Everything was a mystery. Why can't people label their jars?
It's not as if they'd wizardly secrets to keep, Insprin thought sourly, running his fingers through his graying hair. The question before him right now was-is this oil that's gone off, or is Calishite olive oil supposed to smell and taste like this?
Urrgh. Forget it; the Calishites could keep it! He put the stopper back and reached for the next jug-only to freeze in midreach as a merry giggle sounded from just over his left shoulder. He turned slowly, fearing each breath would be his last.
Shayna Summerstar was leaning against the pantry wall, a dusty bottle in her hand. Chestnut hair spilled down over her ivory shoulders, and the old wizard almost licked his lips. Gods, but she was beautiful. "The kitchen wine cellar's around here, silly!" she said, friendly mirth in her eyes. "What're you trying to drink the fish-oil for?"
"F-Fish oil?" was all old Insprin could think to say, as he felt for his wand.
Shayna's emerald eyes went down to it as he tore it forth. "Is anything wrong, sir wizard?" she asked. "I'm sorry if I startled you-I only wanted to offer you some wine! You looked so hot and bothered after Thalance left, and …"
She frowned. "How'd you manage to get him to fetch and carry, anyway? It's more than I've ever managed to get him to do!"
"Forgive me, Lady Summerstar," Insprin said gravely, holding the wand trained at her from about two paces distant, "but I must ask this: is your mind your own?"
She gave him a puzzled smile. "Is it what?"
They looked at each other in silence for a long moment, and then she said quietly, "You're serious. Well, of course it's my own. This isn't some strange ritual greeting war wizards use, is it?"
Then she seemed to notice the bottle of wine in her hand for the first time, and added, "Well-do you want some wine, or not?"
"No, thank you, Lady Shayna," Insprin said, taking a careful pace away from her. "Forgive me for being suspicious," he added, "but in my admittedly brief time here at the keep, I've never seen you be so-ah, forward. Outspoken, instead of shy, and open and easy with a war wizard you've scarcely met." He looked at her narrowly. "I'm not sure I'm speaking to the real…"
Her smile fled. "I see now," she said. "Lady Storm met with me, yes, and spoke to me of the shapeshifter loose in the keep. You think I might be some sort of monster." She shrugged. "I don't know how I can prove myself to be the real Shayna. If, as you say, we knew each other better, you could ask me questions about my younger days, and so be sure, but…"
She sighed, and turned away. "This isn't turning out the way I meant it to," she said in a low voice. "I waited until you were alone, thinking this would be a wonderful chance…"
"Chance?" Insprin asked quietly, wand still aimed steadily at her. "Chance for what?"
Shayna Summerstar turned back to face him, and then peered quickly past. Assured that they were still alone, she said in a low voice, "I must now lead House Summerstar, and put away thoughts of gowns and feasts and. . handsome men. I–I'll lose those things before I ever even get to touch them with my fingertips! Snatched away, so I can never have a lover, never-"
Insprin raised a graying eyebrow. "Why not?" he asked. "Being head of a noble house doesn't mean setting the world aside, lady! Not in Cormyr, anyway!"
Shayna looked up at him. "You don't see, do you?" She took a step forward, and he raised the wand tensely.
A pained look passed over her face. She snatched at the tip of the wand and thrust it firmly between her breasts, where her gown was cut away to show a fall of lace. "There! If I'm some sort of monster," she told him fiercely, "blast away!"
He looked into angry green eyes that were very close to his, swallowed, and asked carefully, "Lady, what is it you want?"
"You, Insprin Turnstone!" she hissed furiously. "Do I have to go to my knees and beg you? I need a man to teach me what loving and kindness and comfort are all about… a man who dares not carry tales around the realm, and who has magic to keep unwanted children from me! The only man I've ever really loved and admired was my father-and you are so like him! Kind, and thoughtful, and yet quiet, keeping your own counsel until those around you really need it. I think I could love you… and yet I know I can't wed you, so I'd like to be in your arms for-for whatever times we can steal from the world together!"
She gazed into his eyes and almost whispered, "Of course, if you find me repellant, or my asking ridiculous, I'll understand, and say nothing… except to beg you to forget I ever spoke these words. Only please, please don't laugh at me, or call me a child!"
Insprin lowered his wand and put one hand to her magnificent hair, stroking it with infinite gentleness. "Lady," he said softly, "no lass who thinks such things can be anything but a woman, whether she's known a man yet or not. I–I do find you young, and I confess I'm more startled than flattered, but if you'll allow me to walk with you awhile, and talk, perhaps you can persuade me that you really want me, and know what you're getting yourself into. . this keep is not the safest of places right now, you know."
"Precisely," Shayna said, "and if I die this night, or on the morrow, or the day after, I'll never even have known a kiss from any man who was not my kinsman, and just being polite or kind!" She took his arm firmly, set down the dusty bottle, and said, "Right then-walk, you said, and we will. I'll walk to the end of Firefall Vale and back, wizard, so long as you take me!"
"Ah … I was thinking more of a tower where we could be alone," Insprin replied, holding his wand down by his side. Abruptly she caught hold of his sleeve and turned him, trying to kiss him-only to feel the point of the swiftly raised wand hard against her breast.
She glared into his eyes, her quickening breath warming his chin. "Fire the damned thing, I said," she whispered fiercely. "Find out that I am Shayna Summerstar, and then heal me, wizard, and then make love to me!"
He never knew, later, if he bent his lips to hers, or if she thrust her mouth forward, but her kiss was hot, and tremblingly eager, and sweet.
When he drew away at last to breathe, he said very quietly, "You mean it, don't you?"
"I do," the young noblewoman in his arms said simply. "Do you still doubt it?"
"No," he said, just as plainly, and took her arm. "Let us leave this place, and go wherever you want."
Shayna sighed as if a great weight had been taken from her, and smiled, her eyes bright. "Now we're getting somewhere, Insprin! I know just the place!"
"Oh?" Veteran war wizard that he was, Insprin still had hold of his wand and his presence of mind-but the lady in his arms giggled and said, "No, it's not my grandmother's bedroom or some dungeon cell! Come on!"
They hastened through the wine cellar, avoiding the pantry and its gathered guards, and past the granaries to a back stair. Three halls and a passage later, the way ahead turned dark-and the wizard slowed.
"Isn't this the Haunted Tower?"
Shayna gasped with exasperation. "Wizard," she hissed, "this is my home! Mine, now that I am head of House Summerstar-and I can't help it if folk call this whole central bit haunted! We just have to pass through it here, to reach the far wing!"
Insprin's eyes narrowed, and he stepped back from her and cast a quick spell. She made as if to interrupt, and then said, "Finished? Satisfied? Come on!"
The shield was a feeble one, but it would keep off the first slap of a tentacle or stab of a tail-sting. . unless it came from her. Insprin sighed-we all have to take some risks in life, after all-and drew Shayna into his arms once more.
She laughed softly in delight and anticipation, and led him into the darkness. "It won't be long now," she said, guiding his arms around her slender waist, to where her gown seemed to have come undone. "I want to feel your hands … no, don't stop, I want to get there … I've a cabinet full of sherry, and a fire laid ready to light, and-"