“Like a hundred thousand,” Symbol said. “There's a category."
Ini nodded. “And it may be that one of these babies expressed an interest, and the community of amoeba accepted. Similarly the other babies reached out, and two other communities accepted. Let's assume that Amoeba is one. I think the large creatures are covered, but what about the other small ones, like bacteria or viruses?"
“Are they living?” Symbol asked.
“I believe so, and they are very common. Babies soon encounter them, without the aversion adults have. They could desire representation. And what about the fungi?"
“Aren't they the same as the saprophytes? Gale asked.
“Some are, some aren't. Some are like plants, some like tiny animals, and some are yeasts. They are a class by themselves, as much as vertebrates or mosses are."
“I suppose then a baby could represent them,” Gale agreed dubiously. “What sort of ikons would such constituencies make?"
“My guess would be a mushroom or toadstool for fungus, and an amorphous blob for amoebae. Bacteria have several shapes, some like tiny spirals. Virii hardly have their own forms, being infectious agents; their name means slime."
“A slime ikon!” Symbol exclaimed, laughing.
There was a gentle knock. Gale recognized the mind of a trusted servant, arriving with a meal for all of them. Ennui had informed the royal kitchen who was where and what each preferred. “Bring it in!” she called.
The door opened, and the woman drew in a wheeled cart laden with fruits, cakes, drinks, and covered platters. She carefully unloaded it onto the central table, then quietly departed, drawing the cart after her.
Gale put Weft down to nap. They got to their meal, which was delicious.
Then Symbol looked around. “Where's Warp?"
Gale looked. The baby was gone. “He must have floated out of his crib while we were distracted.” She looked around, but didn't see him. She sought his mind, but didn't find it. “The little twerp has learned mind shielding!” she exclaimed.
“And the door is open,” Ini said, appalled. “The servant was pulling the cart and forgot to turn back to close it. He must have floated out."
“He picked his time,” Symbol said. “I have to admire his cute little cunning. We underestimated him. He must have been paying better attention in the Air Chroma than we knew, and picked up on mind masking when the adults did it."
“Very smart baby,” Ini agreed. “Dangerously smart—for his own safety."
“We have to find him!” Gale cried, alarmed. She lurched for the door.
“Caution,” Ini said. “The other two should not be left unattended, especially considering the powers."
“You watch them,” Gale said, plowing on.
“Go with Gale—she's dangerous too,” Symbol told Ini. Gale heard, but was heedless. Where was Warp? How could she have let him get away?
Ini followed her. “Caution,” she repeated. “Not everyone knows about the babies."
She was right. “I'll try to present a calm demeanor. Help me search."
“He hasn't been gone long, and we don't know how much control he has. Probably he's moving slowly, and along open halls."
“Agreement.” But her alarm scarcely abated.
The palace was a many-chambered section, occupying the whole of the top several floors of the wood pyramid that was Triumph City. Passages interconnected and ran parallel to each other, so that servants could do their business without ever blocking the way of the king, queen, or leading staff members or visitors. Gale bore right, and Ini bore left, following different passages.
Gale, running, turned a corner and almost collided with a servant. “Apology, Lady,” the servant said, though it had been Gale's fault.
“Did you see a baby?"
“Yes, Lady. It—it—” The woman balked at saying it.
“It floated?"
“Affirmation, Lady. I hardly believed—"
“Where?"
“This way, Lady.” The woman hastily led the way to an alcove. “I sought to tell Lady Ennui, but she's not at her desk."
“She's weaving,” Gale said tersely as she looked desperately around.
Ini appeared. “No sighting,” she reported.
Belatedly Gale recognized the place. “This is the private ramp!"
“Yes, Lady,” the servant said.
“A ramp?” Ini asked. “Where does it lead?"
“To several floors of the main city. If he got in that—"
“He is out in the city, somewhere,” Ini finished.
Gale entered the ramp and ran down it. Ini followed, somewhat clumsily. There was nothing like this in her home zone, and she would have flown down it if there had been. She wasn't used to running down a winding ramp on her feet.
Neither was Gale. In a moment she thought to fly down it. But she didn't want to leave Ini behind. “I'll carry you,” she said.
Ini did not protest. She suffered being picked up and carried. Gale floated them rapidly down the spiral, watching for an open portal. If there was none, the baby should still be in the ramp, and the secret was salvageable.
Unfortunately, one was open. Had the baby exited there, or continued on down the ramp?
“If he remains within the ramp, he should be safe for a while,” Ini said. “If he exited, he will quickly cause a commotion. Can you track that?"
“Affirmation. Ordinary folk don't mask their minds.” Gale extended her awareness—and immediately located the commotion. People were amazed at the appearance of a floating baby, and word was spreading rapidly. It was too late to stifle it; the secret was out.
She set Ini down and ran to the site of the most recent excitement. There was Warp, hovering before a woman standing with her mouth open. Gale quickly captured him and bore him away.
“Appreciation,” Ini said to the woman, though all she had done was distract the baby for a moment with her odd expression. Then she followed Gale.
Back in the palace nursery, all babies safe, they discussed the situation. “Did you do any magic in anyone's presence?” Symbol asked.
“Negation. I just took Warp and carried him."
“Then one secret remains. They don't know you're a Glamor."
“But they do know there's a magic baby,” Ini said. “I think you will have to make a public announcement before wild rumors start. Just about the babies."
“Agreement,” Gale said. “I'll have Ennui set it up.” She went for Ennui, still carrying Warp.
“Stay with her,” Symbol said, and Ini obeyed. Gale knew that Symbol remained concerned that she, Gale, would do something foolish in her distraction, so was putting a guard on her. It was probably a sensible caution.
Gale entered the loom chamber, and paused at sight of the tapestry. It was only a tenth finished, but that bottom segment was magnificent. “Awe!"
Ennui glanced their way. She was sitting at the loom, while Aspect and Nonce were sleeping on bunks across the room. That was surprising: the former queen and bath girl sharing quarters. It showed their mutual commitment to this project. “Lady."
“Chore,” Gale said, reverting to her spot mission. “Warp floated loose, and people saw him. I must make a formal announcement about the adoptions. Not about Glamors. Can you set it up soon?"
“Affirmation. I will wake Nonce to take my place here—"
“Negation. It can wait its turn.” Gale approached the loom, and Warp cooed, fascinated by the complicated device. “I have been distracted, and have not before seen the tapestry. This is a wonder."
“Agreement,” Ennui said, resuming her work. “We are curious as to its nature, and there is a mystery about it."
Gale studied the fragment. “Complex colorful scene."
“And it changes even as we weave."
“Well, of course, as more of it is revealed."
“Negation. What we have woven changes."
“Confusion. This does not seem possible."
“Magic,” Ennui sa
id. “Both loom and yarn are magic. We weave the picture as directed—yes, something tells us—and the scene is magic. We three are agreed that the picture is shifting, not greatly, but slowly and subtly, as though what we have done is not quite perfect and requires revision. Yet since we are working under direction, why shouldn't we do it correctly? We are mystified."
“Familiarity,” Ini said, gazing at the tapestry. “I believe this is not a scene, but a map."
“Revelation!” Ennui exclaimed. “Maps must constantly change, because of the weather's effect on the Chroma zones."
“Speculation,” Gale said, excited. “Could the tapestry be showing us where the answer to the mysteries of the origin of the loom and altars is?"
Ennui nodded. “Possibility.” She focused on the placement of a thread. “Problem. We are running out of yarn."
“And ordinary yarn will not do,” Gale said. “You'll need more magic yarn."
“Affirmation. We can't come close to completing the tapestry without it."
“Is there more in the cave where you found the loom?"
“Negation. We have it all."
“Frustration. Any notion where more might be found?"
“One chance,” Ennui said. “When Nonce carried the loom ikon, it guided her toward its physical origin. When that was found, it generated the urgency to weave. Perhaps it will lead us to the yarn."
“But you are in the middle of a tapestry,” Gale protested. “You don't want to destroy that to travel."
Ennui smiled. “The loom knows better than that. The tapestry becomes part of the ikon when the loom is carried. We can take it with us."
“Travel,” Gale said. “We can provide you with an entourage, guards, transport—"
“Negation. That would spoil the secret. We must travel alone."
“Concern. Three women, unknown destination. Mischief."
“The ikons protect us,” Ennui reminded her. “We are like minor Glamors. And my mind contact with Havoc enables me to summon help if it is needed."
“Acquiescence,” Gale said, not entirely satisfied. “Travel masked."
“Of course. If the palace can spare us."
Gale smiled. “We'll make mocks of the three of you. It will do."
Ini had been staring at the tapestry. “Observation: this is not necessarily Charm. Perhaps a Cartographer can confirm."
Gale glanced at her. “Why do you suspect it isn't?"
“There is too little as yet to be sure. I have studied Counter Charm, and this fragment could match a segment."
“Counter Charm!” Gale said. “Astonishment."
“My supposition may be misplaced."
“And it may be correct. We shall have a Cartographer view the tapestry."
“Preference,” Ennui said. “Get the yarn, complete more of it first, so that identification can be more certain."
That did make sense. “Agreement."
“Question,” Ini said. “If the map identifies a place on Counter Charm, where perhaps something is, what use is that to us? We can't go there."
“You forget that Glamors can go there,” Gale said, though she suspected that Ini hadn't forgotten. She simply didn't know whether the others were party to Gale's promise to take Ini there if possible. “And I think if we do, we should take you, since you will be more familiar with its nature than we are.” That abated that concern.
“Disbelief!” Ini said. “Dream."
“It may be realized. But first we must complete and verify the map."
“Acquiescence,” Ini breathed. Had she been in her home zone, she would have floated. Apparently she hadn't allowed herself to believe that the promise wasn't empty.
Gale and Ini returned to the nursery room. “We may have more use of you than we anticipated,” Gale said. “And you may like it better than you expected."
“Affirmation,” Ini breathed. “Is it possible we are being guided? I mean, that the loom wants you to get the answers you seek, and is helping not only with a map but by summoning others who can help?"
Gale considered. “Possible. But more likely chance. If the loom could spread such influence, why wouldn't it simply summon someone with the answer?"
“The answer may be masked for reason,” Ini said. “So that the wrong folk don't get it."
That made sense. They entered the nursery, where Symbol was holding Weft and Flame, who were beginning to fuss. “Relief,” she said. “Flame will abide with me, but Weft wants you."
“Adoption is a two way process,” Gale agreed, taking Weft with her free arm. She was able to nurse both Warp and Weft, but the two were becoming competitive about her attention at other times. She would have to see whether Havoc could distract Weft on occasion, to keep the peace. “We have made progress in understanding.” She and Ini explained.
Next day Havoc returned, having braved the problems of attempted assassination and sex with a non-Glamor, and stood with Gale as she made her formal announcement. It was actually her first, and made her nervous, but she felt this was her province and she shouldn't make Havoc do it. He stood beside her and let her carry it. Offstage Symbol, Bijou, and Ini held the three babies, who were miraculously quiet. For the moment. They were dressed in fancy little outfits, the boy in blue, the girls in red with red ribbons in their hair.
She stood on the dais overlooking the great assembly room of the city, with massed faces looking up at her, and she felt nervous in a way that singing and playing her hammer dulcimer never had caused. She was not performing this time as a minstrel, but as queen, and the expectations were different.
She froze.
The sea of faces gaped at her, making it worse. She couldn't speak.
Havoc, reading her locked mind, sent a thought to Ennui, who hurried away. Then he spoke to the audience. “Queen Gale and I have an announcement to make, but it is of such nature that we decided that a special presentation was warranted. I'm not supposed to belch."
There was a roar of laughter. Havoc's deliberate loud belch at his first public address as king had become a social landmark; he was the barbarian king. The mock king did it frequently at appearances; it was expected. Bless Havoc; he was covering for her, making her silence part of the act until she could recover. If she recovered; she had never before messed up like this.
“We have done something that not even experienced barbarian watchers anticipated,” Havoc continued after a pause. “We hope you will approve and support us. There have been some wild rumors; rest assured that the truth is much worse.” He paused for another appreciative laugh. The people loved to see Havoc live up to his name. He was such a showman, bless him.
Ennui returned with two musical instruments: Havoc's dragon scale and Gale's hammer dulcimer. Now she understood his ploy: he was making this into a musical presentation, something she had done many times before. She might be tongue tied in speech, but she knew she could still play and sing. She accepted her dulcimer, and put the little hammers on her fingers, feeling much better.
Havoc strummed his scale, evoking its peculiar resonance. He sang: one of the oldest of the folk songs dating from their ancestors of Planet Earth, a thousand years before. He had a fine voice and barbarian enthusiasm. This was new to the citizens of Triumph City; Havoc had never sung in public before—not as king. He was surprising them, and that was good.
I gave my love a cherry that had no stone
I gave my love a chicken that had no bone
I gave my love a ring that had no end
I gave my love a baby with no crying
The last line roused the audience, for the wild rumors concerned a baby who indeed had not been crying. That was the least remarkable thing about it.
Now it was Gale's turn. Havoc faced her, silencing his instrument, assuming a pose of listening. She lifted her dulcimer, hammered the refrain, addressed him, and sang:
How can there be a cherry that has no stone?
How can there be a chicken that has no bone?
How can there
be a ring that has no end?
How can there be a baby with no crying?
Havoc nodded knowingly, and so did many heads in the audience; they were of course thoroughly familiar with the song. He made the revelations as if they were the first ever heard, his dragon scale lending authority.
A cherry when it's blooming it has no stone
He produced a flower and presented it to her with a flourish. The audience didn't know he had conjured it; it seemed like prestidigitation.
A chicken when it's pippin’ it has no bone
An egg appeared in his hand. He held it to his ear as if to hear the chick knocking on the inside of the shell, ready to break out: pipping. And in a moment the shell did break and the chick started to emerge. He quickly returned it to the mother hen, who appeared at the side of the stage.
A ring when it's rolling it has no end
He produced a ring, rolled it across his dragon scale, then put it on her finger, kissing her hand. There was an oooh of appreciation from the women in the audience.
He paused, setting aside his instrument, and took Warp from Ini. He held him aloft with a flourish and sang:
A baby when it's sleeping has no crying.
At that moment Warp, not comfortable with the exposure, began to fuss. Havoc's personal magic had finally messed up. The audience laughed, loving the irony. Gale hastily put aside her dulcimer and took him, the hammers still attached to her fingers. He was quiet, intrigued by the hammers. The audience applauded.
Havoc fetched Flame from Symbol and presented her to the audience and to Gale. “But I think two is better than one,” he said. Now there was a wave of surprise; one baby explained much of the rumors, but two went beyond them.
Gale accepted the second baby, affecting surprise. She faced the audience, showing them off.
Havoc fetched Weft from Bijou. “And three is better yet,” he said with mock barbarian naiveté. “Might as well do it right."
Gale, her arms full, merely looked at him. The audience roared its delight; this was exactly the kind of mistake a barbarian would make, overdoing it.
Havoc looked at the audience as he cuddled Weft, who clearly liked the attention. “Maybe I better stop there,” he confided. The audience agreed. Then he changed his mind. “But we need a fourth.” He pondered a moment, then lifted a finger. “I know: I put the fourth inside her.” He glanced significantly at Gale.