didn’t know about was tantalizing. Jeez, if not for the non-disclosure agreement, it could lead to a Pulitzer!
I hadn’t signed that agreement.
For a moment I saw an alternative. If I walked out now, I could pursue the study of this new species—scratch that; this probably very old species—on my own. Claim that Pulitzer, and whatever other prizes came with it. My ticket to fame and fortune.
All I had to do was betray Lomen and his friends.
I closed my eyes. I couldn’t do that.
In the brief moment of our contact, I’d had a glimpse of Lomen’s heart, and it was glorious. I wanted to know him, to love him. Forever.
If I was ready to devote my life to Lomen, why not spend it fighting the disease that threatened him and his family?
He’d said to leave him out of the equation, but I didn’t see how I could. Impossible to separate him from the choice. If I agreed to help, I’d see him frequently. He was part of the project. If I chose to stay out of it, but got involved with Lomen, I’d be constantly reminded of what they were trying to achieve, and that I’d refused to help.
If I walked away from both the project and Lomen...
I couldn’t.
I straightened up. Took a couple of deep gulps of air. A leaf drifted down past my head, fluttering like a butterfly on its way to the ground, flashing golden as it caught the light from the house.
I headed back inside. Soft murmur of conversation from living room, and as I reached the door I smelled fresh-baked cookies.
I went in, and through to the living room. They all stopped talking and looked up at me. This time it was I who avoided Lomen’s gaze; no distractions. I walked to the couch, sat down, signed my name to the non-disclosure agreement, then carefully laid the pen down on the coffee table. The click it made on the wood filled the silence.
“I’m in.”
Most of them started talking at once. I glanced at Lomen. He smiled slightly; that was all. It was enough.
For now.
Len offered me a plate of cookies. I took one, though my stomach was pretty knotted. Bit off a small taste. Buttery, not too sweet, with piñon nuts. I chewed it slowly.
“Thank you, Steve,” Caeran said. “We’ll make it worth your while.”
“I’m going to buy some books, if that’s OK,” I said. “I’ll check the library first, but they may not have everything I want.”
Caeran nodded. “Just give your receipts to Amanda. She’ll reimburse you.”
I turned to Len. “Have you looked at rare forms of anemia? Could be related.”
“I’m just taking basic pre-med courses right now.”
“Let’s compare schedules. No need for us to overlap.” I looked at Amanda. “You in on the research?”
She shook her head. “Not my forte. I’m handling the business end.”
“Ah. Yes, you’ll be good at it.”
I realized the ... ælven ... had stopped talking and were all listening to me. I glanced around at them.
“Any of you scientifically inclined?”
“Lomen is something of a dabbler,” Caeran said. “He is also taking courses at the university.”
I met Lomen’s gaze and swallowed. “I’d like to see your schedule too, then.”
He nodded. “We could meet tomorrow.”
“Yes,” Len said. “Why don’t you all come for dinner? We can talk about getting the lab up and running, too.”
“Great idea!” Amanda said. “I’ll bring the wine.” She glanced sidelong at me and grinned. “Len’s a great cook, and Caeran isn’t bad either. Wait ’til you taste his homemade bread!”
This seemed to be the signal for the gathering to break up. Everyone stood. Len picked up the cookie plate and strolled to the kitchen, and Caeran followed her. Amanda and Savhoran went out the front door.
I stood by the couch, feeling foolish with half a cookie in my hand. Amanda was my ride; had she forgotten?
I supposed I could walk home. It wasn’t that far.
“Not at night,” Lomen said softly.
I faced him, stunned and momentarily angry. He’d read my
I hadn’t signed that agreement.
For a moment I saw an alternative. If I walked out now, I could pursue the study of this new species—scratch that; this probably very old species—on my own. Claim that Pulitzer, and whatever other prizes came with it. My ticket to fame and fortune.
All I had to do was betray Lomen and his friends.
I closed my eyes. I couldn’t do that.
In the brief moment of our contact, I’d had a glimpse of Lomen’s heart, and it was glorious. I wanted to know him, to love him. Forever.
If I was ready to devote my life to Lomen, why not spend it fighting the disease that threatened him and his family?
He’d said to leave him out of the equation, but I didn’t see how I could. Impossible to separate him from the choice. If I agreed to help, I’d see him frequently. He was part of the project. If I chose to stay out of it, but got involved with Lomen, I’d be constantly reminded of what they were trying to achieve, and that I’d refused to help.
If I walked away from both the project and Lomen...
I couldn’t.
I straightened up. Took a couple of deep gulps of air. A leaf drifted down past my head, fluttering like a butterfly on its way to the ground, flashing golden as it caught the light from the house.
I headed back inside. Soft murmur of conversation from living room, and as I reached the door I smelled fresh-baked cookies.
I went in, and through to the living room. They all stopped talking and looked up at me. This time it was I who avoided Lomen’s gaze; no distractions. I walked to the couch, sat down, signed my name to the non-disclosure agreement, then carefully laid the pen down on the coffee table. The click it made on the wood filled the silence.
“I’m in.”
Most of them started talking at once. I glanced at Lomen. He smiled slightly; that was all. It was enough.
For now.
Len offered me a plate of cookies. I took one, though my stomach was pretty knotted. Bit off a small taste. Buttery, not too sweet, with piñon nuts. I chewed it slowly.
“Thank you, Steve,” Caeran said. “We’ll make it worth your while.”
“I’m going to buy some books, if that’s OK,” I said. “I’ll check the library first, but they may not have everything I want.”
Caeran nodded. “Just give your receipts to Amanda. She’ll reimburse you.”
I turned to Len. “Have you looked at rare forms of anemia? Could be related.”
“I’m just taking basic pre-med courses right now.”
“Let’s compare schedules. No need for us to overlap.” I looked at Amanda. “You in on the research?”
She shook her head. “Not my forte. I’m handling the business end.”
“Ah. Yes, you’ll be good at it.”
I realized the ... ælven ... had stopped talking and were all listening to me. I glanced around at them.
“Any of you scientifically inclined?”
“Lomen is something of a dabbler,” Caeran said. “He is also taking courses at the university.”
I met Lomen’s gaze and swallowed. “I’d like to see your schedule too, then.”
He nodded. “We could meet tomorrow.”
“Yes,” Len said. “Why don’t you all come for dinner? We can talk about getting the lab up and running, too.”
“Great idea!” Amanda said. “I’ll bring the wine.” She glanced sidelong at me and grinned. “Len’s a great cook, and Caeran isn’t bad either. Wait ’til you taste his homemade bread!”
This seemed to be the signal for the gathering to break up. Everyone stood. Len picked up the cookie plate and strolled to the kitchen, and Caeran followed her. Amanda and Savhoran went out the front door.
I stood by the couch, feeling foolish with half a cookie in my hand. Amanda was my ride; had she forgotten?
I supposed I could walk home. It wasn’t that far.
“Not at night,” Lomen said softly.
I faced him, stunned and momentarily angry. He’d read my
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