“Elder Torkes, this is the first time that we have been privileged to entertain members of the Council,” Teradia said, her deep voice tinged with awe as she took Torkes’s arm and began to lead him back to the reception room.
Olav bowed over Killashandra’s hand, smiling as he came erect and gestured her into the lift. The door slid shut on Killashandra and Lars and, with an exaggerated sigh of relief, Killashandra leaned against him.
He made a quick sign with his hand, his eyes busy on the ceiling pane.
“I am totally exhausted, Captain Dahl.” So, Torkes had had the area monitored. That would make it exceedingly awkward for her and Lars.
The lift made a brief, noiseless descent and then the door slid open to a scene that caught her breath. The wide window gave onto moonlit harbor. An aureole of bright light illuminating the ancient stratovolcano as a second moon rose behind it. Of one accord, they stood for a long moment in appreciation of the beauty.
As Lars led her down to the short corridor toward two doors at its end, he glanced at the chrono on his wrist. Killashandra had time to notice the grin on his face before all the lights went off. Simultaneously she saw three short blue flashes, two along the corridor and a third one at the first door.
“What – ” she began in alarm, but then the lights came on and Lars took her in his arms.
“Now we’re safe!”
“You blew the monitors?”
“And his ship’s systems. Father’s got a way with electronics and . . .” he swung her into his arms and impatiently strode toward the first door, which slid open to their approach. “I’m about to have my way with you.”
Which, of course, was exactly what Killashandra had been hoping for.
Chapter 17
A breakfast tray in hand, Teradia appeared early next morning. Killashandra found she was in a large room brightly lit by sunlight reflected from the surface of the harbor. How the woman maintained her perfect grooming and serene composure Killashandra would have given much to know. Perhaps it had something to do with the experiential tranquillity of advanced years, although “old” in the physiological sense did not seem to apply to Teradia.
“And what of the day, oh bringer of delights?” Lars asked, settling pillows behind Killashandra. “Olav didn’t miss a trick last night, did he?”
“He’s still playing them this morning.” Teradia smiled faintly. “May I compliment you on last night’s performance, Killashandra? You were spectacular. I don’t think anyone on Torkes’s staff had ever witnessed its like.”
“I was consumed with righteous wrath,” Killashandra replied. “Imagine, someone pointing a weapon at me! A crystal singer!”
Lars soothingly stroked her arm and poured out the steaming morning beverage. “What’s Olav up to today then?”
Teradia seated herself on the edge of the wide bed, folding her hands together in her lap, the faint smile still tilting the corners of her full lips. “As you surmised, the power failure effectively crippled the cruiser, since Olav had so courteously suggested that they hook up to the land facilities and spare the cruiser’s batteries. Then it went, Torkes was quite upset, worrying about you, Guildmember, and thinking this was another attempt on your safety. Of course. the lift wouldn’t operate, and an inspection party quickly discovered that this apartment cannot easily be scaled from the ground, so they posted guards on the waterfront. That’s why your sleep was undisturbed.” She lowered her eyes briefly. “Olav worked with the cruiser’s engineers all night, to discover the trouble in our generators which, as you might suspect, had suffered previously undetected damage from the hurricane. All is now restored, except, of course, the units which were overloaded!” She pointed out the several char marks where walls met the ceiling. “And, of course, the blown chip was discovered to be water damaged. Your father has a genius in that area. But I think you had both better put in appearances shortly. There are suitable garments for you both in the dressingroom and I have been requested to deliver necessities for you to the cruiser, Killashandra.”
Teradia rose in one lithe movement, hesitated, and then moved to Killashandra’s side. “You can have no idea how I enjoyed seeing an Elder rendered speechless. An excellent strategy on your part. Keep them off balance and guessing. They don’t have any experience with that!” Then Teradia laid her soft, fragrant cheek against Killashandra’s and before the crystal singer could react, had glided out of the room and closed the door.
“You have made an impression,” Lars said. “I’ll tell you about Teradia’s experience with the Council and you’ll understand what she meant. I never would have thought of complaining about that sentry nonsense,” and Lars gave an exasperated sigh, “but then, I’m used to it. It must be . . .” He searched for the appropriate word, shrugged when he couldn’t find it. “How remarkable not to need weapons or guards, Is it the case in Ballybran, or did that felicitous state exist on your Fuerte, too?”
“Both. On Fuerte for lack of aggression, and on Ballybran because everyone’s too busy in the Ranges cutting crystal. We know our place and are secure in it,” she paraphrased, mimicking Ampris’s voice. “Lars, how are we going to fuse the monitors at the Conservatory? They’ll have installed them, I know.”
“You could always throw another tantrum.”
“No thank you. Fits of temper are exhausting.”
“Oh, is that truly why you’re tired today?”
“Pleasure never tires me. Now let’s eat and dress. I’ve just been attacked by a case of circumspection.”
A few minutes later they emerged onto the reception floor with no further delays. An officer immediately leaped to his feet at their arrival, stammering queries about Killashandra’s rest, apologies for any inconvenience caused by the power failure, and obsequiously requesting Killashandra and Captain Dahl to join the Harbor Master and Elder Torkes in the communications room.
Olav Dahl looked tired but there was a merriment in his eyes as he asked if all her needs had been satisfied. She reassured him, then turned to Torkes and affected surprise at his evident fatigue, fussing at him graciously.
“If the Guildmember is agreeable, I should like to depart immediately,” Torkes replied, when the amenities were completed. He eyed her as if he expected her to demur.
“I left unfinished – even unstarted, to be totally candid – ” she said, “the task which brought me to Optheria. I am more eager than you can imagine to complete the organ’s repair and depart. I’m sure we will all feel relieved when I’m safely homebound.”
Patently Elder Torkes could not be more in agreement, although he kept throwing skeptical glances at Killashandra as he made his farewells to Olav Dahl. Lars kept in the background. Meanwhile sailors in Council uniform had formed up into a guard of honor all the way from the Residence down to the pier where the cruiser’s boat awaited its distinguished passengers.
Just as she reached the top of the steps, Killashandra looked up at the terraces, at the polly trees, the dwellings, at the old volcano on the Head, at the fishing skiffs serenely clearing the harbor, and she didn’t want to leave Angel Island. Someone touched her arm and there was Olav with two garlands in his hand.
“Indulge me in an island custom, Guildmember.” He draped the fragrant blossoms about her neck. Killashandra had just recognized the blooms as those with which Lars had handfasted her, when she saw Olav bestow one on his son. “Discharge your duties assiduously to the protection of the Guildmember’s person, my son, and return to us only when you have seen her safely to the shuttle port!”