Burning Tower by Larry Niven

unpretentious on the outside, more like a permanent wagon nest than a castle.
    The houses stood each in its own grounds, with walls between them. The walls were not very high, certainly not high enough to challenge anyone who wanted to climb over. They seemed pointless, unlike the high walls that surrounded the entire town. All the houses were big, most two stories with a balcony running around the second floor, red tile roofs, and thick white walls. The second-floor balconies provided deep shade for the verandas underneath.
    The most wonderful thing was the water. Streams ran through the lots, passing under the walls, filling ponds. Dark shapes swam among flowered plants in the pools, and there were fountains everywhere.
    â€œIt’s beautiful,” she said.
    â€œYep,” Green Stone answered. “Father said it was like this. I never expected to see the place.”
    â€œWelcome,” Sandry said. “That’s my house just ahead on the right.”
    â€œIt’s beautiful!” Burning Tower said. “The garden is wonderful.” Actually, I guess it’s not a lot different from the others, she thought. But all those flowers! But there should be a flower bed over there, and I don’t see rosemary and thyme… “Hummingbirds!”
    Sandry looked to the roses. “Yes, we have a lot of them here.”
    â€œThey always look so angry!” Tower said. “I’m glad they’re so small. Imagine all that rage in something big enough to hurt you.”
    â€œLike a terror bird?” Sandry asked. “ They seem to have plenty of rage.”
    Tower nodded, and looked breathlessly around the garden. Lords live well, she thought. Better than Father in New Castle. And Lord Sandry is one fine-looking man, as Mother and my sisters would say. And he can’t keep his eyes off me!
    Â 
    Three servants led by Chalker stood in the doorway to welcome them.
    â€œI told you to take the day off!” Sandry said.
    Chalker grinned. “I did, My Lord, and much enjoyed it. This is evening. Ladies, may I take your wraps?”
    Father does this sometimes, formal parties with servants, but this doesn’t look put on, Burning Tower thought. And Chalker looks like he’s enjoying himself. They all look happy to be here, not like hired servants at Road’s End or even poor relations in New Castle. They look like they want to be here, and I know Chalker doesn’t have to be. How do these Lords do that?
    They were ushered into a pleasant room. The far wall wasn’t a wall at all, just some columns leading to a large area paved with flagstones. Chairs with little tables were arranged just inside the room. A young man was already seated in one corner. He wore a black robe with a red trim and a purple sash around his waist. A wizard.
    Burning Tower was busily distracted by all the furniture, tapestries, carved ivory on the mantelpiece, but she thought Sandry was surprised to see him. The man rose and bowed, not low…like a man older than he looked, Tower thought.
    â€œThe Sage Egmatel,” Sandry said. He made introductions.
    Egmatel nodded to each of them, and asked if they had a pleasant journey, but he moved across to be next to Twisted Cloud. “I’ve heard of you,” he said.
    â€œMore likely of my daughter,” Twisted Cloud said, but she was smiling eagerly.
    â€œI hoped we could compare notes, Madam Shaman,” Egmatel said. “Did you discern what bespells those birds?”
    â€œNo, Sage,” Twisted Cloud said deferentially. More deferential than Burning Tower had ever heard her. “I could sense no magic at all. The shields must be very powerful. Perhaps if I knew what to look for?”
    Egmatel smiled thinly. “We have had only a few hours to study this creature, and I want to be very sure before I say anything. I must say I am not surprised that you sensed nothing. The creature’s origins are well shielded