Part 73 (2/2)

The King himself came to greet them as they landed in the courtyard of the Castle of Gla.s.s. Only guttering oil lamps and torches lit the scene. In the shadowed area next to the garrison buildings, more than twenty of the dark, birdlike aircraft stood shrouded under high-slung canopies.

”Great to see you again in the fles.h.!.+” Aiken said to Elizabeth.

He stood on tiptoe and planted a light kiss on her cheek.

Minanonn rated only a sardonic tip of the royal hat. ”What say we go inside so I don't have to strain my meagre faculties keeping the rain off us?”

”We wouldn't want you to exert yourself unduly,” Minanonn said. ”You must conserve your strength for the Grand Tourney.

So far, the storms have bypa.s.sed Nionel, but if this unseasonable rain continues, the Field of Gold may require metapsychic roofing. In bygone days, Kuhal and his late twin, Fian Skybreaker, performed the sheltering office at the arena in Muriah.

But I fear that Kuhal's solitary effort would not prove adequate to the task of covering the tournament grounds. The job would fall to you, High King.”

”Or you, Brother Heretic,” the King retorted. ”Kuhal's not fighting in the lists. If you gave him a psychocreative hand, the pair of you could umbrella the Field of Gold against a cyclone.

What d'you say? It's a peaceful enough manifestation of power.”

”I'll think about it,” said Minanonn, rather glumly. They came into the castle portico, with its twisted pillars of bronze metal and purple gla.s.s, and tall, gold-gleaming torcheres.

Elizabeth put a casual question. ”Is that all the aircraft you managed to salvage-twenty-one?”

”Observant, aren't you?” Aiken remarked. ”No, we retrieved all twenty-seven. I sent six off to Fennoscandia right away to join the prospecting team.” He eyed Elizabeth speculatively. ”I thought you'd know that already, All-Seeing One.”

She shot him an irritated glance. ”I have to rest sometime.

And after monitoring that a.s.sault on Monte Rosa-”

”Excuses, excuses,” the King scolded waggishly. ”Some Pliocene dirigent you are.”

”I'm not the dirigent!” she snapped. ”n.o.body appointed me to the office. Not Brede-and certainly not you.”

Aiken raised one eyebrow. ”Most of us took your a.s.sumption of the role for granted, lovie. Isn't it a bit late in the game to tell us you never intended to play?”

”I-I never said I wouldn't do my best to help you. And the others. But my position is only informal, advisory. I'm not competent to direct, and I have no power. I don't want any-”

”Oh, la.s.s.” The King was grave. ”Still flying high above us all, are you? Looking down on all the scrambling Lowlives and f.e.c.kless faerie folk? ... And do you have a bit of company now? A kindred proud soul to share your n.o.ble melancholia?”

Elizabeth said, ”Don't be a b.l.o.o.d.y idiot.” Her mind-tone was desperately weary.

”Where is he, anyway?” the King enquired. ”I haven't been able to fa.r.s.ee hide nor hair of him for nearly a week. And with these storms one right after another, even the schooner's dropped out of sight. I was thinking about sending one of the flyers out to reconnoitre-in spite of the danger of it getting zapped by Marc's s.h.i.+pmates. But now that you're here, we won't have to risk lives. Will you come up to the tower with me right now and do a fast scan?”

”It's not necessary,” Elizabeth said. ”I know where Marc is.

That's what I've come here to talk to you about. You and Hagen and Cloud.”

”Ah,” said the King. ”So that's the way the wind blows.”

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