Free Heart Fortune (Celta) by Robin D. Owens Page B

Trago.”
    The Healer shrugged. “Maybe when I order that tent, I’ll put out the word that the camp could use another Healer, see if we pick up anyone.”
    “That sounds good,” Glyssa said. She dug into her trous pocket and pulled out a piece of gilt. “Will that cover the fee?”
    “For sure. C’mere, fox.” Symphyta patted the table.
    Lepid whined.
    Not sure I like a wimpy foxkit in my territory,
said a loud telepathic voice.
    Jace and Glyssa turned toward the scruffy FoxFam sitting on the threshold of the door. He was Del D’Elecampane’s Fam, who’d traveled continents with her one step at a time as she mapped Celta.
    Lepid snapped his teeth.
I am a HERO!
    “Lepid!” Glyssa scolded, sounding horrified. Jace settled back on his heels, stroking Zem and suppressing a smile. The interaction between the reckless foxkit and strict Glyssa would be entertaining.
    I am Shunuk, this is my FamWoman’s camp,
the other fox asserted.
So far you have fallen down a hole and dragged back a sick bird.
    “Hey!” Jace protested, recalled who he spoke to, and moderated his tones. “Most excellent FoxFam Shunuk, may I introduce you to my new HawkcelFam, Zem?”
    Zem clicked his beak once.
FoxFam,
he said. His mental voice sounded deep, manly, though Jace wouldn’t say that aloud. Better than any of the other Fams in camp.
    Shunuk rumbled.
May I sniff?
    “I don’t know,” Jace answered. “Are you going to hurt my Fam?”
    Of course not! But I have not seen a BirdFam before. Does it smell different?
    “I don’t know.” Jace kept a smile on his face. “Zem?”
    He may sniff,
Zem said in a quiet mental voice that Jace knew only he could hear. The notion of a private telepathic channel with his Fam warmed him with affection, too.
    Lowering into a crouch, Jace watched keenly as Shunuk sniffed Zem.
    He is an acceptable Fam,
Shunuk said, then whirled and snapped at Lepid, who leapt to the bedsponge and was restrained by the Healer.
    Shunuk chortled.
You are only provisionally accepted, foxkit.
The older fox swaggered out, tail gently waving.
    “Stay still, Lepid,” the Healer said. “The sooner you stop this wriggling, the sooner I can set the retrieval spell.”
    Lepid caught Jace’s eye and glared.
    Was promised a treat. YESTERDAY! Have not gotten a treat.
    This time Jace reached into his pocket, drew out a bit of furrabeast jerky, snapped a bite off and tossed it to Lepid who snagged it with his teeth and gobbled it down.
    Zem’s head tilted and his bright black gaze fixed on Jace.
I would like some of that, too. But not for treat, for food.
    Jace gave him a small bite. “We’ll go get you food at the breakfast tent. And show you around. Later, ladies.”
    Later, ladies,
projected Zem.
    They left Lepid whining.
    * * *
    M idmorning, Glyssa stood with most of the camp, watching the hole with the girder being widened with manual labor, spellcasting, and Flaired machines working together.
    Lepid sat a half meter away from her, still peeved at her for keying his collar to the Healing clinic. He’d informed her with wide tail lashes that the BirdFam, Zem, needed him to capture live and newly dead prey for food. Lepid would spend several septhours a day doing that until Zem had healed enough to hunt his own food.
    Zem particularly liked fish, but Lepid was unsure of his hunting skills in that area.
    The images that rose to her mind when informed of this gave Glyssa the queasies, but she just agreed through a tight throat. She stated her expectations, too, that Lepid go slowly and not fish by himself, and that she wished he would remain in the tent at night with her.
    He’d just sniffed.
    Jace sauntered to her, Zem perched on his newly padded shoulder.
    Greetyou, Glyssa,
said Zem.
    “Greetyou, Zem.” Glyssa gave a little curtsey to the bird. Her curiosity about him had been roused earlier, and she was pleased that she now had something more in common with Jace—a Fam. She knew from experience that a FamPerson could