Legacy of the Darksword - Margaret Weis [45]
Eliza’s eyes widened at the sight of my flashing hands. “What is he doing?” she demanded, with the frank and open honesty of a child.
“Reuven is mute,” Saryon explained. “He talks with his hands.” And he repeated to them aloud what I had said.
Gwendolyn gave me a preoccupied smile and said I was welcome. Eliza appraised me, those blue eyes studying everything about me with unabashed curiosity. What she saw was a young man of medium height, medium build, long blond hair pulled back from a face that always seemed to inspire women with sisterly affection. Honest, sweet, gentle were words women used to describe me. “At last, a man we can trust,” they would say. And then they would proceed to tell me all about the men they loved.
As for what I saw in Eliza, the statue was gaining life and warmth, becoming human.
Gwendolyn cast a glance at me and it seemed that she suddenly had a new worry. A glance at Eliza reassured her somewhat. Turning back to Saryon, Gwen drew him away, to speak to him in a low, pleading tone. Eliza remained, staring at me.
My situation was extremely embarrassing and uncomfortable. Never before had I cursed my handicap as I cursed it now. Had I been a man like any other, I could have made polite conversation.
I considered bringing out my electronic notepad, writing on it. Writing what? Some inanity? What a lovely day. Do you suppose we shall have rain?
No, I thought. Better to keep my notepad shut.
And yet I wanted to do something to hold her interest on me. Already, she was starting to turn her head, to look back to her mother and Saryon. I had some notion of plucking a flower and handing it to her, when I heard a plop at my feet.
Eliza gave a glad cry. “Teddy!”
At my feet sat a stuffed teddy bear; well worn, most of its fur rubbed off, one ear missing.
Eliza swooped down, picked up the bear, and held it up, calling in delight, “Look, Mother, Reuven’s found Teddy!”
Gwen and Saryon turned from their conversation. Gwen smiled, a strained smile. “How nice, dear.”
Saryon flashed me an alarmed glance. All I could do was helplessly shrug.
Around his neck, Teddy wore an orange ribbon.
CHAPTER TEN
“Nevertheless, there I sat, a perfect teapot upon his desk.”
TRIUMPH OF THE DARKSWORD
“I. ‘ve had Teddy ever since I was a little girl,” Eliza said, cuddling Teddy in her arms.
I have never seen a more self-satisfied and smug-looking stuffed bear. I wanted very much to throttle it.
“I found him in one of the old parts of the Font,” she continued, “where I used to play. It must have been a nursery, because there were other toys there. But I liked Teddy best. I used to tell him all my secrets. He was my companion, my playmate,” she said, and a wistful tone crept into her voice. “He kept me from being alone.”
I wondered if Eliza’s mother knew the truth, that Teddy was, in reality, Simkin—although one might contend that Simkin and reality had little to do with one another.
Gwendolyn bit her lip and cast a warning glance at Saryon, asking him to keep silent.
“I lost Teddy years ago,” Eliza was saying. “I don’t remember quite how. One day he was there and the next day, when I went to look for him, he was gone. We searched and searched, didn’t we, Mama?”
Eliza looked to me, then to Saryon. “Where did you find him?”
My master was, for the moment, struck mute as myself. He was hopeless at lying. I made a sign, indicating that we’d found the bear somewhere near the Borderlands. It was not quite a lie. Saryon, in a faint voice, repeated what I had said.
“I wonder how he came to be there!” Eliza exclaimed, marveling.
“Who knows, child?” Gwendolyn said briskly. She smoothed her skirt with her hands. “And now you should go find your father. Tell him—no, wait! Please, Father? Is there no other way?”
“Gwendolyn,” said Saryon patiently, “the matter on which I come is very urgent. And very serious.”
She sighed, bowed her head. Then, with a forced smile, she said, “Tell Joram that Father Saryon is here.”
Eliza was doubtful. Her delight