Chapter 19

"So did you sleep well?" Lisia asked, coming into the bedroom after a trip to the bathroom.

Cobweb was sitting on the bed pulling on a pair of pants. "Yes, very well -- good, since it might be a while before we sleep well again."

Lisia smiled and patted his middle. "Are you suggesting this one is going to do a lot of crying?"

"It's possible," Cobweb replied. "Harlings do that, you know."

"Oh, heavens!" Lisia exclaimed, hands going to his mouth in mock-horror. "I didn't know that. Forget about this harling business..."

His joking words were smothered by Cobweb's lips. Lisia had said he expected the pearl to be delivered that day and these might be their last few hours alone.

"Brush my hair?" Cobweb asked, sitting down at the dressing table.

"Love to," Lisia replied. He had always enjoyed brushing and arranging Cobweb's hair for him.

As Lisia drew the comb through Cobweb's long black locks, the soon-to-be father relaxed in the easy comfort, the soothing familiarity, the regularity of the brush strokes. Even though it was something Lisia did for him on a regular basis, their relationship still felt new enough for him to want to savor every aspect, every sweetness, as much as possible.

It had been a long, long time in coming.

Cobweb had respected Lisia's desire for independence, which chiefly sprang out of his driving committment to Harling Gardens. Years ago, when the Parasiel and Gelaming had agreed to fund the school, part of the package Lisia had presented was the eventual establishment of an adult education program focusing on conception, hosting, birthing and harling care. From the very first session, the program was a success. It was not something Lisia could walk away from.

Within two years of startup, the program was being talked about and written up in the press. One day in a bookstore in Galhea Cobweb saw a display that included not only Lisia's biography but a new guide he'd written on harling care and a copy of a newsletter. While their prominent display no doubt had something to do with Galhea's status as the capital and source of many of the school's students, there was no doubt that Harling Gardens was a success story and that Lisia had become quite well known.

Every time Cobweb heard of Lisia's success he felt proud. Lisia had always been a har to admire and now that Cobweb loved him, his happiness was very important. Lisia's achievements had their bittersweet side, however, for the more popular the school became, the busier Lisia was and the more committed he became to staying on for "just another year." Cobweb hadn't asked him the second or third year, but after the fourth he had dared. The answer was no. Same for the fifth year, the sixth, and the seventh.

These were long years for Cobweb -- long and lonely. No harlings or intrigue in the house, life at Forever assumed a rather boring regularity. Political visitors came and went, staff came and went, the seasonal festivals came and went. It was much the same as always, but with knowledge of what things could be if he were not alone, to Cobweb it all seemed dull and hollow in comparison.

No one noticed anything amiss except that Cobweb continued to be alone, apparently, so all the rumors went, because he was still somehow, despite everything, mourning Terzian. Or, another rumor had it, he was holding the torch for Cal. Until the bedeviled har was found, Cobweb would be with no other har. No one knew about Lisia or, at least, the fact that the friendship he had with him had progressed beyond friendship and, as Swift had at once time put it, "friendly aruna."

Wanting to avoid the pressures of family, friends and coworkers, Cobweb and Lisia kept their relationship to themselves, telling no one. They shared their love mainly within the pages of their more and more frequent letters, but also in their occasional chats by thought transference unit. It got to the point where any time he was told there was a caller on the machine, Cobweb would feel his knees go weak. A tiny glimmer of Lisia's love, sent across the ethers, could keep him happy for days.

Besides the long-distance communication, they saw one another in person. By the end of eight years, Cobweb had traveled up to Harling Gardens four times. No one ever questioned why, as the northwest summers were lovely and cooler than in Galhea.

Lisia, although sometimes making trips on behalf of the school or his writing career, never came to Galhea. Cobweb knew why. If Lisia came to Galhea, it might be too difficult for him to say no when Cobweb asked him to stay.

It was not until after Ascension that Lisia finally had reason to visit -- not that the Ascension itself had much to do with it.

It was another event entirely which drew Lisia down from the mountains: Swift conceived a pearl.