Part 16 (1/2)
Brad nodded. ”It's hard to predict the snows.”
”Lyshriol has no seasons?”
He gave her a startled smile. She wasn't sure why until she caught a flash of his thought-she had used the true name of the world rather than the one chosen by the resort planners.
”This planet has no axial tilt,” he said as they pa.s.sed under the portcullis. ”And its...o...b..t is circular. So no seasons. Climate variations mainly come from changes in alt.i.tude and churning of the atmosphere. It's always summer in the plains and winter up here. Snowfall this heavy is unusual, but it happens.”
”No tilt and a circular orbit?” Roca asked. ”That doesn't sound natural.”
”It probably isn't.” He motioned at the sky. ”Eventually those stars will tear apart the orbit.”
Roca glanced at the suns. Aldan had moved out from behind Valdor, showing as a small disk next to its more golden brother. They were probably K stars rather than the human standard of G, as typified by Earth's sun. From what she had seen, it took them about three and one-half hours to orbit each other.
”This world must have an interesting history.” She gave Brad a pointed look. ”ASkolianhistory.”
He raised his hands as if to defend himself. ”Jeri, I just run the port.”
”Jeri?” Eldri snorted. ”Her name is Roca.”
”Uh, Eldri-” Roca started.
”Jeri is a false name,” Eldri added, glaring at Brad as if daring him to argue.
Roca knew Eldri was a.s.serting his familiarity with her, but he didn't understand what he could reveal.
Roca was an unusual name and a well-known one.
Sure enough, Brad laughed. ”Well, h.e.l.l, maybe you're Roca Skolia herself. You know what they say, that she is the most beautiful woman alive, as radiant as gold, with eyes that s.h.i.+mmer like...” His voice trailed off as he stared at her.
”Skolia?” Eldri asked Roca. ”You said the name of your province was Skolia. It is your name, too?”
Roca glanced at Eldri, and he inclined his head, understanding her unspoken request. Then he gestured to the riders and soldiers with them. Everyone dispersed, leading away their lyrine, the people of Windward deep in conversations with their visitors, who brought excitement into the community of this isolated mountain fortress. Roca gave Eldri a look she hoped conveyed her grat.i.tude. Although no one at Windward understood English, some from Dalvador might. If she wanted off this world as fast as possible, she might have to take chances in revealing herself, but she had to minimize them.
Roca stopped with Eldri and Brad. Garlin also stayed, standing at Eldri's side. The four of them were alone now in the trampled snow of the courtyard.
Although Roca answered Eldri's question, she spoke to Brad. ”Yes. Skolia is my name.”
His face paled. ”RocaSkolia?”
”Yes.”
”This is significant?” Garlin asked.
Brad was staring at her. ”G.o.ds, why didn't you tell me?”
”Why do you think?” she said.
He narrowed his gaze. ”It is an unusual claim.”
”One punishable by death, if false,” Roca said. The a.s.sembly guarded its Ruby psions with a tenacity that bordered on obsession.
”If you truly are Roca Skolia,” he said slowly, ”then I am in one blazing mess of trouble.”
”You have done nothing wrong,” Roca said.
”Why would you be in trouble?” Eldri asked.
”Roca Skolia is a queen among her people,” Brad said.
”Queen?” Eldri put his hands on his hips. ”Like this 'king' your resort planners call me?”
”Something like that,” Brad said.
”Good.” Eldri grinned at Roca. ”Then we are well matched.”
Brad spoke carefully. ”Eldrinson, I don't think you understand.”
”Lady Roca.” Garlin waited until she turned to him. ”When the resort planners call Eldri a 'king,' they give the impression that a true sovereign would have a great deal more power than anyone here possesses. Is this true among your people, too?”
She understood what he was asking: didshehave that kind of power. She said, simply, ”Yes.”
”Oh, G.o.d,” Brad said. ”I'm dead.”
”Administrator Tompkins.” Roca used his formal t.i.tle, trying to jar him out of his panic. ”No one will blame you.”
”Like h.e.l.l. I've watched your father and son on the news holos. And yes, now that I look for it, I see the resemblance.” He took a deep breath. ”It's just not anything I would ever have imagined for a visitor to my port.”
”Can you help me?” Roca asked. ”I must return to Parthonia.”
”My communications work at light speed. It would take years for a message from here to reach another world.” Brad raked his hand across his tight curls. ”I was chosen for this position with the understanding that I could adapt to life here without much support until our presence became better established. It was expected I could go for long periods on my own.”
”We must have some recourse,” Roca said. ”Some way to access the webs.”
”Can you create a Kyle web node?” His excitement jumped at the thought.
”Only a member of the Dyad can do that.”
”Dyad.” Despite the cold, he was perspiring. ”You mean the Imperator and Ruby Pharaoh, yes?”
”That is right.”
”Your parents.”
”Yes. My parents.” As much as she disliked revealing herself, it might be the only way to convince him they had to try every extreme to get her off Lyshriol. She had hidden her trail too well; the same twists and turns that freed her from Kurj's scrutiny had also stranded her.