Shield's Lady

cage,” Luri explained. “They make great pets for ladies.”
    Sariana turned a helpless, beseeching gaze on Gryph.
    He took the opportunity to step in with more helpful information. “They have an affinity for females just as krellcats have an affinity for males.”
    “You’ve seen my krellcat,” Luri reminded her. “This scarlet-toe will want to hang around you the same way my krellcat is always hanging around me.”
    “I see,” Sariana’s voice was very faint. “Uh, where is your krellcat this morning?”
    “I left him in my room. I was afraid he might eat the scarlet-toe.”
    “I see,” Sariana said again weakly. “Is this business of keeping krellcats and scarlet-toes for pets an old western custom?”
    “It’s not a very old custom,” Gryph said easily. “It’s only been in the past few years that anyone discovered what great pets they make.”
    “Oh,” she said a little too cheerfully, “what an odd coincidence. Recently in my homeland a few people have started keeping odd pets, too. They seem quite attached to them. I never had time for a pet, what with my studies and all.”
    Gryph watched her standing there, wet and bedraggled from the storm with a caged lizard she didn’t want in her hands and he didn’t know whether to laugh or offer comfort. He had the feeling she would be infuriated by either approach.
    “There’s an old Serendipity saying that fits occasions such as this,” Gryph finally said blandly.
    “What’s that?” she asked with deep suspicion.
    “Take what you can get when you can get it. Life doesn’t come with any guarantees.”
    “Sayings like that cover a lot of territory, don’t they?” she retorted.
    “Do you really like the lizard, Sariana?” Luri asked, eager for more enthusiastic appreciation of his gift.
    “It’s beautiful,” she said with an obvious sincerity that surprised Gryph. “The most beautiful lizard I’ve ever seen.”
    Luri looked bashfully pleased. “I’m glad you like it. Now you’ll have to think of a name for it.”
    “I think I’ll call it Lucky Break,” Sariana said, slanting Gryph a dangerous look from the corner of her eye. “Lucky for short. Thank you, Luri. Now I think I’d better go and change my clothes. I’ll see you at dinner.”
    “I’ll bring a supply of leaves to your room so you can feed Lucky,” Luri promised.
    “Thank you.”
    “Luck of the day, Sariana,” Gryph said cheerfully as she turned to go.
    “Thank you, Lord Chassyn.” She didn’t glance back but her tone was excruciatingly formal. If my luck gets any better than it is already, I may have to consider increasing my insurance coverage.” She vanished down the hall in a swish of wet, gray skirts. Her hands were filled with scarlet and gold.
    When she had gone, Luri turned back to Gryph, his expression delighted. “I think the scarlet-toe will make her less homesick, don’t you? Especially at night.”
    “What makes you think she’s especially homesick at night?” Gryph asked curiously.
    Luri shrugged. “A couple of times I’ve seen her walking in the conservatory after everyone else has gone to bed. I sneak out of my room sometimes to check the pond for baby moonfish. When they’re small, they only come out from under the rocks at night, you know. Anyhow, as I was going by the conservatory hall I saw Sariana. The first time I saw her I thought she was a ghost. I was almost scared.”
    “What made you think she was a ghost?”
    “She was wearing a white night robe and she was just sort of drifting through the plants and trees. She didn’t make a sound. It was the only time I’ve ever seen her with her hair down. She looked a little sad. I almost went in and spoke to her, but I was afraid she would be embarrassed. Mother says easterners don’t like to have other people see them when they’re sad.”
    “Your mother is probably right. Easterners like to pretend they don’t have emotions like the rest of us.”
    “Why?”
    Gryph shrugged. “Maybe it makes them feel superior.”
    Luri lost interest in that subject. “Well, now she’ll have the scarlet-toe to keep her company at night.”
    “I’m sure she’ll enjoy it, Luri.” Gryph’s mouth curved faintly. “I just hope the scarlet-toe realizes how lucky it is,”

Chapter
    4

    AT midnight that night, Gryph stood silently beneath the fronds of a huge, sprawling hydra palm and watched the white-robed figure glide soundlessly through the conservatory.
    Luri was right,