Asbury nodded, slowly. “United by common consent, yet self-limited by that consent’s necessity — an elegant solution. And clear reason enough never to give the City-folk a common foe again.”
“Threaten such an apparently perfect working demonstration model of true democracy,” Thiel replied, “right when it’s still in the process of being born? Why Professor, really; neither I nor Frank would dream of doing any such thing.”
Asbury squinted at Thiel, as if trying to guess whether he was joking — but since the man had one of the best poker faces Geyer had ever encountered, he got little out of his efforts, and seemed to cotton on to that fact as quickly as one might assume a genius would.
So he turned back to Songbird instead, bowing stiffly. “I am . . .
most grateful for your efforts, Miss Yu,” he began. “And, on a more personal note — I must, once again, most humbly apologize the travails visited upon you at my hand, when I attempted to cleanse you of your power.” Asbury paused to clear his throat, then went on. “It was wrong of me to presume to choose for you, however well-meaning I might have thought my own intentions, at the time. Having since reconsidered the results of those actions, I find that since I can offer no true excuse or justification for them I can only beg your forgiveness, most humbly — in full and certain knowledge, frankly, of how little I deserve to gain it.”
Songbird blinked, seemingly taken aback. It occurred to Geyer that perhaps no one had ever attempted to apologize to her before, for any transgression. After a beat, however, she inclined her white-piled head, stiffly.
“I cannot say I suffered overmuch from your idiocy, when all is said and done,” she admitted, at last. “Though I may, perhaps, have complained somewhat more than was properly due, at the time. . . .”
The laugh which burst out at this startled them all. Geyer spun to see Yiska, scuttling up from behind astride the great black “arachnorse” they’d turned over to her during the battle, already moving as easily with the eldritch mount as if she’d been born riding it.
“‘Somewhat more’?” she repeated, guffawing, as she dismounted.
Songbird flushed, blotchily, and snapped: “Why were you so long on patrol? You risk yourself stupidly; think if those you lead were to lose you! If . . . what would they do, without you . . . ?”
But here she broke off again, flustered, while Yiska grinned down at her. “My White Shell Girl,” the shamaness said, and kissed her, firmly. Songbird flailed at her a moment before relaxing into it, as Asbury blushed, and looked away; Sophy Love sighed and did likewise, looking more exasperated than repelled.
When they finally came up for air, Geyer cleared his throat and stepped forward, prompting Yiska to raise her eyebrows. “And what have you to say, Mister Former Agent Frank Geyer?” She asked.
“Well,” said Geyer, “you may remember I spoke of my employer to you, during the battle — George Thiel? Thought it might be well you got to know each other, sooner rather than later.”
He moved out of the way, letting Yiska and Thiel size each other up, and watched. After a moment, Thiel offered his hand. Yiska gave it a sceptical look, and folded her arms. “Bilagaana are not known for keeping their word,” she said.
“No,” Thiel agreed, “they aren’t.” His hand stayed extended, gaze steady. “But I am.”
Yiska considered him for a long moment. Then, slowly, she reached out and grasped his forearm, ancient shorthand for: I carry no concealed weapons, parleying in good faith. You? Uninsulted, Thiel simply shifted his hand to grip hers the same way in return.
At last, Geyer allowed himself to smile.
And the next morning, a new sun dawned.
EPILOGUE
December, 1867 to January, 1868
In and around New Mexico, and other environs
Festivals: Suspended
An agglomeration of yet more representative newspaper headlines filed by former San Francisco Californian correspondent Fitz Hugh Ludlow for his series The Perambulatory 38th: Hexicas and Its Journeys Toward Statehood, in the Days After Allan Pinkerton’s Defeat (to be followed, once complete, by The Sleepless Eye Re-Woken, or Pinkerton’s Legacy: With George Thiel and his Agents from Sea to Sea, in Establishment of a Federally Funded Division of Experimental Arcanistry and Hex-Handling).
December 7, 1867:
STILL IN THE WIND
Of New Aztectlan, once “Hex City”
(Now the Independent Republic of Hexicas, So-Called)
There is Much Rumour, but No Sign —
In Bewelcome Township,
Mayor Langobard says: