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Subject: {ASSM} The Man In The Suitcase (nosex, magic, asst codes) TBD
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Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:10:04 -0400
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    The Man in the Suitcase - Read First!
---

    'The Man in the Suitcsase' started life as a challenge I tossed
out in ASSD: "Write a story or other work that contains a scene with a
man in a suitcase."

    If anyone here wants to go with it, feel free.

    Please note that although the parts are labeled 1 to 4, they are
not complete yet. They all need more details addded and of course,
they need to be tied together.
---

    Here are some working notes:

    Power can be transfered and built up via orgasms.

    the orgasms cannot be simultaneous

    The order of the orgasms determines who eventually uses the
gathered power.

    male and female 'essense' builds until it must be 'bled off' or
otherwise dissipated. This energy can be 'collected' and transfered by
a skilled member of the opposite sex. Intimate physical contact
between the male and female parts is required for any useful transfer
to take place.

    The power collected from an unsuspecting donor isn't as 'strong'
as that collected from a willing partner but it can be used for
ordinary workings and thus save the worker's essntial energy for
other, more critical tasks.
---


    Some things I haven't thought out yet:

    How does gay sex affect the transfer of power?

    How would bestiality be seen and how does it affect power
transfers? How does it affect the animal in question?

    What happens to power if the participants do have simultaneous
orgasms?

    What if one partner doesn't orgasm?

    What happens if the sex is interrupted?

    How does pregnancy affect power and power transfers?

    How many classes of power are there? What determines a person's
ranking? Can it be changed?

    What happens if a person has sex with someone from off world?

    Is power affected by the world it is used on? Can power from
different worlds be shared? 
~~~

    The Man In the Suitcase
    ---

    "Welcome to Rythia. Native or visitor? May I see your papers
please and do you have anything to declare?" Routine had taken the
edge off my usually cheery greeting. Blame it on the huge influx of
vistors for Exorcon.

    "Native. No papers. Only thing to declare is the man in my
suitcase." A delicate hand was thrust out and presented to me while
the other one casually set the suitcase on the counter.

    The back of her hand briefly showed a small symbol. My eyes
widened as I realized what I was seeing. "M'Lady! I didn't mean..." In
all my years as a customs inspector, I had never seen one of our
native sorceresses travel by mundane means.

    Silvery laughter carressed my ears. "We weren't in a hurry. This
is our first trip home in twenty years, so we decided to relax." She
opened the suitcase.

    "Ohhh..." I couldn't help my squeal of delighted surprise. "He's
gorgeous. Had him long?" Then I remembered the convention. "Keep an
eye on him. Somebody might try to steal him from you."

    "We've been together since puberty. Life-Bonded." She giggled. "He
can't be stolen. He's a sorcerer. He decided to travel this way
because he thought it would be amusing. You know how men are
sometimes." She poked at her man. "Garth? We're here. Time to quit
playing."

    I didn't need to see any papers on this one to know he was a
Rythian native. Green eyes looked at me and then one of them winked.
Besides, even though I was in my first youth, I knew that one did not
question a sorceress about her Life-Mate.

    There was a sudden puff of inrushing air when he vanished from the
suitcase and reappeared at her side. Now that I had a chance to study
him, I realized my 'gorgeous' had been wrong. He'd been naked while he
was in the suitcase. Somehow he'd managed to clothe himself in his
formal robes before he reappeared. I stared at him. He wasn't
gorgeous. He was elegant.

    He wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled. I was a bit
startled at his casual familiarity but let it pass without comment.
Sorceresses and their mates had a reputation for being somewhat
eccentric and casual about some things. "It's good to be home." Green
eyes twinkled at me. "Well, home as soon as we get through customs."

    Oops. "Welcome home M'Lady. M'Lord. Of course you're cleared
through customs."

    I looked past them at the short line of people who were patiently
waiting. "M'lady? When it's convenient could I stop by for a visit? "
I smiled wryly. "Your mate fascinates me."

    She surprised me when she consulted with him before answering. The
twinkle never left his eyes but he turned thoughtful. He turned back
to me and made a gesture. His eyes widened and then I thought I saw a
very slight frown flicker across her features as she nodded. "Of
course. We'll be staying at the Hall before returning to our home.
Someone there can direct you if we leave before you get a chance to
stop by."

    I handed her one of my cards. "Who do I ask for?"

    She raised an eyebrow at that. Instead of answering immediately,
she closed her suitcase while he gathered the rest of their luggage.
When they were ready, she turned her attention back to me. The twinkle
in her eyes matched his. "Ze-arla."

    I gaped as they walked away.

    It was several seconds before the next person could get my
attention. "Young lady. I do NOT enjoy waiting while you stand gazing
off at some hunk of man-flesh. You have a job to do. Do it."

    "Yes Ma'am. Sorry Ma'am." I returned to my litany of boredom while
the back of my mind wondered why the Guild's successor-designates had
chosen to return home in such an unconventional fashion. I also
wondered about how he had managed to fit himself into her suitcase.
Unlike most males, he was the taller of the two of them.

    * * *

    Ze showed me the card the young woman had handed her:

    Che-ulbrith
    Registered Customs Inspector
    Guild Certificaton: Class Zero Insensitive

    "Interesting." She nodded. We both knew that Class Zero
Insensitives were extremely rare. They were totally unable to use
sorcery or be influenced by sorcerous means. It made sense that she
would find work in a field such as customs inspection.

    "Garth? Are you wondering the same thing I am?" Ze was watching
the people around us with undisguised intentness.

    I was thinking about what the scan had told me so I wasn't really
paying much attention to Ze's train of thought as I replied. "What is
she doing as a port inspector rather than running things at
headquarters?"

    I stopped to study her when she shook her head from side to side
in negation. "No... That doesn't bother me. I'm wondering why we
weren't told a new Class Zero had been certified."

    She hesitated. "Something else bothered me but I didn't want to
comment on it where anyone could hear us. She didn't recognize me but
she reacted rather strongly when I gave her my working name. She knows
of us but didn't *know* us."

    My first reaction, supressed, was that we hadn't been home in
twenty years. There were bound to be people who didn't recognize us
and know who we are. Ze's emphasis had been subtle but she had seen
something I had missed at the time. "A Customs Inspector who doesn't
immediately recognize the 'Successor-designates'? Who else could have
passed though unrecognized? Someone has been carefully selective in
her training."

    Ze's comment was one word that was filled with meaning. "Indeed."

 She turned to bestow a smile on me. I chuckled softly. "Well, it
*was* one of our own people who casually mentioned that it might be
nice if we came home and took a break from our 'diplomatic duties'."

    She laughed quietly and throatily. "Oh yes. I begin to see what
made them couch the request so carefully. I also wonder if this
convention was arranged to help us arriive with no fanfare. Our
meeting Che during the customs inspection has the feel of something
that was carefully staged for someone else's benefit." She reached to
lightly brush my face with her fingers. "Your charms have, once again,
gained us quiet passage while distracting those who should know better
than to be lured from their appointed tasks by thoughts of the body."

    Ze was unusually affectionate in her tones and far more
demonstrative in public than she had been for many years. I allowed my
eyebrows to rise and question her actions.

    Her response was relaxed. "We are home. It is nice to be able to
return to the old ways."

    Ah. A reminder that I should adopt a more discreet role in her
life. I stepped back and bowed. "M'Lady. Your desires for the
immediate future?"

    She nodded as she considered her next actions. "Arrange ceremonial
transportation to Guild Headquarters. See if they have any traveler's
suites available." Her emphasis on the type of transportation brought
a smile to my face. Someone was going to be very embarrassed when I
called. We should have been spotted as soon as we entered customs.
There were certain formalities usually inflicted on us when we arrived
home.

    I nodded. "Anything else?"

    She handed me the card. "A discrete records search after we arrive
and settle in. I wish to know more about our future guest."

    Ze made another quiet comment. "Inform them that I *will not* take
kindly to being insulted again." Her eyes were laughing but her body
and tone spoke of indignation at being ignored.

    "As you wish." I bowed and then used my com to make arrangements.
The woman on the other end was haughty until I calmly asked her to do
a voice recog. I patiently waited out the long silence and smiled to
myself when she came back and addressed me in much calmer tones.

    As we completed the arrangements, I privately admitted to myself
that, as usual, life with Ze-arla was never dull.

    * * *

    By the time we reached the exit our transportation had arrived and
was waiting for us.

    I couldn't help my soft chuckle. Ze looked at me and I gestured at
what was waiting. "All that to go 250 meters. Much simpler to walk.
Quicker too."

    She nodded and touched my arm to remind me to remain silent, as
beffited a properly trained man. I was her mate but that didn't exempt
me from having to behave 'properly' in public.

    I held back as she was escorted to the single seat 'carriage'.
Once settled she motioned me over and pointed to the small platform on
the rear. I stepped up and waited while the railing was secured behind
me. I checked the controls and nodded. She then turned to face forward
and resettled herself. In a calm voice she gave me my directions.
"Guild Headquarters."

    I set the motor controls to their slowest settings and placed my
hands on the two joysticks. When I was sure I was ready, I confrimed
her directions. "Guild Headquarters, M'Lady." I pushed gently and got
us moving. "Your desire is my command."

    The ceremonial crew flowed around us and at the stately speed of
one kilometer per hour, we made our journey.

    I wasn't surprised when Ze started returning the waves and smiles
of passerby. Hidden in her movements were the gestures of our private
language. I couldn't respond but I didn't have to.

    "Beware. Someone is going to attempt to assassinate you as we
stop. During the confusion, they will seek to attack me. Save the
evidence. I'll handle the assassin."

    I sighed to myself. Someone was seriously uninformed about our
abilities. As I slowed us to a stop, Ze-arla vanished as I felt a
light touch on my outer robe. I waited until the carriage was stopped
and I had locked the wheels before I turned my attention to my robe.

    Ze reappeared in front of the carriage. She was smiling slightly
as she held a woman's limp form upright. I raised an eyebrow when I
realized the woman was not unconscious but dead. Ze let her smile turn
grim as she released her grip and the body collapsed to the pavement.

    Instead of asking someone to release the railing that held me in
place, she raised her voice: "Garth! To me!"

    I nodded and sent myself to her.

    "Your outer robe. Give it to me."

    I let myself smile slightly as I handed her my outer robe. "She
was an excellent shot for someone so misinformed, M'Lady. I think you
will find what you seek in line with where my heart would have been
had it penetrated more than the outer layer."

    I looked down and nudged the woman over with one foot. "I presume
she had another one that was destined for your heart? And wasn't this
action a bit precipitous?" I heard gasps from some of the people
around us.

    "My love for you is well known. As is your non-traditional role in
my life."

    I nodded my response.

    "This," she gestured at the body, "was a warning to those who
thought to use you to get to me."

    She looked up and finally spoke to those closest to us. "I don't
know who is behind this. Hear me and remember. Garth does not need my
protection and I do not need his. To seek to distract me by killing
him was a mistake that this woman paid for with her life. See that it
doesn't happen again. Next time we will let the assassin live so we
may discover who is behind this."

    I let my posture harden into one of contained power and resolve
when I turned to study the crowd. "Kill Ze-arla or make an attempt on
her life... and you will most surely invoke my wrath. I, an oath-sworn
bodyguard, have spoken in warning. I only speak to warn - once. I
trust I have made myself clear?"

    I relaxed my visage from one of sternness as I turned back to
Ze-arla. "M'Lady? Shall we resume your rudely interrupted journey?"

    We linked out arms together and headed for the entrance. Just
before we entered the hall, Ze turned and spoke to one of the
followers. "Have someone see to the body and then put the carriage
away. I won't be needing it again."

    The woman curtsied. "As you wish M'Lady."

    * * *

    I was sipping idly at a fruit drink as I studied Che-ulbrith's
public records. I had assumed that someone would have noticed her
handing Ze her card so the check was something I would be expected to
do.

    Che was in her mid-thirties and had been certified, as all people
were, during puberty. Several things were missing that should have
been in her public records. More importantly, the usual annotations
that the Guildmasters and Successors had been notified of her status
were missing.

    When I ran a correlation between the date of certification and our
movements, the answer surprised me. She had been certified at the
exact time Ze and I had boarded ship to leave Rythia twenty years ago.

    I leaned back and thought about that detail and the missing
information. "Ze? Take a look at this." I motioned at the screen.
"Coincidence?"

    Ze read the information and thought about it. "I doubt it."

    I remembered my scan. "She's not a true Class Zero. She's
something else. Oh, on the surface, she's a Zero but the lines swirl
around her in unusual patterns. She may not be aware of her
differences. Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to keep her
innocent of her abilities."

    Ze went back and settled at the small desk. I knew the signs.
Something was clamoring for her attention and she was searching within
to figure out what it was. I noticed that as she seemed to be
pondering what we had learned, her hands were moving in a pattern that
would set her strongest privacy spell.

    Her lips quirked but she said nothing when she realized I was
watching her.

    "Garth?" She took a deep breath. "I'm dropping all my shields.
Scan me and wait until I have restored them before you speak of what
you learn."

    I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She indicated I could
proceed. We hadn't scanned one another since we had been officially
mated. I did the scan and couldn't help my slight smile when I
realized what I was seeing. Ze saw the smile and nodded. I felt her
shields return and then she smiled openly.

    "You see it too?" It wasn't really a question.

    "The similarity is remarkable. Someone has wasted a great deal of
effort by trying to hide her from the rest of the world. My next
question is, 'now that we know about her, where is the corresponding
man?'

    "There isn't one. You will be the pole for both of us."

    "A foreseeing?" My question was more in the nature of a
verification. Ze's eyes had briefly dimmed in the way they always did
when she felt the need to attempt such. "I can't be in two places at
the same time."

    She grinned briefly and then turned serious. "You won't need to
be. We will rule, when the times comes, as a triumvirate. In the
meantime, we will be quietly adopting Che into our lives and helping
her make up for her lack."

    I sighed and turned off the monitor. We knew what we needed to
know for now and any other information would be discovered through
unofficial means. "She's in for an interesting life."

    I opened a channel to assignmments. "Ze-arla has expressed a
desire to have the Customs Inspector Che-ulbrith reassigned to her
household."

    The woman looked startled but nodded. "Reason?"

    I turned the pickup to face Ze. "Today's attempt on my life
revealed a flaw in my thinking. I feel that having a Class Zero on my
staff would be beneficial to my security. Che-ulbrith has already
expressed a compatibility with my man."

    "Understood. She will be reassigned and sent to you within the
hour." The screen blanked.

    Ze's 'reason' startled me. "That after your pointed remark after
the assassination attempt?"

    She was somewhat curt. "Let them wonder."

    I didn't bother asking who 'they' were.

    * * *

    There was a firm knock on the door to our suite. I opened it to
see the head of assignments and Che-ulbrith. Che was obviously
puzzled.

    "Inspector Che-ulbrith, as requested. Ask Lady Ze-arla to sign the
transfer." She held out the paperwork.

    I bowed before taking it from her. "Please wait. I shall relay
your request."

    I didn't bother saying anything to Ze when I handed her the
papers. She nodded and signed them. Instead of handing them back, she
got up and went to the door herself.

    As she handed them to the now flustered woman, she nodded
absentmindedly. "I expect that in the very near future, I will be
inviting Lady Che to permanently join with my household. Please see
that the proper paperwork is ready and waiting for that day."

    The woman curtsied before she found her voice. "As you wish
M'Lady." She turned slightly and studied Che. "Your new duties are
whatever Lady Ze-arla chooses them to be. You are honored. She seldoms
adds to her household." With that, she finished her turn and walked
away.

    "Garth? Please discover Che's tastes in refreshment and see to it.
Then, join us. We have much to discuss." She gestured towards her
desk. "Relax and be welcome, Che-ulbrith. We can discuss your
fascination for my man while we wait."

    I hid my smile as Che entered cautiously. "Your desires M'Lady?" I
was rewarded with a surprised look at the implication I didn't bother
to conceal. "I am a man and used to being treated as a possesion. In
that much, we honor our traditions. It does not bother me." I
shrugged. "I apologise in advance if the mind adulterants are your
favorites. We only have juices and other non-intoxicating ones
available for now. I can, of course, order whatever you wish but you
will have to wait briefly for their arrival."

    She relaxed slightly and turned to Ze. "Am I on duty?"

    Ze shook her head. "Not yet - and always. Garth can verify that as
'normal' for people around me."

    Che's smile changed subtly. "I see." She turned to me and her tone
was brisk. "Rythian cocktail."

    I nodded. "Wise choice." I chuckled as she frowned at my
presumption. "The mix enhances the ability to focus. You will need
that around Ze." I left to go prepare her drink.

    When I returned I found them comfortably settled. After I set
their drinks before them Ze gestured at one of the vacant chairs and
indicated I should make myself comfortable.

    Ze chuckled softly as she tilted her head towards Che. "Che is
havng problems adjusting to our easy familiarity."

    I nodded and smiled. "You expected otherwise?"

    "No." She became brisk and all business. "Che, the rumors are
true. In private Garth and I are equals and sometimes he is in charge
if something is within his skills and not mine. I expect that, in
time, you will adapt to this."

    She leaned back and shook her head. "Someone has gone to a lot of
trouble to hide you from me and keep you from realizing your true
potential. You are not a true Class Zero. What you are is far
different and something that will change your life."

    "That is?" She was guarded in her response. Good.

    "There's no easy way to explain it so I will be blunt. I had you
reassigned because you will, after proper training, become a 'Succssor
Designate' along with Garth and I. Someday, the three of us will take
over and rule."

    "Choh-Ko!" Che spat out the oath as she stood up and started an
agitated pacing. I looked at Ze and she shook her head slightly. Fair
enough. We'd wait until Che gathered herself and calmed down.

    Che finally stopped her pacing and looked at me. "The suitcase.
How did you manage to fit?"

    "A size changing spell."

    She nodded and turned to Ze. "Your unconventional means of
travel?"

    "One of my people suggested we return home for a visit. It was
carefully phrased to indicate there were some things I would not see
if Garth and I traveled as usual."

    Che returned to her pacing but now it was more thoughtful. "And we
met." Her eyes glittered. I was reminded of a hunting feline.

    "We met. The rest was bound to follow once I had Garth scan you."
Ze was calm.

    Che frowned slightly. "I heard about the attempt on Garth's life.
Related?"

    It was Ze's turn to frown. "Perhaps. You seem to think otherwise."

    Che finally resettled in her chair. "It was too clumsy. I think it
was aimed at whoever was using the ceremonial transport rather than
specifically aimed at you." She sipped thoughtfully and her eyes held
that gllitter again. "Whoever it was, they made a mistake they surely
regret. The woman couldn't have known who the two of you were. If she
had, she wouldn't have made the attempt."

    Ze and I shared looks of chagrin. We hadn't considered the
possibility the attempt wasn't aimed specifically at us.

    Che nodded as she noticed our interchange. "The meeting with me
was an obvious setup. The rest?" She shook her head. "No. I think
there are two plots here and until now, the plotters didn't know about
each other."

    That kicked in my own suspicions. "We'll have to figure that they
will join. Two plots. One aimed at Ze and the other aimed at the Guild
itself. Mutual purpose will make them seek to join forces for now."

    I remembered something else. "You knew of us but didn't recognize
us. Was that due to our unusual means of arrival or because you were
never given our descriptions?"

    She blushed. "That and more."

    I nodded. I could figure out the rest. "In that case, how many
other people have arrived that you should have known by sight and did
not?"

    She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

    Ze sighed and we both turned to her. I could guess how she felt.
"Things are not as we expected and certainly not good. With the
convention, about all we can do is wait and put security on alert."

    I held up my hand to stop her. "Wait, yes. What if security is
part of it? Someone had to be able to place Che so we would meet her.
Obviously, that was one of our own people. The way the meeting was set
up hints that someone feels that security is being used as part of at
least one plot, the one specifically aimed as us."

    Ze winced. "You argue well." She looked at me and then asked a
question we could no longer avoid. "Is Che part of it or an
unsuspecting pawn?"

    I sighed. "Ze, your worries are misplaced. You foresaw. Whatever
she was, she is now ours, body and soul. However, to lay your fears to
rest, she has always belonged to the Guild and by extention, to us. My
scan told me that much."

    I turned to Che, who had stiffened in her chair at Ze's words.
"Forgive us but at times like this we have to be blunt. I mean no
slight when I talk of 'belonging'. I use it as a means of saying that
you follow the same path we do, by choice and belief rather than for
self-enrichment and personal power."
---
 
    The Man in the Suitcase
    part 2
    ---


    "Fools. That's who you are." The old woman's voice was filled with
her contempt for the other women who were seated around the table.

    "How dare you! We act while you have waited and chosen to remain
hidden." The leader of the 'delegation' did not bother to hide her
outrage.

    "Fools because you did not succeed and now our mutual quarry is
alerted. Not only that, the *plans* you have disturbed will take years
to be adjusted." She sighed. "What's done is done and we must adjust
to reality."

    Mu-ithra gestured at the surveilance tapes. "Your target was
anyone who was of high enough rank they would be forced to use the
ceremonial carriage. That your target turned out to be Ze and her
thrice damned man, was unfortunate and unforeseeable. They *will*
eventually rule the Guild now."

    All of those gathered sighed as they looked at each other.
Ky-theria, leader of the delegation, smiled grimly. "Our shared task
then is to see that their rule is shorter than they might wish."

    Mu nodded as she settled back. "We also have another problem. The
one I was grooming to become my puppet is now joined to Ze's
household. Before any plans can be put in motion again, we need
someone to replace them. That means an enforced delay until another
woman with the right latent abilities is found."

    Ky studied the tape that was paused so they could study that
moment when Garth had scanned Che-ulbrith. "Do you think there is a
new player in the game?"

    Mu-ithra shook her head in negation. "No. Somehow Ze's people
managed to advise her to use mundane transport. They also managed to
know when she would be arriving and placed Che in position." Her lips
twisted into a bitter smile. "They counted on Garth's magnetism for
the rest. Once he capitivated Che-ulbrith, the rest was inevitable."

    "His scan?"

    "Also inevitable. He is, after all, a sworn bodyguard in addition
to being a man."

    Ky leaned back and kept silent as some of the others expressed
their opinions and contempt for 'men'. She glanced at Mu and the two
of them shared knowledgable smiles. Old hands at the subtle game of
power, they were willing to let others blind themselves with petty
thoughts of contempt.

    At last, her thoughts reorganized, Ky stretched lithely and spoke.
"Though I find it distasteful, I think we will have to delve into our
history. We need to have a better understanding of men and their
motivations, before we proceed further."

    Mu nodded her head slightly. "Agreed. Specifically, we need to
better understand Garth and his relationship with Ze-arla--and now
Che-ulbrith. How much of Ze's thinking is a result of her now open
disregard for the traditional relationship with a man?"

    Ky looked thoughtful. "I see only one way to find out the extent
of the damage. Someone must attempt to duplicate that relationship."

    There were gasps of shock as she continued. "I do not have a man
at the moment. I will learn what I may and then attempt to find a
suitable subject to experiment with."

    "You risk much." Mu shook her head. "They have shared since the
time they bonded during puberty. You cannot hope to truly duplicate
that."

    "I do not plan to duplicate it. I am searching for a way to
understand the obvious emotional manipulation that goes on. I expect
that I will be watched carefully and that someone will stop things if
they see them going too far. I want everyone here to watch me closely
and look for changes and how to use them to manipulate me. Maybe that
way we will discover what we seek and be able to manipulate *those
three* by manipulating their surroundings."

    Mu barely heard Ky's words. "While you are doing that, I'm going
to discover who was able to ruin both of our plans with one sure
stroke. I am somewhat displeased with that person and I fully intend
to make her aware of my irritation."

    She smiled and those who saw her smile cringed away. "Ze issued
her challenge. I fully intend to make sure that our joint stroke
doesn't miss - as yours did."

    Ky flushed but accepted the rebuke. She had earned it.
---

    The Man in the Suitcase
    part 3
    ---

    Three three of us studied the report that had been delivered to
me. I chuckled. "So, we know who the main players are."

    Ze shared my chuckle. "We suspected they would be well placed."

    Che leaned over my shoulder and pointed to a name. "Her. I owe
her."

    "Indeed. We all owe her. She must have been very upset when she
had to assign you to Ze's household. She concealed herself well."

    Che smiled grimly. "Do we flush her out?"

    "No." Ze was thoughtful. "I think we should help her towards her
goal."

    Che gasped in shock. "Help her?!"

    I reached for one of Che's hands and pulled her around to sit on
my lap. "Yes. Part of her destruction will be her education. Yours as
well. Sometimes you get what you desire. We will see that Mu-ithra
gains the ability to understand our relationship as you do."

    Che stiffened and then leaned back against me. "Devious. I had not
thought you were so cruel."

    Ze sighed. "Sometimes we have to be. Mu-ithra, in her zeal,
desires to know how I am 'damaged' as a result of my relationship with
Garth. She will pay for that knowledge by eventually joining us. As
will Ky-theria. It will be interesting to see which of them apologises
to us first."

    She gently rubbed the back of my neck. "Garth? I think you should
take Che for a walk. I suggest you wander through assignments as part
of your stroll."

    Che laughed first.

    * * *

    Mostly, Che and I talked of routine matters such as seeing to Ze's
security. We seemed to wander throughtout the Hall as I pointed out
things she needed to be aware of. Eventually we entered assignments.

    Mu-ithra greeted Che. "M'Lady. Your time goes well?"

    Che smiled. "Indeed it does. Garth has been explaining my new
duties to me and Ze has been making sure I learn what I need to know
as a member of her household."

    Mu smiled. "Ze takes good care of her people." She hesitated
slightly. "Garth has been explaining your duties?"

    Che nodded enthusiastically. "He knows so much! He's been wth her
so long that most of what he does is routine for him. We have to pause
sometimes while I try and figure out the right questions to ask him."
She giggled. "In some things they are untraditional but when the
occasion demands it, they insist on making sure they adhere to the
original traditions set down by the founders."

    Mu raised her eyebrows at that. "Indeed?" She turned to me at
last. "Rumors abound about how Ze-arla tends to be casual about
following some of our traditions."

    I bowed. "In many cases, appearances are deceiving. It's true that
we seem to have a disregard for many of the traditional ways. You can
blame that on our early training. We discovered very early in our
lives that we had to be able to be comfortable with non-traditional
concepts when studying our traditions and the reasons for them. As our
teachers so often remind their students, 'you can best understand
something by viewing it from the outside'. For Ze-arla and I, that
meant we had to learn to think in non-traditional ways so we would be
able to better understand and protect our traditions." I shook my head
as if remembering something unpleasant. "Ze-arla can be very
traditional when it suits her. One of my problems has always been
finding ways to detect her moods and follow them. In that, she is very
traditional."

    I sighed. "Some of that is bound to carry over into our daily
lives and be seen. Also, we have lived for many years in cultures that
do not follow our ways. In order to merge with them and do our jobs as
diplomats, we had to adopt some of their ways. After all these years,
it is difficult to break away from the roles we have played for so
long."

    Che smiled brightly. "See what I mean? I was uncomforatble with
some things they did in my presence until they explained why they
sometimes acted as they did. They're fantastic teachers. In just a few
days I've learned that there is so much to learn I don't know enough
to be able to form the right questions."

    She hesitated before going on. "I really need to finish my tour of
Headquarters. Garth has been showing me the special things I should be
aware of in case I have to help defend Ze-arla. Will you excuse my
seeming rudeness?"

    Mu was obviously thinking of something else as she replied. "Of
course I excuse your 'rudeness'. As a member of the
Successor-designate's household, there is no need to apologise for
taking your duties so seriously."

    Che curtsied and I bowed without a word. Casually, we proceeded
with our 'tour'.

    Che stopped in front of a doorway. "I need to stop and sort things
out before we go any further. You've managed to overwhelm me with all
the things I need to learn." She pointed into the room. "I need some
mental quiet while I think about things. Step inside with me and see
that nobody enters until I give permission. I need you there in case I
need to ask questions."

    I shrugged at her request and entered behind her. The sensors
registered our presense in the room and automatically turned on the
shielding when the door closed.

    We looked at each other and then she broke the silence by
laughing. "Is it always that easy?"

    I shook my head slightly. "Not always. Few people realize how much
their thinking is affected by the situation and their preconceptions.
One of our ongoing duties is to always be aware of those tendencies in
ourselves and guard each other against them."

    Che settled in a chair. "So, the seed is planted. Will it sprout?"

    I shrugged. "Eventually. It will grow slowly but it will grow."

    She gazed off in silence. "Ky-theria?"

    I chuckled. "There, the soil is very fertile and she planted it
herself. All we have to do is wait."

    Che leaned forward and studied me. "You sound very certain."

    I smiled. "I am. This is not the first time Ze and I have fought
this type of battle. It *is* the first time we have had a partner with
such finely honed skills."

    She blushed. "You flatter me when we both know better. I am
untutored. As you know."

    "No. You have had ample training at combatting deviousness or you
would not have been working where you were. You were a skilled pawn
and you have been promoted, much to the chagrin of those who were
using you. People are seldom ready when their opponent forces such a
promotion."

    Her lips quirked. "Promoted to being someone else's pawn."

    I bowed and held it. "Harsh assesment but true for the moment. You
may, of course, choose to no longer play the game. Ze and I would
honor that desire and because you are known to us, the others would be
forced to leave you alone. It is your decision to make."

    I straightened and looked into her eyes. "M'Lady Che-ulbrith. What
are your desires? Ask and I will do my best to satisfy them."

    "My desires? Any of them?" Her lips quirked slightly.

    I nodded slightly. "So long as they are not intended to harm
Ze-arla. I am presworn to her service." I looked at her and paused.
Something wasn't as it should be. "Did Ze-arla explain the ways of
power?"

    "She said I would need a man as my pole for certain things. I
accept that because it is something I learned as a novice."

    I sighed. "So she left it to me to explain or for you to figure
out."

    Che looked at me. "Left what?"

    "She foresaw that the three of us would rule the Guild as a
triumvirate."

    Che nodded. "I remember that much."

    "Poles share in the ruling. I am Ze's pole and I will share her
rule. Since you will also rule and we will rule as three and not two,
or four..." I stopped as Che's eyes widened in comprehension and she
blushed deeply.

    I nodded. "Indeed. I have shared many couches in my long life. It
is part of being a man in our culture."

    "Ze foresaw that I would be the male pole for both of you. I am
forced to accept that and hope that someday there will be more than
the rituals of power to bind you and I to each other."

    "Don't be foolish." She snapped. "You and I both know that in the
few days we've been together, something more than casual use and
shared purpose binds us."

    I nodded my acceptance of her point.

    Her eyes widened and she started laughing. "So *that's* what will
happen to Ky-theria and Mu-ithra. Oh, if they only suspected..."

    She smiled as she realized what was in store for our opponents.
"For now, I choose to play the role of a pawn. Someday, when my
knowledge permits, I will, of course, choose to play for myself. My
desire is for your help in making that day come as soon as possible."

    I answered her smile with a grin. "You and Ze have much in common.
I imagine your capacity to learn quickly matches hers. You will find
that power grants the user the choice of many paths not available to
non-users. Ze will tell you that a willing male pole allows for even
more refined choices."

    I bowed deeply. "Use me well, M'lady Che-ulbrith. You are a
Successor-designate and my skills are yours to use as you desire so
long as those uses do not violate my previous oaths."
 ---

    The Man in the Suitcase
    part 4
    ---

    "Garth? Why are you my teacher, instead of Ze?" As part of the
routine we'd established soon after she'd been assigned to Ze's
household, Che and I were settled in one of the shielded rooms.

    Che was behind me and had her arms alongside mine so we could feel
the powerflow in each other as we worked the basic spells she needed
to know. Unspoken between us was the knowledge that she could use
these times to whisper questions that she didn't want anyone else to
hear.

    "Because it is traditional that the female Designates teach any
female Designates who are discovered. Ze, as one of the senior
designates, has many responsibilities. Our opponents are watching her
too closely for her to be able to teach you without them learning that
we know what you really are. By seeming to neglect your training, our
opponents will eventually come to the conclusion that we do not know
'who' you are and that Ze does nothing more than use you as she would
any 'Class Zero' assigned to her house."

    She giggled in my ear. "Nice try. I felt your arms shift slightly.
What is it you aren't telling me."

    "You aren't going to like this." I waited.

    She clamped her hands around my wrists and stretched my arms out
to my sides. I felt her life-force flow and shift as she set up a
truth spell. "Tell me!"

    Rather than counter it, which she knew I could do, I dropped all
of my shields. "M'Lady. It pains me to say this. There is no precedent
for what has happened. Never, in all our history, has a Successor
Designate been deliberately misclassified and the other Designates not
told of the discovery of a Class Zero. All her life, the only mages Ze
has trained are those who come to her with their potential known and
their basic skills polished to the point they are habitual. I, on the
other hand have worked with people who have been at all skill levels.
Ze didn't want to risk limiting your potential. I am the only member
of her house she trusts to be able to teach you what you need to know
without alerting others to what we are doing."

    I took a deep breath and gently pulled myself free of her grip so
I could turn to face her. "If you were an ordinary woman, you would
have been taught to 'feel' the fit between yourself and any man you
met. For the Designates, this fit is not only critical, it becomes a
matter of life and death once you start working with your combined
powers. Once you find your 'mate' in power, the two of you stay
together until one of you dies. If we are to work together, we *have*
to be able to feel each other on a level that precludes any doubt
between us, ever."

    I knelt and bowed my head. "M'Lady Che-ulbrith. It is not often
spoken of outside the confines of a Designate's special training rooms
but I must speak the words so you may hear them. Male poles who are
linked to Successor Designates are trained to recognize when they are
'in sync' with a woman of any skill level. If a man isn't synced with
a woman Designate when he is acting as her pole, the feedback will
kill him in seconds. Already, I 'know' that no matter what you do, I
will be able to assist and survive. You are indeed worthy of your
latest status. You are unskilled right now but that will soon change.
When you are ready, you may choose myself or any other male Designate
and begin to explore the uses of combined power." I kept my head bowed
and waited for her response.

    "Rise, Garth. There is no need for this formaility when we are in
private." She sounded exasperated with me.

    I stood and quirked my lips slightly. "Then M'Lady wishes to
promote herself and become a player?"

    "Don't twist my words!" I saw a flash of the feline anger before
she calmed herself.

    "No? Your current career choice is security. Consider that, this
room, and your command for me to dispense with our traditional roles
when we are private."

    I was rewarded with a frown and some furious pacing. "How secure
is this room?"

    "Any less secure and I would not be using it to teach you what you
need to know without warning you first."

    She laughed softly. "Good enough. From that comment I can assume
that were this a normal room, someone could discover us." She held up
a hand to silence me. "I should have seen it sooner. Of all people,
I'm the one who should remember that where magic fails, physical
methods often do not. Comments?" 
---

End: The Man In The Suitcase
======

-- 
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reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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