Free Jovah's Angel by Sharon Shinn Page A

she said. “I’ve asked you about it before.”
    â€œAh, yes—those ancient machines that play music from Hagar’s time,” Daniel said instantly. His failures were rare enough that he remembered them all. “I looked, but—”
    â€œNow another one has broken. Only one is left,” Alleya said sadly. “I came to ask you—if you cannot help me, do you know someone who might? In Luminaux, perhaps, or even Breven. Although I have always thought you were the best.”
    He laughed; no competitive spirit here. “There is always someone better, no matter what your skill,” he said comfortably. “Think! What are your great talents? There is someone else just as good somewhere in Samaria. It does not pay to be too vain.”
    She was still trying to think of her most promising abilities. A mind for detail. An abiding faith in her god. These did not seem to make her unique. “I’m not vain,” she said, smiling.
    â€œNo, you’re modest” was Daniel’s unexpected rejoinder. “But that’s not so bad, either. Angela, I may have a name that will help you. There is a man in Luminaux, another Edori, but he might not be the one, either. He has a friend whose name escapes me—they are said to be the best engineers in the country, though—how do I put it?—somewhat erratic. They are inventors, not good solid repairmen like me.” His laugh boomed out again. “They were both involved in the Gabriel Dam project—in fact, I think this friend was the chief engineer who took over when things were beginning to look like they would not go so well. He is credited with saving the project, if I’m thinking of the right man. Were I you, he is the one I would contact.”
    â€œBut you don’t know his name?” she said gently.
    Daniel grinned. “Well, Noah’s the name of his Edori friend, and you can find any Edori in Luminaux by going down to the campsite.”
    â€œWill he know your name? Can I tell him you sent me?”
    â€œAngela, it is an honor to be asked to do a service for the Archangel, even among the Edori,” he said. “He will not need coaxing.”
    She could not help another answering smile. “I keep forgetting.”
    â€œBetter a little vain than too modest,” he admonished. “I saidthere were repairmen as good as me. I did not say my talents were only passable.”
    â€œI said nothing derogatory about my talents.”
    â€œName them for me!” he exclaimed. “List your great charms and mightiest strengths!”
    No angel would have talked to Alleya this way, and no common mortal either; still, it was hard to be offended when he seemed so earnest. “I remember things—details, books I’ve read—I can put them all together and get a good picture,” she said a little haltingly. “That’s really it, except for ordinary angel things like flying and singing.”
    â€œYou can stop the rain,” he said. “You can blow away the storms.”
    â€œAgain, any angel can.”
    â€œNot so well as you. Yovah has never failed to hear you. Is that not something you should lay proud claim to?”
    It terrified Alleya when people continued to say that; for, in this crazy climate, with thunder and gale piling up across the continent, how long could she be sure the god would be pleased by her voice? “He hears me now,” she said, her voice low. “Once he heard every angel. He may not listen to me much longer.”
    â€œHe will,” Daniel said solemnly. “Do not doubt him.”
    â€œHow can you be so sure?”
    â€œHe must hear one of you. Or we will all be lost.”

Caleb had spent most of the day running copper pipes through the four stories of Vincent Hammad’s house. It was a job any laborer could do, and so he had told the silversmith, but Hammad had said he knew the difference between an item