Free Heart Quest by Robin D. Owens

stared at Pink. “Do you consider yourself in my debt?”
    Wariness entered the man’s expression. “Yes.”
    â€œThen I want you to be more security-conscious. Lock your doors. Spellbind them.” Ilex glanced over the courtyard and saw several sturdy young men and women. “Send one of your youngsters to Tab Holly’s Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon for training.”
    Pink stepped back. “What?”
    â€œAt least one of your Family should have experience in fighting and security.”
    Looking bewildered, Pink spread his hands and said, “But we are Commoners, no more than middle-class, and only Trif has extraordinary Flair.”
    Narrowing his eyes, Ilex gestured around him. “You Clovers are a byword in Druida, in all of Celta—the most prolific Family in the world. Your adopted daughter Danith Mallow is now Danith D’Ash, and your daughter D’Blackthorn. They move in the highest circles. Don’t tell me that T’Ash and T’Blackthorn don’t listen to you. You have numbers and for that you are the envy of every Family, high or low, in the world. That makes you unique, the members of your Family unique, and individuals to be prized. Your influence is beginning to be felt in other circles, your status raised. Recognize that. Send someone to train with the Hollys.”
    Several of the oldest generation looked stunned at Ilex’s words.
    â€œHe’s right,” Pratty Clover, Trif’s mother, remaked.
    â€œI want to learn to fight!” said a gangling girl.
    â€œNo, me!” A bigger youth shouldered her aside.
    â€œMe!”
    â€œMe!”
    â€œMe!”
    Three boys shouted at once.
    Pink rubbed his forehead, sent a sour smile to Ilex. “We’re Commoners, and we have minor Flair, but nobody called us cowardly or noncompetitive.” He raised his voice to the courtyard seething with young people excited at the new opportunity. “We’ll have a family meeting!”
    The idea of fitting everyone around a small table like most Families boggled Ilex’s mind.
    Pink turned to Trif. “I suppose you don’t want to train with Tab Holly.”
    She gave a delicate shudder. “No.” Then she lifted her chin. “I want to learn to ’port.”
    He grunted, nodded at Ilex. “You listen to the guardsman.” Then Pink raised a fat finger and pointed it directly at her nose. “Having a Heart Mate is a wonderful blessing, but looking for him…. Watch yourself carefully when you go on that damn fool quest of yours.”
    Trif flushed, snatched her kitten back, set Greyku back on her shoulder, and stalked off to the empty landing pad. She pressed the button lighting the signal on the post—sending notice to anyone who stretched their senses before teleporting to the pad that it was ready for use.
    With a sigh, Pink clapped Ilex on the shoulder. “Thank you for taking care of our girl.” He studied the younger generation, who’d arranged dining benches around the rectangular courtyard and watched him impatiently. “Thank you for your good advice.” He shook his head. “We’ll have to let more than one go. Perhaps even as many as three. It’s going to be expensive.”
    â€œTab Holly might be—intrigued—with teaching Clovers, imparting the knowledge of a proper duello to the middle class.”
    Pink winced. “We’re more used to scuffles and fistfights.”
    â€œI’d wager you’re a keen negotiator. You might have an interesting session with GentleSir Holly.”
    Pink perked up. “Really?”
    â€œYes.”
    Rubbing his hands, Pink grinned, then bowed. “Merry meet.”
    â€œAnd merry part,” Ilex said, the standard reply.
    â€œAnd merry meet again,” Pink said, and went to a large bell and pulled the rope.
    Clanging filled the courtyard and people spilled from the house doors. Ilex