Free Eidolon by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee

 
     
    SHADOW PARTNER
     
    It had been apparent to Ceola for some days
that Min was growing bored with her newest beau. She was hardly
surprised; she had never understood why her sister had encouraged
the young man's attentions in the first place. Oh, he was pretty
enough, though tall, but Min preferred dash, daring, and drama.
Shadow was quiet, mannerly, and respectful; so unlike any of Min's
previous lovers as to stand in a class of his own.
    Perhaps it had been the novelty of a lover
who failed of making unreasonable demands upon her time and person.
Or perhaps she had felt sorry for him, sitting one among a
half-dozen Scouts, all senior to him, and the object of a series of
increasingly ribald pleasantries. Min did have moments of
soft-heartedness, though they usually passed more quickly than the
affair of pleasure with Shadow had done.
    Whatever her reasons for attaching him, and
then keeping him on her string, the signs soon became clear to
Ceola's experienced eye: Min had grown tired of Shadow as he was
and wished either for him to become someone else and enact her a
drama, or that he would take himself off.
    Of course, she might send him off herself,
but it was not Min's way, though, to put a thing out of one hand
until she had something else clasped firmly in the other.
    "Elby and I will be going to the new casino
this evening." Min was perched on a stool, her elbows folded atop
the counter as she watched Ceola do set-up. "You'll be able to
handle it alone."
    Well, Ceola thought irritably, she had
certainly handled the evening shift alone before. Min's lovers were
fond of showing their passion by snatching her away to accompany
them to shows, openings, and dinners during the hours when she was
scheduled to be on the bar, managing what was left of the family's
fortune. Except for quiet, ardent Shadow, who appeared perfectly
happy to sit at the bar or at a side table, sometimes in company
with another Scout, sometimes with a handheld or a book--and wait
until Min's shift was done before whisking her off for pleasure or
bed-sport.
    Which wistful thought reminded Ceola of a
thing she had overheard, just a few nights past. She looked over
her shoulder at her sister.
    "I thought you and Shadow had fixed to go to
Noneen's this evening after your shift was done."
    Min sniffed. "He may go without me, if he
cares for such thin stuff. I have company for this evening. Indeed,
Shadow need no longer trouble himself to ask after me. You may tell
him so, if he comes in tonight."
    If he came! Ceola thought, angrily. As if he were ever other than
faithful in keeping his assignations! There had been one instance
when duty had dictated otherwise, but he had sent 'round a very
pretty note and a flower, which really was--Ceola gasped, Min's
latest dart at last piercing her understanding, and spun to
stare.
    " I to tell Shadow?"
    Her elder lifted bored brown eyes.
    "As you will be here, and I will not--who
better?"
    "Why not she who led him along, and now
finds it mete to throw over a kind, quiet lad for a loud
popinjay--and break her word, besides!"
    "Popinjay!" Min laughed. "Won't Elby like
that!"
    She looked at Ceola, suddenly
calculating.
    "It seems to me," she said,
"that you might add Shadow to your string, sister, if you value him so
high!"
    Her string! Ceola drew a hard breath. As if anyone noticed the
plain-faced younger sister in the blare and brilliance of the
elder's beauty. She might as well, Ceola thought, be a shadow
herself.
    Another breath, this one deliberate and
calm, reminding herself what Grandmother had often said of
Min--that she wasn't intentionally cruel, but heedless and caught
up in the pursuit of her own pleasure. Indeed, with a little
patience, she could often be brought 'round to proper conduct,
which surely proved that she wished, in her heart, to behave
well.
    "Only think how it must wound Shadow, to
have such a message from me, rather than yourself," Ceola said,
keeping her voice moderate. "I think that--I