Shield's Lady

had just finished tying. Through the glass she could see laborers loading and unloading cargo from neighboring ships. In the distance she thought she could make out several rows of colorful pennants. Perhaps there was a fair going on in town.
    “Little Chance looks like a busy place,” Sariana remarked to Gryph as he moved purposefully about the cabin. He had bathed and shaved earlier and now he was intent on making preparations to go ashore.
    “It is a busy place. Busiest port on the coast outside of Serendipity. Like most port towns, it’s got its share of rough areas. That’s why I want you to stay on board while I take care of my business. I’ll only be gone a couple of hours.”
    “I can take care of myself, Gryph.”
    “The way you did yesterday morning in Serendipity when you tried to run from me?” He gave her an admonishing glance as he finished fastening his worn belt buckle. The buckle had definitely seen better days. The man carried a fortune in prisma in the form of a pouch lock but that appeared to be the sum total of his wealth. “Forget it. You stay right here and try not to get into any trouble. I’ll have my plans made by the time I return. We might be taking a sled upriver. I’m not sure yet.”
    Sariana glanced over her shoulder. “What, exactly, are you going to do here?”
    He sat down on the edge of the bunk, putting a sizable dent in the mattress, and tugged on his boots. “I’m going to see someone I know. An old friend. I want to discuss this matter of the cutter with him.”
    “He lives here? I thought Shields lived in the frontier towns. Little Chance is hardly a frontier town.”
    “Most Shields do live on the frontier. But not all. Delek chose to live in Little Chance because he no longer makes his living chasing bandits. And his lady prefers to live here. It’s her home.”
    “Lucky woman. You mean your friend Delek actually gave her a choice?” Sariana didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm.
    Gryph raised one eyebrow at the tone of her voice but kept his own even. “Where they live isn’t too critical in the case of Delek and his lady. They have no sons to be trained.”
    Sariana was suddenly very interested. “You mean the main reason Shields live out on the frontiers is because of the way they educate their children?”
    “The main reason Shields prefer the frontier is because that’s where the best employment opportunities are,” Gryph muttered. “But educating sons is also a reason. It’s difficult to train a young boy in the ways of the Shields while living in a city or town.” Gryph stood up and reached for his jacket. “Too many distractions.”
    “Why doesn’t Delek have any children?”
    Gryph gave her a straight, blunt look as he fastened the plain buttons of his short jacket. “Delek and his lady, Alana, are not linked. She doesn’t have the potential to be a Shieldmate, therefore the relationship is sterile.”
    Sariana stared at him in astonishment. “But Delek lives with her?”
    “He’s lived with her for years.”
    “You mean Shields sometimes get seriously involved with women with whom they don’t believe they can, uh, link?”
    “It’s rare,” Gryph said quietly, “but occasionally it happens. Sometimes a man just gives up the search for a Shieldmate. Sometimes a Shield loses his mate through death or adultery and he doesn’t have the heart or interest to search for another, so he settles for a relationship that promises companionship or love. That’s what Delek did.”
    “Love.” Sariana went very still, her mind whirling as she absorbed this new information.” A Shield might fall in love with a woman even though she isn’t a Shieldmate?”
    Gryph smiled wryly. “Haven’t you lived in Serendipity long enough to know that love doesn’t always respect custom, law or social traditions?”
    Sariana traced the intricate details of a massive reptilian head that had been carved into the bunk’s headboard. “But if a Shield finds a mate with whom he thinks he can link—”
    “It’s not a question of thinking he can link with her,” Gryph said impatiently. “He either can or can’t. The link isn’t a function of a man’s imagination. It’s very real. A Shield knows almost as soon as he meets a woman whether or not he can mate with her. One of these days you’ll understand that.”
    Sariana focused her attention outside the window again and prepared to pursue her next question with quiet determination. She had to