Free Oberon's Dreams by Aaron Pogue Page B

head. “I already know too much. The strictures are clear. You’re an anomaly, and that makes you a threat.”
    “But you are the druids. You should understand me more than anyone—forced to the edges, forgotten by the world, powerless and…and hated for your knowledge.”
    Silence settled over the room. Jeff and Aemilia exchanged worried glances.
    “What is so strange?” Corin asked.
    “We’re not powerless and hated,” Jeff said. “We’re somewhat secret, but we’re not outcasts. We’re Oberon’s favored people.”
    “Ah.” Corin shrugged. “I’m sorry. That will not last.”
    Another grave silence fell. At last Jeff said quietly, “This is serious, Emily.”
    She sighed. She looked very tired. “I know.”
    Corin took half a step toward her. “Then you will help me?”
    “No.”
    Corin caught her eye. “Then who? In all this strange world, who?”
    “Dana!” Jeff cried, eyes wide. “I mean, Delaen.”
    “Delaen?” Aemilia shouted. “Are you mad?”
    “It was your suggestion,” Jeff said. “Quantum temporal theory and sociological development are her core qualifiers! How’s that for time travel and politics?”
    Aemilia stopped herself short of arguing. She shut her mouth and brushed past both men to stand looking out the window on the bustling city. Corin watched her draw a heavy breath. Without turning, she asked, “What do you know of Gesoelig, stranger?”
    Corin licked his lips. Honesty served him here. “Even the name is nearly forgotten. I know only what I could find in ancient books. Hints and rumors.”
    Jeff looked sick. “Emily—”
    “I know.” She caught another slow breath then nodded. “I’ll take him to Delaen.”
    “I can,” Jeff volunteered, but Aemilia shook her head.
    “No. You’ve broken too many things already, Jeff. And I care about Delaen.”
    “Who is Delaen?” Corin asked. “Will she speak with me?”
    “More than speak,” Jeff said, eyes bright. “She’ll understand. She specializes in things like this.”
    “Careful, Jeff,” Aemilia said. “There’s no such thing as ‘things like this.’ That’s the definition of an anomaly.”
    He frowned at her back. “You’re taking this too seriously.”
    “You’re not taking it seriously enough,” she said. “I swear to you, if you say another word about it—ever—I’m handing you over to Oberon personally.”
    Jeff took a step back as though she’d hit him. “Emily—”
    “Aemilia,” she said. “Remember that. And you’d better start calling yourself Geoffrey, or you’re going to get sent back anyway.”
    He swallowed hard. “You really think so?”
    “This is not a game,” she repeated.
    Corin could not guess what “sent back” might mean, but it held some promise for his future. Feeling lighter, he took a step toward her. “Have some compassion. Please. He only wanted to help me.”
    “He could have ruined everything,” she said. She finally turned back from the window, and there were tears in her eyes. “You could have ruined everything. Or even me. I should have left you in the street for Ephitel’s goons.”
    “My only desire is to go home,” Corin said.
    Aemilia smiled, though the bitterness in her eyes ran deep. “Funny. Mine’s the opposite.”
    * * *
    She chased Jeff back to his shop, slinging admonishments all the way to the outer door lest he mention this to anyone. Then she summoned a courier and sent him off with two messages, but still she would not take Corin to see this Delaen. She encouraged him to rest his injured foot while she attended to important business, and he could hardly object to that. He gave her an hour, and just as he stirred himself to protest, she came bustling back. She brought a change of clothes for Corin—long pants and a cotton shirt and a leather coat that barely reached down to his belt. He refused the coat, insisting on the same black cloak he’d worn since leaving Aepoli, and she relented soon enough. That one had a cowl deep