Part 6 (1/2)
”She has none to pull”
Shan opened histhe house by a side door and al over his s on the cool stone floor, clutching a e cat in his arms
Shan sat on the floor next to the child, extended a hand and ruffled the dark hair
'hello, denubia, what're you doing here?'
A long pause curing which Val Con studied hireen eyes Then, with the terrible succinctness of the very young: 'Aunt Kareen doesn't want me'
”Shan” Val Con's voice, here and now
”Yes?” But even as he asked, he saw theant escort ”Aaaah, damn Have they seen us?”
”hello, kinsmen!” called Pat Rin across the Festival's babble
”Why must he always remind me of that?”
”Gently, brother,” ainst satisfaction gained”
”You an; then Lady Kareen and her son ith them and he chopped it off to raceful and brief ”Aunt Cousin”
”Nephew,” she said icily and paused to draw a deep breath Into this slightgap-unexpectedly-stepped Pat Rin
”What an extraordinary cloak, young cousin And worn at such an odd hour Unless you wish to establish a-point-of some kind?”
Val Con considered him, eyebrow askance ”I wish to establish a new fashi+on in cloaks, kinsman What better place to introduce it than the Little Festival, where hours are for a tily ”You have the touch of a poet, cousin” He gently disengaged his lare as he circled Val Con thoughtfully
After a few circuits, he shrugged ”There is a grain of soht be possible to adapt it quite successfully What do you call it?”
”A skiently
”Indeed? Don't you find that perhaps a bit-vulgar?”
”Ah, but you see, I find ar person Which I believe is the topic my aunt wishes to address Let us allow her rooed Lady ”Aunt? You have so to say?”
It took her a moment to find her voice ”I will speak with you in private, sir”
Val Con inclined his head ”Lady, I regret I am here If you wish to speak-and since you came in search of me-you must perforce speak here”
Pat Rin's eyes sharpened with speculation and he stepped back to his ht noble stared at her nephew A moment stretched to two neared three
She moved her eyes first
”very well, sir if you wish all the world to hear it”
”If your topic causes you shame, madam, pray do not speak, but wait Call on me at home and ill discuss the entle Shan winced and swept a quick glance around the gathering crowd
Lady Kareen moistened her lips ”That Lord yos'Galan is so lost to propriety as to continue to race skimmers in the face of defeat and ridicule, I can readily believe That you, of the Line and blood of one of the oldest andthe instruction of the eldest of your Line, persist in this scandal is insupportable Why should you race skienerations since the Clans came to Liad no one of Korval has ever raced skimmers!”
”And before Cantra yos'Phelium and Tor An yos'Galan landed the colony shi+p on this world, no one of Korval had done that, either,” Val Con said Suddenly, his eyes were sharp; his voice ice-edged
”Your arguht noble pulled herself up Pat Rin gasped Shan bit his tongue
”As the eldest of Line yos'Phelium,” Lady Kareen stated for, tomorrow, or at any time in the future Do I hest possible dialect; that used to address strangers or those barely acknowledged as kin: ”You long ago declined the right to so conized it as Val Con's, ”Madaument falls short You are of the Line by name and blood, but never by authority”
Incredibly, she opened her asped with shock Whatever she intended, it was forestalled as Pat Rin stepped forward, sweeping a bow just this side of too deep toward therateful for this valuable instruction” He backed gracefully to his ood evening to you both, kinsards to your sisters”
Gently, he turned the Right noble and guided her through the scattering onlookers
Shan looked at his younger brother, standing stiff and hard-faced in his absurd cloak
”Are you Balanced now, Val Con?” he asked softly
Some of the stiffness fled and he turned, mouth wry
”I think so,” he murmured; and added, ”yes”
THE STANDS WERE packed and Nova stretched her legs carefully
Next to her, Anthora and her fairlove were engaged in picking out acquaintances in the crowd-against all Festival propriety, of course Nova sighed and leaned over
”May I offer either of you wine?”
”Both,” said Anthora gaily, she smiled at her companion, as clearly besotted already ”I'll have red, please”
”And I, canary, Lady Thanking you”
Anthora gripped Nova's hand ”Two ently ”is it red and red? Pat Rin and Lady Kareen are here”
”What?” Nova turned, ily conducting his mother across the tiers