matching of deadly opposites.”
“Did you get what you needed?”
Mary blushed, “Not really. You are some kind of reptile, but I don’t know what kind.”
Yvena leaned forward and whispered, “King cobra.” She sat back and sipped at her coffee again. “I have donated my venom in the past, but if it is the price for equal footing with my mate, I would gladly trade venom for the spell. With the guild master being the registered source, it would also afford me a measure of protection in case someone else thought that gaining custody of me again would be a benefit.”
Mary caught on immediately. “You would be protected by the guild. Very nicely done.”
“It was Liander’s idea.” She smiled and sat back as her fruit tray arrived.
“I will just have my coffee and make that call.” Mary grinned. “It is very handy having the transport guild master wed to the mage guild master. We have a lot more clout than we have ever had before.”
Liander sat and made notes on a napkin using a pen the waitress handed to him when he asked.
“What are you doing, Liander?”
He glanced at her and smiled. “Shopping list. I also have to arrange a trip to your home for us so that we can transport your clothing and any items you want.”
“Oh, good idea.” She munched on berries and kept an eye on the kitchen. She wanted pancakes in the worst way.
When the waitress came by with the carafe of coffee, she held her cup up proudly. It had been an eventful twenty-four hours.
With the cup refilled, she added cream and sugar, sipping gratefully before she slurped at the water glass.
“So, Mary, how long have you been in your line of work?”
“As with most in my occupation, since I was a teen. I have been in this area for the last fifteen years and have sent fifteen folk to the Crossroads. Normally, I do cross-country transports.”
Mary smiled, and they chatted about inconsequential things. When the food arrived, Mary said her goodbyes and whispered, “King cobra?”
With a pancake wedged in her mouth, Yvena gave her a thumbs-up.
Liander was laughing as his own meal arrived. He made his goodbyes, and Mary left the establishment.
* * * *
Two weeks later, they stood in front of the guild master while his wife prodded him in the ribs. “You agree to one vial of venom to be picked up every month for a year?”
She blinked. “Yes.”
She held up a vial that she had milked that morning.
He was startled. “Great. May I examine it?”
Yvena wasn’t sure how you would examine venom, but she watched with interest.
He opened the vial, extended his palm and a drop fell toward it, getting caught on a gold orb that sprang up in the centre of his hand. A brilliant black flash and he smiled. “Good. I have heard rumours of tainted king cobra venom. I needed to be sure.”
Liander shook his head. “Tainted, you say?”
“Yes. Several mages have been rushing to healers with nasty side effects. We investigated and found that they had all used king cobra venom but none of them were willing to tell us where they got their supply.”
“So, if it is all right, can we commence?” Yvena was eager to try sex without having to worry about scraping Liander with her fangs.
The guild master nodded. “Hold hands and face each other.”
He raised his arms, focussed and dropped a ball of power on their clasped hands.
Yvena felt hot, cold and hot again as energy ran up her arms and into her body. Liander swayed as well.
She fell into his arms and held tight while the world tilted around them. The transport guild master raised her hands and sent them back to the spa.
Liander and Yvena staggered together to the room they had been occupying and collapsed on the bed.
They rode through the storm of power and realignment for hours until the world righted itself around them.
Yvena sat up and felt something added to her. She thought of a mongoose, and to her shock, she snapped into that form.
Liander shifted into a king
“Did you get what you needed?”
Mary blushed, “Not really. You are some kind of reptile, but I don’t know what kind.”
Yvena leaned forward and whispered, “King cobra.” She sat back and sipped at her coffee again. “I have donated my venom in the past, but if it is the price for equal footing with my mate, I would gladly trade venom for the spell. With the guild master being the registered source, it would also afford me a measure of protection in case someone else thought that gaining custody of me again would be a benefit.”
Mary caught on immediately. “You would be protected by the guild. Very nicely done.”
“It was Liander’s idea.” She smiled and sat back as her fruit tray arrived.
“I will just have my coffee and make that call.” Mary grinned. “It is very handy having the transport guild master wed to the mage guild master. We have a lot more clout than we have ever had before.”
Liander sat and made notes on a napkin using a pen the waitress handed to him when he asked.
“What are you doing, Liander?”
He glanced at her and smiled. “Shopping list. I also have to arrange a trip to your home for us so that we can transport your clothing and any items you want.”
“Oh, good idea.” She munched on berries and kept an eye on the kitchen. She wanted pancakes in the worst way.
When the waitress came by with the carafe of coffee, she held her cup up proudly. It had been an eventful twenty-four hours.
With the cup refilled, she added cream and sugar, sipping gratefully before she slurped at the water glass.
“So, Mary, how long have you been in your line of work?”
“As with most in my occupation, since I was a teen. I have been in this area for the last fifteen years and have sent fifteen folk to the Crossroads. Normally, I do cross-country transports.”
Mary smiled, and they chatted about inconsequential things. When the food arrived, Mary said her goodbyes and whispered, “King cobra?”
With a pancake wedged in her mouth, Yvena gave her a thumbs-up.
Liander was laughing as his own meal arrived. He made his goodbyes, and Mary left the establishment.
* * * *
Two weeks later, they stood in front of the guild master while his wife prodded him in the ribs. “You agree to one vial of venom to be picked up every month for a year?”
She blinked. “Yes.”
She held up a vial that she had milked that morning.
He was startled. “Great. May I examine it?”
Yvena wasn’t sure how you would examine venom, but she watched with interest.
He opened the vial, extended his palm and a drop fell toward it, getting caught on a gold orb that sprang up in the centre of his hand. A brilliant black flash and he smiled. “Good. I have heard rumours of tainted king cobra venom. I needed to be sure.”
Liander shook his head. “Tainted, you say?”
“Yes. Several mages have been rushing to healers with nasty side effects. We investigated and found that they had all used king cobra venom but none of them were willing to tell us where they got their supply.”
“So, if it is all right, can we commence?” Yvena was eager to try sex without having to worry about scraping Liander with her fangs.
The guild master nodded. “Hold hands and face each other.”
He raised his arms, focussed and dropped a ball of power on their clasped hands.
Yvena felt hot, cold and hot again as energy ran up her arms and into her body. Liander swayed as well.
She fell into his arms and held tight while the world tilted around them. The transport guild master raised her hands and sent them back to the spa.
Liander and Yvena staggered together to the room they had been occupying and collapsed on the bed.
They rode through the storm of power and realignment for hours until the world righted itself around them.
Yvena sat up and felt something added to her. She thought of a mongoose, and to her shock, she snapped into that form.
Liander shifted into a king
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