The home of the Revered Lyappis, Truvos, Planting Season, 6th rot., 4th day, 2nd-4th bells

Imstay leaned back in his chair in the dining room of the Revered Lyappis' lakeside "cottage" and congratulated himself on his inspired, no, brilliant idea. Because this bond thing was Aylem's idea, he talked Aylem into negotiating with Fassex and Lisaykos. When it came to money, Aylem was an avalanche of snow, a flood from a breaking ice dam, a lava flow from the Great Cracks.

He sat back and worked at not smiling as the greatest hoarder of every bronze piece in the treasury pursued every trivial contract term, clarified every clause, and triple-calculated every number on her wax tablet. It was such a thrill to see this giant wolverine of finance at work. He had to admit that the only reason he didn't assassinate Aylem during the period of her worst excesses was because of her virtuoso management of the kingdom's money.

Now that they were getting along again, her financial prowess made him appreciate her even more. She still had the occasional bad day, but now she would lock herself away until she could keep a cauldron cover on her boiling bouts of anger. Now, she knew she had a problem and could take steps to protect the people around her.

Imstay thought it was a good thing that their subjects still felt some fear around her. He knew it upset her, but from his perspective, it made everyone behave better around her. What didn't upset her wouldn't anger her. The less she was angry, the better. The reputation of her anger could be a valuable tool for her, too, assuming she could look at her failing objectively and use it to her advantage. Even her temper could become part of her projection of power on behalf of the kingdom. The threat of the Mad Queen of Foskos could be an excellent strategic weapon in his arsenal for destroying the blister of malaise on the continent called Impotu.

Imstay's enjoyment in financial savagement was blunted just a bit this morning because his cousin, Lisaykos, and the siege-proof mental fortress known as Fassex hat Rigdit were Aylem's opponents. If they were even slightly intimidated by the Queen, they didn't show it. The verbal sparring had been brutal, with no quarter given, where every hundredth of a hundredth of an interest rate was contested, and barrels of metaphorical blood had been spilled. The three were so intent in their haggling that their beakers of tea went cold, were replaced, and went cold again, and again.

"I don't want this, Sister Aylem," Lisaykos said, using the Queen's honorific as part of the Convocation. "This variable period on the start of interest payments is non-standard. It's never been done before. We have no guarantee that this concrete stuff will work on schedule, given that Emily is leaving the kingdom again. If there's a substantial delay in making a new road, it's our capital at risk, at the mercy of your potential failure. You could default or put off work until next year, and we'd be out of our money while you paid no penalty. I know you want to use the road toll to fund the initial payments, but you can increase the ferry tolls in Yuxvos to cover the initial payments."

"We don't dare increase that toll," Aylem scowled. "We would encourage the merchants using the ferry to divert to other markets instead. Then, we'd need to mobilize hired transport to bring in food and export out commodities of Kesmet. That cost would come out of the royal treasury's currently depleted resources. Do I need to remind you what the riot and fires in your city are costing us? You have emptied my treasury, Sister Lisaykos, but you are under no obligation to increase the taxes collected in Aybhas. So, I can only fund your initial bond payments with the tolls on the rebuilt road out of Kas, and I can't raise the toll on the ferry at Yuxmos.

"Are you volunteering to increase taxes in Aybhas to preserve the government's liquidity, Sister Lisaykos?" Aylem was in full fury, leaning forward and assaulting the tabletop with jabs of her strong forefinger. "What will you do if your obstinance in not giving me room on the start of the interest payments causes a liquidity crisis such that the funds to support the Shrines are delayed? We are now in the third year of juggling floods, famine, invasion, rebellion, and riots. Five lord holdings are currently leaderless and not producing like they should because of it. Three others are under new management and also not running like they should. Revenues are down because of this, but do the Shrines give us any leeway? No, they don't.

"All the financial strain is borne by the King's treasury. So, I am forced to wait for the road toll to be re-established before I can make the initial payments. I am motivated to see the new road built as quickly as possible because I need that toll money. I need that variable period on starting payments in case of minor delays because sometimes accidents happen. The government's cash liquidity must be preserved, or everything — and I mean everything — falls apart with all the social unrest and anarchy that goes with a liquidity crisis. I lived through one of those on Earth, and trust me, we do not want to go there. I need that variable start time on payments to preserve not just the kingdom's liquidity but the social order itself." Imstay thought Aylem looked ready to bite Fassex and Lisaykos when she was done.

"Stirring speech, dear heart, but this concrete stuff is untried and untested, and Emily will not be here, Sister Aylem," Fassex sounded unimpressed and just a bit bored. "Raoleer and Sutsusum will be on their own without the Prophet to guide them. May I remind you that this is a seller's market, not a buyer's. You need us; we don't need you."

"Emily had a visit from Giltak in her dreams last night," Aylem smiled like a roc eagle that had just snagged an elk. "She's out on Asgotl, showing Raoleer, Huhoti, Sutsusum, and Kamagishi where to find the right rocks to use even as we speak. So the god of fire and craft has intervened. The only delays will be getting the labor on site and trained. A god wants this to succeed."

"Well, that explains why that bunch skipped repast earlier this morning," Fassex said. "Why don't we keep the variable term but insert a clause that the contract will terminate and the kingdom will pay us back in full within two years if the road is not complete by the end of Harvest Season. It is a critical need, after all, and as you said, you want this to happen as quickly as we do."

"Make it a renegotiation with a two percent penalty, no interest on the penalty, payable within two years from the end of Harvest Season instead of a termination, and I'll accept it as a condition," Aylem said.

"You're that confident, dear heart?" Lisaykos needled.

"Raoleer, Huhoti, and Sutsusum are getting personal tutoring from Emily, and Kamagishi is following along to take notes. And I know about concrete. It should be as easy as your basic warmth charm for someone as gifted as Huhoti. I'm confident our mekaners will master a usable version of concrete in no time. I watched them leave this morning. Emily made Sutsusum promise to adopt the Building Shrine's new pendulum-based timekeeping system so the mixing times would be standardized between the two shrines. Yes, concrete will work. Emily trusts our three mekaner mages. Emily's trust is not easily given."

"That's an astute observation, Sister Aylem," said Lisaykos, the snow bear of negotiators, who ate her business partners for snacks. "If you agree with the penalty and renegotiation, Sister Fassex, then I will agree."

"It is acceptable to me," Fassex said, making one last note on her wax tablet.

"Then I have my financing?" Imstay sat up, looking hopeful.

"You have your financing, cousin," smiling at him like a mass murderer with malice of forethought.

"Oh soggy sops," Fassex put her beaker down after wetting her dry throat, "my tea is cold."

Aylem waved a lazy hand, "No, it isn't."

Emily, Truvos, Planting Season, 6th rot., 4th day, 5th bell to evening

"Explain something to me, Emily," Aylem said, picking me up from Asgotl's back and settling me on her arm. "Why ice? Won't that make your steam bomb float? Don't you want it to sink so it won't float downstream?"

"I wish you would remember to warn me before you throw me around like a ball, Jane Paxton," I snapped, startled. After I managed to release my vice-like grip on her cloak, I answered her question. "The ice is to ensure that enough but not too much material is present next to the heating gems to flash into steam because the bomb will be dropped into the upstream starling around one of the bridge piers. The bridge at No'ank has starlings on the upstream side made of wood piles to protect it from debris. We'll dig out whatever is between the piles and the pier and have Spot drop the bomb into the hole we made. If we sank the salt block instead, we wouldn't be sure it would end up next to a bridge pier."

"Couldn't one of the Chem swim the salt block into place?" Aylem asked, walking to the front portico of Manse Truvos. Asgotl followed and nipped at her cloak. "What? Asgotl, what are you doing?"

"Hey, Aylem," Asgotl looked unhappy with her, "you didn't even bother to say hello to me, and you forgot to ask Emily if you could pick her up like that."

"What's with you? I didn't hurt Em," Aylem scowled.

"You know she doesn't like it. You scared her. Again." Asgotl scolded. "Emily has no way to resist you, and you know it. That's bullying, Aylem. Apologize."

Aylem glared at Asgotl, looking angry. I noticed everyone around us stop and wait to see how this would resolve, looking worried.

Asgotl glared back, "Aylem, just because you're goofy from being pregnant doesn't give you the license to scare Emily like this. She's had a terrible rotation. Don't make it worse."

They glared at each other for a long moment, and then Aylem caved. She hung her head and sighed, "You're right, feather head. I do know better."

By now, I had my head stuffed against her cloak so no one could see my face as I tried to keep the tears at bay. Watching Aylem glare at Asgotl like that did unexpected and unpleasant things to me as the memory of being killed by Aylem replayed in my head.

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"Emily?" Aylem's voice was soft and gentle and full of distress. She cradled the back of my head in her monstrous hand. "Emily, dear heart? It's alright. I'm sorry," I heard her voice break. "You know I never want to hurt you." She put her forehead against the top of my head, and her voice was next to my ear. "I'm so sorry, Em. I didn't mean to frighten you again. You know I don't want this. Dammit. Emily, are you going to be okay? Em?"

I tried to talk, but I had forgotten how. I couldn't see anything but Asgolt's broken body on the balcony paving stones, and my ears were ringing.

"Aylem, dearest, let me have her," I heard Lyappis say. The next thing I knew, I was in Kayseo's lap as she reclined on the lounge in Lord Sopno's master bedroom, wrapped in a blanket, feeling like someone had dosed me with too much dextromethorphan. Knowing that the drug didn't exist here, I guessed that Kamagishi used the charm of peace on me.

"Are you finally awake, dear heart?" Kayseo asked

"No, I am definitely not awake," I replied, just to be contrary.

"Alright," Kayseo laughed. "Just checking."

"I thought you and Otty were supposed to be wallowing in marital bliss today?" I asked.

"Well, there was some of that," Kayseo laughed again, "but one can't do that all day."

"Oh, yes, you can," I stated. "I've done it, at least in a previous life. Did Kamagishi use the charm of peace on me?"

"Yes, Grandmother Lyappis requested it," Kayseo said. "She said you were having a flashback from when the Queen killed you. She asked me to take care of you while she, the King, and the Blessed Lisakos calmed down the Queen. Asgotl is out back, worried about you, by the way. Otty?"

"Yes, dear?" Otty's voice said from one of the window seats I couldn't see to the left of the bed.

"Will you tell Asgotl that Emily's awake and doing much better?"

"Be right back," Otty said. I saw him leave the room.

"I was hoping to spend some time with you before you left again, but I didn't anticipate it would be like this," Kayseo said. "I tried to find you the day before yesterday when I had some time free from all the preparations and guest greeting and all that, but you were glued to Raoleer talking about shaping glass to make a misoscoe? Did I get that right?"

"Microscope, Kayseo. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were looking for me. I just assumed you were busy with whatever people do before weddings."

"What's a backtario? It sounded like it caused diseases."

"It's bacteria, and some of them cause diseases while others are beneficial and needed for things like human digestion," I explained. "I asked Aylem a few days ago whether healers could target and eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses. Bad bacteria and viruses will probably cause disease outbreaks once all the Coyn get rid of the control gems on their hands."

"Is that likely to happen, Em?" Kayseo didn't like the idea.

"I think it might, which is why I was talking to Aylem about it," I said. "Damn, I feel out of it."

"The charm of peace has that effect on some people," Kayseo said. "I think you should spend some time with me this afternoon. You're not fit to fly back to Sussbesschem right now. Tom wanted to leave already, but Irhessa talked him into spending the night. It will be quiet now that most of the guests have left or are getting ready to leave."

"What will you do now?" I asked. "I mean, now that you're married."

"Well, I was originally planning on renting a place in Aybhas for Otty and me so I could spend some time working at the Healing Shrine, at least until I got pregnant. Then Otty and I would live at Pinisla until I gave birth. We didn't make any plans past that."

"I just can't see you as a Lord Holder," I said.

"Neither can I, to be truthful, nor do I really want to be one. I've always wanted to be a healer. I've been thinking I might be able to fill the Lord position until a child of mine is old enough to take over. Then, I could go back to being a healer full-time. Lord Katsa said there are precedents for that. Father Bobbo said he would help run the holding so I could spend some time working as a healer. But back to bacteria. Why were you so keen on this misosco—"

"Microscope, Kayseo. It lets you see things that are really small, like bacteria. Talk to Raoleer if this interests you. There are thousands of different kinds of bacteria, and only some of them cause diseases. Gemless Coyn are soon to be victims of those. I thought that healers like you, who can sense down to the molecular level, would profit from learning how to identify bacteria. Someone like you or Aylem could start with a microscope and then extend what you learned to how to find them in the body."

"That's interesting, Em, though getting the freed Coyn to wear gems from the Well of Mugash would be easier."

"Good luck with that, Kayseo," I was not feeling optimistic. "Most Coyn have a negative view of charm gems after living with the oppressive presence of a control gem up to now. The last thing a Coyn will want to see after being freed from their control gem will be any other gem. It will be difficult without a big education effort, and even then, it will be hard. I'm afraid that diseases in Coyn will become a problem in Foskos."

"Do you have any sort of gem, Emily?" Kayseo sounded worried. "You had a fever when you showed up two years ago, and I know you had a wound infection when you returned from your trip with the gods last year."

"Aylem gave me a gem from the Well of Mugash when I went to Imkalem," I replied, pulling out the gem on the chain around my neck. "I wasn't sure about wearing one, especially after my experience with my own control gem, but I do wear it. I don't want any more fevers."

"Wow, the links on this chain are so small," Kayseo's bratwurst-like fingers felt the chain I bought in Inkalem for the gem. "I didn't know a chain could be made that small."

"I got it in Imkalem. Careful, Kayseo," I put it back inside my tunic before she accidentally broke it. "It's brass plated with gold, so it won't tarnish."

"I'm glad you have it," Kayseo sounded relieved, "just like I'm glad you have Ud's magic shirt. You are so reckless sometimes. You worry me, you know. I can tell you worry Tom, too, though I hardly know the man. Thuorfosi said he's as good at music as you are. Oh!" She grabbed me as she sat up so I wouldn't slide off her lap, "Tom gave her a wonderful gift. He's a wonderful artist, Emily."

"I know. That's what he did back on Earth."

"Well, he had sketched Wolkayrs at some point in that little paper pad he carries around. He had it framed and gave it to Thuorfosi. That was really sweet of him to do that."

"I didn't know he did that," I said. "When did he do that?"

"This morning, when you were off with Raoleer and Sutsusum, looking at rocks," Kayseo exhaled in exasperation. "You and your rocks."

We were interrupted by Kamagishi's knock pattern.

"Come," Kayseo said.

Otty and Kamagishi walked in. They both sat on the lounge next to us.

"Otty, did you manage to block out the godmarks?" I had to ask.

"Mom showed me how to do it a few days ago," Otty said, referring to Kamagishi. "I can feel them, but they aren't overwhelming anymore if I can keep a special charm barrier up. It cuts down on stray thoughts too, which I never realized was so noisy before now."

"How is the charm of peace holding up, Emily?" Kamagishi asked. "I tried to make this one so it would last a long time."

"It's working just fine," I rolled my eyes. "It's better than being drunk. I'm very out of it right now. I can't decide if I like feeling this way."

"Mother thought it was for the best," Kamagishi explained, referring to Lyappis. "I must agree with her that two flashbacks in less than a rotation is not a good thing, little one. I'm not sure who I feel more sorry for, you or Aylem, who is in a bit of a state that you reacted like this. Mother and Imstay are currenly distracting her so she doesn't get too distraught. I really don't know what to do with the two of you."

"To be honest, Kamagishi, I didn't know I would react that way when Asgotl and Aylem started arguing," I shrugged. "I don't feel anything right now, almost like it happened to someone else. Charms of peace are really freaky. I should probably tell Aylem I'm fine before it wears off. She's probably beating herself up. Do you know where she is, Kamagishi?"

Tom's knock pattern interrupted us before Kamagishi could answer.

"Come," Kamagishi said and opened the door with her mind's hand. Tom looked startled and then composed himself. He didn't even blink as the door closed behind him. He made a proper obeisance. I let Kamagishi make the reply.

"Irhessa said that Emily was awake now," Tom got off his knees and strode into the room, looking around at all the Cosm-scale furniture.

"He lied," I said, "I'm still asleep."

"Ah," Tom winked, "You've been sleep-talking again."

"Must be," I said.

"Your bomb idea works," Tom took a running jump to land on the lounge between Kayseo and Otty. "The King asked the Queen to make a salt block around a hundred heating gems and then to embed a bunch of ice gems on the outside. Lord Sopno had an old stone fishing pier that he had recently replaced with a new one about a hundred hands away, and he told the King he could blow the old one up.

"Your bomb idea, Em?" Kayseo fished. She didn't know about it since we hadn't spoken until this afternoon.

"Long story, dear heart," I said. "Tom, what happened?"

Tom grinned, "Lord Sopno needs to replace his new fishing pier. I got to watch it with Irhessa. Just one hundred heating gems, and they left a crater. The explosion changed the shoreline of that big lake. It rained fish!" Tom was gleeful. "I had my doubts, mouse, but your steam bomb will certainly take out the bridge you want to destroy on the Mattaheehee River if you use several hundred heating gems."

"I was planning on two to three thousand, but scaling back to one thousand may be adequate," I yawned. "We can keep the rest in reserve in case the first try doesn't work."

"You blew up the old fishing pier and the new one, too?" Otty asked rhetorically. "I wish I could have seen that. That sounds amazing."

"Yes," Kayseo said rather dryly, "the Great Bug is very talented when it comes to explosions: rocks bigger than she is, her glass furnace, her home, Lord Sopno's fishing piers, the capital of Impotu . . . Yes, very talented."

I was feeling too drugged to even react to the teasing.

"Wow, you really are out of it, Em," Kayseo said. "Normally, that would have been good enough to stab me with the flaming daggers of death glare."

"I know you woke up not too long ago," Tom remarked, patting me on the knee. "Talking about anything interesting, or just doing girl talk?"

"No, no girl talk," I said. "We were discussing the identification of bacteria that cause infectious diseases."

"Emily, be serious," Tom rolled his eyes at me.

"I am."

"We were," Kayseo added. "We were talking about looking at bacteria with microscopes."

"But there aren't any microscopes..." Tom suddenly frowned, "Emily, love, are you working on making microscopes?"

"I might be."

"Are we really going to be leaving tomorrow?" Tom asked.

"As soon as I get a couple of salt blocks from Aylem and my heating gems from the King, Spot can take us back to Sils'chk as fast as he can."