New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear

Author:Elizabeth Bear
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 1596061065
Publisher: Subterranean Press
Published: 2007-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chatoyant

(December, 1902)

Don Sebastien de Ulloa turned the silver ring between his

fingers, refusing—quite—to frown. The metal stayed cool; Sebastien's touch could warm nothing. He watched the light bend across a cloudy cat's-eye sapphire set level with the broad flat band, and licked his lips.

"Chatoyant," he said, and when he looked up felt the frown get away from him. Jack Priest, his friend and courtier, stared at him across the width of a cherrywood table in the chintz-and-lace front parlor of the Boston townhouse of Mrs. Phoebe Smith. His head cocked under a cherubic blond tangle, he frowned right back.

"Said of a mineral's luster," Sebastien continued, "'containing numerous threadlike inclusions, aligned to produce catseye figures with reflected light.'" He held up the ring so the glow from the gaslamps caught in those selfsame inclusions. It was not yet evening, but Sebastien could not venture into sunlight. And so the draperies were drawn.

Jack's frown deepened. "I don't know whose is that stone."

"Good," Sebastien said. "Go upstairs and put on your ring, please. And bring another down for Mrs. Smith."

Under other circumstances, Jack might have argued. Sebastien had no patience for the roles of blood and courtesan, freighted with tradition, and demanded only that his court treat him as a friend. He did Jack the dignity of never using that tone of flat command unless it was absolutely necessary, and Jack returned the respect with occasional considered obedience.

Now, he stared at Sebastien for a moment, obviously contemplating what it meant that another wampyr had braved the long Atlantic journey by dirigible or steamship, and come to the colony of Massachusetts. And sent a courtesan's ring by way of announcing his presence to Sebastien.

Jack vanished up Mrs. Smith's front stairs as with the speed of the adolescent he still resembled.

Sebastien pressed the cold ring between his fingers, and his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

Jack was gone longer than anticipated. When he reappeared, a silver ring flashed on his wedding finger, a trillion-cut garnet like a drop of blood bezel-set flush with the broad band. Except in the choice and shape of stone, it was identical to the ring Sebastien held. Jack wiggled a third between uplifted fingers. "I couldn't remember where I'd packed them. I had to guess at the size for Phoebe."

"I'll want to courier some to New Amsterdam as well," Sebastien said.

Jack nodded. He bounded the last three steps—Sebastien winced—and came bouncing over. "It's too late tonight. I'll take care of it in the morning. In the meantime, you can compose a telegram to Abby Irene and I will run it down to Atlantic Telegraph before sunset. Sebastien?. . ."

He slipped the spare ring into his waistcoat pocket and reached for the one Sebastien still clutched. Reluctantly, Sebastien laid it on his palm, not sure whether he was loath to let the cool metal leave his grasp, or concerned that its touch might somehow infect Jack.

Jack could have asked why Sebastien worried, why he required Jack to wear the band that advertised to those with eyes to see that he was under Sebastien's protection.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.