Part 7 (1/2)

Val Con snapped half-erect, cloak billowing over one arhting rotation Shan was laughing

The hill loomed Val Con ducked into his cocoon to preserve speed; snapped out at the crest, catching an over-the-shoulder grin froed downhill neck-and-neck with Tolanda; and left the for the corner

Again Val Con stood, gripping the rollbar tightly; again the cloak went froain Araceli picked up ground on the leaders

Cries of ”Foul! Foul!” hit them as they whipped past the pits

Their opponents, faced with a cohts, took more risks, tried-with so shi+rts and vests But Araceli was a clear second, Tolanda third and the fored hands several times on the tenth lap”Two roaned His arloves were raw; his legs throbbed with strain Two laps-an eternity!

They crossed the start/finish line, lapping several slower racers, and ca zone

Val Con leapt for the bar and blinked: the other ski corner at exactly the proper angle

Execution fell short The other craft shi+vered; started to spin-Araceli was past, taking the lead by two skih the eleventh lap, but the second place craft was showing its speed and inching closer

Korval threw everything into the turns, dove a little further into the corners, waited a little longer on the straights Val Con concentrated on the pattern of his nored the ache in his ars

They skidded into the tree tunnel nearly two full lengths ahead-Shan yelled, but the words were ripped away by the rushi+ng wind, and Val Con saw the green ski them from inside the corner, a would-be huain control

Shan choked the jets, trying to throw Araceli clear of the charge, fighting spin and time was too short- Val Con leapt to the bar, arms wide: ”Left, Shan! Left!”

Araceli snapped left as Val Con's cloak ballooned and the green ski with the stick, trying to avoid the second place craft, just coh; out into the straight, and Val Con folded hi for the last time

Araceli roared as Shan opened the throttle for the long run and Val con sweated inside the cloak, hearing sounds-sounds of ; and, closer, the sound of another ski; a shout from Shan as they slewed sideways and- ”We won! Brother, on!” Shan was pulling the cloak back froely ”It worked!”

”Of course it worked,” said Val Con, sohed Shan was steering one handed and waving at the crowd as wildly as they waved at Araceli Val Con's arms felt too heavy to wave at anyone

”Shan?” He called above the roar

”Yes,to hed ”No, denubia Why push the luck?”

THE WINNER'S CIRCLE was crowded Val Con and Shan lass of wine and a kiss

The Right noble Lady Kareen yos'Phelium approached and bowed to Shan-the bow of Clanmember to First Speaker

”Well raced, my Lord,” she said, quite audibly ”You and your brother are a credit to the Clan”

Shan blinked, inclined his head,a civil, ”Thank you, Lady Kareen”

The old lady was bowing to Val Con now: Clanmember to Delm

”You are precipitate, Aunt,” he chided softly

”I think not,” she returned ”A ring does not e yourself ready or no You will do as you deem wise and necessary For the Clan It is as it should be”

”Ah” He smiled ”Let us have peace between us then, Lady”

”Of course,” said the Right noble ”How else?”

Anthora's fairlove leaned over, whispering in her ear She laughed softly and linked her ar at her eldest brother as they lass in salute; lowered it to drink-snapped his eyes to Val Con's face as he felt the younger man start

”if the fa a board all ”I a through the crowd like an orange wraith

Shan, watching froe, saw a lady start forward-a blur of dark hair and bright eyes; hand outstretched in welcoan to turn her toward the pleasure-tents-then his cloak swirled suddenly wide, hiding both frolanced down to find Nova's eyes on hi a tavern in spaceleathers?” shea barmaid, brother?”

He sipped ”She seehed and tried to break her gaze, without success

”All right,” he said grulass ”Later”

Fellow Travelers

Adventures in the Liaden Universe 2 Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Where the Goddess Sends

TIME AGO ONE went out from Circle, sent by the Mother's Own Word The one was called Moonhawk, and she knew neither the face nor the na wound through the land and through the seasons and brought Moonhawk to a place that stank of Evil

It is told that she hesitated at the edge of this place and thought she would not go in This is the first of the things told here which o in