Trading in Futures by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller Read Free Book Online

startled.
    "I hope you will allow me to commend your
performance as House Guard," he murmured. "I am persuaded that you
stand the duty often."
    Kesa blushed, lashes flickering. "Not," she
said, somewhat faintly, "so very often." She paused, glancing
aside, then looked back to his face.
    "In fact," she said, rather breathlessly,
"this evening is the first time I have stood between the House and
the world. It is--it has been my brother's duty, you know--he is
the elder--but, this evening, he... He asked our father for other
work."
    "Very proper in him," Daav murmured, noting
her hesitation and drawing the conclusion that Kesa's brother's
"ask" had very little of "if-you-please" about it. "So this was
your first time a House Guard? I am all admiration. Well I remember
my first time at the door--a mere dinner party, nothing like what
we have here!--and I was wishing for nothing but my bed before even
half the guests were arrived!"
    She actually laughed, and Daav ducked as
they passed beneath a string of balloons and streamers.
    Kesa paused, frowning up at him and the
balloons just behind his head.
    "I do not--you are very tall, are you not? I
recall my father said that Korval is a tall Clan. He--Jen Dal was
to have made certain the lines were strung well above--but I am
certain." she said in a sudden rush, "that he could not have
realized that, that--"
    "That the pickpocket who wishes to rob
Korval must bring his own stepladder," Daav said lightly, rescuing
her from what could only be an unfortunate culmination of her
sentence.
    Kesa frowned. "I do not entirely--"
    "Ah, Daav! I had heard the Scouts had
released you to us!"
    The voice was lovely, as was the lady. Two
years ago, he had been besotted with both. He was no longer
besotted, but he was indebted to her for a lesson well-delivered
and equally well-learned, and so he bowed, with courtesy.
    "Bobrin, good evening to you."
    She returned his bow, eyes teasing his face,
then straightened, one hand rising to her flower-braided hair. Her
eyes left his face, and found Kesa.
    "It is Etgora's daughter, is it not?"
    Kesa bowed low--Child of the House to
Honored Guest. "Kesa del'Fordan, Lady del'Pemridj."
    "Just so." Bobrin inclined her beflowered
head, then shot Daav a glance of pure mischief. "Take advice and
walk carefully with this one, House-daughter. Daav--" She paused,
likely on the edge of more specific mischief. Daav met her eye
squarely, and had the satisfaction of seeing her look aside.
    "Daav," she said, "Good evening."
    She swept down the path and Daav became
aware that he was gritting his teeth. Deliberately, he relaxed his
jaw and looked down at his companion.
    Kesa was staring after Bobrin, brown eyes
wide. After a moment, she sighed and glanced up at Daav.
    "She is a very beautiful lady. I--do you
think when I am grown I might wear flowers in my hair?"
    When you are
grown , Daav thought, my hope is that you will care more for other matters--even
for what I deduce is your scapegrace brother--than for the dressing
of your hair.
    Her look, however, was appealing--and she
was, after all, a child--so he swallowed his initial answer and
instead looked about with wide amaze, flinging his arm out.
    "Why, here we are in the very heart of a
garden! What is to prevent you from having flowers in your hair
this instant, if you wish it?"
    "I--" She, too, stared about, as if she just
now realized their setting, then looked back to his face.
    "No one, that is, I have yet to learn
the--the proper manner in which to place flowers in the hair."
    "Ah, there you are fortunate," Daav said
gaily. "I have some training in the placement of hair-ornaments.
Perhaps you will allow me to be of service to you."
    The brown eyes took fire. "Would you? I--I
would be in your debt."
    "Not a bit of it." Daav said stoutly. "It is
a pleasure to share my skill. Now, which flowers will you
have?"
    She moved to the edge of the walk, staring
at the orderly rows of blossom. "That, if you please," she