Spiderwork by L. K. Rigel Page B

over the eastern forest. There had been rain all night, but at the moment a rosy-colored light filtered through the window. Char stretched and rolled over to kiss Jake good morning.
    Shib. He wasn't there.
    Her heart sank. "Jake?" No answer. No, cripes, no. She understood that he had a busy schedule today, what with learning how to get a soul and have sacred sex and all, but couldn't he have waited until the sun was truly up?
    She was being childish. Selfish. But she didn't care.
    She kicked her feet in the blankets and threw a private fit. "Jake!" It didn't change anything, but she felt a little better. She put on her robe and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
    Jake really deserved nicer quarters than these. He'd built a luxurious suite for her, trying to entice her to stay permanently. His bedroom contained the bed, a closet, and a writing desk with no sense of spaciousness. His bathroom was functional, and that was the best she could say about that. The antechamber was big enough for four people to meet without touching toes. No wonder he stayed in her rooms when she was at the settlement.
    Allel. The settlement was a city now. It had a name. Or it would. Sanguibahd would approve the city, no matter what happened with Jake. All gods. What a cosmic joke. A man builds a city from the ground up, names it for the gods, and it turns out he doesn't have a soul.
    Of course Jake would run the liminal gauntlet.
    Of course he would risk his life for the good of his city. His people.
    When Char first met Jake, he was a loner. Committed to no one but his sister Rani. Now he was committed to everyone. His happiness was second to the common good. Jake could live as a wildling in the forest and never think of souls again if it wasn't for Garrick. He would never let Garrick take possession of Allel.
    The old world Defenders of Gaia had been terrorists and mass murderers, but they were right about hating Garrick Corporation. Garrick had done more than any entity to bring on the cataclysm. Garrick squeezed all sweetness from the earth for profit and poured back filth and waste, poverty and despair. From what Char had seen of their prince, Garrick wasn't likely to do anything different as a city-state.
    She would never understand why Samael favored that city. It must have something to do with that mysterious ways thing.
    She returned to the bedroom. Instead of getting dressed, she threw off her robe and got back under the covers. She held Jake's pillow to her face to breathe in his scent. What if he did it today? What if he'd already gone to Lydia and was about to run the gauntlet? What if he had some kind of psychotic breakdown and never came back to her?
    Oh, Jake…how could you leave me without even saying goodbye?
    "Good morning!" He came through the door carrying a tray. He had on a green wrinkled long-sleeved hemp shirt and blue pajama bottoms and slippers. His hair stuck out in all directions.
    "Tell me no one saw you out there."
    He put the tray on the bed and stripped off his shirt and slippers. "I brought you some breakfast. I just saw Gordon. The bees are almost all in, about a hundred hives left to go."
    "Where did you go?" How could he be so normal, so cheerful?
    "Down to the kitchen to have them brew some coffee. I got it from Magda. I know you always give yours away." He climbed into the bed and gave her a kiss then poured two cups of hot black liquid. "You're not going to believe this." He picked up a small carafe and wiggled his eyebrows. "Wait for it." He poured the contents into the coffee.
    "Cream?" He was right. Char couldn't believe it. She had cream any time she liked in Corcovado, but never in the world. "How?"
    "A milk cow. Coronation gift from Spandau. They couldn't figure out a tactful way to take it back without calling me a soulless bastard. Which technically is accurate. "
    Typical Jake. Making a joke out of a disaster.
    "You soulless bastard." She put her cup down. "You're about to do something that