Free The Thread That Binds the Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Richard Bober Page B

taste than a vision. That ... net is all that holds you in this shape. In a good spell built to last, it would taste a lot stronger than it does; so perhaps this is just a prank spell, short term, and it will wear off after a moment or two. Still, if you can conjure any manner of altering it ...
    “Tom—damn! I wish I could talk to you. I mean, I wish I could understand you. I don’t know what to do!” Laura said.
    Tom imagined himself tugging the net loose with phantom hands. As soon as he touched it with a mental finger, it frayed to nothing. He closed his eyes during the disorientation of shapeshifting, then opened them again when he was upright on his hind legs. It was less confusing now because his standard human worldview had returned, with only a faint overlay of Othersight. “It’s okay,” he said.
    Her eyes widened. Then she hugged him. “Did you—oh, never mind!”
    “I’m underdressed again,” he said. He wasn’t sure how his new in-laws viewed nudity. He wasn’t that comfortable with it himself, not in front of strangers. Most of the wedding party had left the amphitheater, though some had seen him turn into a jackass and back, and a few were grinning at him as they walked past. “Please don’t move away from me,” he said, facing Laura and keeping his arm around her shoulder.
    “But—” Laura said, laughing a little herself. “I don’t know if we can walk back to my room this way.”
    Michael dashed up. “I’ll get Carroll for you, Tom,” he said.
    Surprised, Tom said, “Thanks. I’d rather have a robe. Laura’s dress isn’t big enough for both of us.”
    “Oh!” Michael picked up all the scraps from Tom’s former clothing, puzzled over them, frowned up at Tom, bit his lower lip, and managed to spell jockey shorts, a pair of white jeans, shoes, and a shirt out of the remnants. The jeans and underwear seemed fairly normal and even fitted; the shoes had changed from hightops into deck shoes; but the long-sleeved shirt was made of scraps from both the T-shirt and the windbreaker, patchwork fashion. Tom put everything on. He decided he liked it. He grinned. “Thanks! And congratulations,”
    “You too,” said Michael. “You really want me to leave Uncle Carroll alone? I don’t think it was fair, his pulling something like that on you, even if it was only a short-term spell. You haven’t had time to get used to us yet.”
    “I appreciate your concern. Michael?”
    “Yes?”
    “When we were driving here, Laura said your family would enjoy torturing me. And you didn’t seem very friendly last night.”
    “Yeah, but now you’re married to us. We don’t hurt each other. At least, not permanently. And if anybody’s going to tease you, I want to start it, but I can’t till tomorrow, because it’s First Night for Alyssa and me. But Uncle Carroll ...”
    “Don’t worry,” said Tom. “I’ll get him.”
    “You will?” Michael squinted at him.
    Tom smiled serenely. “Sure. Are there any refreshments at this party?”
    “ Tanganar will be setting up tables by the kitchen.” Michael dashed off.
    “ Tanganar ?”Tom asked Laura. He remembered the definition he had extracted from Laura’s rather the night before: mind-deaf, ungifted.
    “Another reason for us to live far, far away. Fetches. Slaves. What I thought would happen to you. But I don’t want to attack a long-established tradition. This is the way my family has done things for as long as I can remember. I’ve never had enough power to change things.”
    They walked toward the kitchen. Some of the stragglers stopped to offer congratulations. A little dark-haired girl Laura introduced as Pandora gave them each a white rose. Some of the relatives condescended; some sneered; some seemed happy. Laura named them all.
    Aunt Agatha came by and stroked the air in front of Laura’s stomach. “Caught one already,” she said, beaming as if she hadn’t changed expression all night.
    “What?” Laura sounded