Part 66 (1/2)

”I've tried,” Tony said wretchedly. ”But I wasn't torced when we were together, and I guess I'm just not up to farspeech on the Firvulag mode. I'm really not very good at it even with our own people at long range.”

”Then you might ask help from the Lady Katlinel.”

Tony brightened. ”Could you let me have her signature?”

”Willingly,” said the Tanu. And he projected the image while Tony laboured to commit it to memory, vowing to attempt contact with the Lady of Nionel that very night.

In a mood of easy companions.h.i.+p, they rode along the river, where there was a green pleasance with willows and flowering shrubs. Human and exotic women were there with their goldtorced children, and an ancient bareneck wandered about with a hurdy-gurdy and a costumed monkey on a chain. Tony's mouth tightened at the sight of the captive beast, but Kuhal's thought slid into his mind: Your only true freedom is with your adopted people. Soon the shackles will be removed and everything will be better than before. Only help them build the time-gate generator.

You really must be eager to go!

She will go and I must follow.

Oh. Well it's a funny place the Milieu. But good luck.

They were approaching the main dock area, which was thronged with workers. Carts full of goods and h.e.l.lad caravans added to the congestion on the quays. The slips were nearly all occupied by penumatic craft in the process of being off-loaded.

”Supplies for the Grand Tourney,” Kuhal explained. ”Fortunately, the plantations of the upper Rhone have been spared Firvulag depredation. Perhaps the Little People are shrewder than we know and did not wish to risk a shortage of refreshments at the games.”

”So the King's really abolished the Combat, then?”

”There will still be ardent compet.i.tion, and doubtless some loss of life. But the scoring no longer is based upon heads taken.” He sighed. ”The Peace Faction are most gratified and have declared their intention to partic.i.p.ate. Perhaps the events will not be so tame as some traditionalists fear if Minanonn the Heretic enters the jousts.”

They came to a large pier that had been cordoned off from the others. Some twenty large craft were being loaded by greytorc stevedores rather than ramas. Tanu knights in full gla.s.s panoply bearing Milieu weapons stood guard on the boats and near the piles of sealed crates that still remained on the dock.

Squads of greys in bronze half-armour patrolled the perimeter, shooing away curious onlookers.

”You will sail down the Rhone, then go overland to Sasaran and the River Baar,” Kuhal said. ”You may be interested to know that you accompany a cargo that is perhaps the most valuable ever to be s.h.i.+pped from this city. The Lord Sasaran himself will escort you.”

”Oh? Treasure?”

The Earthshaker shook his golden head. ”It's better that you do not know. But be a.s.sured that you and the cargo are both extremely precious to King Aiken-Lugonn.”

Kuhal rode up to a blue-crested captal of the guard and saluted by placing his fist against the counterchanged Ja.n.u.s-face emblem on his rose-gold tunic. ”My compliments to the Most Exalted Lord Neyal the Younger, and tell him to come collect his pa.s.senger.”

”At your service, Exalted Lords,” the captal said. ”His baggage has already arrived and been put aboard.” He helped Tony to dismount and the metallurgist stood there uncertainly.

”Well, I'll say goodbye-” he began.

A loud hail, both vocal and telepathic, rang out from the far end of the pier. Waving a clipboard and bounding toward them broadcasting waves of geniality came Sasaran's City-Lord, helmetless but otherwise attired in sapphire coercer harness all chased with gold and amber zircons. Neyal was so tall and thin that he could only be called gangling. His hair was like wheat stubble.

”Shaker! I meant to see you when the caravan got in, but they put me right to work on these Tana-forsaken boats!”

Neyal exchanged cordialities with his fellow High Tabler, beamed on Tony like the Spirit of Harvest, and proffered a gauntleted hand. Tony took it with some trepidation, but the greeting proved to be discreet.

Kuhal said, ”May I present our Creative Brother WaylandVelkonn, who wears the symbols of Tana's peace only until he is given into the custody of the High King.”

Again Tony experienced the feeling of deja vu. No one had styled him with his honorific of Velkonn since the City of Lights went up in flames so long ago ... or was it long?

”A year ago today,” said Neyal, going sombre. ”And as some think, the prelude to Nightfall.”