Doom of the Darksword - Margaret Weis [75]
Lady Rosamund could not help but smile, so coaxing was Gwendolyn, though she tried to appear firm. “I don’t like you spending so much time with your cousins …” she began.
This was an old argument and one Gwen knew how to handle. “But, Mama,” she pleaded persuasively, “I’m so good for them. “You’ve said so yourself. Look how much improved they were, over the holidays. Their manners at table and their conversation, so much more refined and genteel. Weren’t they, Marie?” calling upon the catalyst for support.
“Yes, my lady,” the catalyst replied with a smile. There were two other children in the household — a boy to carry on the family name and a girl to delight her parents in their middle years. And though both were cute, they were young and neither had developed much personality yet. The catalyst, who, in this modest household, doubled as nanny and governess, made no secret of the fact that Gwen was her pet.
“Just think, Mama,” Gwen continued, “how fine it would be if my cousins married into one of the families of our friends. Sophia told me that her brother told her that Guildmaster Reynald’s son, Alfred, said the next day after our party that Lilian was a ‘stunner.’ His very words, Mama. I can’t help but think that, after praise like that, their engagement cannot be far off.”
“My dear child, how silly you are!” Lady Rosamund laughed, but it was fond laughter and she patted her daughter’s white hand. “Well, if such an event happens, your cousins will have you to thank for it. I hope they realize that. I suppose it will be all right, today, if you visit them. But after this, I don’t believe it proper that you should be seen in City Below more than once a week. You are a young woman now, not a child, and such things are important.”
“Yes, Mama,” said Gwen, more subdued, for she saw the firm set of the mouth and the arch in the eyebrows that indicated to servants, children, catalyst, and husband that Lady Rosamund had issued a decree and was not to be disobeyed.
But, at sixteen, Gwen could not be unhappy long. Next week was far away. Meanwhile, there was today. Lunch with her dear papa, who was to take her to a new inn near the Guild Halls; an inn famous for its chocolate. Then the rest of the day with her cousins — a day spent in Gwen’s newest, favorite pastime — flirtation.
The Earth Gate of Merilon was a place of bustling activity. The great invisible dome that held within its fragile shell the glories of the city of Merilon soared skyward from the Gladewall. Seven Gates pierced the dome, providing entrance into Merilon from Outside. But six of the Gates were used little, if ever. Most of the time, they remained magically locked. Death Gate and Spirit Gate were never used now that the Necromancers were no longer around to treat with visitors from beyond the grave. Life Gate was reserved for victorious processionals following war, and it had not been used in over a century. The only thing that entered by Druid’s Gate was the river; the Druids now used the front gate like everyone else. Wind Gate and Earth Gate were the portals of major commerce between the outer and inner worlds. The kan-Hanar — the Gatekeepers — allowed only the Ariels to fly through Wind Gate. Earth Gate was, therefore, the only true access to the city.
There was always a throng of people around Earth Gate, waiting to greet friends and relatives or seeing them off after a visit. It was currently fashionable among the young people of the city to spend at least part of each day there, socializing, flirting, and observing all who entered.
The first to enter this day was a high-ranking Albanara from one of the outlying districts. She had traveled through the Corridors and therefore appeared to materialize out of nothing. The wizardess was greeted by her family from City Above, waiting to meet her in their tortoise-shell carriage drawn by a team of a hundred rabbits, their entire equipage floating two feet above the ground.
The noble lady was followed by a party of catalysts from the