Shield's Lady

glass, when she heard a new chorus of frightened teenage yells.
    Wondering what had further alarmed her would-be stalkers, she slowed her pace and nearly stumbled over three huddled, jabbering youths as she rounded a mirrored curve and emerged into a large hall of brilliant lights and endless reflections.
    It was easy to see what had reduced the teens to a state of abject terror. Under the circumstances, this set of images was probably even more intimidating than the giant version of Lucky.
    The boys were confronting a thousand Shields, all of them ready for battle and all of them coldly, grimly angry.
    Sariana took one look at the cascading images and nearly shouted her relief.
    “Gryph.”

    Gryph had arrived at Delek’s home on the outskirts of Little Chance soon after leaving the windrigger. He knew the way because he had visited the older man several times in the past. Delek was one of the men who had trained Gryph in the ways of prisma as well as the arts of bandit hunting. At the time Delek had lived in the same small frontier town as Gryph’s family and had been married to a Shieldmate named Penela. There had been no sons.
    Gryph had been young when Penela had died and remembered her only vaguely. What he did recall quite vividly was Delek’s quiet acceptance of his wife’s death. It had surprised Gryph at the time. He had assumed that the loss of a Shieldmate would be a devastating experience, especially when there had been no sons.
    He had been as startled as everyone else when Delek, still a man in his prime, had made no effort to find another Shieldmate. Instead he had moved to Little Chance and found Alana, the daughter of a small textile design clan. There had been no marriage. Alana could not be accepted as a Shieldmate, and Delek was too proud to give up his own heritage in exchange for adoption into his lady’s clan. The two had been living together so long that everyone had quietly accepted the situation.
    Delek received his unexpected guest in a garden that was in full bloom. Gryph admired it as he sank into a carved wooden chair.
    It looks as though your hobby has turned into a full-time job, Delek.”
    The older man grinned in satisfaction and put aside the cane he used. “I keep busy. And I keep food on the table.”
    Gryph arched a brow. “Is there money in gardening?”
    “Theoretically no, not unless you’re a member of a horticulture clan,” Delek admitted. You know that as well as I do. But I’ve been doing some deals on the side with the Westelyn Clan. They grow flowers for the wholesale market. They’ve been paying good prices for some of my hybrid seeds. Between that and what Alana earns with her weaving designs we do all right. Fortunately. Since I took that bandit’s blade in my knee two years ago, I haven’t been fit for hunting or anything else. Amazing how hard it is to get along with a bad knee.”
    Alana emerged from the house, a good-looking, middle-aged woman with a stately carriage and soft eyes. She was carrying a tray of ale and crackers. “If I have anything to say about it, Delek won’t ever accept another mercenary job or go back to fighting frontier bandits. I much prefer him working with flowers. This way the only thing I have to worry about is having him get stuck with a thorn or two.”
    Gryph smiled at her as he accepted the ale. “I can see there are some definite benefits to gardening.”
    Alana set the tray down, casting a shrewd glance at Gryph. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I get the feeling this is not a routine visit to an old friend.”
    Gryph shrugged, unwilling to be rude, but anxious to get on with what he had come for. “I came to ask Delek’s advice about certain matters.”
    “Ah, Shield business,” Alana said knowingly. “I will leave you two to discuss it in private.”
    Delek frowned. “It’s not necessary for you to leave us, my dear.”
    She shook her head, smiling slightly. “I think Gryph would be more comfortable if I went inside. I’ll see you both later.” She walked through the garden, the skirts of her yellow gown lightly brushing the heads of some of Delek’s beautiful flowers.
    Gryph saw the expression on Delek’s face as Alana left. Love and pride and quiet satisfaction were clearly evident. Gryph raised his glass of ale.
    “To your lady,” he said formally.
    “I’ll drink to that.” Delek took a long swallow from his own glass. “Now, let’s get the business over with. Tell me what brings you so