Mouse and Dragon by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee

house.
    "Perhaps if we called out?" Aelliana said, coming up to stand just a step behind his shoulder.
    "No need—he will be in his office. I left a bit of a tangle in his lap, I fear."
    "Then perhaps I should lead," she suggested, and heard him chuckle.
    "Perhaps you should! Only a step more and we are arrived." She felt his glance settle on her and looked up to meet his eyes.
    "How do you fare, Pilot?"
    "It has been a full day, but I believe that I fare well enough," she said, truthfully. "The sleep that the Healers put on me was—most amazingly restorative."
    "Good." He smiled. "We play on?"
    "We play on."
    Down the hall they went. Daav put his hand on the knob of the first door on the left and pushed it wide.
    For a heartbeat, she thought that he had guided them to the wrong room. Surely, the bright-haired man with the stern, beautiful face could not be Daav's brother!
    Then he smiled and rose from behind the desk, his hands held out in welcome.
    "So, you are returned at last!" he exclaimed in the Low Tongue. "I had begun to fear that you had left me to solve all, forevermore!"
    Daav laughed and swept forward, catching Aelliana's hand and bringing her with him.
    "I am twelve times a wretch, but even I must pause at such perfidy! Has it been dreadful for you, darling?"
    "Not unremittingly," the other said, coming around the desk. He was slim, and studied, and moved with a pilot's effortless grace. "I have entertained several people on the delm's behalf, though not everyone I had expected, and learned some things which will perhaps be useful. At the moment, we are in a lull. Anne has gone to her office at university, and I had thought to catch up on some matters of use to yos'Galan."
    "And now I interrupt you yet again! It will be as quick as can be, then I to home, and duty!"
    "There's no need to rush away," Er Thom said. His tones were soft and sweet, entirely unlike Daav's deep, rough voice. "Make me known to your guest, do."
    "Not only a wretch, but a unmannered wretch!"
    Daav brought her forward, and she felt affection warming her. "Aelliana, here is my brother Er Thom, Thodelm of yos'Galan and heir to Korval. Brother—I show you Aelliana Caylon, scholar and pilot, reviser of the ven'Tura Tables. As of this day, she stands enclosed by Korval's protection, until such time as she shall call enough."
    Aelliana bowed, choosing the mode of adult-to-adult upon finding herself uncertain of the hand-motion for the proper forming of greeting-a-thodelm-not-one's-own.
    "Er Thom yos'Galan, I am pleased to meet you," she said, and even though she was not afraid, her voice trembled, just a little.
    Violet eyes considered her gravely, and it seemed to her that he was indeed committing her face to memory. He answered her bow precisely.
    "Aelliana Caylon, I am very pleased to meet you. You may rest easy in our care."
    "Thank you," she whispered.
    "No," he answered surprisingly. "It is I who thanks you, Pilot, from the bottom of my heart."
    Before she could react to this, he turned again to Daav.
    "If you and the pilot are at liberty, I would like to share some of what I have—"
    There was a sudden clatter in the hall beyond, footsteps—a quiet pair and a noisier. Daav exchanged a wild look with his brother, caught Aelliana's hand and brought her to the right just as a regal-looking gentleman in green-and-gold livery appeared in the doorway.
    "The Right Noble Lady Kareen yos'Phelium," he announced, too loudly for the circumstances, and stepped nimbly to the left.
    Er Thom yos'Galan inclined his head. "Thank you, Mr. pak'Ora," he said, as serene as if he did not hear that second pair of footsteps, stamping angrily down his fine wooden hall.
    The regal gentleman bowed slightly, turned, and paused to allow the owner of the footsteps by.
    Into the office she came, her steps only somewhat muffled by the rug. That she was neither a pilot nor a Scout was immediately obvious. Despite this, Aelliana owned, she was a handsome woman, her dark