were probably desperate and wanted something from you.
Alexa made a half bow to Bossgond. “May I visit with your Apprentice, Circlet Bossgond?”
He nodded regally. “Send the feycoocu to me if you see her. I have never met one.” His lip curled. “And if you don’t see her, I will talk to your Pairling. I’ve heard he is a black-and-white. We need to study those unfortunates more.”
“I’m sure he’ll be glad to let you examine him,” Alexa said dryly.
“Pairling?” asked Marian.
“Husband, partner.” Alexa frowned. “Isn’t there a word ‘shieldmate’?”
“Yes,” Marian said.
Alexa nodded. “Then he’s my shieldmate. We fight together.”
A chill slithered down Marian’s spine and she glanced at Alexa’s sword out of the corner of her eye. It appeared well used, with plenty of nicks on the fingerguard. Marian couldn’t imagine fighting with a sword or shield. A hint of the dreams she’d had at home drifted through her mind. She’d fought, though, with magic. This was feeling more and more ominous. She ran her hands up and down her arms.
“You may go, Apprentice,” Bossgond said in a tone he hadn’t used before with her.
She stiffened and frowned at him. But that made her think, too. Alexa apparently was a Marshall, which Marian had deduced was a powerful elite. She was stuck as an Apprentice.
Alexa jerked her head to the door. “You should have seen the horrible Tests the Marshalls put me through the minute I arrived,” Alexa said under her breath.
She shuddered, and Marian knew the woman was utterly sincere.
Marian followed her. “Bossgond showed me an image of you walking in the mountains. Colorado?”
“Yes.”
“You had brown hair.”
Throwing open the door, Alexa stepped into the sunlight. It gleamed on her silver hair. She looked back at Marian. “It was one of those turn-white-overnight deals. The night I came.”
“Really?” Marian’s mouth had dried. As she went through the door she welcomed the cheery warmth of the sun.
“Yeah, and my eyes deepened in color, too,” Alexa said, her curled fingers showing white knuckles as they clasped the top of her baton.
The door slipped from Marian’s grasp and slammed shut.
Alexa smiled at Marian and switched to English again. “You know your way around here?”
“Not much.”
Chuckling, Alexa said, “It’s only been a couple of days since you arrived—but I’m sure they’ve been jam-packed with experiences.”
“Oh yes,” Marian said fervently. “I remember a nice forest path and a peaceful meadow a few minutes away—will that suit?”
“For sure.” She tilted her head. “I’m connected mentally to my husband, Bastien. He’s giving us privacy and hiding from Bossgond. He says he’ll talk to the old mage when he’s ready.”
Marian led the way from Bossgond’s Tower. They paused at the forcefield for Marian to open a “door” for Alexa. Outside Bossgond’s sphere of influence they stood in the sun and studied each other.
“I like the looks of you,” Alexa said.
Marian felt relief from an anxiety that she hadn’t known she was feeling. “I like the looks of you, too.”
She held out her hand and they shook, then Alexa turned Marian’s arm over to see her wrist. Alexa’s eyes sharpened.
“You’ve blood-bonded with Bossgond?”
“Yes, as Master and Apprentice.” Marian pouted a little.
“Won’t be long until you’re a Circlet,” Alexa said casually, confidently. “The Song only Summons the best.”
Marian liked her more and more.
Alexa held out her left arm and pushed her sleeve up, showing her own tattoo: crossed wands. One was green with flames coming out of the top, the other black with silver twined around it. “This is my Pair-bond with Bastien—it’s a blood-bond, sex bond, love bond. We haven’t had a formal ceremony—like a wedding—the full binding—yet, though. We’re both a little nervous about that.”
Then she flipped open the short sheath and drew out the green stick shown on the tattoo. It looked like jade.
“It’s my baton—do you want to see it?” The offer was cheerfully made, but her gaze watchful.
As soon as Marian touched the cool jade, a hard shock jolted up her arm. She hung on as the energy—Alexa’s energy—whirled through her, then settled, itchy, under her skin. As she stared at the baton, carved figures appeared, and the flames at the end danced.
Alexa’s eyes widened and she nodded incisively. “Good. I thought you might be able to handle and use it. My husband, Bastien, can hold it for a couple of minutes, use it once, but that’s all. It’s good to know that you could wield it in an emergency.”
“What emergency?” Marian said faintly, her stomach tightening, watching mercury flow viscously in a glass tube under the flames.
“On the battlefield, if I fall,” Alexa said.
Marian dropped the baton. Alexa caught it—or rather, it flew into her hand. Marian stared at the woman, fit and strong, with the scar running down her cheek and somber eyes. Alexa heaved a sigh.
“I was afraid that they’d leave this to me. That miserable old man. But maybe you won’t be fighting. Many Circlets don’t.” She shrugged, but her voice was faintly condemning. “Let’s walk and talk.”
“I’m not staying here. I have a life back home.”
“Which is?”
“Boulder.”
“Ah.” Alexa’s smile was quick and charming, but she covered the ground rapidly. “Thought I pegged you for an academic.”
“I’m working on my doctorate in Comparative Religion and Philosophy,” Marian said stiffly.
Alexa halted in the small meadow. A couple of large rocks graced the center, looking like seats. She turned to Marian and tapped herself on the chest. “Swordmarshall Alexa Fitzwalter, Esquire, Attorney at Law.”
“You’re a lawyer?” It was the last thing Marian would have guessed.
“Was.” Alexa hitched herself up on one of the rocks and wiggled to get comfortable. “Nice seat, warm from the sun.” She smiled serenely at Marian. “Now I do all my fighting on a battlefield, not in a courtroom.” A shadow lingered in her eyes.
Marian wasn’t ready to hear her story. She had to make something else very clear, first.
“I’m not staying. I can’t. I have a life I must return to.”
Alexa lifted her chin. “I have a life I crafted here.”
“I have a brother with MS.”
